Ringo Starr news

On this and previous albums, Ringo defies the rock convention best articulated by Neil Young: "It's better to burn out/ Than to fade away." Ringo's compositions convey an upbeat personal philosophy (sample line: "You've got to love every breath that you breathe/ Look at the sky and believe"). Unsurprisingly, such sentiments bear a distinct resemblance to the tenets of the 12-step programs devised to help alcoholics and drug addicts. He and his wife have been clean-living since they checked into rehab in Arizona in October 1988; cocaine and alcohol were reputed to be their downfall. Ringo says simply: "I was on my knees." Allison maintains that the treatment changed more about his friend than his habits. For a start, that's when Ringo's sun worship started. "We spent so many years in the dark, during what I refer to as 'the medicine years,'" says Allison. "The blinds were drawn and when the sun started coming up everybody was like a bunch of Draculas running for cover. Not any more. We both love the light."

Allison recalls drunkenly telling an equally inebriated Ringo he loved him. Ringo recoiled, admonishing Allison: "Don't get real on me." Rehab unlocked Ringo's emotions, says Allison. "Now it can't get real enough for him. We talk about everything imaginable."

Ringo still does have one visible addiction, though: making peace signs. "He's always got two fingers in the air and is repeating 'love' all the time," says Stewart, "but that's because he's been through so much." Perhaps that's why he's been worrying lately about the public distress of the Grammy-nominated British singer Amy Winehouse, who has canceled a tour amid rumors of drug and alcohol abuse. "God bless Amy. She's a great talent. And she's going through a situation right now," he says. "It's a very public destruction ... The good news is that there's a lot more help around now than there was." He was happy to read reports that another troubled British singer, Pete Doherty, had done a beneficial stint in rehab. "So you can do it. So God bless you, Pete." But does Ringo enjoy Doherty's music? "I've no idea. I've only ever seen him [in photos] coming out of a court."

Nobody would accuse Ringo of being down with the kids. He describes his musical influences as "eclectic," but rejects collaborations that might introduce him to younger audiences. "You can only be what you are," he says. "Many times they'd like me to do these records with all these new bands and I won't do it. Because I'm having a great time, I'm having a great career. I'm not desperate to be No. 1."

Still, a little more recognition wouldn't go amiss. So here it is, starting with his role in the Beatles. There's a joke that Ringo isn't the world's greatest drummer — he wasn't even the greatest drummer in the Beatles. Record producer Chris Thomas, who worked with George Martin on the Beatles' White Album, begs to differ: "They were a great band and to be a great band you have to have a great drummer." "Ringo rooted everything musically," says Geldof. "He does beats when it's necessary. These songs are all over the place and seamless simultaneously. If you listen to them, what he does is great, seriously great."

Ringo's post-Beatles canon rarely attracts such superlatives, although singles like It Don't Come Easy and Photograph made the charts and won plaudits. So did his acting, most notably in the 1973 film That'll Be the Day. He gave it up anyway. "I came to the conclusion that there are a lot of good actors out there," he says. "I'm really just a personality who can learn a few lines."

"The question isn't what Ringo did post-Beatles. The question is what any of the Beatles did post-Beatles," says Geldof. (Geldof's assessment matches the broad consensus: none of them individually matched the Beatles' stratospheric standard.) One thing Ringo won't do is join Geldof in using his celebrity status to campaign for any causes. That, says Ringo firmly, was Lennon's province. Ringo believes in leading by example or, as he says of his vegetarianism, "I am the campaign."

What sustains him, he says, is "just working out, just eating carrots" — that, and his beloved Barbara, and music. "The dream at 13 was to be a drummer and then I got a kit of drums and it was to play with people and then to play with really good people, and that hasn't stopped ... I'm not an electrician, I'm a musician. And I still get great joy out of it," he says. In Ringo's world, the sun shines almost every day, and, if it gets chilly once in a while, some decent thermal underwear should keep him warm. (Please, Barbara: take note.)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1693751,00.html

10 Questions for Ringo Starr
Friday, Dec. 14, 2007 By CATHERINE MAYER

Like each of his ex–Fab Four bandmates, the former drummer for the Beatles has become an accomplished solo artist. His new album, Liverpool 8, comes out on Jan. 15. Ringo Starr will now take your questions

The Beatles made you famous. What would your life have been like without them? —Ken Reed, Moncton, Canada

I truly believe that I would have still been a musician, because it was such a love. I probably would have been drumming in some club somewhere, but who knows?

What do you miss about John Lennon and George Harrison? —Curtis Baker, Sagerton, Texas

What are the odds that you and Paul McCartney will appear together onstage again? —Martha Daniels, Corpus Christi, Texas

Eh, fifty-fifty.

