7 Days of Starr Day 7- Ringo Reflects

 "Ringo is Ringo, that's all there is to it. And he's every bloody bit as warm, unassuming, funny, and kind as he seems. He was quite simply the heart of the Beatles."- John Lennon

From his early music, his days with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, from the little group called The Beatles, and beyond Ringo Starr reflects and thrives on his past support, group and love. Here you'll find in Ringo's own and in others words from previous interviews, programs, etc. about his love for music and his memories.

Question: "Sorry to interrupt you while you are eating, but what do you think you will be doing in five years time, when all this is over?"
Ringo Starr: "Still eating."

If you haven't been following 7 Days of Starr I recommend you check out the following;

1. Ringo's Early Childhood
2. Ringo's Early Music
3. Maureen Cox
4. Barbara Bach
5. Drums
6. The All-Starr's

"I've never really done anything to create what has happened. It creates itself. I'm here because it happened. But I didn't do anything to make it happen apart from saying 'Yes'"- Ringo Starr

"They looked out for me and I looked out for them, and we all supported each other," Starr said of the four Beatles. "It was really beautiful to be part of that. And besides that, we made some great records."-From Rolling Stone 9 February, 2010 (Read more: here )

 To start off Starr's walk down memory lane it's only right to reflect the band that shook and still continues to shake and change the world, The Beatles.

It was 18 August, 1962 that Ringo Starr had formally joined The Beatles with group members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison. The group would go on to perform together until 10 April, 1970 when Paul McCartney had publicly announced that The Beatles had broke up and he was leaving. Thorough the eight years they were together they released thirteen studio albums; Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Days Night, Beatles For Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles (White Album), Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road, and Let It Be, and had topped the charts since their release of "Love Me Do" in 1963. From damp cellars to Beatlemania to Meditation Camp in India to crossing Abbey Road for the billionth time The Beatles had defined the word "Music" again and again and again but where would they be without Ringo? John Lennon even said in an interview with Playboy 1980 that with Ringo's talent he would of been heard whether he joined The Beatles or not;

"I don't know what he would have ended up as, but whatever that spark is in Ringo that we all know but can't put our finger on -- whether it is acting, drumming or singing I don't know -- there is something in him that is projectable and he would have surfaced with or without the Beatles. Ringo is a damn good drummer."

 Paul and George had even stated that The Beatles are like a four sided figure (Paul) or in a joke approach with How Many Beatles does it take to fix a light (George)? Ringo was that other leg of that four sided figure and The Beatles that fixed the light.

"We were honest with each other and we were honest about the music. The music was positive. It was positive in love. They did write - we all wrote - about other things, but the basic Beatles message was Love.”-Ringo Starr

Although in the beginning John, Paul, and George were skeptical about Ringo who was drumming with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, Ringo will admit he looked tougher than the rest, first of all he was older (Only a few months older than John but two years older than Paul and three older than George), he wore his Teddy Boy clothing with a grey streak on the side of his hair. After they had gotten to know Ringo they realized that the nastier one (as George said) turned out to be the nicest one followed by the comment;

"Playing without Ringo is like driving a car on three wheels."- George Harrison

 Paul McCartney will still admit that Ringo is one, if not his favorite drummer, George said in an interview in 1974 that Ringo could play twenty-four hours a day and still be great. 

This past February David Letterman had reunited the two Beatles for a Grammy Salute to the worlds best band (The Night That Changed America) where musicians and good friends such as Jeff Lynne, Dave Grohl, Dhani Harrison, and many more performed Beatles classics to honor the groups success and love they had provided and still provide. The Salute closed with Ringo and Paul performing together with the closing statement;

"Well, we were in a band" as he describes his memories with The Beatles, "and whenever we play, John and George are always with us."

"Tonight we're remembering our beautiful friends. John and George. Let's hear it for John and George"- Paul McCartney at The Night That Changed America.

 The following video is Ringo reflecting on The Beatles first trip to the US;

For more Beatles reflects and about The Grammy Salute check out The Night That Changed America website here.

"I want to deal with what's in front of me now to the best of my abilities, and sometimes that's not very good. But a lot of the days it is really great."

To celebrate the Hollywood Walk of Fame's anniversary, which started on 8 February, 1960 Ringo Starr was honored with a Star on the Walk's 50th birthday becoming the 2,401st member. Not only is he a member of the Hollywood Walk of Fame but along with The Beatles, Starr was appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965 (read about their honor here). He has awards from many Grammy's, Diamond Award, Lifetime achievement award, and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame With A Little Help from his Friends (The Beatles).

