Ringo Rocks out in Comfort

Photo shoot for Sketchers shoes
January 2015

Farewell Sam

2016 has been a very hard year in terms of deaths of celebrities.    I personally believe this to be true because the people who are considered "baby boomers" are hitting the age bracket where people begin to pass away.   Also those folks were part of the media revolution age of music, television and movies and the Internet.   There are more famous people than their once were and we are much more aware of them than we used to be.

That being said, it doesn't make it any easier for us in the Beatles community when we lose another Beatle person.   Sadly, the Beatles first promoter, Sam Leach, passed away yesterday in England.   Sam promoted the Beatles in the early Liverpool days after their return from Hamburg the first time and before Brian Epstein came along.  

Sam was a vital figure in the Liverpool music scene as well as a friend of the Beatles.    And while he could have been one of those guys that became lost in Beatles history, he made a point of not allowing us to forget him.   Sam was often seen in the Beatles convention seen, talking to fans adn posing for photos.    

He remained good friend with Paul McCartney his entire life.   He was with Paul backstage at his concert just last year.  

I found an interesting interview with Sam that you might be interested in:

http://www.classicbands.com/SamLeachInterview.html
Goodbye Sam---thanks for the memories!

I wanna be your (best) man

This lucky couple had a great wedding day when Ringo Starr came driving by last year and posed for a photo.  Peace and love indeed!

No need to exit

This photo from 2015 is one of the best ones I have seen of Paul and a fan in recent years in quite a while.

Remembering Prince

I grew up listening and dancing to Prince music.    I wasn't a huge fan, but I did like the hit songs and found Prince to be an interesting character.  Songs such as "1999,"  "When Doves Cry,"  "Let's go Crazy" and "Kiss" were a soundtrack for my generation.     Like the rest of the world, I was shocked when I saw the news this afternnoon that he had died.    How unexpected and extremely sad for his family, friends and fans around the globe.

Prince had to have been a Beatles fan because he would perform Beatles songs from time to time.   There are clips out there of him performing "With a little Help from my friends" and other songs.   The most popular and outstanding time he performed a Beatles song was during the 2004 induction ceremony into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.   Prince was inducted that year as was George Harrison.   And as is customary, all of the inductees perform songs together.   One of the songs performed that night was George's "While my guitar Gently Weeps."   On stage was Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Dhani Harrison and doing a remarkable and perfect guitar solo:  Prince.     His solo made that song an amazing tribute to George Harrison and almost made you wish he was around in 1968 instead of Clapton!  

Last year, during the SNL after party, Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift (along with Jimmy Fallon) performed 'I saw her Standing there" and "Shake it up."     Prince also performed "Let's go Crazy" that night.   And while I couldn't find a photo of Prince and McCartney together, this photo shows Prince with Abe (Paul's drummer) in the background.

I want to send my deep condolences to everyone in the Prince fan community.    I am so sorry for your loss.  Not only the loss of the man himself, but the loss of the concert experience and music.   From one fandom to another----we are here for you!

"Check it out---I have a pretty girl and a Beatle!"

McCartney in 3D

Doug and son meet Ringo for the thrill of a lifetime

A  big thank you to Doug Wolfburg for sending in this story about meeting Ringo last year.   I am insanely jealous but happy for you and your son.   What an amazing opportunity. 

Written by Doug Wolfburg

I met Ringo Starr on October 26, 2015 in New York City.  To say it was the thrill of a lifetime would be a drastic understatement.

I was born during the height of Beatlemania in 1965, and discovered the Beatles in 1975 when I was ten.  For the next couple of years I stood in front of my mirror with a tennis racket, pretending it was a guitar and that I was playing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and other Beatles hits in front of thousands of screaming fans.  Finally my parents bought me a guitar in 1978 and for the first few years all I wanted to play were Beatles songs.  I then moved on to dissecting every note, chord and riff – and read everything I could get my hands on about the Beatles.  It is fair to say the Beatles are a lifelong obsession.  I’ve raised my kids on the Beatles and taken them on pilgrimages to Liverpool and London to see all the Beatles sites.  Two of my three kids are musicians too, and the Beatles are big parts of their repertoires.

So, when I got the opportunity for a meet and greet with Ringo in October, I jumped at the chance.  The occasion was a book release event for Ringo’s book “Photograph” at the Strand Bookstore in Manhattan.  I had purchased one of the signed, limited editions from Genesis Publications when it first came out in  2013, so when the open edition of the book was released in 2015, I was fortunate enough to be on the Genesis VIP invitation list for the NYC event.  Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to meet some “rock stars” – the results have been mixed.  Sometimes you meet idols only to find they’re rotten people in person.  I am delighted to report that Ringo was the nicest, funniest and friendliest guy you could ever hope to meet.  He was interested in where we were from, he was bantering back and forth with us…he was everything you hoped he would be, and more. 

