Paul comes to St. Louis

 October 9, 2002 -  It was 20 years ago today that I first heard Paul McCartney play....

I went to my very first Paul McCartney concert 20 years ago.   It was at the Savvis Center in St. Louis  Before the concert, I was listening to the radio and heard Favaaz interviewing Paul (photos seen here).  The most memorable thing from the concert was singing "Happy Birthday" to John with the entire arena and Paul leading the singing.   

Bashing drums at Busch

Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri August 21, 1966

Finding Love in St. Louis

November 20, 1974 -  George Harrison performed at the Arena in St. Louis, Missouri.   I wrote all about this concert in detail in my book "Happiness is Seeing The Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis."   From all I read as well as the first-hand accounts I gathered, it was an amazing night for everyone there. 

Lambert

I have been looking for this photograph for YEARS.   It is the Beatles arriving at Lambert Airport in St. Louis on August 21, 1966.   I wish I could have included this photograph in my book, but at least I located it!

Trying to see the Beatles

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band - A Concert Review

This  photo was taken by Sara Schmidt  Do not use without permission

I saw Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band in concert on September 7, 2018, at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, Missouri.     This was the 5th time I had seen Ringo in concert, and this was by far the best one I had seen.    The entire band was full of energy, and they all sounded amazing.    There was a wonderful feeling of peace, love, and music everywhere and I believe the band fed off that and gave the audience a performance that won't soon be forgotten.


This year's All Starrs included Gregg Rolle (Santana),   Steve Luthaker (Toto),  Colin Hay (Men at Work),  and Graham Gouldman (10cc).    These rock stars were really well received as they performed their biggest hit songs.    The song, "Africa" is a BIG deal of a song right now, so it was no surprise that was a fan favorite.   "The land down under" was another one that audience enjoyed, especially when Colin Hay started to dance a little jig.    The unsung hero is Warren Ham, who plays every instrument you can think of perfectly.  From saxophone to flute to various keyboard and percussions instruments, Ham nailed it each time.          I enjoyed most of the All Starr's songs.  However, as I have always said, it is so difficult for me to pay attention to the other songs with Ringo playing drums on the same stage.  I find myself staring at Ringo playing the drums and losing track of the song.   

Photo was taken by Sara Schmidt.  Do not use without permission

The main reason for this concert was Ringo Starr, and he also did not disappoint.   Ringo was so full of energy.   His voice sounded really good and pretty strong.    He sang many of his expected hit songs:  Yellow Submarine, It don't come easy,  Boys and Photograph.    I was most pleased to hear him sing his song on the Rubber Soul album, "What Goes On."     Other highlights from Ringo include Don't Pass Me By and You're Sixteen.

The only thing I really found wrong about the show was that Ringo seemed to start on the wrong note on "I wanna be your man" and the first part was out of key.  However -- he seemed to pull it back on track once the other guys started singing with him.   

I know that Ringo's tour is still going on.  If you were on the fence on if you should go or not, I want to tell you that you really need to go.   If you haven't seen Ringo in a long time or never at all, then you especially need to go.    This is a must seen show and you don't want to miss out.

I met a Beatle...for Real!!!!!!

Blog owner, Sara and her mom, Coral with Ringo Starr September 7, 2018 backstage at the Fox Theater in St. Louis
Copyright belongs to Sara and Coral Schmidt.  Do not use the photo without permission.

I met a Beatle...for Real!!!
By Sara Schmidt (exclusively for Meet the Beatles...for Real)


Dreams can come true.  I always knew that I would someday meet one of the Beatles and I ever gave up hope.   It always annoyed me that I ran a blog about people that met one of the Beatles in person and I never had a story myself (well except when Paul read my sign in Memphis in 2013 -- that was pretty amazing).   

How my mom and I got to meet Ringo Starr is all about money and luck.     Here is a short version of how it came to happen.    Several months ago I saw posted on the facebook page for Ringo's art stating that you can meet Ringo during his next tour.    Since I  already had tickets to see Ringo in St. Louis, I contacted the site and was told that I would get an email with details in early September.   Meanwhile, I went to the Fest in Chicago and talked to the someone at Ringo's art room there and learned that the meet and greets only take place in certain cities on the tour and that St. Louis was not on the list of meet and greet cities, but sometimes exceptions can be made, but it is rare.      It costs money to do a meet and greet with Ringo.  It isn't a free thing, which I know I have written about before.    The deal is that you buy a piece of Ringo's artwork that is autographed by Ringo and you get to meet him backstage for a few minutes and get photos taken.    You get one piece of artwork and two people can meet him.   