"More than any other drummer, Ringo Starr changed my life."- Max Weinberg

 With a starting role in The Beatles A Hard Days Night film in 1964 Ringo continued to become the acting Beatle with parts not only in Beatles films but he landed a role in Candy (1968), working besides Peter Sellers in The Magic Christian (1969), in 1971 he was in Blindman, 200 Motels, and The Point  followed by Thatl'll Be The Day (1973), Son of Dracula (1974), Caveman in 1981 where he met his second wife, Barbara Bach. In 1985 he appeared in Alice in Wonderland, followed by other roles in movies,  as the Conductor in the children's show Thomas and Friends, and others like appearances on The Simpsons and the Powerpuff Girls. Christ Carter, host of Breakfast with The Beatles on KLOS-FM said;

"He was used perfectly in the movies. In A Hard Days Night, he had his own scene and his own theme; in Help! It's all about the ring and Ringo; he sings the title song for Yellow Submarine. So if you think about it, he was really used to great effect, and I don't think the other guys minded it in the least."- Variety.com 

The following video is the many sounds of Ringo Starr throughout his work with Thomas the Train Engine; 

 It was no shock that Ringo would be the one to get into cameras and film making, while The Beatles began earning money they'd have the leisure of spending it on whatever they'd like, while the others were buying their objects Ringo would invest in cameras. When The Beatles opened their own business, Apple, Ringo had suggested they start Apple Films;

"'I want this to be the way of Apple Films.' If you had a great idea we'd supply the cameras and the money and you'd bring the product back. But most people forgot to bring anything back, they just ran away with the cameras."

Ringo's acting career ended in the 1980s,

" I was too busy doing other stuff. And I realized that there's enough actors; I'm a musician."

This past year Ringo had released an e-book with his own photography starting as early as 1963 called Photograph.

"I'm not the creative one. I know that. If Rory Storm hadn't come along... and then The Beatles... I would have continued running around in teddy boy gangs. Today, well... I'd probably be a laborer. I'm glad I'm not, of course. It'll be nice to be part of history... some sort of history anyway. What I'd like to be is in school history books and be read by kids." -Ringo Starr, 1968

Since 1989 Ringo has been touring with various other musicians called The All-Starrs, read about the groups here.

"The special thing about it is you get to play with really good musicians that you would never get to play with."- Joe Walsh, The Eagles, Variety

Ringo's has had the opportunity to perform with many musicians from E-Street Band members to Toto's Steve Lukather, and many more and each group that comes along to tour his love and passion for music never seems to leave.


Today we come together to wish Ringo Starr a very Happy seventy-fourth Birthday. No matter where you are at noon, let's all wish for Peace and Love as Ringo had asked for his birthday gift last year.

"I'd like to end up sort of unforgettable."- Ringo Starr

But who could forget about Ringo Starr?

7 Days of Starr Day 6- The All-Starrs

"Everybody on stage is a star in their own right"- Ringo Starr

For over two decades Ringo has been traveling with thirteen All-Starr bands, But what's an All-Starr? An All-Starr are other musicians, who just like Ringo after The Beatles break-up, needed a new start, the idea for the band was conceived by producer David Fishof and since 1989 Ringo had toured with members from The E-Street, Saxophone legend, Clarence Clemons to Toto vocalist and guitarist, Steve Lukather. Although the band is "Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band" it's not nearly a show based around Ringo, Ringo will open the show with the usually "It Don't Come Easy" followed by one or two more tracks from his solo or Beatles career, but after that he may only appear singing three or four more times while his all-starrs all perform songs from either their solo work or an early career with a band.

 1989:

The First All-Starr Band was (the tour I personally would of liked to see the most);

The 1989 group

1. Ringo Starr
2. Joe Walsh
3. Nils Lofgren
4. Dr. John
5. Billy Preston
6. Rick Danko
7. Levon Helm
8. Clarence Clemons
9. Jim Keltner

With special appearances by;

1. Zak Starkey
2. Bruce Springsteen
3. John Candy
4. Tom Lofgren
5. Garth Hudson
6. Paul Schaffer
7. Max Weinberg

 The band would tour throught the US and in Japan in from 23 July- 3 September, 1989 with songs like Ringo's "No No Song" and "Back Off Boogaloo" to Joe Walsh soloing "Desperado" and "Life In The Fast Lane" from his career with The Eagles, Billy Preston wailing through "Nothing From Nothing", "The Weight" performed by Band members Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Dr. John, and many other songs.

 1992:

While on tour in 1992

1.  Ringo Starr
2. Joe Walsh
3. Nils Lofgren
4. Todd Rundgren
5. Dave Edmunds
6. Burton Cummings
7. Timothy B. Schmit
8. Zak Starkey
9. Timmy Capello

Guest;

1. Harry Nilsson
2. James Gang
3. Jeff Healey
4. Tom and Mike Lofgren
5. Hoyt Axton
6. Bonnie Raitt
7. Gary Busey
8. Kenny Passarelli
9. Nick Lowe- who filled in for Timothy B. Schmit on several occasions

This tour was launched to promote the new Ringo album Time Takes Time. The show opened with Ringo singing "I'm The Greatest", he'd also go on to sing hits like "Yellow Submarine", "Act Naturally" and others, while Todd Rundgren sang "Bang the Drum All Day", Timothy B. Schmit singing "I Can't Tell You Why", and many other songs by each other. The All-Starrs would be traveling through the US and Europe from 2 June- 6 September, 1992.

