(CNN) -- The Beatles first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" 44 years ago. It's also been 44 years since the Beatles held the five top positions of the Billboard pop chart, a feat never achieved before -- or since.





Ringo Starr wishes peace and love to everyone following Larry King singing "Happy Birthday" to him.





But no time has passed since one of the Beatles, Ringo Starr, was playing up on stage.





The drummer's 68th birthday Monday coincided with his 10th "Ringo Starr and his All Stars" tour. In honor of the day, he asked people to take a moment at noon for peace and love. Thousands joined him in Chicago to do just that.





He also celebrated his birthday on "Larry King Live," talking with King about Beatlemania, his new album and the tour. The following is an edited version of the interview:





KING: How did you come up with the idea [of peace and love]?





RINGO STARR: Oh it came in a dream -- flaming pie.





It's just -- I just thought it would be a nice thing when, you know, because it's my birthday and I'm on tour, everybody is saying what do you want for your birthday? So I thought well, why not at noon doesn't everybody go "peace and love"?  Watch people celebrate Starr's birthday in London »





KING: That was something the Beatles were always concerned with, weren't they, those kind of themes?





STARR: Well, yes. It was part of our generation, of the '60s -- middle '60s, of course and, you know, with flower power and peace and love and that -- I'm just keeping it rolling. That's what I'm doing.





KING: Why do you perform?





STARR: I perform because that's what I do. When I was 13, the dream was to be a drummer. I didn't want to be a guitarist or anything else. I wanted to be a drummer. That happened.





I started playing with local musicians and I always wanted to play with the best musicians around. I ended up in the biggest band in the world with the best musicians. I'm still doing it now. The dream unfolds all the time. I love to play. I love to perform. It's a lot of fun, and it just happens to be what I do.





KING: But it's never a grind?





STARR: No. Hotels are a grind. The traveling's always a grind. The good things that come out of that is that for ... two hours and 15 minutes a night, you get a chance to just have a great time.





KING: How is the all-star band picked?





STARR: I picked them because the first rule is that you have to have had a hit in the '60s, which I had, '70s, which I had, '80s or '90s. We're the best 1-800-band that goes live.





You know, Colin Hay from Men at Work, Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, Gary Wright [with] "Dream Weaver," Hamish [Stuart] from the Average White Band. Everybody on stage has had hits. The thing is, for the summer collectively, we all get together and support each other. I play on all their songs. They play on mine. Some of them I do from the front. I have this other drummer, Greg Bissonette, who is great. He does those and then I get up and play the drums. I win both ways.





KING: Your latest CD is "Liverpool 8," and it is probably -- not probably, it's definitely the most personal of your albums. Why did you do it?





STARR: You're a writer, I write with friends. People are talking about the actual title track, "Liverpool 8," which was about my life. The first verse, I was a sailor first; I
( CNN ) -- The Beatles first appeared on " The Ed Sullivan Show " 44 years ago . It 's also been 44 years since the Beatles held the five top positions of the Billboard pop chart , a feat never achieved before -- or since . Ringo Starr wishes peace and love to everyone following Larry King singing " Happy Birthday " to him . But no time has passed since one of the Beatles , Ringo Starr , was playing up on stage . The drummer 's 68th birthday Monday coincided with his 10th " Ringo Starr and his All Stars " tour . In honor of the day , he asked people to take a moment at noon for peace and love . Thousands joined him in Chicago to do just that . He also celebrated his birthday on " Larry King Live , " talking with King about Beatlemania , his new album and the tour . The following is an edited version of the interview : KING : How did you come up with the idea [ of peace and love ] ? RINGO STARR : Oh it came in a dream -- flaming pie . It 's just -- I just thought it would be a nice thing when , you know , because it 's my birthday and I 'm on tour , everybody is saying what do you want for your birthday ? So I thought well , why not at noon does n't everybody go " peace and love " ? Watch people celebrate Starr 's birthday in London » KING : That was something the Beatles were always concerned with , were n't they , those kind of themes ? STARR : Well , yes . It was part of our generation , of the ' 60s -- middle ' 60s , of course and , you know , with flower power and peace and love and that -- I 'm just keeping it rolling . That 's what I 'm doing . KING : Why do you perform ? STARR : I perform because that 's what I do . When I was 13 , the dream was to be a drummer . I did n't want to be a guitarist or anything else . I wanted to be a drummer . That happened . I started playing with local musicians and I always wanted to play with the best musicians around . I ended up in the biggest band in the world with the best musicians . I 'm still doing it now . The dream unfolds all the time . I love to play . I love to perform . It 's a lot of fun , and it just happens to be what I do . KING : But it 's never a grind ? STARR : No . Hotels are a grind . The traveling 's always a grind . The good things that come out of that is that for ... two hours and 15 minutes a night , you get a chance to just have a great time . KING : How is the all - star band picked ? STARR : I picked them because the first rule is that you have to have had a hit in the ' 60s , which I had , ' 70s , which I had , ' 80s or ' 90s . We 're the best 1 - 800-band that goes live . You know , Colin Hay from Men at Work , Edgar Winter , Billy Squier , Gary Wright [ with ] " Dream Weaver , " Hamish [ Stuart ] from the Average White Band . Everybody on stage has had hits . The thing is , for the summer collectively , we all get together and support each other . I play on all their songs . They play on mine . Some of them I do from the front . I have this other drummer , Greg Bissonette , who is great . He does those and then I get up and play the drums . I win both ways . KING : Your latest CD is " Liverpool 8 , " and it is probably -- not probably , it 's definitely the most personal of your albums . Why did you do it ? STARR : You 're a writer , I write with friends . People are talking about the actual title track , " Liverpool 8 , " which was about my life . The first verse , I was a sailor first ; I
Where was Ringo when the celebration happened
Where was Ringo when the celebration happened
Chicago
Chicago