I got the email and sure enough St. Louis was not one of the two cities on the list.   Only eight groups of people would be able to meet Ringo on this tour and with St. Louis not on the list, it wasn't likely my mom and I were going to get to do it, but I emailed and asked if an exception could be made just in case.   Long story short, Ringo had to be asked more than once if it would be okay to meet some major fans in St. Louis and he usually just likes to stick with the planned cities, but for some reason, he agreed to meet us!      The concert was on Friday and on Thursday, I still wasn't totally sure if it was going to happen, so I kept it a secret (although if you look back on my Thursday post of the young Ringo I said I was "spending some time with Ringo" which was a mini clue).     


That was HOW it happened, but now let's talk about WHAT happened.    My mom and I were told to stand in the line to get into the theater.  So we got in a very long line that was wrapping around the Fox Theater and stood there, expecting to go in and have our tickets scanned, meet up with the person we were to meet and then wait another half hour or so to meet Ringo.     While in line I get a phone call saying to get to the door that has a lady in a Paul McCartney t-shirt standing out front and have the guard let us in because Ringo was ready for us right now, so we better hurry!     So we practically run to the front of the line and low and behold there are several ladies wearing Paul McCartney t-shirts standing outside the different doors.    I start looking inside and the guard is telling me I have to get in line and wait.   I try to explain through the glass that I was told I was going to be let in.    I am sure he thought "yeah right lady...whatever"  but then I saw the man that was going to take us backstage and he vouched for me.   Thank goodness!

We are rushed through the bag check and ticket scan and before I could even comprehend what was going on, we were rushed through the theater and to the backstage area.    I think I can speak for my mom on this -- we were standing backstage and we were so nervous.   I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest.   Was this really going to happen?    I started to worry about how we would act -- would my mom faint?  Would I cry?    What if I have bad breath from the salad I just ate?   

The Ringo appeared from behind a door and my nerves were a lot less.   He was so friendly.   He said, "I am here to meet you!"   First, he gave my mom a hug.    She said "Oh I guess I have to let go" and we all laughed.  Mom had dreamed of hugging Ringo since 1964 and told him how she had been a fan of his since she saw him on the Ed Sullivan Show.   Ringo said, "Oh that can't be -- how old were you then, 6?"   Again we all laughed.   Then he hugged me.   Ringo felt so small, although he was taller than I thought.  I couldn't believe that Ringo Starr gave me a hug.    Then I gave Ringo a copy of my book.    I told him that it was a book a wrote about the Beatles in St. Louis and it talks about all the concerts he has given here as a solo artist as well.    He happily took the book from me and flipped through it.   He saw the photo of his drum kit that I took at the Rock n Roll Hall of fame and said, "there's my old kit."    Then he flipped to a photo of The Beatles playing at Busch Stadium in 1966 and stated, "There I am with the lads."    He really seemed happy.   He put my book inside a trash can.   He must have noticed the strange look on my face because he said, "Oh--there is just towel in there."      I was nervous about giving the book to him.   I didn't want to seem too crazy of a fan, but now I am glad that I did it.   I mean how many Beatles authors can say that one of the Beatles looked at their book in front of them?   Even if Ringo let it behind in St. Louis, at least he flipped through it!

Ringo Starr looking at "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles" book written by Sara Schmidt
Copyright by Sara & Coral Schmidt DO NOT USE THIS PHOTO!

After that, we got our photographs taken with Ringo.    He told us "peace and love" and we said, "Peace and love Ringo."  I told him that we are looking forward to the show tonight and he said something like "enjoy it" and gave us another "peace and love" and left.   

We were then rushed out of the backstage area and out into the lobby where we saw our friends and were freaking out that it all really happened.    We showed them our photographs and gave them both a hug so that they could be the next people we hugged after hugging Ringo. 

It happened fast but yet it was so memorable and is the new highlight of my life.

Lastly, I want to say that I wish each of you were there and could have met Ringo too.  He was so nice to agree to meet up and was just so nice to us.    You read that Ringo isn't very nice and all sorts of stuff about his personality, but for the five minutes or so we spent with him -- he couldn't have been nicer.    I think he really loves his fans, but gets tired of the fame.     