While performing in Houston, Texas 1995

1995:

1. Ringo Starr
2. Randy Backman
3. Billy Preston
4. Felix Cavalier
5. Mark Farner
6. Zak Starkey
7. John Entwistle
8. Mark Rivera

Guests:

1. Joe Walsh
2. Steven Tyler
3. Max Weingberg
4. Slash
5. Stevie Nicks

Expected to be on the tour;

1. Nils Lofgren- who was suppose to be on the tour but had to leave do to a reunion of the E-Street Band, replaced by Mark Farner
2. Clarence Clemons- who also had returned for the E-Street reunion, replaced by Mark Rivera

From 2 July- 28 August, 1995 The All-Starrs traveled through the US and Japan with songs like "Takin' Care of Business" by Randy Bachman, "Good Lovin'" from Felix Cavaliere, even "Boris the Spider" sung by John Entwistle, and plenty others.

1997-1998

1. Ringo Starr
2. Peter Frampton
3. Gary Brooker
4. Jack Bruce
5. Mark Rivera
6. Scott Gordon



Taken on 12 August, 1998

7. Simon Kirke

Guest:

1. Ginger Baker
2. Leo Kottke
3. Bob Mayo
4. David A. Stewart
5. Dave Mason- who left before the tour started

The fourth All-Starr Band may seem to be the shortest at that time but that didn't effect the set-list. IN fact the band had an average show filling their venues with twenty-five songs from "Show Me The Way" performed by Peter Frampton, "White Room" by Jack Bruce, and even "Photograph" by Ringo himself. The band played in US, Europe, and Russia with a scattered tour from 28 April- 7 June, 1997 and again on 7 August-5 September, 1998.

1999:

1. Ringo Starr
2. Todd Rundgren
3. Gary Brooker
4. Jake Bruce
5. Simon Kirke
6. Timmy Cappello

Guest:

1. Ginger Baker
2. Joe Walsh

From 12 February- 29 March, 1999 the All-Starrs performed "It Don't Come Easy", "Love Me Do", "All Right Now", "Hammer in My Heart" and twenty more songs as they traveled through the United States.

2000:

1. Ringo Starr
2. Dave Edmunds
3. Eric Carmen
4. Jake Bruce
5. Simon Kirke
6. Mark Rivera

Guest:

1. Andy Summers

Gone before the tour started:

1. Billy Squier
2. Billy Preston- replaced by Eric Carmen
3. Ray Davis

"Hungry Eyes" by Eric Carmen, "I Knew the Bride" performed by Dave Edmunds and many more could be heard as the All-Starr's performed various venus from 12 May- 1 July, 2000 in the United States.

2001;

1. Ringo Starr
2. Roger Hodgson
3. Howard Jones
4. Sheila E.
5. Ian Hunger
6. Greg Lake
7. Mark Rivera

 The Supertramp hit "Give A Little Bit" was performed by Roger Hodgson, "With A Little Help From My Friends", Howard Jones with 'Things Can Only Get Better" with twenty-three others were heard from 12 May-1 July, 2001 as the All-Starr's toured across the US.

 2003;

1.  Ringo Starr
2. Paul Carrack
3. Colin Hay
4. Sheila E.
5. John Waite
6. Mark Rivera

Guest;

1. Simon Kirke
2. Mark Hudson
3. Steven Van Zandt
4. Gary Burr

From 24 July- 7 September,2003 The All-Starr's played the US supporting Ringo's new album Ringo Rama. "A Love Bizarre" by Sheila E. even "Never Without You", a song about the love and friendship of George Harrison was beautiful sung by Ringo.

2006;

at the Gibson Amphitheatre 2006

1.  Ringo Starr
2.  Billy Squier
3. Richard Marx
4. Edgar Winter
5. Rod Argent
6. Sheila E.
7. Hamish Stuart

Left Prior To Tour;

1. Mark Hudson

The tour started on 14 June ending on 20 July, 2006 traveling through the United States promoting the Choose Love album. Billy Squier had sang "Everybody Wants You" with Edgar Winter shortly playing his well known "Free Ride"  with the Zombie classic "Time of the Season" and many more like Ringo performing "Act Naturally" and other favorites as well as the other musicians.

2008;

1. Ringo Starr
2. Billy Squier
3. Colin Hay
4. Edgar Winter
5. Gary Wright
6. Hamish Stuart
7. Gregg Bissonette

Guest;

1. Levon Helm

Supporting Ringo's new album, Liverpool 8, the All Starr's toured the United States opening with "With a Little Help From My Friends" closely followed by Billy Squier's "Lonely is the Night" and other favorites like "Dream Weaver" and other classics.

2010-2011;

1. Ringo
2. Wally Palmar
3. Rick Derringer
4. Edgar Winter
5. Gary Wright
6. Richard Page
7. Gregg Bissonette

Guests;

1. Paul McCartney
2. Mark Rivera
3. Zak Starkey
4. Joe Walsh
5. Jim Keltner
6. Jeff Lynne

Supporting another one of Ringo's albums, Y Not, the group played in the United States, Europe and South America from 24 June to 7 August, 2010 and continuing about a year later 4 June to 17 July, 2011 and again from the first of November to the 20 November, 2011. Songs like Richard Page's days with Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" to "Hang On Sloopy" from Rick Derringer's days with the McCoys, and "What I Like About You" from Wally Palmar's group The Romantics.

