Ringo Starr approaches the Sunset Marquis restaurant wearing a crisp white cowboy hat and matching white denim jacket.
The 84-year-old former Beatles drummer is at the West Hollywood hotel shooting photos for a country album he is finishing with producer T Bone Burnett, a sequel of sorts, half a century later, to 1970's “Beaucoups of Blues,” which drew on his stints as lead vocalist with the Fab Four on a cover of Buck Owens' “Act Naturally” and the White Album's soaring “Don't Pass Me By,” which he wrote.
“But don't ask me about that,” Starr says cheerfully of the upcoming LP. “That's for later.”
For now, he’s focused on a tour with his All-Starr Band that kicks off Saturday in San Diego before stopping at the Greek Theatre on Sunday night. The All-Starr Band, formed from the countless relationships he’s developed with musicians over the decades, puts the legendary Richard Starkey at the helm of a rotating group of well-traveled musicians (current members are Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Buck Johnson and Gregg Bissonette) for a rollicking revue of classic rock hits.
“We rehearse on Saturday and Sunday; that's all we need,” says Starr, who has lived mostly in Los Angeles since the early 1990s and who looks relaxed on this recent afternoon after a vacation in Malibu with his wife, actress (and former Bond girl) Barbara Bach, and some of his children and grandchildren.
“Barbara’s sister Marjorie and Joe were there, too,” Starr adds, playing an imaginary guitar to refer to his famous brother-in-law, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, who married Marjorie Bach in 2008, years after he was part of the first All-Starr Band. “We had a blast.”
What do your grandchildren call you?
Grandpa. One of my granddaughters just had a baby and we were trying to get her to say “great-grandpa” but I ended up saying “grandfather.” She made that up.
Who in your life calls you Richie or Rich, instead of Ringo?
My whole family: Richie, Dad or Darling.
Does anyone use the full Richard?
Sometimes Barbara when she is angry: “Ricardo!“But that's like twice a year.
Barbara Bach, left, and Ringo Starr in Beverly Hills in 2022.
(Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Tell me about the formation of the All-Starr Band, which originally came from a proposal from Pepsi, right?
It was in 1989. Pepsi had contacted a person who contacted a person who knew me and they were wondering if I would like to go on tour. I said yes, and then I thought, “What do you mean yes? You’ve never been in a band. So what’s going on?” I pulled out the phone book—it was 1989, so it was a physical phone book—and I called Joe Walsh: “Man, they’re asking me to go on tour. I don’t have a band. Do you want to be in the band?” He said yes.
Was Joe Walsh's number in the phone book in 1989?
Yes, yes. We also had Nils Lofgren, he was a friend anyway, so he said yes. Dr. John had been in the [“Ringo’s Rotogravure”] album, and I called him. That was a funny story because he could get a little gruff, it could be hard to understand what he was saying. So I called this guy who was helping me and I said, “Well, I just talked to Dr. John and I don't think he wants to do it.” The guy said, “He just called me and he thinks you don't want him.” So I thought of Levon [Helm] and rick [Danko] From the band and they said yes. I had to stop calling people because everyone said yes.
In fact, the first band had three drummers.
Because I was insecure. I had Levon on drums, I was on drums, and Jim Keltner was on drums. But it worked out. Back then, there was a 1-800 number you could call to buy records. We were the best 1-800 band in the country.
I recently spoke with Steve Lukather, who basically considers you a hero, does it feel strange to play with guys who look up to you so much?
It's great [laughs]Luke is a good friend. But everyone on stage has their own space and everyone is there for each other. Whenever we get together, I say this speech: “Look, I’m going to do the best I can for you and all I want is for you to do the best you can for me and for him, and for him, and for him.” In the 90s, I had some members who didn’t really understand the system. One of them came to me and was complaining about another musician. He said, “I’m going to have to leave,” and I said, “It’s okay, you’re not going to blackmail me.” He didn’t leave.
Do you have a natural gift for hiring and firing?
Yes. There have been some musicians who felt… well, they didn't feel bigger than me because they weren't, but they felt they had the right to change things. If we do a tour and it's been too harsh: “I'm afraid you're out of the band.” Or if it's just in really bad taste. We had one musician who played crap.
Would you mind giving it a name?
No.
I found out that Sunday's Greek show will take place almost exactly 35 years since the All-Starr Band concert. First concert there on September 3, 1989.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a very clear night. A lot of actors came. Los Angeles was becoming the place for me. We bought a house in 1992, Barbara and I. [Before that]I lived in Monte Carlo, so we had to move around a lot. From time to time I remember when we first met and rented a house in Los Angeles.
The Beatles in 1964: Ringo Starr, from left to right, George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
(Associated Press)
Do you remember where?
Bedford, near Sunset. We hung out, did our own thing, but I was only allowed to stay here for three months. I was like, “We’ll have to leave on Tuesday…” We had to call his mom and dad to babysit. It’s not like that anymore, we’re more settled.
Are you a US citizen?
No.
A couple of years ago I asked Keith Richards that question. He said: “Get out of here, dammit!. What is your attitude?
Blooming well no [laughs].
You have lived here for almost 40 years.
Yes, but I'm English and my children and my family are there. It's not like I'm alone. And I have a lot of deep memories from there. I don't have to be American to be in America. I'm American. When we first came here in 1964, I was dressed in a poncho, a holster and a toy gun. We went to Burt Lancaster's house and he said, “Ringo, what are you doing?” I said, “Man, I'm in Los Angeles, I'm a cowboy.” And the result was that he sent me a beautiful belt and two six-gun revolvers, which I still have.
Many other British musicians have ended up here over the years: Rod StewartJeff Lynne and Dave Stewart.
Dave now lives in another country. We played together in Liverpool in 2008. [at a concert meant to recognize the city’s role as a capital of European culture]While we were doing that, at the school I went to, Dingle Vale, they had some fields they wanted to call Starr Fields. Could I go and open them? I was never a sportsman, but I marked the pitch.
Why weren't you an athlete?
It just didn't appeal to me. Even then I was deeply musical.
You He played for the last time with Paul McCartney at Dodger Stadium in 2019. Do you think we'll see a moment like that again?
I don't know, maybe. I played with him at the O2 in England. [in 2018]. Then he played here and I got up and did a couple of songs with him. It was exciting. There's a connection between the bass player and the drummer, you know. They're both the deepest part of it all. Paul is the man, and he's still the most magical bass player I know.
