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. 

Motley Crew

 

Trouble is Brewing

 

Looks like trouble!

 

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. 

A crazy night at the Rainbow Club

 November 21, 1973

The Hollywood Vampires cira '73

 Micky Dolenz shared this slide recently on social media and I realized that it is one that I do not have in the "uh-oh files."   One can only guess what they are talking about.  

Toilet Paper Percussion

 

Zapata!

 

While John and Yoko were busy working on Double Fantasy in New York City,  Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr were in Chester, Connecticut at the Goodspeed Oprea House. 

On September 17, 1980,  the play Zapata! premiered at the famed Goodspeed.   The Goodspeed is known as THE place for American Musicals.   Annie had it's premiere there in 1976 and then on to Broadway and worldwide fame.  Harry had co-written the music for the musical. 

The story was based on the life of Emiliano Zappata, who was one of the main guys involved in the Mexican revolution.     Reviews at the time felt like the Mexican characters in the play were stereotypes and very two dimential.    The musical closed under two months of performances. 

The night of the opening, Ringo and Harry showed up wearing hats.   Ringo thought it would be a good idea to show up in hats.   Reports claim that the best buddies spent more time at the Gelson House Bar next to the Goodspeed Oprea than inside the theater.   

Looks like trouble is about to start....

Trouble's brewing

Playing the tamborine and the TP

A contender for the uh oh files

Vampires come out at night

Ringo and a friend

This photo is simply captioned "Ringo and a friend that came with Harry Nilsson."   Isn't that Harry's wife?

A wild night is in store....