Ringo Starr Page 4

The Beatles felt ''threatened'' by Yoko Ono, according to Sir Paul McCartney.

The 74-year-old singer songwriter has admitted he shares a ''good'' friendship with the widow of the late band mate John Lennon, although he has revealed he used to feel intimidated by her.

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine about their friendship, he said: ''It's really good, actually. We were kind of threatened [then]. She was sitting on the amps while we were recording. Most bands couldn't handle that. We handled it, but not amazingly well, because we were so tight. We weren't sexist, but girls didn't come to the studio - they tended to leave us to it. When John got with Yoko, she wasn't in the control room or to the side. It was in the middle of the four of us.''

Continue reading: The Beatles Were 'threatened' By Yoko Ono

Tributes are pouring in for legendary boxer Muhammad Ali who has died aged 74. The three-time heavyweight champion, who was widely regarded as the greatest of all time, died on Friday evening (June 3rd) a day after being hospitalised for respiratory problems.

Continue reading: Tributes Pour In For The Legendary Muhammad Ali Who Has Died Aged 74

Sir Elton John and Jk Rowling are officially Britain’s most charitable celebrities, according to the Sunday Times’ Giving List. The music icon and the author both gave away a hefty amount of their fortune to charities over the past year to top the list, which also included One Direction and David Beckham.

Elton John has topped the list of Britain’s most charitable celebrities.

The Sunday Times reports that John gave an estimated £26.8m to charity last year, mainly to his Aids foundations in the UK and the US. The singer established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 and it is said to have raised over $200m so far to support HIV/AIDS programs around the world.

Continue reading: Elton John And JK Rowling Top List Of Charitable Celebrities

Ringo Starr joins those in protest of the newly enacted 'bathroom bill' in North Carolina by cancelling his upcoming show in the state. He is among a group of celebrities rallying against the new law, that many have argued discriminate against the transgender community.

Ringo Starr fights against discriminatory bathroom bill

The former Beatle has cancelled the North Carolina leg of his All Starr Tour, which was to take place in Cary this June, in response to Governor Pat McCrory's recent signing of the House Bill 2 - also known as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act or the 'bathroom bill'. The new law states that people must only use restrooms or locker rooms labelled for the gender that's specified on their birth certificate, seemingly regardless of gender transition.

Continue reading: Ringo Starr Joins Bruce Springsteen In North Carolina Boycott After 'Bathroom Bill'

The childhood home of The Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr has been sold at an auction in Liverpool for £70,000, to a fan who also owns properties connected with John Lennon and George Harrison.

The property of Number 10, Admiral Grove in Toxteth was sold to Beatles uber-fan Jackie Holmes, following the death of its long-time tenant Margaret Gorse. She paid £15,000 over the guide price at the auction, held at the famous Cavern Club in the city centre of Liverpool on Thursday (March 25th).

Ringo Starr's childhood home in Liverpool was sold for £70,000

Continue reading: Ringo Starr's Childhood Home In Liverpool Sells For £70k At Auction

It’s been less than a week since The Beatles’ back catalogue finally hit streaming services and music fans all over the world have been indulging in all the Fab Four’s classic hits. But the band’s arrival to the streaming world has perhaps also helped to settle a long-standing debate among music fans, as to what is the definitive Beatles’ song.

The Beatles’ back catalogue is now available on streaming services.

At 00.01am on Christmas Eve The Beatles’ music hit stream hit almost every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, TIDAL, and Amazon Prime. It marked the end of the group shunning the streaming world, finally bringing their music into the 21st century.

Continue reading: 'Come Together' Is The Most Popular Beatles Track On Spotify

The Beatles music has finally been confirmed as hitting a range of streaming services just in time for Christmas. The band’s official twitter account made the announcement today, with their full catalogue becoming available from tomorrow, Christmas Eve.

From tomorrow you will finally be able to stream The Beatles’ music.

‘December 24 at 12:01am local time, The Beatles’ music is available for streaming worldwide,’ the announcement read, with a link to the band’s official site. The music will be available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play, Microsoft Groove, Napster/Rhapsody, Slacker Radio, Tidal and Amazon's Prime Music service. The songs will not, however, be available on Pandora.

Continue reading: The Beatles' Back Catalogue Confirmed To Hit Streaming Services On Christmas Eve

It's been a long wait for fans, but The Beatles are rumoured to finally be about to begin releasing their music on streaming services and tracks could come as early as Christmas Eve. Despite being arguably the most popular group of all time, the Fab Four have so far kept their back catalogue off services such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Are The Beatles about to join the streaming world?