 2012-2013;

Photo taken by me at the 19 June, 2012 concert

1.  Ringo Starr
2. Steve Lukather
3. Gregg Rolie
4. Todd Rundgren
5. Richard Page
6. Mark Rivera
7. Gregg Bissonette

Guests;

1. Joe Walsh
2. Nils Lofgren
3. Pat Mastelotto

 From 14 June- 21 July, 2012 then again from 7 February to 1 March, 2013 followed by a short break and continuing back on the road from 29 October to 23 November, 2013 the All Starr's performed songs like "Black Magic Woman" from Gregg Rolie's previous band, Santana, "Hello It's Me" from Todd Rundgren, "Hold The Line" from Steve Lukather's Toto, and other classics like "It Don't Come Easy", "Don't Pass Me By" and many more as they supported Ringo's new album, Ringo 2012.

2014;

1. Ringo Starr
2. Steve Lukather
3. Gregg Rolie
4. Todd Rundgren
5. Richard Page
6. Warren Ham
7. Gregg Bissonette

Ringo and the All-Starr's are currently touring the US since 6 June to 19 July and will continue to perform after a short break from 2 October to 23 October, 2013 with performances from Ringo's "Wings", "I Wanna Be Your Man" and others with Gregg Rolie's "Oye Como Va", Steve Lukather singing "Rosana" and other's in between.

I personally have seen Ringo twice at the TD Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, MA on 29 June, 2010 and 19 June, 2012, both shows were phenomenal filled with jokes, laughs, and high energy performances by all musicians. If you haven't seen them yet, I highly recommend it.

To read about Ringo's current tour dates check out RingoStarr.Com and remember to Save The Rhinos! 

Note; I have to give credit to where it's credit is deserved and I had found the set list and tour dates at wikipedia.com

7 Days of Starr Day 5- Drums

Read about Ringo's Early music from Day 2 of 7 Days of Starr.


Premier Mahogany Duroplastic Drum Kit:

Premier Mahogany Duroplastic Drum

From his days with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to the early Beatles days Ringo had been playing on a Premier Mahogany Duroplastic Drum Kit. The Drum head started with his name "Ringo Starr" being presented on the front. The drum head would later be seen with the words "The Beatles" as he progressed into the music scene replacing The Beatles drummer, Pete Best, the "B" having antennas for the multi-meaning band name itself.





 Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Downbeat" Drum Kit:

On Thank Your Lucky Stars

The second drum kit he had is probably the most recognizable out of any band, Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Downbeat" drum kit. Moving on from the first recording together as a group where they recorded songs from "Twist and Shout" to the early version of "One After 909" Ringo had received his first Ludwig on 12 May, 1963 from Drum City in London. The drum head had changed it's immature, bug like font to a more cleaner logo and would make it's first debut during The Beatles performance on Thank You Lucky Stars.

Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Downbeat" Drum Kit:

on the Ed Sullivan Show

His third drum kit was the same as his second, a Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Downbeat" which would later be referred to as the "Sullivan Kit" as it can be seen during The Beatles performances on The Ed Sullivan show in 1964, while on the Ed Sullivan Show The Beatles logo was not present on the drum head.





Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Super Classic" Drum Kit:

I Am The Walrus video

On 31 May, 1964 Ringo received his first Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Super Classic" drum kit, which can be most recognized through its recording and touring and throughout it's 1967 use when The Beatles logo was stripped off the drum head and replaced with a Red and yellow colouring saying "The Beatles" and "Love".




Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Super Classic" Drum Kit:


He received his second Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl "Super Classic" kit just before The Beatles toured America on 13 August, 1965. After the US tour he would return to using his first "Super Classic".

during the rooftop concert

Ludwig Maple "Hollywood" Drum Kit:

The maple coloured drum used in the famous Beatles rooftop concert is a Ludwig Maple "Hollywood", or as some may know it as the "Let It Be Kit". The drum had a unique feature to it with it's Chrome Over Brass rim and dark drum head. The drum would later be seen again during another concert, The Concert For Bangladesh and once again with the legendary B.B King Live in London.

"'Drumming' is my middle name"- Ringo Starr

7 Days of Starr Day 4- Barbara Bach

For James Bond fan's Barbara Bach's name may ring a  bell as she was the Bond girl in the 1977 James Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me.