I will review the concert on Wednesday and share my concert photos then.    If you have any questions feel free to ask, although I don't really want to talk any more about how I got to meet him.   I would rather focus on meeting him, because that is a much more exciting thing to talk about.

PEACE AND LOVE!

Peace backstage at the Fox

This woman had a wish to meet Ringo at it came true in October 2014 backstage at the Fox Theater in St. Louis, Missouri.     She had a terminal illness and it was her last wish because she sadly passed away not too long after meeting Ringo.    I think this is a lovely photo and what a great photo for her family to remember her by.

The Marshmallow Maiden Tour - A concert review

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, then you will know that I am a fan of James McCartney.  Not just because he is the son of Paul and Linda (although that does play into it), but because I genuinely like his music.    I have seen him in concert twice and this past Easter, April 16, 2017 I saw him perform for the 3rd time as part of the "Marshmallow Maiden" tour at a coffee house/bar called Foam in St. Louis, Missouri.

My mom and I were early for the concert and they weren't opening the doors quite yet, and so we waited with a few others outside of the door.    It wasn't long before the door opened up and out walked James McCartney!    He said "hello" to all of us and I said "Hi James."  He and a woman walked around the area together.    Meanwhile there were many panhandlers out on the street and I saw at least one of them approach James, asking for money.


I didn't see James get back into the venue because the door opened and we went inside.   I decided to use the restroom.   It is a very small place and there is only one uni-sex toliet.    There was already someone in the restroom, so I waited outside the door.   Guess who comes behind me to use the restroom?   James McCartney!!   I am waiting in line for the loo with James McCartney.    I tell him that I follow him on Twitter and that I enjoyed the video he posted that showed him making the tour posters.   He thanked me.   Then the door opened and whoever was in there came out.   I said to James, "You can go ahead and go if you want."   And he said to me, "No, you can go."    Very surreal!

Onto the actually concert.    It started with an opening act.   I have no idea who these guys were because they never said their name.   I wonder if James has any clue who will be opening for him.   Whoever these guys were, they were pretty entertaining.   Their music wasn't bad (but it was super loud for a small venue).   The lead singer took off his shirt and was literally jumping all around and climbing onto the amps.    At this point, about 50 or so people were in the room.

This is the third concert I have seen of Jame McCartney over the past four years.   This one was by far the best concert of the three.   James has always been extremely talented, however his interaction with the audience has been lacking.    Things were much different this time around and it has been really neat to see Jame grow as a performer.

One big difference on this tour is that James has another musician playing with him, Steve.   Steve made a WORLD of difference!   He played the bass guitar and sang backup.   Not only that, but Steve would talk a little between songs and get James into talking as well by asking him a question or saying, "why don't you introduce this one."    This made James MUCH more relaxed and he seemed to open up a lot more than he had before.     He would ask how we were doing and chat a bit between songs.   It was a nice change.

James sang songs from his Blackberry Train album and a few from his EP set and JaMEs McCartney.  I am glad that he brought back his cover of "Old Man."   He opened with "Too Hard" which is a great song!    Other favorites that he performed included "Ring a roses,"   "Peace and Stillness,"  and "Alice."    He performed two songs sitting at the piano.    

Here is something funny that happened during the concert.    James played the piano that was at the venue.   It was up against the wall and my mom was sitting in a church pew that was up against that piano.    So she was right next to hm why he sang at the piano.   He was singing a great song, "Prayer," and gets to this point in the song that goes "makin' love to you..."    He looks over at my mom and she makes a "who me?" type of gesture and he laughs in the middle of the song!   And people say he never smiles or laughs!  

My mom trying not to make James laugh any more

After the concert James and Steve went out to sell merchandise and meet people.   I bought a print of one of James' artwork and both of the guys were happy to pose for a picture with me.

I told James that we see him anytime he comes to St. Louis and we hope he comes back again soon.
It was a great night!

The Marshmallow Maiden Tour will continue for another month throughout the United States.   James is a great musician who has came a long way from his first tours several years ago.   You can't help but think of both Paul and Linda when you look at him.        Take the time to see if he is coming to your area and go see James-- you won't regret it!

*all photos but the top photo belong to me, Sara Schmidt.  Please do not post them without my permission.

Everyone knew her as Nancy

Happy birthday to Paul McCartney's beautiful bride, Nancy!  

