Santa Cruz Island

 

May 3, 1991 

Ringo at the Grammies in 2011

 February 12, 2011 

Ringo Starr Rock "Eldest Stateman" (1991)

 

Ringo Starr Rock "Eldest Stateman"

Associated Press

February 3, 1991

    Tell Ringo Starr, he's one of the elder statesmen of rock and roll. And he interrupts, "I'm probably the eldest statesman," he corrects, but he says it in that Ringo voice, instantly familiar and unchanged, although its owner is 50 years old and light years past his Beatle days.

     "Rock and roll keeps you young, if it doesn't kill you, of course," he explains. 

    Starr has just released Ringo Starr and his All-Star band, a compact disc recorded in concert during his 1989 tour with eight veteran rockers, and he's already thinking about the lineup for another all-star troop.

     It's a different Ringo than the one who was better known over much of the past decade for drinking than drumming. And the enthusiasm has as much to do with last year's tour as his 1988 stint in an alcoholic recovery program.

     "It was great proof to me that I could actually get up there and play," he said. "And it was great proof that all these musicians that I've known all over the years, you know, still thought they'd like to play with me."

     The All Starrs of 1989 were guitarists Nils Lofgren and Joe Walsh, keyboard players Dr. John and Billy Preston, sax man Clarence Clemens, drummers Jim Keltner and Levon Helm, and bass player Rick Danko. Starr admits to wondering whether he could get on stage with musicians of that caliber again, and whether they would want to get up there with him. 

    "Most of the 80s, I was incommunicado with the planet. And, you know, I wouldn't blame them, you know, because why would they want to get up with this crazy, drunken fool? And I didn't want to get up anyway. I was too busy getting stupid."

     Starr and his wife, actress Barbara Bach, spent five weeks in an alcohol treatment program in 1988, and after that, he had to ask himself what he was going to do with his life. The All-Starr band was the answer. "I'm a musician. And we went out there, and we put it together, and it was just a great mind blower that it certainly worked, and we all had fun," he said.

     The Rykodisc CD has a dozen songs, but only five featuring Starr: "It Don't Come Easy," "The No, , "No Song," "Honey Don't," "You're 16", and "Photograph." The others were "Iko Iko" by Dr John, "The Wait" with Helm on vocals, "Shine Silently," sung by Lofgren, " Quarter to Three", featuring Clemens, " Reigning in My Heart" with Danko at the microphone, "Will It Go Round in Circles " by Preston, and " Life in the Fast Lane", featuring Walsh. 

    Starr is intent on getting beyond his Beatles past. "Someone already said, Well, you don't have 'With a Little Help from My Friends,' or 'Yellow Submarine'. Well, you know, that's not the point here. The point is the band that was on tour; this is what we felt would make the best CD."

     Starr doesn't know yet who will be in the next All Starr band, because some of last year's members will most certainly have another commitment, but Starr is certain to have an audience, regardless of the compliment. The 1989 tour drew fans ranging from children on up to adults as old as 70. 

    "Children under seven were let in free with their parents to make the problem of finding babysitters no impediment," he said.

     A lot of the kids were more familiar with Starr as the tiny Mr. Conductor on the PBS television show Shining Time Station. The children's show includes a storybook segment from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, an English show Starr, narrated.

The Family Starkey

 July 7, 2025

Everyone in the front row is a member of Ringo's family.  And I swear -- all of them look really chill and amazing. 

A Beautiful Family

 

Roy Orbison Jr and his gorgeous family celebrated Ringo's birthday with him back on July 7.  

What a crew

 

I Call Your Name

 

March 28, 1990

I love Ringo's performance of "I Call Your Name," and what an All-Star lineup!

When Ringo got his Star(r)

 February 8, 2010 

15 years ago Ringo received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   I still haven't gotten to see it -- but I will get there one of these days! 

For the Love of Quincy

 

When I heard of the passing of famed music producer Quincy Jones yesterday, I did what I typically do -- I go through my photo files to find photographs of that person with one of the Beatles to share in remembrance.   As I was locating pictures, I was struck by just how affectionate Paul McCartney was with Quince Jones.  In almost every photo that wasn't taken during a recording session, Paul has his arm around him, is kissing him, hugging him, etc.  It is evident that Paul has a lot of love and respect for Quincy and the music he produced. 

A few years ago, Quincy said some really bizarre things about the Beatles in an interview.  He claimed that Paul was the worst bass player ever and that Ringo didn't even play the drums on many albums.  Quincy reached out to Paul after the interview was published and said that he never really said those things, that he didn't know what happened, and that he loves the Beatles.  Paul believed him, and it didn't cause any issues between them.  

Rest in Peace Quincy. 

A night out with Ringo

Photos thirdeyejedi/instagram

 Los Angeles July 24 2024

Baby You're a Star

 

April 14, 2009 -

On this date, George Harrison received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  I recall at the time feeling a little put off that George kept receiving awards after his death.  Why couldn't they have given him a star on the Walk of Fame during his lifetime?

Anyhow -- a lot of famous people showed up for the unveiling of the star.  Besides Oliva and Dhani, Paul was also there (no sign of Ringo though).  Also present was Joe Walsh, Tom Hanks, Eric Idle, Tom Petty,  and Jeff Lynne.

Choose Love

 

The 2008 Grammy Awards

 

February 10, 2008

Trick or Treat

 Who is Ringo supposed to be?  Any guesses?

In the Studio with Ringo

 July 31, 1997 

A great moment in music history

 April 6, 1992 

Super Couples celebrate the Super Bowl win

 February 13, 2022 

My Sweet Cameos

 

The brand new music video for "My Sweet Lord" has dropped and it is interesting.   I honestly don't get how the video fits with the song.   However, it is pretty fun to watch because there are all sorts of great cameos and Easter eggs.  

Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh are in the movie theater, having popcorn and Ringo then throws popcorn on the guy that is looking for clues.   A few moments later, Weird Al is serving up some popcorn and Ringo comes by and shows how to drum with a flashlight until Joe drags Ringo back into the theater.   

I also spotted Jeff Lynne, Olivia Harrison, Dhani Harrison and a few other people.   

There were posters for "All Things Must Pass" in the movie theater and the items listed for sale behind Weird Al are actually the title of some of the songs on "All Things Must Pass."  You also see some of George's gnomes sitting in a few places.   I will have to watch again and see what other George Easter Eggs I spy.   The movie everyone is watching is something that we've seen in the "Living in the Material World" documentary, with George peeking out from behind the tulips.   I think it is longer than what we have previously seen.   

I tried to take a few screen grabs to share, but go on Youtube and check it out for yourself.   I liked the video, but I don't like it for "My Sweet Lord."