Wild and Crazy Guys

 

Elegant Birthday Party Turns Into Brawl (1976)

 

Elegant Birthday Party Turns Into Brawl

By Patrick Snyder

The Sun Telegram

March 8, 1976

    Actor Oliver Reed threw an elegant party for his brother David's 40th birthday recently at a private suite at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. But push came to shove when Who drummer Keith Moon (one of Reed's favorite drinking buddies since they met during the making of Tommy) arrived.

     A long table appointed with candelabras and hundreds of dollars' worth of flowers had been set up for the 24 guests. When the maitre d brought the first course, Reed, sitting at one end of the table, leered up at him and said, "Everyone hates this consommé," and Moon chucked his bowl down the table, upsetting one of the candle holders. The maitre d smiled and brought a new one. 

    Multiple toasts were drunk, and Moon threw his glass over his shoulder and down the table. As the food was brought, it quickly became airborne. For entertainment between courses, Keith snatched Ringo Starr's serving plate, held it on his head, and broke it. He broke his own over his own head.

     When the Prime Rib came, Keith picked it up in his hands and began gnawing on it. "I didn't eat," said one of the guests. "There was too much glass flying around."

     After a giant cake was rolled in and a woman jumped out of it, Keith and Oliver rolled around in the debris now covering the floor. The ever-indulgent maitre d finally succumbed when Moon picked up a table, lofted it into the air, and smashed a crystal chandelier, sending sparks cascading from the ceiling.

     The police were called, but Moon had already left, bleeding from various hand cuts. A small price to pay for an evening of fun.

     Now that the Rona Barretts and John J Millers have had their fun with Beatles reunion concert rumors, let's throw in a couple of facts. While promoter Bill Sargent has upped his concert guarantee from $30 million dollars to $50 million, Ringo Starr's lawyer Bruce Grakal said, "He didn't reply to Sargent by the February 20 deadline, and I'm sure no one else has." If the four of them ever got together, it will be because they want to, not because of dollar offers."

     About the report that lawyers for Ringo, John Lennon, and George Harrison would meet in Australia to discuss plans for a concert and a Columbia /Warner Brothers record deal. Grakal said, "I'm not going anywhere." He added that Harrison's attorney, David Braun, "Would leave shortly for Australia, but only to work with fellow client, Neil Diamond, who's touring there." Grakal said he had not been contacted by Columbia or Warner. 

The Lost Weekend Lost Photo

 

I wrote about this photo in 2018 when I reviewed the book about Jann Wenner called Sticky Fingers. There was a story in that book about how Jann was sent a Polaroid photo of John, Paul, Keith Moon, and Linda anonymously, with "How Do YOU Sleep???!!!" written at the bottom.  Jann never knew who sent it, but assumed it was either Paul and Linda or John. 

Paul was shown the photo in recent times (I think 2015) and confirmed that the handwriting was not his nor Linda's, and that neither of them would write "Palm Sunday 1974" on a photograph because they don't know when Palm Sunday is.  He said he would think John or May sent it.  

I don't care much about who sent the photo to Jann Wenner.  What I care about is that this photo, which I only read about, is now out there for all of us to enjoy!  Another photo from April 1974 -- thank you!  

Ringo and Moonie

 

Tommy Can You hear me?

 March 26, 1975 

That'll Be The Day

October 30, 1974 - Premiere of Ringo's Film -- "That'll be the day"

Things I noticed: 

•  Ringo is wearing the jacket he also wears in the film
• Ringo is wearing a John Lennon button.
• Ringo's date is Nancy Andrews.
• Ringo is sitting next to Harry Nilsson's future wife, Una
• Una is wearing a Harry Nilsson button.
• Keith Moon is wearing a tie with moons on it. 

                             

 

Flo & Eddie Crazy Radio show

 April 14, 1974 -

Whenever fans talk about Ringo's public drunkness - two things always are discussed:  Ringo's appearance with Barbara on the John Davidson television show in 1980 and Ringo with Keith Moon on the Flo and Eddie radio program in 1974.    Not one of Ringo's best moments, but it is all part of the history. 

Three Beatles together

Photo taken by Linda McCartney 

Photo by either Linda or May 

Photo by May Pang

 April 1, 1974 - This is an important day in Beatles history because it is the last time John Lennon and Paul McCartney were photographed together (at least that we know of -- who knows, there could be private photos out there of the 2 of them photographed together at a later date in the 70s). It is often overlooked that Ringo was there as well, as you can see in the photos.  Sadly, I have never seen any photos of the 3 Beatles together that day, which seems odd.   With so many there who have taken photos (May, Linda, Mal, Keith Moon's friend, etc.) on that day, you would have thought that at least one person would have taken a photograph of John, Paul, and Ringo together. 

Floor plan

 

The last time John, Paul and Ringo hung out together

Photo taken by Mal Evans (Mal Evans archives)

 

The Buddy Holly Story

September 6, 1978
 

Playboy Party 1978

 July 18, 1978

In 1974, Ringo and Keith Moon were banned from the Playboy Club in Los Angeles.  I guess they weren't banned from all Playboy properties because on this date in 1978, Ringo brought his children and his ex-wife, Maureen along with Keith Moon to a big Playboy family party.   It looks like everyone had a good time -- playing pool, watching hot air balloons, playing pinball,  eating and drinking fancy drinks and it looks like Lee got ahold of a party balloon (which when you are a kid, it is pretty exciting to get to play with a balloon from a grown up party).  

Ringo on the bass

 

Moon and Starr

 

Jamming with Keith Moon

 April 1, 1974

Why didn't I ever notice this before?

 

On October 30, 1974, Ringo & Harry along with their romantic partners at the time attended the premiere of Ringo's film "That'll be the Day."     What I never noticed before was that the jacket Ringo wore to the film's premiere is the same jacket Ringo wore in the movie!