Another highlight for me was that I got to bring my son along.  The Genesis rep in NY e-mailed me the night before and told me that if I wanted to bring a guest, he might be able to get him in for the meet and greet.  My son in a music industry major at Drexel, so he hopped on the train in Philly and made the trek to NYC with me.  Luckily he was able to get in to the meet and greet as well.  I raised him and his sisters on the Beatles, and he was pretty thrilled about meeting Ringo.  One of the most rewarding aspects of the whole wonderful episode was what my son wrote afterwards on his Facebook page when he posted the picture of us with Ringo:

“Yes this actually happened a few weeks ago and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Not just because of the significance of meeting a member of The Beatles, but because I fully realized what it meant to my Dad. I can't put into words how excited he was going into this. He has been an avid Beatles fan all his life and has consequently raised his kids on the fab four, even taking us to Liverpool last summer for part of our vacation. I feel privileged to have been there to witness what was one of the greatest moments of his life and to share that moment with him. I also feel lucky to have been raised by parents that know so much great music which has always been a gigantic part of my life. Thanks to my dad for making this happen and thank you to Ringo Starr for his amazing contribution to music and for being so cool in person.”

So not only was meeting Ringo one of the greatest experiences of my life, it provided a wonderful “father and son” day we’ll remember forever.  Now I can say I’ve met a Beatle.  Life now seems to be divided into two categories – life before I met a Beatle, and life after. 

Paul going back on the road!

What a day!   First I am heartbroken over the loss of George Martin and then I am nervously excited over the announcement of Paul McCartney's  "1 on 1" tour.       Paul should have a contest to meet him "1 on 1" don't you think?     And not a charity auction where only the rich people get a chance, but a real Beatles contest where true fans get a chance for some "1 on 1" time with him.    Come on Paul---let do this!

The photographer in the photo

You know those meet and greets that Ringo has every so often?  The ones where you pay something like $2000 and get to have a brief meeting with Ringo, get an autographed artwork and a photo taken with him by a professional photographer?   Well pictured here is one of the guys that was hired at one of the stops to take the photos.   When the night was over he asked for his own photo with Ringo, something he has never done when he has photographed a celebrity, but---come on--it's a Beatle!

Good photo

The new mechanic

Paul poses with the New England Motor Freight on December 22, 2015.   

Sporting events

I love the photos that show Paul and his family enjoy a sporting event just like anyone else.  There in the background are always people who thought they were just going to see a game and end up spending the time behind Sir Paul McCartney and his family.  How could you pay attention to anything else?

Good Ole' Ringo with Good Ole' Freda

This photo makes me smile for so many reasons!  

Ringo's big garage sale

So I am sure that by now most of you know that Ringo Starr is holding a HUGE garage sale this week through Julien's Auction House.     Ringo and Barb have moved into the house in Los Angeles and sold their house in Monocco.   And like most folks who are downsizing as they get older, the Starkey's are having a big sale.     They are selling some things that you expect to see at a garage sale like mugs, pottery, knick knacks,  tables and chairs, paintings, throw pillows, cuff links, picture frames and other odds and ends from around the house.    But what most people are interested in are the items that are NOT typical of a yard sale such as drums used with the Beatles, clothing Ringo Starr wore, gold records, Beatles memorabilia and Ringo Starr's rings!

Photo by Scott Ritchie

Some of the items listed that really stood out to me were:

• the badges Ringo got from Bultins when he was with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes
• A suitcase filled with news clippings about Ringo that his mum collected over the years
• the id bracelet he wore in 1964
• The huge joke drumkit from the Hello Goodbye promo

Photo by Scott Ritchie

Photo by Scott Ritchie

•  The guitar that John played during the Christmas concerts of 1964 then gave to Ringo
• a tambourine that Harry gave to Ringo with a message on it.
• the clothing Ringo wore in the late 1960's 
• The "Sgt. Pepper" panel from Julian's gypsy caravan
•  Shirts Ringo wore during his interviews for the Anthology
• The item that I am currently bidding on and have my fingers crossed that I will win, but I am not telling what it is unless I actually win. 

I have heard some grumbling out there in Pepperland about how it is a shame that Ringo is selling all this stuff and that he should have offered it to his kids.    Somehow I would bet that Ringo DID offer it up to his kids.   Much of this stuff seems to be items that Ringo was given, such as modern Beatles t-shirts and collectables.    Really does his kids want a gold CD for Beatles 1 from Hong Kong?    Ringo obviously has ALL of this stuff and why should he hang onto it?    He can sell it now for the charity and it will get into the hands (hopefully) of people that will appreciate it.      I think this is an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity for us fans to actually own something that belonged to a Beatle!    Even if you just win a little knick knack---just think that was in Ringo's house!  I think it is pretty cool.

The auction will be held December 3, 4, 5
 http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2015/ringo-starr-barbara-bach/index.html

Bicycle peace

It isn't every day that you see a photo of Ringo Starr riding a Yellow Submarine bike.  