Billboard reports that there is conflicting information on exactly when the band’s music will appear on streaming services, but discussions are said to be ‘strongly hinting’ towards a December 24th arrival date.

Continue reading: Could The Beatles Be Ready To Hit Streaming Services On Christmas Eve?

A drum kit used by former Beatle Ringo Starr in over 200 shows during the 1960s has sold for $1.75 million at a charity auction. More than 800 pieces of memorabilia were being sold by Starr and wife Barbara Bach at the auction, to raise money for their charity, Lotus Children Foundation.

Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach have been auctioning off some pricey pieces of Beatles memorabilia.

The drum kit was bought by multi-millionaire and owner of NFL team the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay. After the auction fees set by Julien’s Auctions, Irsay’s total payment on the set is said to have totalled $2.1 million. Starr is said to have used the kit on hits such as 'Can’t Buy Me Love' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'.

Continue reading: Ringo Starr's Drum Kit Sells For $1.75 Million At Charity Auction

One of the world's most recognizable musicians, Ringo Starr of The Beatles is trading in his drum kit for a pair of brand new shoes as he has been announced as the new face of Skechers' Relaxed Fit footwear line.

Ringo is the new face of Skechers

The 74 year-old rocker, who is the first-ever musician to appear in the footwear commercial series, follow in the footsteps of sporting figures like Joe Montana, Mark Cuban and Joe Namath with his new modelling gig.

Continue reading: Ringo Starr Announced As The New Face Of Skechers

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is set to direct a documentary about The Beatles, following their journey from Liverpool's Cavern Club to their last concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Crucially, the movie is being made in-corporation with Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono.

Ron Howard [L] will direct the Beatles documentary [Getty/Christopher Polk]

Howard - known for Apollo 14, The Da Vinci Code and Frost/Nixon - called it "an astounding story".

Continue reading: Ron Howard To Direct Beatles Documentary, From Cavern Club To San Francisco

The Beatles continue to be a bottomless source of material and resources as yet another posthumously released album will make it's way on to record store shelves before the year is over. On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2 is the second collection of tracks recorded by the band during their heyday in the world-renowned BBC studios and will feature some never-heard-before recordings of original songs and covers, as well as some studio chatter.

People continue to find untapped Beatles sources

A follow-up to 1994's chart topping Live At The BBC, the album will be the first Beatles album released through Universal (via Apple Corps) since the company acquired EMI earlier this year. The label will be hoping that the 63 track double album will prove to be as successful as the original collection of BBC-recorded rarities from 19 years ago, which reached Number 1 in the UK album chart and No. 3 in the USA. The label may also have another volume or two from the same recording sessions in the pipeline as the band are known to have recorded at least 275 different musical performances between March 1962 and June 1965 for the BBC.

Continue reading: The Beatles To Release Rarities Collection Featuring Never Before Heard Tracks

The Beatles may have split up over 40 years ago, but this hasn't stopped them from releasing a seemingly endless supply of live albums and best of's, and this is still the case today. Details have been released about the forthcoming live album On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2, a collection of previously unreleased live performances by the band at the BBC's studios during their heyday.

Surviving Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney remain active to this day

John, Paul, George and Ringo will be back in the follow-up to Live At The BBC, the first collection of unreleased live performances from the Fab Four at the BBC that was released 19 years ago. The new release will be made up of 63 tracks in total, mixing live performances of the group's most famous hits with 23 previously unheard recordings of what has been described as "in-studio banter" and "conversation" between the band's members and their BBC radio hosts.

Continue reading: The Beatles To 'Return' With Second BBC Session Album

A new album from The Beatles will be released in November showcasing songs the Liverpool band recorded in the BBC's studios. The record, entitled On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2, will serve as the sequel to 1994's Live At The BBC and will feature ten unreleased songs from the 1960s that the band never recorded for their record label EMI.

A New Album Of The Beatles' Songs Will Be Released In November.

The rarities, according to The Independent, will include the famous four-piece's cover of Chuck Berry's 'I'm Talking About You' and the 19th century, oft covered 'Beautiful Dreamer.' All live-to-air pieces without editing, the songs will only emphasise The Beatles' musical proficiency and ability to make great music together.

Continue reading: The Beatles Rarities Album To Be Released: 'On Air - Live At The BBC Volume 2'

There's a new award in town, one that honours those musicians who have made the greatest, most lasting contribution to music in the modern era; the Brits Icon Award. The first ever Icon to be handed out was done so during a spectacular and star-studded show at London's Palladium Theatre, during which the first honouree of the coveted award played a hit-filled set to his adoring peers. That person; Sir Elton John.