On Seventeen magazine

Barbara Goldbach was born on 27 August, 1947 in Rosedale Queens to the Irish Catholic, Majorie and Jewish Howard Goldbach. She would grow up living in Jackson Heights and  attendeding Catholic High School in Jamaica Queens up to age sixteen when she left to pursuit a job as a model. The following year she shortened her name from Goldbach to Bach and had become part of the Eileen Ford Agency where she was sent to Rome to model and be featured on the cover of "Seventeen" magazine, becoming known as one the best Top models. While in Rome she had fallen in love with Augusto Gregorini, an Italian businessman who was eleven years older than her, the following year the two were married and would like Rome. While in the relationship with Gregorini she gave birth to Francesca in 1969 and Gianni in 1973. Moving to Italy didn't just provide Bach with a family but it started her career as an actress;

"In Italy I was casually asked on the street if I would do something for television. One of those things they say happens, and it did. Franco Rossi, an Italian director asked me if I would do the Odyssey."-Barbara Bach

She had then began her career filling small positions in Italian films, then Cubby Broccoli, a producer had discovered her, from then on she would become part of films like Il Mio Monsignore, Last Chance and a handful of others.

As Anya Amasova

"I think that I have been looking all my life for a leading lady who looks like Barbara Bach."- Cubby Broccoli

Amongst her appareances in several films Brocolli and director Lewis Gilbert had hired Bach to play the part of Anya Amasova in the 1977 film, The Spy Who Loved Me, becoming one of the legendary Bond Girls. Cubby would go on to say that she "had the look of a tiger..." Her role would lead her to be known as "Queen of the B-Movies"

In 1978 Augusto and Barbara had divorced where she stated that they were more of friends than anything. Despite her divorce, Barbara went on to continue her career as an actress when se played Marizza, a Yugoslavian in a film alongside Harrison Ford, in Force Ten From Navarone. The same year it had become clear to 15,000 models and actresses that the series Charlies Angles were searching for a new angel as Kate Jackson had left. It had come down to two contestants, Barbara Bach and Shelley Hack. On 13 April, 1979 it was announced that Bach had become to the new angel. After making a little mistake the job was taken from Bach and offered to Shelley;

"One of them asked me what I was doing afterwards. I couldn't believe that. Then they asked me what sports I took part in. I told them swimming, skiing, softball, basketball, things as that. They asked me what languages I spoke. I told them fluent Italian and French and Spanish. After I told them I had been in 17 films, they asked what  I could bring to Charlie's Angels. That's when I made my big mistake, I said; 'me'. They said I was to sophisticated in attitude and looks. They also wanted to know if I could play American roles. I was brought up in NY, I suppose they were confused because I started acting in Europe and because of those James Bond Films, and in Force 10 from Navarone, I played a European and so I used a European accent."- Barbara Bach

Caveman

Ringo Starr had been working with Carl Gottlie on a comedy called Caveman where Ringo himself would be a lead actor along with his co-starr, Barbara Bach. The two met in Mexico in February 1980 and had a "love at first sight" experience. During the same year in May as the couple were traveling through England the two were part of a near-fatal car accident where Ringo decided that he never wanted to be separated from her and on 27 April, 1981 guest Paul and Linda McCartney and George and Olivia Harrison had gathered in Marylebone Register Office as Barbara Bach became Barbara Starkey wearing a dress designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel.

Bach is now retired after making a few after apperances, one being in Paul McCartney's film, Give My Regards to Broad Street, in 1984. She is part of the Rumanian Angel, an organization founded by Olivia Harrison, Yoko Ono, and herself; She is also active in the Live Aid "Fashion Aid. Olivia Harrison and her campaigned for "Paretns for Safe Food" and in 1991 Barbara and George Harrison's first wife, Pattie Boyd, set up a free clinic, SHARP, for addicts. Barbara now resigns in Monte Carlo with Ringo. For more information on Barbara I recommend Barbara-Bach.com The Following Video is "I'm Yours" by Ringo Starr;

7 Days of Starr Day 3- Maureen Cox

 "She  married Ringo, when she could have had Paul, 
That's why the lady is a champ."- Frank Sinatra, 1968

Mary Cox was born on 4 August, 1946 to Joseph Cox and Florence Barrett. When she was fourteen years old she changed her name to Maureen (or Mo) and grew up changing her school uniform around, paying her school friends to teach her how to smoke and by age sixteen she was working as a trainee at Ashley du Pre, a beauty salon in Liverpool.

The Cavern Club doors were first opened on 16 January, 1957 at 10 Mathew Street in Liverpool holding jazz musicians that were soon over powered by the rock 'n' roll era. As rock 'n' roll began to sweep the nation The Cavern Club began hiring groups like Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and The Beatles to fill the lunch sessions and soon to play onto the night, with the new kind of music brought a new kind of audience. Swarms of girls, and guys, gathered for hours outside of The Cavern to hear The Beatles, a group who wailed through numbers like "The Hippy Hippy Shake" to "Some Other Guy" performed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and new drummer Ringo Starr. At age fifteen Maureen had become one of the girls who cramped into the damp, rotten fruit mixed with sweat stench cellar fighting for a way to the front to see The Beatles.