St. Louis concert memories

Photo by Tom Morton 

Photo from the St. Louis Globe Democrat Archives

Photo from the Post Dispatch 

Photo from the Post Dispatch

I remember they brought the Beatles out in the middle of the show instead of at the end because of the threat of rain.  After the Beatles played, my friends and I went outside the stadium on the first level.  We could see a huge crowd of people on the street level and we could see the limos parked by the lower entrance.   We were about 250-300 feet away, leaning on the railing, when all of a sudden Ringo, George and John came out of the doors directly below us and got into this beat up Chevy.  The whole thing was a decoy to keep the people away.  But it was only seconds before the crowd caught on and surrounded their car as they made their way down the street. – Bill

I attended the aug.21,1966 concert and remembered seeing five limos drive into the stadium as the Beatles were finishing their show, I then walked around the stadium to the other side where I witnessed the Beatles run out a door by the ticket stand a jump into a waiting Lincoln continental. I jumped out in front of them trying to get a picture. The car almost hit me, swerved around me, and as it did, I plainly saw Paul McCartney riding in the front passenger seat and he waived at me. – Kevin

My dad took me and my siblings, along with a friend, to this show. We were among the unlucky few sitting in the upper deck. There were so few people at the show up there, that we were able to move to center section seats. Although I was 11 at the time, we knew all of their material and I was taken by how many older hits they played, give what they were doing in the studio then. I don’t remember it raining all that hard. The sound was horrible, though. -  Jerry

I saw the Beatles at Busch Stadium. I was sixteen when my mom, a cousin and three friends made the trip from Madisonville, Kentucky.  We had a sign in the back of the car that read: “BEATLES OR BUST” as we drove, and people in passing cars would honk and wave.
It was on that trip that we first heard Ringo sing ‘YELLOW SUBMARINE’. from a St. Louis radio station.
Ringo was my favorite.  There was a misting rain and we couldn’t hear them very well, but we were glad to be there to see a live  concert…we knew they were making music history! Now 50 years later I still listen to Beatle music… - Lynda

 I was there with my best friend Joan. I was 15. I can remember all the screaming and feeling so incredibly happy just to be in their presence and part of the screaming crowd. After the concert, my friend and I actually got down onto the field and I grabbed a handful of grass, which I later kept in a piece of plastic in my Beatles scrapbook. My friend and I were certain this handful of grass had been walked on by our Beatles!! Still to this very day I am a huge Beatles fan. – Suzi

 I was there. They may have taken the stage 'earlier than expected' but we did have to wait a long time, and sit through a long line of opening acts before hearing them. All things considered, I don't think anyone was disappointed.  –Ovid

 "I remember we had to go past the protesters who were picketing the stadium, and the weather was warm and drizzly. “I did (hear the music), if I plugged my ears with my fingers to drown out the screaming. I’m sure if anyone took my photo they would have gotten the wrong impression. The Beatles were one of the first stadium concerts, and Busch Stadium wasn’t really set up to have lots of loudspeakers, but I could hear the music."  - Karen

John Lennon says he's hated, but 1000's flock to Beatles concert

photo by Tom Morton 

*Sara's note:  Many mistakes in this news article

John Lennon says he's hated, but thousands flock to Beatles concert

UPI (St. Louis)
August 22, 1966

Beatles leader, John Lennon said, "People are going to hate someone and my name is currently on the top of this list."   But thousands of teenagers still shook-off driving rain to watch the moptops first appearance in St. Louis Sunday night.

Lennon made his remark at the press conference before the program which drew a crowd estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000 at Busch Memorial Stadium.

He was referring to the recent furor caused by his "more popular than Jesus" statement quoted in a British teenage magazine.

Another Beatle, George Harrison, said "we feel sorry for people who quit playing Beatles songs as a result of the 'Jesus controversy.'"

The Liverpool singers arrived in St. Louis by jet from Cincinnati; were driven down to the downtown stadium in two limousines and hurried back to the airport for an overnight flight to New York after a thirty minute performance.  Police reported no incidents.

Rain...I don't mind!

I am not really sure what more I can say about the Beatles concert in St. Louis since I written an entire book on the subject.     I don't want to just repeat what is already in the book, so I will just show some photos from the show.     If you don't have a copy of my book--why not??   www.stlbeatles.com

The Beatles backstage at Busch

The Beatles had about four hours to kill backstage at Busch Stadium.   The first locker room they settled into didn't have air conditioning, so they had to switch with the supporting acts.   It was during the switch that a fan gave John Lennon a gift of a rubber chicken!  