You have had a successful solo career. Which album are you most proud of? —Beth Hahn, Waco, Texas

Liverpool 8. It's always the new one—like the new baby. But Ringo was a huge album for me. Choose Love too. I could go down the line.

Did John and Paul give you drumming directions, or were you able to experiment? —Scott Peterson Minneapolis

No, a song has a certain format. John always wanted two drummers, and I kept pointing out that it was just me. He would say, "Do that," and I [would say], "But they've got two drummers on that song, John." I'm blessed that I did have songwriters who had a specific way, but if I changed it my way, they went along with that too.

How would you describe your drumming style? —Terry Matlen birmingham, Mich.

I was blessed with great timing. The other blessing that makes my drumming individual is that I was born left-handed. But my grandmother turned me into a right-handed person. So, I'm actually ambidextrous. If I throw anything, play cricket or golf, it's done left-handed, but I write and cut with my right hand. I'm a weird, handy guy. That makes my style really personal.

How has the music industry changed over the past 40 years? —Ben Rush, Lincoln, Neb.

If you are in a band, it hasn't changed at all. In the end, the music industry is still musicians playing music. If it has changed in any way, it is that nobody who really cares about music is running the industry. In the '80s, accountants ended up running it, and they still are. The record industry has fallen apart. But we are on to the new age, a digital one, where anyone can download. Radiohead—how great! How much do you want to pay? That's a huge change. God bless them.

Why do you think Britain has been a hotbed of talent for rock 'n' roll over the decades? —Michael Diaz, New York City

[Rock] came from America and [with] the Beatles, it started going back there. Now, the problem is that a lot of [British] bands are trying to conquer America, but America has [good] bands already. When we came out, we were this big, crazy pop band with these weird haircuts—which really weren't that weird, but that is what they said. We got lucky.

You often have guest artists join you in the studio. Who was the most memorable? —Melissa Madsen, Munster, Ind.

Hoyt Axton was one of them on the Ringo album. We were doing the No No Song with the biggest spliff and a large bottle of Jack Daniel's. On the last albums, I've brought in Robert Randolph—how great is that?—Willie Nelson, the other end of that scale, and Tom Petty. I could go on. I don't ask them to be on because of their name. I ask them because I love them as musicians and because they are relevant to the track.

Are you still a mocker—a fusion of mod and rocker? —Robert Soares, New York City

We were always pop. "I'm a mocker"—that was one of the lines in A Hard Day's Night. I'm a popper now.

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1694689,00.html?xid=rss-arts

Ринго: "Не называйте нас предателями" или "Битлз" никогда не предавали Ливерпуль

Beatles world exclusive: 'Don't call us traitors' - Ringo
Dec 17 2007 WORLD EXCLUSIVE by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

RINGO STARR today said the Beatles never betrayed Liverpool nor let the city down.

In an exclusive ECHO interview, the 67- year-old musician also spoke of his excitement at performing at the Capital of Culture opening weekend.

The Fab Four's drummer also believes Capital of Culture will show Liverpool “in an incredible light” to the rest of the world.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the ECHO, the legendary drummer says he cannot wait to return to his home city next month.

He also gave a heartfelt defence to the accusations that the Beatles were traitors by leaving Liverpool.

Ringo reveals the accusations the Beatles had abandoned Liverpool did hurt, but they simply did not have the choice of staying in their home city.

He said: “When we left they all called us traitors. We only left because we had to go where the jobs were and in those days it was London.

“Now you can live in Liverpool, Leicester, it doesn’t matter where you live, but at the time people were shouting ‘traitors, you left us’.

“But I think no matter what – and we’re still loved in Liverpool – that even though we left we never let Liverpool down and we’re always still proud of that heritage.”

Thousands of people will see the former Beatle when he takes part in the Capital of Culture opening weekend, including a performance from the top of St George’s Hall.

He will showcase his new single and album, both titled Liverpool 8, in homage to the city.

The 67-year-old said: “I’m coming in January to celebrate the year of culture with everyone in Liverpool.

“And the good thing about it is also, because the city’s the Capital of Culture, they will get into lots of other situations to present Liverpool in an incredible light.”

US TV giant CBS is reported to be in negotiations to broadcast a two-hour breakfast show live from Liverpool to its American viewers on January 11, to tie in with Ringo’s appearance in his home city.

It will be the first time the former Beatle has performed in Liverpool for 15 years. His last public show was at the Empire in 1992.

But he has made a number of unheralded visits over the years.

He said: “I’ve popped up to see the family a couple of times, but I’m not there a lot now.