"I never joined the queue till about two or three hours before the Cavern opened. It frightened me. There would be fights and rows among the girls. When the doors opened the first ones would tear in, knocking each other over. Then when it got near the time for the Beatles to come on, if there was a gang of four say, they would go off in turns to the lavatory with their little cases to get changed and made up. So when the Beatles came on they’d look smashing, as if they’d just arrived."-Maureen Cox, 1967

 Amongst the girls beats were being placed on who could get The Beatles attention, Maureen took part in this making a bet that she could kiss Paul McCartney, and she did, followed by her kissing Ringo and getting his autograph where he wrote his car license plate number. It was Ringo who she always had a little crush on but it took Ringo three weeks later, when he asked her to dance, that he began to take notice in her. It seemed from that night on that the two became a couple which may of been great for them but as a Cavern dweller, Maureen struggled with the other girls jealous rages,

"I had to be careful because of the fans. I might easily have been killed otherwise. Not being married was all part of their image, and none of them were supposed to have steadies (girlfriends)"- Maureen Cox

While waiting for her boyfriend outside of the Locarno ballroom, Liverpool F.C. on 14 February, 1963 a fan clawed at Maureen's face. Due to constant threats Maureen had to leave her job as a hairdresser, but kept herself busy keeping up with The Beatles Fan Club answering letters from fans of Ringo's. During this time The Beatles had started to become recognized by EMI Studios which lead to the boys moving out of the rough city of Liverpool and to the lavished London area, at only age seventeen Maureen continued to live with her parents in Liverpool but the distance didn't stop the couples relationship.

"How could you go steady in my job? I kept leaving and going on tour. In the early days we didn't have much time off, but any time we did have off I spent with her. We'd have Mondays, because nobody booked gigs for a Monday, so I'd dash up to Liverpool and we'd go to a pub, to the movies or see a show, and then go to a restaurant. Just fill up the whole."- Ringo Starr, Anthology

with Paul and Jane

In 1963 Paul and his girlfriend Jane Asher were accompanied by Ringo and Maureen as they took a vacation in Greece.  This wasn't the only vacation they went on, in 1964 the two found themselves in the Caribbean where she had finally reached her way into the newspapers and press. She hadn't told her parents she was going on a vacation but it didn't seem to bother them,

"It really did not surprise my wife or myself when we learned she was half way across the world. In any case it wouldn't have made any difference. I would have given her permission anyway.  Maureen is a sensible girl and well able to take care of herself."-Joe Cox

On 3 June, 1964 Ringo had found him self in the University College Hospital after collapsing during a photo-shoot with Saturday Evening right before The Beatles World Tour. Starr suffered tonsillitis and was survived by not only the hospitals doctors but by Maureen, who came to visit him bring gifts and ice cream with her.

"...Maureen stayed with my mother in my London flat. It was then I said, 'Do you want Anthology
to get married?' and she said 'yes'. "- Ringo Starr on his hospital stay,

The following January the two had found out that Maureen was pregnant and once again on the 20 January, 1965 at the Ad-Lib Club Ringo had asked her to marry him. On 11 February, 1965 twenty-four year old Ringo married eighteen year old Maureen at the Caxton-Hall Register Office in London. Everybody but Paul, who was in Tunisia with his girlfriend, Jane Asher, attended the wedding where Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, filled the position as best man. George Harrison got there by bicycle where he made the comment,

"Two down, two more to go."

As John had been married since 1962 to Cynthia Powell and now Ringo- the following year George would marry model, Pattie Boyd and in  1969 Paul had become the last Beatle to marry when he wed Linda Eastman. The following video is clips from the Starkey's wedding;

"We hope that our first will be a boy. Naturally I’d like the baby to be like Richie. But he needn’t necessarily follow in his father’s footsteps" -Maureen Cox

"I don't care if I have a boy or a girl. Being a mother and being happily married is just about as much as any girl can wish for."- Maureen Cox

At Sunny Heights

After the wedding there was very littler time for the couple to have their three-day honeymoon as Ringo was due to be on set for The Beatles second film, Help! As soon as he had time, Ringo would return to their 34 Montague Square estate but the home was only temporarily for the married couple as on 24 July, 1965 the two bought a new home, Sunny Heights where they would have their own bar, The Flying Cow, and a go-cart track; In John by Cynthia Powell, she recalls that John was most relaxed when he was with Ringo and he'd often like to go to the Starr's home for the go-cart track and the relaxing atmosphere. Sunny Heights is also where "Blue Jay Way" from The Beatles film, Magical Mystery Tour, was filmed.

The six-bedroomed home didn't seem so big after 13 September, 1965 when  the couple had their first child, Zak Starkey. From then on she had two more children with Ringo, the second being Jason who was born on 19 August, 1967 and a daughter, Lee on 11 November, 1970. A nanny had also occupied a room at the Starkey's Sunny Height.

Despite her like for the press and public, Mo did appear on "The Counting Story of Bungalow Bill" from The Beatles White Album. She also attended The Beatles, along with their wives/girlfriend when they studied mediation in Rishikesh, India. Due to her fear of insects and Ringo's sensitive stomach, the two were soon out and back home to see the kids. That same year (1968), Frank Sinatra recorded at the Beatles Apple Records, in fact it was the first song recorded at Apple, where he recorded a new version of his "The Lady Is A Tramp" for Maureen's birthday; "She married Ringo when she could of had Paul/ That's why the lady is a champ." The following year as The Beatles performed their Rooftop Concert, Paul can be heard saying "Thanks, Mo" after performing "Get Back", as she sat on windy, cold rooftop, along side Yoko Ono. Ringo even filmed Maureen's face for ten-minutes in awe of his wife.

