Beatles stars to play charity gig

By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News

Sir Paul and Ringo helped launch the Love musical in Las Vegas in 2007

Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are to perform at a charity concert in New York next month.

A spokesman for Sir Paul said a performance by the surviving Beatles stars had not been confirmed.

Sir Paul will headline the concert, while Starr has been named among a string of special guests.

The concert for the David Lynch Foundation will take place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on 4 April, with tickets on sale on Monday.

The David Lynch Foundation's UK arm initially said Sir Paul and Starr would "definitely" perform together. But a spokesman later said their collaboration had not been finalised.

The Beatles stars last performed together, along with other musicians, at a tribute concert for George Harrison in 2002.

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

'Moments of madness'

Sir Paul and Starr, along with Harrison, also played in private in 1994 to record material for their Anthology series.

The David Lynch Foundation, set up by the film director, promotes transcendental meditation in schools.

In a statement about the show, Sir Paul said he had practiced transcendental meditation for 40 years. "In moments of madness, it has helped me find moments of serenity," he said.

The show will aim to raise enough money to teach one million "at risk" children to meditate. "I would like to think that it would help provide them a quiet haven in a not-so-quiet world," Sir Paul said.

Starr added: "It gives me great pleasure to be part of this evening. I feel the aims of this charity are wonderful."

Sheryl Crow, Donovan, Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper and Moby will be among the other musicians taking part.