I have mixed feelings with regard to the current Ringo thing. On the one hand I can see what a total nightmare it must be to be followed around with requests for autographs. Especially given that it’s probably been the same for the last forty odd years and as they say (whoever “they” are!) nothing lasts forever. However, I do have to add, that whilst it’s understandable that he may be sick to the back teeth of this tiresome chore, he should realise that for ALL of the time he’s been in the public eye he has lived in a rarefied atmosphere enjoying the fruit of not only his own labours, but the fruit of the fans’ labours too. Yes the Beatles have given their “nervous” systems to a world hungry for anything and everything “Beatles”, but it has been fans that have been the fuel for that car. Without the fans and their massive interest, their mind boggling, eye popping and unquenchable thirst for new products, tickets and pertinently, an autograph, then Ringo might still be drumming down the Cavern on a Sunday night at the charity Beat gigs they put on there these days. It seems to me, and I freely admit I have no idea of what it’s like to be hounded for autographs daily and so I can only guess at how annoying it might be, but surely there are many worse things a person can be saddled with in this life? These are unsteady and difficult days all ‘round. As the credit crunch bites us all squarely in the butt I’m thinking, wait a minute, if all you have to do is sign stuff even if it was ALL day, it doesn’t add up to the smallest percentile of hassle in comparison with what ordinary people have to deal with does it? I mean it’s not like you have stand out in the freezing cold every morning waiting on a bus to take you to work in a place that you’d be happy to never to see again is it? It’s not a difficult job really? Whatever the reason Ringo has decided it SURELY can’t be the one that states he simply cannot be bothered doing it eh? Something else must have happened. I read on the news article the suggestion that maybe there’s been some Ebay activity that’s annoyed him? Perhaps.
It STILL doesn’t help me understand the tone of his request. I was listening to a piece on the BBC’s Radio Four news where they went to ask (some already annoyed) Liverpudlians what they thought of his stroppy tirade (for that is what it is) and I have to say he was roundly savaged by all with the exception of those who work in the Beatle industry (but of course!) who are obviously guarding their connection and giving the man the benefit of the doubt.
Ultimately something has triggered this for Ringo and he obviously feels a strong motivation to make sure everyone understands that he doesn’t want to play the game any more.
Fine – no problem - Peace and Love.
I wonder what the sales of his next album and tour will look like? More to the point perhaps I wonder what the sales of his last album look like?
In summing up here, it may be slightly annoying signing items on a daily basis but there is a reason for those requests. People have a genuine regard for you. You are actually loved and celebrated around the world. However please don’t “warn” us with Peace and Love to politely f*** off with said Peace and Love ringing in our ears!
If you don’t want to do it, then just don’t do it.
No proclamation delivered by video is required. We’ll all get the picture somehow. Peace and Love, Peace and Love and Love Peace.
Wednesday 15 October 2008
Sunday 12 October 2008
jimmy or bust?
In these days of pulling a gig at the drop of a hat, it occurred to me that one of the strangest and perhaps one of the dumbest things that happened during The Beatles history was when they put Jimmy Nicol in on drums when the Boys were to tour Scandinavia, Holland, the Far East and Australia in 1964
What were promoters and management thinking?
Why didn't they simply postpone the tour and do it when all four Beats were fighting fit and available?
It would be an automatic reschedule today if it was known that a key member of a group was taken ill. You would have thought that by that time, when The Beatles were the biggest thing in showbiz history, that THE thing to do would be obvious. George brings that very point to the table in the Anthology when he questions why they simply didn’t take the time out. I know what it’s like when what’s referred to as a “dep” comes in for someone who is suddenly ill, can’t make it or whatever, and it’s not pretty. The whole balance of the group changes. The on-stage sign systems which bands rely on are altered in a way which puts that communication at odds with normality. Subtle things like tempo and pace might be unfamiliar and can unsettle even the best bands. I’m sure Jimmy was a pretty competent drummer, but the pressure must’ve been enormous on him too - right? There are scant pieces of information available about the man who would be Ringo but it is generally understood that once his stint was done, he simply disappeared and never really wanted to talk about his time playing with The Beatles. There would have been a golden opportunity during Anthology for a short interview during the segment on that very subject, but no. I wonder - was he asked to make a contribution and just said no? Perhaps he wasn’t asked; which is even stranger! If it was so unimportant then the information would have been left out of the picture altogether, but again no. Why make the reference in such an important film and not use the actual source? In fact the more you think about this, the more bizarre it becomes. Of course, the simple explanation could be that Jimmy’s time in the band scared the pants off of him at the time and he had no wish whatever to make ANY kind of return to it.
Jimmy’s own view?..."The boys were very kind but I felt like an intruder. They accepted me but you can't just go into a group like that -- they have their own atmosphere, their own sense of humour. It's a little clique and outsiders just can't break in."
I wonder how Ringo took that information? Er…sorry to hear you’re not well Ring and you just collapsed and that but er…we’re putting this complete stranger on in your place whilst we cover those gigs that were booked, so er…. Get well soon and we’ll see you when you’re better! Unwittingly it must have sent poor Ringo the message that he was expendable and that they didn’t “love him anymore”. For example, I wonder if they would have replaced say John if he’d had a similar problem? I strongly doubt it – but hey Ringo’s just the drummer right? . . . . .
They should just have postponed.
What were promoters and management thinking?
Why didn't they simply postpone the tour and do it when all four Beats were fighting fit and available?
It would be an automatic reschedule today if it was known that a key member of a group was taken ill. You would have thought that by that time, when The Beatles were the biggest thing in showbiz history, that THE thing to do would be obvious. George brings that very point to the table in the Anthology when he questions why they simply didn’t take the time out. I know what it’s like when what’s referred to as a “dep” comes in for someone who is suddenly ill, can’t make it or whatever, and it’s not pretty. The whole balance of the group changes. The on-stage sign systems which bands rely on are altered in a way which puts that communication at odds with normality. Subtle things like tempo and pace might be unfamiliar and can unsettle even the best bands. I’m sure Jimmy was a pretty competent drummer, but the pressure must’ve been enormous on him too - right? There are scant pieces of information available about the man who would be Ringo but it is generally understood that once his stint was done, he simply disappeared and never really wanted to talk about his time playing with The Beatles. There would have been a golden opportunity during Anthology for a short interview during the segment on that very subject, but no. I wonder - was he asked to make a contribution and just said no? Perhaps he wasn’t asked; which is even stranger! If it was so unimportant then the information would have been left out of the picture altogether, but again no. Why make the reference in such an important film and not use the actual source? In fact the more you think about this, the more bizarre it becomes. Of course, the simple explanation could be that Jimmy’s time in the band scared the pants off of him at the time and he had no wish whatever to make ANY kind of return to it.
Jimmy’s own view?..."The boys were very kind but I felt like an intruder. They accepted me but you can't just go into a group like that -- they have their own atmosphere, their own sense of humour. It's a little clique and outsiders just can't break in."
I wonder how Ringo took that information? Er…sorry to hear you’re not well Ring and you just collapsed and that but er…we’re putting this complete stranger on in your place whilst we cover those gigs that were booked, so er…. Get well soon and we’ll see you when you’re better! Unwittingly it must have sent poor Ringo the message that he was expendable and that they didn’t “love him anymore”. For example, I wonder if they would have replaced say John if he’d had a similar problem? I strongly doubt it – but hey Ringo’s just the drummer right? . . . . .
They should just have postponed.
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