On 10 April, 1970 Paul McCartney had publicly announced that The Beatles had broken up and he was leaving the band. Not knowing what to do without the band, as he said he would of stayed in the band and he was completely lost after the breakup, Ringo coped with alcohol. To make matter's worse it was soon found out that Maureen had an affair with George Harrison, which lead to a break up in both The Starkey and the Harrison's relationships, Lennon calling the affair "virtual incest". The couple didn't divorce right away, it was on 17 July, 1975 the divorce was final after the couple had been each been accused with cheating, Ringo had started seeing American model Nancy Lee Andrews. After the divorce was final, Maureen was left distraught, even running a motorbike into a brick wall in the attempt of suicide. In 1987 Maureen had found herself back in court, this time not for a divorce but in a lawsuit as she was suing the firm that handled her divorce, Withers for what she called an alleged "breach of contract and negligence", feeling that she hadn't got enough money or finances as she should have from the divorce and that Ringo's finances were not thoroughly investigated. During the three-day trial she had called her ex-husband, "a soddy great Andy Capp" and herself as "thick as two short planks". In the end Ringo had doubled her yearly payments, "a generous man", said Mr. Justice Bush.

Mo, Issac, Augusta

About a year after the Starkey's divorced Maureen had got to know one of the founders of the Hard Rock Cafe and the House of Blues, Issac Tigrett. That same year the two began living together and would start a twelve year relationship with their daughter, Augusta King Tigrett who was born on 4 January, 1987, the relationship turned into marriage on 27 May, 1989 in Monaco. Throughout the couples relationship Maureen was known for saying,

"Just give me furs, jewels and property, thank you." 

While Isaac, a collector, and said that she is his "Ultimate collectible".

On 30 December, 1994 after being treated at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington where she received bone marrow and blood platelets from her son Zak, Maureen had passed away from leukemia. At her bed side was Issac, her mother, her four children and Ringo. In 1997 Paul McCartney released his album, Flaming Pie with a track "Little Willow" about Maureen.

The following video is "Little Willow";

Grow to the heavens
Now and forever
Always came too soon

Little willow

7 Days of Starr Day 2- Early Music

Before reading this post it might help if you read Day 1 of 7 Days of Starr about his childhood.

“Music possessed me and I got out.”-Ringo Starr, The Anthology

Ringo had outgrown his illness after age sixteen, but a few years before his sixteenth year he was diagnosed with pleurisy it was in this hospital visit he had grown a liking to drums. Prior to the hospital he had seen drums in a music store on Park Road, the store had all instruments like guitars, banjos and what not but it was the drums that he was drawn too but they were too expensive. He was given a harmonica by his grandfather when he was seven, a mandolin and banjo, and a piano was around but he never had much interest in any of them. It had to be the drums; that was it. When he was in the hospital he started hitting cabinets next to the bed with cotton bobbins, there was nothing else to do. A teacher would come in and teach the child patients, one subject would be music where the kids would be allowed to play percussion instruments like triangles, tambourines, and the drums; Ringo would only play if he could play the drums. 

He bought his first drum for thirty shillings. His uncle played banjo or harmonica and his grandparents played mandolin and banjo, and he would play his drum. When he was fifteen he began singing in choir. His favorite music at the time was The Four Aces’ ‘Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing’, Eddie Calvert, and David Whitfield. Hank Williams was another favorite of his, he had a love for country. When Skiffle was coming out he became a fan of Johnnie Ray but he found his hero when he was sixteen, Frankie Laine; Bill Haley and Carl Perkins later became other favorites of his. When he met Roy Trafford, years later, they would soon share the same love for music and ease on their teddy boy days to become musicians. 

"Ritchie joined the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group with Ed Miles, the boy who lived next door. Roy Trafford and Johnny Dougherty - they all worked together in the same place. Eddie used to take his guitar to work every day. He was a smashing fellow - if ever a lad should have got somewhere he would have. I believe he's the Hank Walters & His Dusty Road Ramblers."-Elsie Gleave, The Mersey Beat

Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group

At age seventeen the skiffle sound had boomed thanks to Lonnie Donegan and The Vipers. Roy Trafford, Eddie Miles (a lathe operator where Ringo and Roy worked and would go by the name Eddie Clayton), John Dougherty, Frank Walsh, and Ringo started their own skiffle group. His first band was called the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. It was around this time that Ringo had received his first drum kit for Christmas from his family. With his drums he took three lessons from an older man, after three lessons it became too routine for Ringo and he never returned. After his lessons and he set up the drums in his bedroom; he only played their twice due to complaints from the neighbors. The band started playing at the factory where they worked, then moved onto doing weddings, which lead to them soon being regulars at Peel Street Labour Club along with appearances at the Cavern Club. 

