April 5, 2009 17:27

Beatles reunite onstage in New York

Paul and Ringo together again

The Beatles' Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr performed together at a New York charity show on Saturday night (April 4), their first time together in seven years.

The pair appeared at a show headlined by McCartney in aid of The David Lynch Foundation, an organisation fronted by the film director which promotes transcendental meditation in schools.

McCartney played a handful of The Beatles tunes as well as some from his solo career before bringing Ringo onstage to perform The Beatles standard 'With a Little Help from My Friends'.

McCartney also paid a tearful tribute to the late John Lennon, reports BBC News, before playing 'Here Today', a song he wrote for him. He also dedicated The Beatles classic'Blackbird', which is sometimes claimed to be a tribute to the American civil rights movement, to US President Barack Obama.

After McCartney played his set he introduced Starr as "Billy Shears", Starr's pseudonym on 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'.

Starr, who had previously sang 'Yellow Submarine' and 'Boys' during his own set, then played drums backing McCartney's 'Cosmically Conscious'.

The Beatles legends last performed together at a tribute concert for the late George Harrison in 2002.

They were joined by Eric Clapton on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' at the Royal Albert Hall show.