The press conference originally been scheduled for that time had been canceled and the press group that traveled with them had gone out for dinner on the Hill and so the Beatles were left to talk to some people from the local newspapers, a DJ from Denver, the St. Louis fan club, George's sister Louise and her kids and Larry Kane who had came by to visit.

Happiness is Seeing the Beatles: Beatlemania in St. Louis: All about my book

Hello friends!   Tonight for "Wednesday Reviews" and I going to tell you all about my new book, "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis."     No...I am not reviewing my book, (that would be strange), but I did want to give you, the visitors of the blog the inside scoop.

A short background first.   When I was in the 4th grade, I decided that when I grew up I was going to be an author.      When I was 17 I went to my first Beatlefest and went to a discussion where a Beatles author was talking about his book.    I remember looking at him and thinking, "I know as much about the Beatle as that guy.  I should write a book."   And so every year after Beatlefest, I would start to write a Beatles book but would fizzle out until the next Fest.    In 2014, after the big 50th anniversary celebrations, I decided that I was going to make my dream come true and write a Beatles book about the Beatles concert in St. Louis.     And I am proud that I have accomplished that dream.    I am not a writer (which one predominant figure in Beatles fandom has pointed out), but I am a fan.    I had so much fun researching and interviewing people for this book.     I hope those that read it enjoy it.

The book is 81/2 x 11 in size and has 9 chapters.   Here is a little bit about each chapter--

Chapter 1:  A Beatle in Benton
In this chapter you read all about when George Harrison came to Benton, Illinois in 1963.   The interview he gave, the guitar he bought, the performances he did with the 4 Vests, and what he did for fun.    It also has information about saving the house that Louise lived in and how Louise helped promote the Beatles in 1963.

Chapter 2:  Beatlemania Hits St. Louis
This chapter covers 1964-1965.   There is a lot of information about the top 40 radio station in St. Louis, KXOK 630am and the DJ, Johnny Rabbitt.   You will read about fans watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, The close circuit concert, A Hard Day's Night and Help!   There is also information about the St. Louis Beatles fan club from the 1960's.    There are a lot of great stories from fans and what they experienced.

Chapter 3:  The Beatles in the Show Me State
This chapter is  about the 1964 North American Tour.  You will read about the St. Louis fans that went to the concert in Kansas City and their memories of the press conference and the concert itself.  Then you will read about the Beatles time on Reed Pigman's ranch.

Chapter 4:  The Beatles in the Windy City
Chapter 4 covers the 1965 tour stop in Chicago.   This chapter details the winners of the Johnny Rabbitt contest that traveled up to Chicago to see the Beatles live.    You also will hear the stories of some fans that got into the Chicago press conference.    Great fan stories in this chapter!

Chapter 5:  The Stress-filled tour of '66
John's Jesus state and how the St. Louis teenagers reacted to it kick off this chapter.   Read here about the Beatles burning that took place in St. Louis.   This chapter features information about all of the opening acts for the '66 North American tour and a brief overview of the tour.   There is detailed information about the instruments and gear used on the tour.    The chapter ends with fans and insiders accounts of what happened in Cincinnati the day   before the Beatles came to St. Louis.

Chapter 6:   Meet the Beatles in St. Louie
The big chapter!   This one kicks off with information about Busch Stadium  and then goes into all about who brought the Beatles to town and ticket sales.  It details the arrival with a great story from a fan that watched the Beatles land at the St. Louis airport and more stories from fans that watched the arrival into the stadium.     Insiders gave me details about what went on backstage at the Busch Stadium.  Then you will read about the clothing the Beatles wore that rainy night in 1966.     There was a local band that opened up the show followed by a lot of rain.   Read about how the fans reacted to the rain and how the Beatles got moved up to the middle of the show.     Great details about the concert itself can be found in this chapter as well as how the guys left the stadium that night.  

Chapter 7:  Dark Horsing Around
Changes to St. Louis radio begin this chapter and onto how St. Louis radio was part of the "Paul is Dead" conspiracy.   Moving onto when John Lennon met St. Louis legend on the Mike Douglas show and John and Yoko's brief stopover in St. Louis in 1972.   Paul McCartney was interviewed on St. Louis radio in 1974.   And the chapter ends with details from fans about the George Harrison concert on the Dark Horse tour that came to the Arena.