Crossing with shoes on

I am not sure if this is the actually Abbey Road zebra crossing, but still this snapshot a tourist took of Paul in London crossing a street is pretty amazing.

John Sebastian: A concert review

Since many of you expressed interest in the John Sebastian concert I went to last week, I decided that this week's Wednesday Review will be about that concert even though it has basically nothing to do with the Beatles.  

I saw John Sebastian, former lead singer of the Lovin' Spoonful in concert on November 5, 2015 at the Wildley Theater in Edwardsville, Illinois.    First of all, I couldn't believe that he was playing in Edwardsville, which is just a few towns over from where I live.   Seriously---who has ever heard of Edwardsville, much less puts concert on there?    Second, I thought it was cool that he was playing at the Widley.   The Wildley was a theater house back in the day, and I have a newspaper article about Beatle fans seeing "A Hard Day's Night" there in 1964.    In recent years that have revamped the entire place and it is a very nice place.   They frequently show movie "events" there, hold plays and concerts.  

Before I went to the concert, I was told by someone who had seen John in concert about 10 years ago that John had some major throat problems and he really sounded bad.   He told me this because he knew that John Sebastian is one of my all time favorite singers.  I have always found his voice to have a unique sound to it, and he didn't want me to be disappointed it.    While it was true that John's voice doesn't sound like it did in the 1960's, I didn't think he sounded bad.    You could definitely tell it was him.   Sure some of the songs had been lowered and some things were hard to listen to, but overall I thought John sounded good, especially for a guy in his 70's.     John sang a lot of his well known songs including "Daydream,"  "Do you Believe in Magic,"  "Rain on the Roof,"  "Did you ever have to make up your mind," and his encore was "Welcome Back."      He also played a lot of songs that I enjoyed hearing, but I wasn't necessarily familiar with.   Sadly he did not sing the "Care Bears Count Down." 

What amazed me was that besides writing so many good songs (you really don't realize what a talented songwriter he is until you really start to think of the amount of great stuff he has written), that John Sebastian is an incredible talent.   His guitar playing knocked me away!    He is GOOD!  He played two guitars and the harmonica and did several instrumental numbers that brought the house down!

John was the only person up on the stage for the hour and a half show.  There wasn't a back-up band.  What really made this a good concert is that John Sebastian told stories in between songs.   Come to find out, he is a really good story teller!   The stories behind the songs were engaging and humorous.  I really hope he considers writing a book, because I think everyone who loved 1960's music would enjoy reading about them, although hearing these stories live really was cool.


After the concert, he sat a table and singed autographs and posed for photos.   In those situations, you don't get to talk much to the artist, but from the interaction I had with him, I can say that John Sebastian seems just as layed back and nice as I always thought he would be.

Here I am in my Woodstock T-shirt with John Sebastian (photo taken by Coral Schmidt)

I would recommend any fan of 1960's music to see John Sebastian in concert.   He puts on a good show.  My only complaint with it was that I didn't get to hear all of my favorites (Summer in the City,  I had a dream last night, Younger Generation, Care Bears Countdown...you know the classics).


All photos copyright Sara Schmidt--please do not post without permission (although I know that no one cares and posts stuff from this blog that I say do not post without asking anyhow, I still will put this on here).    

You could meet Ringo

This week I got an email that said "Meet Ringo."    So I obviously clicked on it and I learned that there are two opportunities to meet Ringo Starr coming up soon.   The first one is Tuesday October 20, 2015 in Toronto and the other one is Monday October 26, 2015 in New York City.    Since I live nowhere near those areas, I knew there was no way I could go, but I being curious I clicked for more information. 

Ringo at the VIP meeting in Los Angeles

Ringo will be at these locations to promote his new book, Photograph.   Ringo really seems to be enjoying himself as he promotes this great book.    He truly seems to like to talk about the photos he took of his band mates over the years.    He really seems more excited about this book than about any album he has released in recent time.    It is refreshing.     

What isn't refreshing is the cost to meet Ringo at one of these events.   $3,150 is the cost to attend.   A large amount of that cost is donated to the Lotus Foundation.    That is more money than I make in one month as a teacher.    Even if Ringo was doing an event in my backyard, I could not afford that type of cost in my wildest dreams.    However, if I could afford it, I would do it!   

Here is what $3,150 gets you:

• Your choice of one of Ringo's photo prints autographed by Ringo
• An opportunity to meet Ringo and get a professional photograph taken with you and him
• A copy of his book that comes in a totebag

So if you live in Toronto or New York and have money---please go see Ringo and report back to us all about it!   Here is a link to get more information.     http://www.genesis-publications.com/photograph-by-ringo-starr-oct-2015?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Meet+Ringo&utm_content=Meet+Ringo+CID_b2d960dcb6c97dd04a9c4d97cf9e3744&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=AAA%20PASS


Ringo met with VIP fans a few weeks ago before he was interviewed in Los Angeles.    The fans that got to meet him, sure look happy!

 

Happy Monday!