Thursday 2 November 1989 | Live performance | Hiroshima Sun Plaza, Japan | By Beatles Fabdom
Ringo Starr and his first All-Starr Band performed at Hiroshima Sun Plaza on 2 November 1989. It was the third concert of their seven-date Japanese visit and the 33rd show in the year’s 37-date itinerary.
The group brought together Ringo, Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Dr John, Billy Preston, Clarence Clemons, Levon Helm and Jim Keltner. Each featured singer contributed songs from his own repertoire, making the evening a shared programme rather than a Ringo-only set.
| Date | Thursday 2 November 1989 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Hiroshima Sun Plaza |
| Address | 3-1-1 Shoko Center, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima 733-0833, Japan |
| Tour | The first Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band tour |
| Tour position | 33rd show overall; third of seven Japanese dates |
| Previous show | Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka, 31 October |
| Next show | Kyūshū Kousei Nenkin Kaikan, Fukuoka, 3 November |
| Closing song | With A Little Help From My Friends |
The first All-Starr Band reaches Japan
The first All-Starr tour began in Dallas on 23 July 1989. Thirty North American dates took the musicians through the United States and Canada before the final summer concerts at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on 3 and 4 September.
The Japanese leg opened at Nagoya’s Rainbow Hall on 30 October, followed by Osaka on 31 October. After Hiroshima, the itinerary continued to Fukuoka, two nights at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan and a final concert in Yokohama.
This first line-up established the All-Starr format: Ringo’s songs alternated with familiar recordings associated with his guests, while the musicians supported one another throughout the show.
The nine-member line-up
| Musician | Instruments and vocals |
|---|---|
| Ringo Starr | Vocals, drums, percussion and piano |
| Joe Walsh | Guitar, piano, maracas and vocals |
| Nils Lofgren | Guitar, accordion and vocals |
| Rick Danko | Bass guitar, guitar and vocals |
| Dr John | Piano, bass guitar and vocals |
| Billy Preston | Keyboards, melodica, cowbell and vocals |
| Clarence Clemons | Saxophone, tambourine, cowbell and vocals |
| Levon Helm | Drums, mandolin, harmonica and vocals |
| Jim Keltner | Drums |
Danko and Helm brought their experience in The Band; Clemons and Lofgren were associated with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band; Walsh brought songs from his solo and Eagles repertoire. Preston and Dr John supplied contrasting keyboard-led material, while Keltner joined Ringo and Helm in the percussion section.
Setlist
- It Don’t Come Easy
- No No Song
- Yellow Submarine
- Iko Iko — Dr John
- The Weight — Levon Helm
- Shine Silently — Nils Lofgren
- Get Back — Billy Preston
- Act Naturally
- Honey Don’t
- You’re A Friend Of Mine — Clarence Clemons
- The Shape I’m In — Rick Danko
- I Wanna Be Your Man
- Life In The Fast Lane — Joe Walsh
- Desperado — Joe Walsh
- Raining In My Heart — Rick Danko
- Up On Cripple Creek — Levon Helm
- Boys
- Bein’ Angry — Nils Lofgren
- Candy — Dr John
- Right Place Wrong Time — Dr John
- Quarter To Three — Clarence Clemons
- Amazing Grace — Joe Walsh
- Rocky Mountain Way — Joe Walsh
- Nothing From Nothing — Billy Preston
- Photograph
- You’re Sixteen
- With A Little Help From My Friends
Ringo’s Beatles and solo songs
The show began with “It Don’t Come Easy”, “No No Song” and “Yellow Submarine”. Ringo returned to his Beatles repertoire with “Act Naturally”, “Honey Don’t”, “I Wanna Be Your Man” and “Boys”.
“Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen” brought two of his best-known solo recordings into the closing stretch, before “With A Little Help From My Friends” ended the concert.
Preston’s performance of “Get Back” supplied another Beatles connection. Unlike Ringo’s own Beatles vocal numbers, it was one of the guest-led selections within the shared set.
Ringo Starr Colour Peace T-shirt
The Ringo Starr Colour Peace black T-shirt features a blue-green portrait of Ringo making a peace sign.
