The iconic Brit drummer for The Beatles, Ringo Starr, celebrates a milestone today with his 70th birthday! A special airing on PBS this week is also celebrating [lastfm]The Beatles[/lastfm]‘ drummer on the season premiere of Live From The Artists Den with live a performance and interview with the influential musician.  In one special performance, Ringo teams up with musician [lastfm]Ben Harper[/lastfm] while taking on the vocals “with a little help from his friends.”

How did Ben Harper feel jamming with such an influential artist? Find out, plus watch their performance of the classic hit “With A Little Help From My Friends” all after the jump!

For the season 2 premiere of Live From the Artists Den, Ringo Starr is captured during his concert at the New York’s Metropolitan Museum, performing with his All Starr Band and with special guest appearances from [lastfm]Ben Harper and Relentless7[/lastfm] and [lastfm]Joan Osbourne[/lastfm] on the classic hit “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Since working with Starr, Harper’s admiration for the drummer’s work has only grown, commenting on their collaboration, “Having now gotten inside of these songs, they’re extraordinarily complex. You hear them and they make you feel so good, and they have an air of simplicity, but I don’t know why or how that happens.”

Ringo adds that he continues to perform “Little Help” because it has a special meaning to him since it’s such an iconic and recognizable tune.  The 70-year-old rocker continues to play with his All Starr Band to keep the music alive because “We’re still being fulfilled as musicians. The beat goes on. As long as we get out of bed we stand a good chance of having a good day.”

Season 2 of Live From The Artists Den airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. on PBS beginning July 11. Don’t miss out on the unique set from Ringo Starr and friends at New York’s Metropolitan Museum!

[Source: Rolling Stone, Artists Den]