Ringo Starr: “I’m a musician, I don’t have to retire”

By Gabriela Acosta, MWN

Ringo Starr is in Ontario with his All-Starr Band, and at 82 years of age he says that he does not have retirement in mind, because one of the things that keeps him young-minded and fulfilled is his love of music.

“People always ask but I’m a musician, I don’t have to retire as long as I can pick up the drumsticks I can do a show. I can be playing the blues, it’s just the way it is. I love this and it’s part of us, we are musicians at the end of the day.”

This year, Ringo and company will be touring the United States, Canada and Mexico to spread a good dose of rock to the public, including music from their last two EPs: ‘Zoom In’ and ‘Change The World’.

“The last three years have been very difficult for music, as you can see, I have loved playing for 32 years. I was in a few bands before, and for me, it’s all there is, playing and audience,” Starr said.

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band will be joined by Warren Ham, Edgar Winter, Steve Lukather, Hamish Stuart, Colin Hay and Gregg Bissonette, who will turn the stage into a musical party that will include their greatest hits: ‘Photograph’, ‘It Don’t Come Easy’ and ‘Yellow Submarine’, among others.

The Beatles’ drummer, has turned his “Love and Peace” phrase into a reference over the decades, but it is still just as powerful.

“The world is always in chaos, especially the people who have the power. The world has changed. My desire is to make music a haven of peace for those who live in a war conflict; in the end, we seek to do something for peace from our trench, either as a musician or activist,” he stated.

When asked what he might miss about those days with The Beatles, he replied:

“We were wild and kids making music, not caring if we had money, we were just having fun. Paul (McCartney) and I are still on the road, enjoying what we do and proud of our past. Playing is the most important thing to stay alive. I’ve never stopped dreaming and having fun because I love playing.”