“I went walking around once, I took my son to see Madryn Street and Admiral Grove, and all the places daddy grew up, and some woman just linked arms with me saying ‘ooh, it hasn’t changed’.

“I said, it’s really changed actually, where’s this, and where’s that gone?”

It is the Toxteth of Ringo’s childhood which is recalled in Liverpool 8, the most autobiographical song he has ever written.

He said: “I had the title for several years actually and then I started to work with Dave Stewart and we were talking about, like a biography.

“I wrote all the words because it’s about my life and he wrote all the chords.”

The song chronicles Ringo’s early working life, from his teenage years as a sailor and factory hand to his time in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, the red lights of Hamburg and becoming a Beatle. It draws to a close with the Shea Stadium concert in New York in 1966 and the lyrics “When I look back, it was cool for those four boys from Liverpool.”

Ringo said: “I was a sailor first, and it was on the SS St Tudno to Llandudno. It left at 10 in the morning and came back at eight o’clock every day.

“I wanted to go deep sea because everybody in our neighbourhood, there was always a lad in any family was in the Merchant Navy.

“If you did those coastal boats you stood a good chance of getting in the union and getting your deep sea ticket. Anyway, it only lasted five weeks because they didn’t like my attitude.

“And then I worked in a factory, H Hunt and Sons, then I went to Butlins with Rory – the song is like a little mini-biography.

“And then of course we went to Germany and later we played Shea Stadium. It has to stop somewhere because it’s a song, so we stopped it there - that was one of the peaks.“It could go on, because after the Beatles I still have a life and a career.”

Liverpool 8 also contains a chorus saying: “Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down.”

When he was a baby he moved to nearby Admiral Grove, and both streets are mentioned in his new song Liverpool 8.

Madryn Street has been under the threat of demolition as one of 444 red-brick terraced houses in the Welsh Streets earmarked for the bulldozer.

Two years ago it was suggested the house should be saved and rebuilt, brick by brick, in another location.

At the time Ringo dismissed the idea, and he still feels the same two years on.

He said: "It made no sense to me. If you want to see where I come from, it’s no good putting me in the Wirral.

"It only works as far as I can see if it’s there."

A heritage assessment was recently carried out on a number of homes – including Ringo’s birthplace.

It said the building was of "neutral" heritage and unremarkable, but had heritage value "by association".

Suggested options include retaining the home in situ, integrating it into a new housing scheme or demolishing it - first creating a "virtual tour" and photographic archive.

School's field of dreams

STUDENTS at Dingle’s Shorefields technology college could get a surprise next month.

The school’s most famous former pupil is talking about paying a visit to the school where he says he "went for two minutes".

Ringo was a pupil at Dingle Vale, as it was known in those days, but childhood illness meant his attendance was anything but regular.

In 2005 the school took a derelict recreation area and transformed it into new sports facilities in a £1m scheme, naming it Starr Fields in honour of the former Beatle.

Teacher Andrew Chambers has been in contact with Ringo’s management for the past three years.

Headteacher John Charnock said the school had not yet had confirmation the pop legend would definitely pay a visit.

But he added: "We’d be very pleased if he found the time to visit the school and we’d be delighted to show him Starr Fields that’s been named after him."

Night to remember

THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to the city centre for the Capital of Culture opening weekend.

On the evening of Friday, January 11, a cast and crew of more than 350 will put on the Capital of Culture People’s Opening outside St George’s Hall.

Ringo will perform from the roof of the grade I listed hall during the free event which will be open to all.

The next night the 67-year-old will headline the opening ceremony at the new ECHO Arena.

Others on the bill for the event include Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, who collaborated on Ringo’s new album, Echo and the Bunnymen, Pete Wylie, Ian Broudie, and Shack and The Christians.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will also take part, stacked on vertical scaffolding, in what is being billed as Liverpool the Musical: The Greatest Story Ever Told.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/12/17/beatles-world-exclu...

Просто мне кажется не очень много времени уделяется этому великому человеку.Все таки он тоже внес огромный вклад в Битловскую карьеру.Лично я считаю что Ринго супер вокалист)Просто так распределились роли.Мало ему давали шансов показать свои вокальные данные)Зато сейчас взял на себя роль главного вокалиста)Лично я рад за него.У него можно сказать,все только начинается)))

Это сообщение было перемещено из темы "Давайте поговорим о Ринго Старре)".

2lennon5511:

>Просто мне кажется не очень много времени уделяется
>этому великому человеку.

А мне кажется, что 57 тем, посвященных этому пусть и великому человеку на этом форуме, вполне достаточно, чтобы не плодить еще одну. ;)

Это сообщение было перемещено из темы "Давайте поговорим о Ринго Старре)".