The guest-led performances
Helm sang “The Weight” and “Up On Cripple Creek”, while Danko led “The Shape I’m In” and “Raining In My Heart”. Lofgren’s featured songs were “Shine Silently” and “Bein’ Angry”.
Walsh’s sequence included “Life In The Fast Lane”, “Desperado” and “Rocky Mountain Way”, with “Amazing Grace” also appearing in his contribution. Dr John led “Iko Iko”, “Candy” and “Right Place Wrong Time”.
Clemons took the lead on “You’re A Friend Of Mine” and “Quarter To Three”. Preston returned later in the programme with “Nothing From Nothing”. The alternation of lead singers allowed the concert to move between rock, country-influenced songs, New Orleans material and Ringo’s own catalogue.
Complete 1989 All-Starr Band tour itinerary
The tour comprised 30 North American concerts and seven Japanese dates. Links below connect the itinerary with existing articles in our archive.
| Date | Venue and city |
|---|---|
| 23 July | Park Central Amphitheatre, Dallas, USA |
| 25 July | Poplar Creek Music Theatre, Hoffman Estates, USA |
| 26 July | Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, USA |
| 28 July | Riverfest, Saint Paul, USA |
| 29 July | Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, USA |
| 30 July | Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, USA |
| 31 July | Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, USA |
| 2 August | Lake Compounce, Bristol, USA |
| 4 August | Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, USA |
| 5 August | Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, USA |
| 6 August | Bally’s Grand Hotel, Atlantic City, USA |
| 8 August | Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, USA |
| 9 August | Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, USA |
| 11 August | Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel, USA |
| 12 August | Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, USA |
| 13 August | Jones Beach Theatre, Wantagh, USA |
| 15 August | Great Woods Centre for the Performing Arts, Mansfield, USA |
| 16 August | Kingston Fairgrounds, Kingston, USA |
| 18 August | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, USA |
| 19 August | CNE Grandstand, Toronto, Canada |
| 20 August | Castle Farms, Charlevoix, USA |
| 24 August | Olympic Saddledome, Calgary, Canada |
| 25 August | Northlands Coliseum, Edmonton, Canada |
| 27 August | Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada |
| 29 August | Cal Expo Amphitheatre, Sacramento, USA |
| 30 August | Aladdin Theatre, Las Vegas, USA |
| 1 September | Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, USA |
| 2 September | Pacific Amphitheatre, Costa Mesa, USA |
| 3 September | Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, USA |
| 4 September | Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, USA |
| Date | Venue and city |
|---|---|
| 30 October | Rainbow Hall, Nagoya |
| 31 October | Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka |
| 2 November | Sun Plaza, Hiroshima |
| 3 November | Kyūshū Kousei Nenkin Kaikan, Fukuoka |
| 6 November | Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo |
| 7 November | Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo |
| 8 November | Yokohama Arena, Yokohama |
Ringo Starr Peace Red Circle T-shirt
The Peace Red Circle grey T-shirt offers another Ringo design, with his portrait set against a red circle.
Hiroshima Sun Plaza location map
Hiroshima Sun Plaza is at 3-1-1 Shoko Center, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima 733-0833, Japan. The multi-purpose hall is part of the Sun Plaza complex, close to Shin-inokuchi Station.
The map identifies Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall, not Sendai Sun Plaza or a Tokyo venue with a similar name.
Open Hiroshima Sun Plaza in Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
When did Ringo Starr play Hiroshima in 1989?
He performed at Hiroshima Sun Plaza on 2 November 1989.
Which All-Starr Band was this?
It was the first All-Starr Band, with Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Dr John, Billy Preston, Clarence Clemons, Levon Helm and Jim Keltner alongside Ringo.
How many Japanese concerts were on the tour?
There were seven, beginning in Nagoya on 30 October and ending in Yokohama on 8 November.
Which Beatles songs did Ringo sing?
His selections included Yellow Submarine, Act Naturally, Honey Don’t, I Wanna Be Your Man, Boys and With A Little Help From My Friends.
Who sang Get Back?
Billy Preston led Get Back during the concert.
What closed the show?
With A Little Help From My Friends closed the concert, following You’re Sixteen.
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