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The Guardian World1 min read
Ringo Starr: 'I made all my mistakes on stage'
TL;DR
Ringo Starr, the former Beatles drummer, prefers to be called Ringo instead of Sir Richard, despite being knighted in 2018. He discusses his new country album, Long Long Road, highlighting its Nashville influence.
Key points
- Ringo Starr prefers to be called Ringo.
- He was knighted in 2018 as Sir Richard.
- His new album is titled Long Long Road.
- The album has a Nashville influence.
- Ringo encourages a relaxed conversation about music.
Mentioned in this story
Ringo Starr
Long Long Road
"Call me Ringo." That's what the former Beatles drummer says when asked if we should call him Sir.
He joins us at the swanky Sunset Marquis hotel in West Hollywood where rock stars have gathered for decades in a luxury oasis behind the Sunset Strip.
We're here to talk music – specifically Ringo Starr's new country album, Long Long Road.
But first we deal with the honorifics because although he was knighted in 2018 for his services to music, technically, he says, it's wrong to call him Sir Ringo because he's actually "Sir Richard."
Sir Richard laughs. He just wants to talk music, and he's not worried about formalities or titles. His new album is more Nashville than Los Angeles and he seems more LA than Liverpool as he encourages an American interviewing a British national treasure for the BBC to just relax.
"Peace and love," he says, a soothing catchphrase often used by the 85-year-old music legend who looks, moves and sings like a much younger man.
"I've always loved the attitude of LA," he says, adding that he's had a home here since the 1970s.
"Besides, I love the heat and the light, it's just been a good place for me."
On his new country album, Starr collaborates with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings and St Vincent.
And he says that's the way he likes it. He never plays music alone, not even to practice.
"That's how I did it. I made all my mistakes on stage," he says.
Before joining The Beatles, he says he was practicing drums alone as a kid, and the neighbours complained, yelling at him to shut up.
"I think that's what did it," he says laughing, adding that he tells all his grandchildren to stop practising music alone and to get together and join a band.
"If you play piano, bass, saxophone, I will play with you all night," he says. "Get with people."
For Long Long Road, Starr teamed up with legendary producer T Bone Burnett who played guitar for Bob Dylan in the 1970s. It's their second collaboration in less than two years. This time, they co-wrote the album and recorded in Los Angeles and Nashville.
Starr says T Bone knows all the great musicians in Nashville.
"And because they're recording in Nashville, they just pop in to play. It's great."
Country music now is very cool, of course. Even Beyoncé's making country music. Her album Cowboy Carter won the top prize at the Grammys last year, rare for country music.
"She made a great album," Starr says, whose love for the genre goes way back.
So how did he first get into country music in the 1950s and 60s?
Liverpool was "the capital of country music in England," he says, noting that merchant navy workers were bringing in records to the port city from every genre from all around the world, including plenty of country music from Texas.
Q&A
What is Ringo Starr's new album called?
Ringo Starr's new album is titled Long Long Road.
Why does Ringo Starr prefer to be called Ringo instead of Sir?
Ringo Starr prefers to be called Ringo because he finds it wrong to use the title Sir Ringo, as his official title is Sir Richard.
When was Ringo Starr knighted?
Ringo Starr was knighted in 2018 for his services to music.
What musical style does Ringo Starr's new album Long Long Road reflect?
Ringo Starr's new album Long Long Road reflects a country music style, more Nashville than Los Angeles.