2lennon5511:

>Просто мне кажется не очень много времени уделяется
>этому великому человеку.Все таки он тоже внес
>огромный вклад в Битловскую карьеру.Лично я считаю
>что Ринго супер вокалист)Просто так распределились
>роли.Мало ему давали шансов показать свои вокальные
>данные)Зато сейчас взял на себя роль главного
>вокалиста)Лично я рад за него.У него можно сказать,все
>только начинается)))
>Это сообщение было перемещено из темы "Давайте
>поговорим о Ринго Старре)".

Удивляюсь тебе.
Зачем плодить так много тем на форуме? Больше, это не значит лучше.

Не знаю, друзья, поднималась ли ранее эта тема здесь, на форуме, но я ее, по
крайней мере не застал!это сказал создатель этого форума)учитесь

Ringo: Paul Got The Most Girls!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/11/earlyshow/leisure/music/main3700207.shtml

Ringo Starr flies back to Liverpool to kick-start Capital of Culture
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/the-beatles/the-beatles-new...

300 million set to tune into Liverpool’s 08 launch
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/capital-of-culture/2008/01/...

Artist’s Ringo tribute will take centre stage at the Echo Arena before former Beatle joins musical cast
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/01/11/artist-s-ri...

Ringo to star at launch (video)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7180000/newsid_7184300/7184331.stm...84331&bbcws=1

Ringo Starr on his home town (video)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7180000/newsid_7184000/7184089.stm...84089&bbcws=1

Liverpool culture year launch (video)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7180000/newsid_7182400/7182448.stm...82448&bbcws=1

'No chance' ex-Beatles will play together: Ringo Starr

LIVERPOOL (AFP) — Ringo Starr said Friday he would not be reuniting with the other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, not even during their native Liverpool's year as European capital of culture.

"There's no chance that Paul and I will go and get back together," Starr told reporters before the launch of Liverpool 08.

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

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

McCartney will headline a concert on June 1 to mark Liverpool's year in the cultural spotlight, but Starr will be touring the United States at the time.

"Paul and I can't play together," added Starr. "I'm not coming this summer, Paul will be alone."

Starr, however, is scheduled to play Friday night at an open air concert in the centre of Liverpool.

He will play from a special container fitted and hoisted onto the roof of St. George's hall, a concert hall built in the 19th Century.

"It's well supported but it's pretty cold up there," said Starr.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jXJmZ7G7tg5GKUgrsxnOvFDLSCqA

<-- Ringo Starr's unique rooftop performance at Liverpool's St George's Hall

Extravaganza kicks off culture year

European Capital of Culture status returned to UK shores with a spectacular display of fireworks, acrobats and music.

Former Beatle Ringo Starr led the celebrations in his home city, Liverpool - crowned European Capital of Culture 2008 - before a crowd estimated at around 50,000.

As part of a show lasting 40 minutes, Starr performed his new single Liverpool 8 from the top of the city's landmark the neo-classical St George's Hall.

He was joined by "the stars of Liverpool" who arrived on stage in a shipping container, symbolising Liverpool's port heritage, lifted by a construction crane, an emblem of the recent regeneration of the city.

Among those Liverpool-born celebrities taking part were comedian Ken Dodd, The Royle Family's Sue Johnston and Geoffrey Hughes, from Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances whose arrival was accompanied by music from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

The show heralds the start of 12 months of music, art and cultural events expected to boost tourism and generate around £100m for the North West regional economy.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i702ZDDb1Qs8_2C_4TcIhdnIbsiw

Q&A: Ringo Starr (inc. audio)

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ringostarr/articles/story/17980211/qa_ringo_starr

Ringo poses for photographers at a photocall to mark the start of Liverpool's year as the European Capital of Culture in Liverpool, northern England, January 11, 2008.

Former Beatles member, Ringo Starr, right, performs alongside Dave Stewart, left, on a stage above St. George's Hall in Liverpool during the opening event of the city's reign as European Capital of Culture 2008, in Liverpool, England, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. The events during the opening ceremonies over the weekend have been organized by Nigel Jamieson, who designed ceremonies for the Sydney Olympics and Manchester Commonwealth Games, along with the help of local artist and cultural entrepreneur Jayne Casey

Former Beatles member, Ringo Starr, left, performs alongside Dave Stewart, right, on a stage above St. George's Hall in Liverpool during the opening event of the city's reign as European Capital of Culture 2008, in Liverpool, England, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008.

Former member of the Beatles Ringo Starr, left, performs alongside Dave Stewart, 2nd left, on a stage above St. George's Hall in Liverpool during the opening event of the city's reign as European Capital of Culture 2008, in Liverpool, England, Friday Jan. 11, 2008.