(LIVERPOOL) - Former Beatle Ringo Starr helped launch his home city Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture Friday in an outdoor concert before 50,000 people.

Starr's performance was the highlight of the show, which also featured fireworks, acrobats and music of all genres.

The free event, which lasted around 40 minutes, got under way Friday evening in dramatic style.

Acrobats suspended themselves from cranes above the crowd, symbolising the city's industrial heritage and its revitalisation over the last two decades.

The loudest applause though, was reserved for Starr, who opened proceedings with a drum solo and wrapped up the event by performing "Liverpool 8", the autobiographical title song of his new album, due out next week.

Earlier, Starr had quashed the hopes of some Beatles fans that he could perform again with the only other surviving member of the band nicknamed "the Fab Four", Sir Paul McCartney, to coincide with Liverpool's big year.

"There's no chance that Paul and I will go and get back together," said Starr, who performed his set alongside Dave Stewart, formerly of 1980s duo the Eurythmics.

"Everyone keeps asking us about it. But it would be very difficult now, two of us are gone now."

John Lennon was shot dead by fan Mark Chapman in New York in 1980, while George Harrison died of cancer in 2001.

McCartney will perform in Liverpool on June 1 as part of the culture capital festivities. Starr will be on tour in the United States at the time and insisted: "I'm not coming this summer, Paul will be alone."

Starr's performance did not disappoint those who braved chilly conditions to see him play -- Mary Maguire, 61, said: "We came for Ringo, he was good."

Her sister, Frances O'Leary, 58, added: "We've seen the group (the Beatles) many, many times before they became famous."

A total of 600 performers -- singers, dancers and celebrities -- took part in Friday's event, entitled "The People's Opening".

Liverpool has strived to polish its image since the decline of its traditional manufacturing industries during the 1970s and 1980s, which bred poverty and violence in the city.

But in recent years, it has smartened up its act with a revamped dock area the focus of a thriving tourist industry.

Officials hope that the European Union's culture capital initiative will further bolster these efforts -- an extra 1.7 million tourists are expected in the city during the culture capital year.

The opening event will be followed Saturday by "Liverpool: The Musical", which tells the story of the city through its residents and features performers including Starr and fellow native sons, 1980s bands Echo and The Bunnymen and The Farm.

Liverpool, in north-west England, is this year's European Capital of Culture along with Stavanger in Norway. It will host more than 350 events as part of the initiative, most of which will be free.

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