Sir Elton became the first honouree of the new award

The gala concert, his first since undergoing surgery for appendicitis earlier this year, saw Elton presented the award by his friend Rod Stewart in front of a celebrity-filled audience that also included Liz Hurley, Lulu, former-President Bill Clinton, Ringo Starr, Gary Barlow and many more. The singing icon received a standing ovation as he took to the stage to collect his award, having been introduced by Stewart, who cheekily referred to the man of the hour as "the second-best rock singer ever."

Continue reading: Sir Elton John Awarded First Brits Icon Award

With its noodly, upbeat opening and innocent subject matter, 'Octopus's Garden' from 1969s Abbey Roadis an ideal choice for an adaptation to children's picture book illustrated by Ben Cort (Aliens Love Underpants, Pigs Can't Fly!).

Ringo Starr, former drummer for The Beatles, has given permission for the song he wrote whilst on holiday in 1968 to be used as a lyrical base-text with "illustrations that revel in the imaginative opportunities presented by the lyrics", according to Ingrid Selberg at Simon & Schuster UK, who describes the opportunity as "a dream come true."

Regarding his decision, Starr has said in a message to fans "It gives me great pleasure to collaborate with Ben Cort and Simon & Schuster for the further adventures of Octopus's Garden. Peace and love."

Continue reading: 'I'd Ask My Friends To Come And Read An Octopus's Garden With Me': Ringo Gives Permission For Children's Book

Ringo Starr is releasing a new Beatles album! Photo album that is. The drummer for the Fab Four is putting out a book – originally titled Photograph – that will contain never before seen shots of the Beatles from throughout their time together in the 1960’s. For most people shots have never been seen before because of things like: someone’s put their finger over the lens, the lens was smudgy or people have come out with red eye in them; however Ringo reckons that he’s got a pretty decent selection of his old band mates Macca, John Lennon and George Harrison.

"These are shots that no one else could have" he said according to The Independent, which we presume means that the wily drummer spent tour evenings creeping around their hotel taking pictures of the rest of them when they were sleeping. The book isn’t entirely about The Beatles; it will stretch out over Ringo’s whole life, including his upbringing in Liverpool. The digital version of the book will allow readers to zoom in on photos, while Ringo has provided some voice over and animation bits to go alongside it, including narrations of the stories behind the pictures. Good news for those who miss him narrating Thomas The Tank Engine.

The book will be released as an eBook on the iTunes bookstore from June 12^th, a limited print edition will run in December. Just don't ask him to sign them. 

Continue reading: Ringo Starr To Release 'Never Before Seen' Beatles Photos In New Book

Paul McCartney has lent his considerable voice to the Voices Against Violence campaign, started by Tony Bennett, his son Danny and the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence. "We the people need to make our voices heard on this issue," the elder Bennett said in a statement. "This is a job for the people, not the politicians."

Want to hear the message? You can do by texting "MYVOICE" to 877877. You’ll get an automated message from McCartney, after which you're connected to a U.S. senator's office. "Hi, this is Paul McCartney, and in a minute you will be connected to a congressperson who needs to hear your voice, now. Tell the congressperson that you support common-sense laws that keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people, including criminal background checks on all gun sales," he says. Smart, no? "Enough is enough. Please add your voice - and thank you for adding your voice to end gun violence." Alec Baldwin, Josh Groban, Rosie O'Donnell and Mia Farrow are other celebs to lend their voices to the initiative.

Macca and Starr - best mates again?

Continue reading: Former Beatle Paul McCartney Records 'Voices Against Violence' Message

A demo tape by The Beatles overlooked by Decca records - considered 'the biggest mistake in music history' - is to be sold at auction. Recorded on New Year's Day in 1961, the tape features 10 cover versions but record label man Dick Rowe passed on the Liverpool group and signed The Tremeloes instead.

Of course, The Beatles went on to sign for EMI and became the most popular band in the world. The tape is being auctioned in London on Tuesday by the Fame Bureau with an asking price of £30,000, though that does not give the buyer rights to the tracks. "Apple, the company set up by The Beatles, holds the copyright to their voices and if anyone tried to release the material without their permission they would certainly be sued," said Fame Bureau managing director Ted Owen, "This has never officially been released. It is unique and the sound quality is crystal clear. We have spoken to various experts and this is the best quality recording of this session there is." The tape features Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar, John Lennon on rhythm and Pete Best on drums, who was later sacked and replaced by Ringo Starr. 

The tape - still said to be in good condition - is marked as 'The Silver Beatles', the group's former name, and features a black and white image of the group wearing leather jackets. 

Continue reading: The Beatles Decca Demo - The Biggest Mistake In Music History Up For Sale