Chapter 8:  Beatlemania Returns to St. Louis
This chapter focuses on Beatlemania in the 1990's.   All three of Ringo's concert stops from that decade (1992, 1995 and 1997) and highlighted as is Paul's concert at Busch Stadium in 1993.   The St. Louis Beatles fan club is discussed and the Anthology.   Paul and Linda came back to St. Louis in 1994 to promote Linda's frozen veggie meals.

Chapter 9:  The Beatles in the new millennium
This of course focuses on 2000-today.    Paul's concert in 2002 and 2012 are remembered and Ringo's concerts in 2001 and 2014.   Find out why Ringo didn't come back to St. Louis for 13 years!  

Here I am at the St. Louis Indie Book Fair!

If you would like to purchase a copy of "Happiness is Seeing the Beatles:  Beatlemania in St. Louis," They cost   $25.00 plus $3.25 for shipping in the United States.   Shipping to Canada is $10.00 and everywhere else is $20.00.  

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy of the book, you can send your payment through paypal to me at beatlesbusch66@gmail.com .  Or email me (using the same address) and I can send you my address to send a money order.

If you do not want an autographed book, you can purchase it from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Seeing-Beatles-Beatlemania-Louis/dp/0986153672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463018421&sr=8-1&keywords=happiness+is+seeing+the+beatles

I also have two great photographs of the Beatles performing at Busch Stadium for sale.   One is of John and Paul and the other is Ringo, George and Paul.    The photos come in 4 x 6 ($3.00) or 8 x 10 ($8.00)

Thanks to each and every one of your for your support this past year as I have been working on the book.  

Peace and Love!
Sara

Announcement from Sara

Well I guess I am ready to make the official announcement on the Meet the Beatles....for Real blog.  I, Sara Schmidt am writing a Beatles book!   It has been my dream since I was in the 4th grade to write a book and ever since I attended my first Beatlefest 20 years ago, I wanted to write a Beatles book.    I had started numerous Beatle books over the years and they never went any further than research.

However, this is very different.    I am writing a book about the Beatles in St. Louis.    Right now I am focusing on having it out for the summer of 2016, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles concert in St. Louis.

So I am looking for all of you wonderful MTBFR readers to help me out if you can.

• I am looking for any memories of fans who saw the Beatles at Busch Stadium on August 21, 1966.  I am also looking for any memorabilia or newsclippings from this concert.   
• I also will have a chapter about the George Harrison concert at the St. Louis Arena in November 1974.   I am in need of any information about this concert and especially memories of anyone who was there.   Any news paper clippings or memorabilia would be helpful as well.
• George's trip in Benton, Illinois in 1963 will also have a chapter.   Most of this information I have gathered over the years on my own.  However, if anyone has anything of interest about this trip, I would love to hear it.     There is some dispute as to if George actually went into St. Louis and talked to KXOK radio or not.
• I will also have a chapter about Paul's solo concerts in St. Louis.   I was at the 2002 and 2012 concerts, but was not able to go to the 1993 concert at Busch Stadium.    Any photos, concert memories of the Paul solo shows in St. Louis would be awesome.
• And of course I can't leave out Ringo!    Anyone will photos or memories of Ringos' concerts in St. Louis would be awesome as well.

As you see there is a lot of help that I need.   If you are able to help me, please send emails to the special email I have set up just for this project.  Beatlesbusch66@gmail.com

And no need to worry, as I am working on the book, I will still updating MTBFR and having the usual fun around here.    I hope that I can count on all of you for support during this process. 

Peace and Love,
Sara

Seeing Ringo on home turf -- Sara's concert review

 

There is just something special about seeing a Beatle in your town.   Something special about hearing him say the name of your town on the stage.    It just is a neat experience and was something I got to do this past Friday night when Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band came to St. Louis, Missouri and performed at the Fox Theater.   

The last time Ringo Starr came to St. Louis was in the summer of 2001.   He had played at the Fox Theatre that time as well and I did not go to that concert.   I had seen him the summer before, at Riverport Amphitheater from the 4th row.    I was in a tough place financially in 2001 and thought I could skip the concert that year and make it the next time he was in town.   I had no clue that it was take him 13 years to return to St. Louis!    

