5 minutes with Ringo

Five minutes is an impossibly short amount of time in which to get to know somebody. Of course, there's so much about Ringo Starr we already know — he was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England. Actually, today is his 66th birthday. He's got a nice beard.

And he was in the biggest rock band in the world. But then again, you probably know all that.

There's so much more we'd like to ask the former Beatle, in preparation for this weekend's Boca Raton appearance of his Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band tour, featuring Rod Argent, Richard Marx, Sheila E., Billy Squier, Edgar Winter and Hamish Stuart (of the Average White Band). But there was no time for small talk — we needed to get to the good stuff. That's why The Palm Beach Post asked fans to help come up with a list of questions, things you really wanted to know about the drummer/singer/actor/keeper of the flame of all things fab.

About 30 Ringo fans from all across the world (or Across the Universe, if we're keeping it Beatles-related) chimed in with questions both great ("Do you read Beatles fan sites?") and goofy (a request that we just ask the same question over and over again for five minutes). We mixed several of the best with a few of our own and fired away at Starr, who was told that a lot of the questions were from you guys. With one glaring exception, he seemed to like them. Bravo! Your Junior Reporter press passes are in the mail.

Question: Apparently, you once did an live online chat with fans. Any plans to do that again?

Answer: I've not done that again, no.

Q: Would you?

A: No, not really. It was very slow. By the time the question would come in, and they would tell me the question, and I'd type the answer to the question back, it's like there was too much time in between. I would be better if I could type well. But I'm not going to learn to at this point, and I don't care what you say.

Q: And you don't have to, because you're Ringo Starr. How do you decide which songs you're going to sing in the shows, where you're all playing each other's material?

A: There is a set pattern for the songs. We don't have any big discussion before rehearsal. We have (drummer) Sheila E. back, and she knows how it works. Whoever the members are, I just learn all of their songs.

Q: You've played with so many great musicians on these tours (past lineups have featured Todd Rundgren, Dr. John, Joe Walsh, the late Billy Preston and Dave Edmunds). Do you have a wish list for people you'd like to work with?

A: No. This band I'm working with right now is incredible. I'd love to do this again, though, and have another (All-Starr) band.

Q: OK. Somebody wants to know whether you have any contact with original Beatles drummer Pete Best?

A: (Very adamantly) Never.

Q: OK! (slightly icy silence from other side of the phone) That was not my question, I swear. Moving on... The Beatles were so influential that there are a gazillion bands that are thought of as "Beatlesque." Do you have any favorites of those bands?

A: No, not really. There's so much of it out there! Even some of the newer bands, people say are just like us.

Q: Speaking of bands almost just like you, have you ever seen a Beatles tribute band?

A: (laughs) No, I haven't! Can you imagine me sitting on the audience, watching this band, with someone pretending to be me? (chuckles) It won't happen.

Q: Do you have a favorite of the songs you'll be singing on this tour?

A: They're all my favorite! That's like when people ask me "What's your favorite (Beatles) single of all time?"

Q: OK, I'll bite. What is your favorite Beatles single of all time?

A: Oh, there are too many, much too many.

Q: What's your favorite of the ones you wrote?

A: (chuckles) Well, I only wrote two, you know. That's the thing. I can't type as well as you.

Q: I don't actually type that well. I just make sure I can read my notes well later.

A: That's all? Well, I can do that!


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