Ex-Beatles plan concert for culture capital Liverpool

PAUL MCCARTNEY and Ringo Starr will pay tribute to their native city when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture next year.

“I’m very excited about Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture in 2008,” McCartney told the launch event in a video message yesterday. “We have a fantastic series of events, which are sure to get you excited too.”

The ex-Beatle will headline a June 1 concert for more than 30,000 people at Liverpool Football Club’s Anfield stadium.

Starr — along with Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart and the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra — will lead the opening ceremony on January 12 with Liverpool The Musical, a tribute to the city’s musical heritage.

Liverpool-born conductor Simon Rattle will lead concerts with the Berlin and Liverpool Philharmonics, and hundreds of bands from around the world are due for Liverpool Music Week in November.

Each year two cities in European Union nations hold the title of culture capital, a designation that boosts jobs and tourism. Britain last had its turn in 1990, when Glasgow was honoured.

Stavanger, Norway, is the other capital for 2008.