Before I knew that he was coming to St. Louis, I had already bought VIP  tickets for the show in Mississippi in July.   This concert was the same band and the exact same set list as the show I had seen in Mississippi.   My feelings towards the band members and the song list did not change at all.  So I will not get a whole lot into the songs this time.  But here was my experience.

My mom and I got down to the Fox Theater in St. Louis and walked past the City Diner, which is next to the Fox.  Who do we see?  None other than our Beatle friend, Lanea Staggs and her daughter and niece.   We squeezed past the crowd at the door and got into the booth with them and had a meal.  If you are in St. Louis, I would recommend this restaurant because it is a fun place.  It is decorated in 50's and 60's kitchen decor, with lava lamps on the tables.  They were playing Beatles music while we ate.   It was a fun way to get even more excited about seeing Ringo!

The Fox is a beautiful theater.   I have seen tons of Broadway plays there, but very few concerts.  There was a table of Ringo merchandise for sale and only one guy running the table.   It was packed!  There were tons of people with credit cards and they were having issues.   Word of wisdom:  if you go to a concert and plan on buying merchandise, always bring cash.  It is much easier for everyone.   There is a funny story about me throwing money at the guy and running up the stairs, trying not to push any old people with canes as I went to my seat.  

My mom decided to see if the Fox had free wifi, and she found Ringo's wifi listed!   This got us so excited!  We tried to guess his password without any luck.   Haha!

 

This time we did not sit on the floor, instead we sat in the Mezzanine, which was cheaper and we had a better view of Ringo playing the drums.   I have no problem with the location of the seats, but gosh the people around me were boring!    No one stood up the entire show.   No one!    I wanted to dance, but I couldn't because people were behind me.   Seriously!?!     But we did have an amazing shot of Ringo playing the drums (unlike in the 2nd row).

Ringo sings "Boys"  photo by Sara Schmidt

Ringo was so entertaining!   He kept laughing and joking around.  He seemed to really be in a good mood Friday night.   The thing I really like about Ringo's performance is that you can tell that he doing it because he wants to.  He is having fun.     He isn't trying to impress critics or anything like that, he is just playing because he loves to play.    I feel like that comes across in his concert and I appreciate it. 

By the time Ringo got to "Yellow Submarine" I started to feel a bit emotional.   Here was Ringo performing a song that was written by Lennon-McCartney and I am singing it along with him.   I just hit me that we don't know how much longer Ringo will be performing.   And while I hope it is for a long time to come, it won't last forever.   And I realized that there will be a time when I will cherish the moment of singing "Yellow Submarine" with Ringo in the town where I live.   I know it is silly,  but I think about that sort of thing....just how special it was for me to be there at that moment.

I about died when Todd asked if Beatle Bob was in the audience!  Beatle Bob!   He is at every single concert in St. Louis (and elsewhere because he was in Arkansas as well) and he dances this crazy dance for every. single. song.    And there they were talking about him on the stage!   

Todd and Ringo   Photo by Sara Schmidt

Ringo and the band talked several times about how they singed "the wall" backstage and how Ringo knew that he had played there before because he found his name on "the wall."    I have never been backstage at the Fox Theater, but my mom tells me that you can take a tour of the place and go backstage and see "the Wall."  It might be worth it to see what Ringo and the rest of the band wrote!  

I have to say again, like I did in about the Mississippi show, that Richard Page (from Mister Mister) is a great singer!   I can't believe how he sounds just like the guy I would hear on the radio in the 1980's.  His voice hasn't changed at all.   

Richard and Ringo.  Photo by Sara Schmidt

I really want to encourage everyone to see Ringo in concert.   I have read that Ringo's ticket sales have really gone up this summer.   That is great news!   I have heard that a lot of people, however, are skipping Ringo's concert because Ringo's show isn't as good as Paul's and because Ringo doesn't change his set list.    Paul and Ringo both put on great shows, but they are vastly different.   Ringo isn't Paul and Ringo's ticket prices show it.   But come on, guys, Ringo is so good!   You really need to see him and appreciate the greatest drummer in rock n roll.

Peace and Love!

Peace and Love Ringo!   Photo by Sara Schmidt

*All photos (except for the one of Richard and Ringo by the Wall) were taken by me, Sara Schmidt.  Please ASK ME before you post any of my photos on your facebook or blog.   I will say yes, but I just like to know it before I see my photo just out there.   Thanks for understanding!