Ringo Starr – Having a great party in South America

When Ringo Starr joined The Beatles in 1962, he couldn’t have imagined what a musical phenomenon they would become. Now, over 50 years later, the 73-year-old drummer is touring again with his group Ringo and his All Starr Band, in South America ending in Las Vegas.

Last week, he spent an entire day in Hollywood, first at the ArcLight Theatre, where he unveiled his new book of photography called ‘Photograph,’ which is being released on November 22nd. Then he and his band moved down the street to Sir on Sunset Boulevard, where they performed a few of their songs for a packed room of journalists. And I have to tell you, Ringo looked sensational and the band was great.

After the mini-concert Ringo did a short Q & A.

What keeps you going?

I speak for myself when I say, I’ve nothing better to do. It’s a dream for me. From [the time I was] 13-years-old I wanted to play drums, I wanted to play with good people and I’m still doing it, and I still love it.

This band musically are all great players, and the spirit of this band is very close. We’re going to have a great party in South America.

What are your memories of your previous tours in South America?

I loved it. I haven’t been or played in South America for two years. I played there and it blew me. The energy of the audiences was so great, so loving, that’s what I brought back from there last time. And we’re going back and we hope it’s the same.

Will you do an extended stay in Las Vegas?

It’s been talked about, but nothing is being finalized. It will be a couple of years before that happens.

Looking through your book of photographs, is there a moment captured by a photo that you would like to relive?

Those moments are gone. I’m just lucky I captured them, because I’ve got a lot of stuff in there over the years, and when you see a photo it helps you bring it back.

[With the Beatles’ shots] what’s more interesting to me are the shots [I took of the people] outside the cars, because the four of us were always in a car wherever we went in New York.

There are a lot of pictures of the kids looking out their windows, chatting to us, that was all exciting. So that gave me a lot of freedom, because you didn’t have the chance in the sixties to wander around and take the shots, which I have now.

Are you taking photos of this group as you tour?

No. I don’t take as many as I used to. I’ve sort of slowed down a bit on that because I realized that I was so busy taking photos or videoing what was going on that I wasn’t actually an active part of it. So now I’m at the party.

If Paul McCartney asked you to be in his band, what would you say to him?

That would be good, but he’d have to call [the band] Ringo’s!

Earlier in the day Ringo signed copies of his new book. He was asked if he had changed his mind about signing autographs – click here to see his reply.

httpv://youtu.be/AqO9fSM5IaM

Here are the tour dates for Ringo and his All Starr Band, Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Gregg Rolie (Santana), Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette.