Ringo Considering a Spring or Summer Tour (1976)

 Ringo Considering a Spring or Summer Tour

By John Rockwell

New York Times

September 26, 1976

    Ringo Starr was always the least controversial of the Beatles, refreshingly unblessed with the creativity of John Lennon or Paul McCartney, or the brooding mysticism of George Harrison; he moved amiably through life, everybody's friend. 

    When the Beatles broke up, some people feared for his career. His drumming was suspect, his singing was primitive, his songwriting non-existent. But things eventually went well for Starkey (Richard Starkey is the name he started out with). He was warmly received in a couple of films, and his records were greeted affectionately by critics and the public. Enjoyable, totally unselfconscious collections of pop tunes at a time when the other three Beatles were flailing about in search of varying kinds of greatness.

     The one thing Ringo didn't do was tour. Now, with a new record contract and his first disc on Atlantic due toward the end of the month, he is allowing himself to consider the prospects of live performances as well.  "It was all the craziness the Beatles went through, holed up in boxes all the time," Ringo explained about his reluctance to tour until now.

     "The playing was the only fun part. I really liked playing with musicians in the studio. Then I started going to concerts and seeing how easy it is now. I was living in the past. Now they'll carry you on stage and off again. Also, I don't think I was ready to take on the responsibility of a band. Now I don't want to just go out on stage for two hours and say 'Here I am.' I want things going on around me."

     Ringo's first idea was sort of a rambling revue, full of all sorts of different kinds of performers. Then he discovered that to make such a cavalcade pay, he would have to tour steadily for four months or more. Now he's retrenching.

     "We've really got to work and cut it down to size," he said. "I just want to go out for a month, and do a couple of days or three times a week. We're thinking now about spring or summer."

 And the Beatles? "The four of us aren't talking," Ringo answered. "Others are talking, but we're not. Maybe in a couple of years, and maybe we'll get into the studio. The question is which way we'd play, like then or like now. If we went out with new stuff, I think it would be better."