It was like stepping into a time machine and going back 62 years. One of the Beatles was singing rock songs, playing two instruments, making jokes and having a grand old time. The Ringo Starr concert here in Washington got me thinking about the impact that he, John, Paul and George had on the music business, the country and the culture — and how Americans are still fascinated by the Fab Four and even their grandchildren are listening to their ancient albums.Ringo is 86 and touring again, bringing more energy to his shows than most of his Boomer-heavy audience. RINGO STARR HAS EATEN THE SAME SIMPLE SANDWICH FOR DECADES — AND IT ONLY HAS 2 INGREDIENTSRingo Starr plays drums at a concert. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)Paul McCartney, who I’ve seen several times in recent years, is 84, still belting out the hits and, hip guy that he is, sharing short videos on social media. It’s not about money — the two surviving Beatles became multimillionaires back in the day.They are still releasing new albums; McCartney’s "Dungeon Lane," about growing up in Liverpool, and with him playing most of the instruments, nearly matches some of his best work. Ringo, who played drums and piano at the concert, has been saluted by today’s top drummers as having inspired generations of those behind the kit with his unique, left-handed, play-to-the-song style that doesn’t show off by overwhelming each tune. So what does this say about us as a society?It’s partly pure nostalgia, like a soup that reminds you of the way grandma made it. For those who saw the group’s American debut on Ed Sullivan and remember the frenzy of Beatlemania — with screaming girls drowning out the group — it’s a throwback to the days when they were young and groovy and often spaced out.
The swinging sixties were like that — and now many of those fans now talk about medications and doctors’ visits.Some of the mystique is about the group’s incredible growth from "I Want to Hold Your Han...