Ringo Starr's 70th Birthday Celebration Breaks All Barriers With a Wave of Peace & Love Sweeping the Planet!

NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ringo Starr celebrated his 70th birthday today with throngs of "Peace & Love-ing" fans in New York City's Times Square.  At noon, Ringo appeared outside Hard Rock Cafe New York, joined by family, friends and fans, and lead the crowd in one simple salute: "Peace & Love".  Hundreds gathered in Times Square for the special moment, and Starr even broke through barricades and ran across traffic to greet his fans!  His message of Peace & Love then swept the planet, with people from coast to coast taking part in the moment, saying the special phrase out loud, signing, posting it online, tweeting and more.

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As part of Ringo's birthday celebration, Hard Rock International brought out a very special item from its world-famous memorabilia collection in honor of the world-renowned rock star – the Magical Mystery Tour Bus, which The Beatles used during their famous Magical Mystery Tour.  The Magical Mystery Tour Bus parked on Broadway in Times Square and became a permanent part of this historic Peace & Love moment.  

On behalf of Hard Rockers around the world, President and CEO of Hard Rock International Hamish Dodds also presented Ringo with a gift of seven "Decades" trees to be planted in New York City schoolyards in honor of the legendary rocker.  In addition, 70 Peace & Love seedling trees were given out to fans to further spread this movement around the globe.  Hard Rock locations around the world also joined the wave of Peace & Love by hosting spontaneous celebrations with guests.  

Various celebrations and special moments continue to occur around the world on July 7th, including a special concert for Ringo at New York's Radio City Music Hall.  New York's hip tea house Alice's Tea Cup is celebrating all month starting with a Peace & Love salute and continuing with a special featured "Peace & Love" tea created just for Ringo's birthday.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art is also celebrating with a special display of one of Ringo's drums given to him by Ludwig in 1964.  In Los Angeles, fans gathered in front of Capitol Records at Hollywood and Vine at Ringo's star on the Walk of Fame, and in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gave the Peace & Love salute from The Beatles exhibit in the main hall.  

The genesis of the July 7th Peace & Love Celebrations began in 2008 when Ringo was asked during an interview with Access Hollywood, "What would you like for your coming birthday?" and he replied, "More Peace & Love."  That launched a "Peace & Love" campaign, and Ringo encouraged everyone everywhere to say "Peace & Love" at noon their local time. The idea took hold, and on July 7, 2008, a wave of Peace & Love swept throughout the world, with Ringo and Barbara Bach joining throngs of fans and Peace & Lovers on the streets of Chicago in front of Hard Rock Hotel.

FANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR PEACE & LOVE CELEBRATION WITH RINGO BY SENDING MESSAGES, PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:

Official Channels for the Peace and Love event:

Facebook.com/Beatles

Twitter.com/thebeatles

Official tweeting of event using #ringolove2010, Fans can post or track event using #ringolove2010

http://www.youtube.com/RingoLove2010

SOURCE Hard Rock International