In one of the most heartfelt gestures of their long partnership, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr performed a private “thank you” concert exclusively for their tour crew — the sound engineers, lighting techs, drivers, stage builders, and backstage hands who helped bring their December 2025 shows to life.
The event took place in a small rehearsal hall in London, decorated simply with fairy lights, spare amplifiers, and a few folding chairs. Only about forty crew members were invited, many of whom had absolutely no idea what was about to happen.
When Paul and Ringo walked through the side door carrying their instruments, the room erupted in disbelief.
Paul laughed and said,
“Tonight’s not for the cameras… it’s for the people who make it all happen.”
Ringo added, raising his peace sign,
“You lot kept us going — so now we play for you.”
A Setlist Full of Love and Laughter
They opened with a playful jam session, slipping between Beatles classics and improvised riffs that had crew members cheering louder than any stadium audience. Between songs, Paul teased the guitar techs about his never-ending string changes, and Ringo joked about the lighting team “making him look younger than he actually is.”
The set included:
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A stripped-down “Things We Said Today”
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A fun, upbeat “Octopus’s Garden” sing-along
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An emotional acoustic version of “Two of Us”
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A bluesy jam made up on the spot
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A short drum-and-bass groove that had everyone clapping in rhythm
During “Two of Us,” Paul surprised the entire room by changing one lyric to:
“Two of us with all of you… on our way home.”
Crew members said it was the warmest moment of the night.
Stories You’ll Never Hear Onstage
Between songs, the duo shared behind-the-scenes memories from decades on the road — some funny, some chaotic, some deeply moving. Ringo told a story about a power outage during a 1970s concert that only the crew managed to save. Paul recalled a night on tour when a stagehand lent him a coat during freezing weather, something he “still thinks about every winter.”
The room was filled with laughter, occasional tears, and a feeling of closeness that only comes from working and traveling together for months.
A Final Toast
At the end of the night, Paul raised a cup of tea and said,
“You’re the heartbeat of every show. Without you, the music never leaves the dressing room.”
Ringo clinked his mug and added,
“Peace, love, and our incredible crew — thank you!”
No press.
No audience.
Just two legends giving back to the people who lift them up.
It was a night those crew members will carry for the rest of their lives.