At age eighteen Ringo began thinking about emigrating to the United States with his friend Johnny and live with one of his favorite Blues musicians, Lightinin’ Hopkins; Ringo even got paper work from the Embassy to go. By this time he was beginning to become well known as a drummer in Liverpool’s best bands like The Darktown Skiffle Group then with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes leaving his band with Eddie and Roy who had become wrapped up in their own personal lives of starting families and focusing more on their careers.

 “I thought Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were great. They were the first ones in Liverpool who really wanted to get into rock’n’roll.” -Ringo Starr, Anthology

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

Ringo auditioned for Rory; a blonde haired, front man singer, with guitarist, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Byrne (“…was Liverpool’s Jimi Hendrix.”), in 1958 after Ringo had bought his new drum kit, an Ajax single-headed kit from Frank Hessy’s music shop. On first impression Ringo looked tough to the Hurricanes, as he still dressed in his Teddy boy apparel. That was the impression Ringo got often, even when The Beatles met him, they were a bit frightened by him because of his appearance. Ringo passed the audition and became known as one of the greatest drummers in Liverpool during the time, everyone wanted him; some groups didn’t even want Ringo as a drummer, they wanted him as a bassist or anything they could get him to play. 

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

 The Hurricanes started playing at various places, one being at The Cavern Club on Mathew Street, where they were kicked off stage for being a progressive rock’n’roll group rather than a jazz or skiffle group that the audience wanted to hear. It was around 1959 when it had been announced that those born after September 1939 would be safe from being enlisted into war which was fantastic for Ringo, he stopped working at the factory  and decided he was going to be professional with Rory; the DHSS said ‘He left the factory to join a dance band.’. The Hurricanes were offered a gig to play for £16 a week at the rock and Calypso Ballroom in Butlins. His family told him, 

“'You’ll come back in three months, and you’ll only be semi-skilled when you do.'”  -Ringo Starr, Anthology

Ringo’s response was,

 “I don’t care. Drums are my life, I want to be a musicians and I’m going away with Rory to Butlins to fulfill this dream.” - Anthology

They were in Butlins for three months where they decided to give each other names, John Byrne became Johnny Guitar, and this is when Ringo, became Ringo because of the amount of rings he wore. He began calling himself Ringo Starkey, but Starkey didn’t flow well with his new nick name so he dropped with ending and added an extra ‘r’ making Richard Starkey to Ringo Starr.  

Rory Storm and his Rockette?

 The Hurricanes were in Butlins and the right time, the summer months, where they would perform week after week doing their performances of songs like Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and Rory’s athletics of jumping over Ringo’s head after he finished playing the piano that was located behind the drums.  From Butlins The Hurricanes were offered gigs playing at American army bases in France.

 “The problem was we need a girl singer, because the army didn’t want to look at us guys. So we found a blonde girl in Liverpool (whose name I can’t remember) and we went out there and played in all those bases in the wilderness.”-Ringo Starr, Anthology

 It was during this time that the French were fighting the Algerians and once the band got to Paris by train they were forced off, which wasn’t the most welcoming experience but the band overcame that and stayed in cheap rooms; they survived off of hamburgers and Hershey bars that they got at solider prices. By autumn 1960 Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were to play in Hamburg, Germany where everything seemed to fall into place.

 

George, Pete, Paul, John at the Cavern

With gigs in Germany and around venues near their home town Rory Storm and the Hurricanes became the greatest rock 'n' roll group in Liverpool, amongst with another favorite band whose name changed from The Quarrymen to Long John and the Silver Beetles to The Beatles. During this time The Beatles were held together by three guitarist, the leader seeming to be John Lennon who shared the leadership with a chubby cheeked Paul McCartney who had recently picked up bass after their bass player, Stu Sutcliffe, fell in love with a German photographer, and the shy lead guitarist, George Harrison. Behind the three standing at the microphones was drummer, Pete Best, whose mother owns the Casbah Club, a coffee club in the Best's basement where The Beatles played regularly when they weren't playing in Germany or The Cavern. The Beatles were well known due to bookings from their manager, Brian Epstein, in fact The Beatles were already looking for a record label after making an album with another English performer, Tony Sheridan, where they were listed as The Beats. The group went to London where they were shot down by Decca records, read about their experience here. From their they went on to EMI Studios were producer George Martin had made the suggestion that the group was strong but needed a new drummer, with that standing in the way The Beatles had their manager fire Pete. 

"We were cowards. We got Epstein to do the dirty work for us."- John Lennon, Anthology

Ringo and The Beatles

On 12 August, 1962 Brian broke the news to Pete. Six days later Ringo had joined the band after being offered the job two days earlier. When he joined the band the fans were furious, especially the girls who found  Pete  the most attractive one out of all of The Beatles. At gigs the crowd would chant,

"Ringo never, Pete Best forever!"

George was even headbutted and received a black eye outside of the Cavern by a Best fan. But that all died down and Ringo became (in John Lennon's words) The greatest drummer. George described the situation in a joke matter saying, "How many Beatles does it take to screw in a light bulb? Four." Ringo being the fourth piece.