Ringo Starr holds Chicago peace-in

CHICAGO, July 8 (UPI) -- About 200 Beatles fans showed up for Ringo Starr's first Peace and Love Day outside of Chicago's Hard Rock Hotel

The Chicago Sun-Times said the former Beatles drummer had planned to hold his peace-in Monday at Buckingham Fountain, however, city workers were still cleaning up from the annual Taste of Chicago food festival in Grant Park.

The newspaper said those who wanted to take part in Starr's gathering, which was held on his 68th birthday, waited outside the hotel in the heat and light rain to catch a glimpse of the famed musician.

Starr had previously asked everyone in the world to flash the peace symbol at the stroke of noon Monday.

"Ringo invites me to his 68th birthday party, I'm coming," Neil Blum, 50, told the Sun-Times.

Those who gathered to see Starr did not flash the desired peace sign at noon, instead growing a bit disgruntled as the drummer was nowhere to be seen at the designated time.

"What could be wrong?" Starr asked as he arrived with his wife Barbara. "Peace and love. What a great birthday gift. It's a happening."

The crowd then sang "Happy Birthday" to Starr, who is in town to perform with his All Starr Band.