Jack Bruce (1943–2014) was the bassist, vocalist, and principal composer of Cream, responsible for 'White Room', 'Sunshine Of Your Love', and 'Theme For An Imaginary Western'. He died in October 2014.

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston – 25 May 1997

May 25, 2026

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston – 25 May 1997

Sunday 25 May 1997 | Live, Ringo Starr
Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston, Texas, USA

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, Texas on 25 May 1997 — the 21st show of the fourth All-Starr Band's 30-date US tour. The lineup for this edition was one of the most musically distinguished in the All-Starr Band's history, bringing together figures from British rock royalty — Cream, Procol Harum, Free — alongside American guitar hero Peter Frampton. Joe Walsh joined the band onstage for the closing numbers.

The All-Starr Band Concept

Ringo Starr launched the All-Starr Band concept in 1989 as a way of returning to live performance while surrounding himself with musicians of genuine stature. The format is simple and effective: each member of the band performs their own classic hits as well as backing Ringo on his, creating a show that functions simultaneously as a Ringo Starr concert and a greatest-hits revue of classic rock. The rotating cast of All-Stars has, over the years, included some of the most celebrated musicians in rock history.

The 1997 edition — the fourth All-Starr Band — was particularly strong. The combination of Jack Bruce (Cream), Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), Simon Kirke (Free and Bad Company), and Peter Frampton represented a remarkable concentration of British rock history on a single stage.

The Fourth All-Starr Band

Ringo Starr — vocals, drums, percussion
Peter Frampton — guitar, vocals. Best known for Frampton Comes Alive! (1976), one of the best-selling live albums in history, and for 'Show Me The Way', 'Baby, I Love Your Way', and 'Do You Feel Like We Do'. A child prodigy who had been in the Herd and Humble Pie before his solo breakthrough.
Jack Bruce — bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, vocals. Co-founder and bassist of Cream — the supergroup he formed with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966. Bruce was the primary vocalist and a significant composer within Cream, responsible for 'White Room', 'Sunshine Of Your Love' (co-written with Clapton and Pete Brown), and 'Theme For An Imaginary Western'. One of the most technically gifted bassists in rock history.
Gary Brooker — keyboards, organ, vocals. Founder and vocalist of Procol Harum, whose 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' (1967) is one of the most recognisable songs in British pop history. Brooker also wrote 'A Salty Dog', 'Conquistador', and 'The Devil Came From Kansas'. He died in February 2022.
Mark Rivera — saxophone, guitar, organ, keyboards, percussion, vocals. A long-standing member of Billy Joel's band and a veteran of multiple All-Starr tours.
Simon Kirke — vocals, drums. Drummer of Free — whose 'All Right Now' (1970) remains one of the defining rock singles of its era — and subsequently of Bad Company. His 'Shooting Star' was a Bad Company track.

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh joined the band onstage for 'Photograph' and 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. Walsh — guitarist of the Eagles and a celebrated solo artist — had been a member of earlier All-Starr Band lineups and maintained a close friendship with Starr. He is also Ringo's brother-in-law: Walsh married Marjorie Bach, the sister of Ringo's wife Barbara Bach, in 2008. His appearance in Houston was a guest slot rather than a full-tour commitment.

The Setlist

The setlist rotated between Ringo's own material and spotlight slots for each All-Star:

'It Don't Come Easy' (Ringo)
'Act Naturally' (Ringo)
'The Devil Came From Kansas' (Gary Brooker / Procol Harum)
'Show Me The Way' (Peter Frampton)
'Sunshine Of Your Love' (Jack Bruce / Cream)
'Shooting Star' (Simon Kirke / Bad Company)
'Boys' (Ringo)
'Baby, I Love Your Way' (Peter Frampton)
'You're Sixteen' (Ringo)
'Yellow Submarine' (Ringo)
'Theme For An Imaginary Western' (Jack Bruce / Cream)
'A Salty Dog' (Gary Brooker / Procol Harum)
'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)' (Peter Frampton)
'Conquistador' (Gary Brooker / Procol Harum)
'I'm The Greatest' (Ringo)
'No No Song' (Ringo)
'I Feel Free' (Jack Bruce / Cream)
'All Right Now' (Simon Kirke / Free)
'I Wanna Be Your Man' (Ringo)
'Do You Feel Like We Do' (Peter Frampton)
'White Room' (Jack Bruce / Cream)
'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' (Gary Brooker / Procol Harum)
'Photograph' (Ringo, with Joe Walsh)
'With A Little Help From My Friends' (Ringo, with Joe Walsh)

'Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)' performed by Peter Frampton is a notable inclusion — a Lennon–McCartney composition from Rubber Soul (1965), given a guitar-led treatment by one of the era's most celebrated instrumentalists. 'I'm The Greatest' was written by John Lennon specifically for Ringo and appeared on the Ringo album in 1973. 'With A Little Help From My Friends' — the song Ringo had sung on Sgt. Pepper in 1967 — closed the show, as it invariably did on All-Starr tours.

Six Flags AstroWorld

Six Flags AstroWorld was a theme park and entertainment complex in Houston, Texas, that operated from 1968 until its closure in 2005. Its outdoor amphitheatre hosted major touring acts throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The park was demolished in 2005 — a decision that proved deeply controversial in Houston, where it had been a beloved local institution for nearly four decades. The site remains undeveloped.

1997 All-Starr Band Tour: Full Dates

28 Apr: Moore Theatre, Seattle
29 Apr: Cuthbert Amphitheater, Eugene
30 Apr: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland
2 May: Concord Pavilion, Concord
3 May: Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles
4 May: Humphreys Concerts By The Bay, San Diego
5 May: Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa
7 May: Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village
9 May: Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont
10 May: Riverport Amphitheatre, Maryland Heights
11 May: State Theatre, Minneapolis
13 May: Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee
14 May: Jack Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing
16 May: Chastain Park Amphitheater, Atlanta
17 May: Sunrise Musical Theatre, Sunrise
18 May: Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
20 May: Palace Theater, Myrtle Beach
21 May: Wolf Trap, Vienna
23 May: Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth
24 May: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio
25 May: Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston
28 May: Bob Carpenter Center, Newark
29 May: IC Light Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh
30 May: Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston
31 May: Rubber Bowl, Akron
2 Jun: Mohegan Sun Event Center, Uncasville
3 Jun: PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel
5 Jun: Harbor Lights Pavilion, Boston
6 Jun: Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City
7 Jun: Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh

Key Facts: 25 May 1997

Venue: Six Flags AstroWorld, Houston, Texas
Tour: 1997 All-Starr Band US Tour
Tour date: 21 of 30
All-Starr Band edition: Fourth
Guest: Joe Walsh ('Photograph', 'With A Little Help From My Friends')
Songs performed: 24
AstroWorld closed: 2005 (demolished)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the All-Starr Band?

A rotating supergroup concept launched by Ringo Starr in 1989, in which each band member performs their own classic hits alongside Ringo's. The format has featured some of the most celebrated musicians in rock history across multiple tours.

Who was Jack Bruce?

Jack Bruce (1943–2014) was the bassist, vocalist, and a principal composer of Cream — the supergroup he formed with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in 1966. He was responsible for 'White Room', 'Sunshine Of Your Love', and 'Theme For An Imaginary Western', among many others. He died in October 2014.

Who was Gary Brooker?

Gary Brooker (1945–2022) was the founder, pianist, and vocalist of Procol Harum, whose 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' (1967) is one of the most recognisable songs in British pop history. He died in February 2022.

What is Joe Walsh's connection to Ringo Starr?

Walsh is Ringo's brother-in-law — he married Marjorie Bach, the sister of Ringo's wife Barbara Bach, in 2008. He has appeared on multiple All-Starr Band tours and maintains a close personal friendship with Starr.

What happened to Six Flags AstroWorld?

AstroWorld operated from 1968 until its closure in 2005, when Six Flags decided to sell the land. The park was demolished later that year. The site in Houston remains undeveloped and its closure is still mourned by many Houstonians.