Ringo Starr
“I was in the greatest show on Earth — for what it was worth,” goes a lyric written by John Lennon and sung by Ringo Starr. The song is “I am the Greatest” (from the 1973 album “Ringo”), in which Starr reprises his Billy Shears character from the Beatles’ 1967 masterpiece, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Starr was one quarter of the Beatles, arguably the most influential band in rock, if not music itself. I interviewed the drummer by telephone in 2001 and 2008. He also answered my questions during press conferences held in New York City in 1999, 2000 and 2003. Q: In the book “The Beatles Anthology” (2000), you said the Beatles were “just a group of scruffs” when you first saw them. STARR: Even though I said that in the book, they were the band that I would go and watch. You know, I still loved them as a band, but we were the big shots, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. It was in Liverpool, and they were rehearsin’ in the back of a coffee bar (the Jacaranda), and we were off to go to Butlin’s (a resort played by the Hurricanes) to be professionals. Q: John asked you to shave your beard and get a haircut when you joined. Were you insulted? STARR: No. Because they all had this — now, it’s called the “Beatle cut,” of course, which a guy in Germany (Jürgen Vollmer) did for them. That was just one of John’s lines, you know. I mean, nothing would have happened if I’d have kept the beard. I would still be in the band (laughs). Q: What do you remember about first touching down in America on Feb. 7, 1964? STARR: It’s probably one of the many exciting moments I’ve had in my life. To come to America as a musician from England and get that reception was incredible. And that our records were sellin’ in America by then — because, we had two that didn’t sell (laughs). It’s just still one of the incredible memories for me. I even felt New York while I was on the plane flyin’ into it. I felt it even from the plane — the engines. Q: What did the four of you think might happen once you landed? STARR: Well, we were hopeful, that’s all. You know, George had gone to America on holiday, and kept goin’ into the record stores askin’ for our record, and nobody had heard of us. So we didn’t know what to expect. But as soon as we got off the plane, everything was OK (laughs). And then to get that reception (at the Plaza Hotel) that we knew nothin’ about, it was just brilliant.
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And then, besides the kids outside waitin’, just the thrill of bein’ in the hotel and havin’ all these TVs on and radios — you know, the media madness that was goin’ on. We could actually talk to the radio stations and hear ourselves on radio. We were just from England; it’s a bit different over there. So it was exciting. Q: When you filmed “A Hard Day’s Night,” it’s amazing how four amateur actors communicated so well on the screen. Were you surprised at your own success, the four of you? STARR: No. We were four clowns, really, who play instruments. Q: “A Little Help From My Friends” became like a theme song for you. What do you recall of recording the vocal track (in 1967)? STARR: The only difference of opinion we had: The original line said, “What would you do if I sang out of tune / would you throw a tomato at me?” I said, “I’m not gonna sing that.” Because we’d just been bombarded with all those jelly beans on tour, so I was not going to sing that. Q: For (the 1970 film) “Let It Be,” how did the four of you agree to play on the roof? STARR: Well, it was an idea we had around that time. You know, first of all, we were gonna play in a volcano in Hawaii and places like that. In the end, the Beatles always took the easy route. So we said, “Oh, let’s go on the roof!” Q: In the “Anthology” docuseries, it almost seemed like you, Paul and George were burying the hatchet before our eyes. STARR: Well, what hatchet was that, you know what I’m sayin’? I mean, you know, we’re all together; we’re doin’ that; we’re gettin’ on; and we finished filming; and we all went home. Q: Have you and Paul grown closer since George’s (2001) death? STARR: We’re just still old pals, you know? We’re not hangin’ out with each other any more than we did. We’re not phonin’ each other any more often. If we’re in the same city, we’ll hook up. Q: You’ve toured all your life. Do you still get a buzz from it? STARR: The gig, playin’ the show, is the best part for musicians. Gettin’ there is boring. You gotta get on the bus, the plane, the train, whatever it is. If they had a transporter — if it was actually “Star Trek” — it would make life a lot easier.
