Talk:Ringo Starr

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An event mentioned in this article is an August 16 selected anniversary

Contents

[edit] Singing

Does Ringo sing one song off each Beatles album, or at least one? Did he have two on The White Album? Abbey Road? Also, we really should add something about his solo career and his acting career; there is more to his life than The Beatles, though that is clearly what he's most known for. --Koyaanis Qatsi

One per album. Since The White Album was 2 disks, I guess you could say one per record :-)

[edit] Humour

This is more of an opinion than an encyclopedia-style entry, so I'm putting it here -- but Starr's main contribution was his laconic humor. The Beatles were as much about personality and charm as they were about music, and Starr was one-fourth of that. To simply focus on the songwriting does him a disservice, and misrepresents the band. Lots of English guys had musical and songwriting talent, but only four of them became the Beatles.

Favorite Ringo line: during a United States tour, he was asked, "How do you find America?" Starr replied, "Turn left at Greenland." - RjLesch

It was John Lennon who spoke that line in the movie "A Hard Day's Night", not Ringo Starr.

Are you sure? AHDN predate the big breakthrough in the US doesn't it. I certainly don't recall that line of dialogue. -- GWO

Yes, I'm positive. The movie actually doesn't predate their breakthrough in the US. They came to the US in February of 1964, and the movie was released later that year. It was Lennon who said that line in the movie.

You're right. Sorry. Horribly illegal script here: http://gayatri.nm.ru/harddn.htm

I recall it being from a genuine press conference though.

It was from a press conference. Most of the lines from the AHDN 'press conference' sequence are taken from actual Beatles press conferences. Not quite sure who first 'quipped' the infamous Greenland line though.

It's indeed from a real press conference and for whatever reason, in A Hard Day's Night they decided to have John say what Ringo really stated and vise versa.

[edit] Singing

Starr was underrated as a singer, thats my opinion, but Ive also heard hes mean to fans who ask for autographs AntonioMartin

Wouldn't you be ocasionally mean after signing thousands and thousands of autographs? (He was probably eating, talking to someone, or on the toilet at the time.) --andreasegde 09:25, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Personal life

Where is the deatils about Rong's personal life? His marraige to Babara and Maureen? All this tell us is of his musical career.


[edit] Really the best?

Did John, Paul, and George really say Ringo was the best R&R drummer in the world? I have heard that John, at least, when asked whether Ringo was the best drummer in the world answered "He's not even the best drummer in Beatles". I also understand that other drummers filled on on some of the studio work that Ringo couldn't handle. I don't have anything against giving Ringo his due, but this article seems to overstate his abilities.

That stuff about Bernard Purdie doing some of the drumming on early Beatles stuff is trash. He worked on some of the very early stuff, when "The Beat Brothers" (John, Paul, George and Pete) backed up Tony Sheridan, but nothing after that. As for whether the Beatles ever said Ringo was the best drummer, I'm sure Paul has. John, I believe, was joking in the remark about Ringo not being the best drummer in the Beatles; it was not long after Ringo briefly quit, and Paul drummed on "Back in the USSR". Whether he's called him the best, however, I can't be sure. As for George, he and Ringo were fairly close, I'd say he must have said it at some point, but that's just conjecture. Anyway. - Vague | Rant 04:19, Dec 21, 2004 (UTC)

Please! There is NO WAY a person can listen to the drumming on, say, "Magical Mystery Tour" (the song) and something like "Savoy Truffle," back to back, and maintain that they are the same drummer. At least, not anyone who has ears & knows the first thing about drums. "Magical Mystery Tour," which is certainly Ringo, is pretty near incompetent---the kick sounds like a drunk 5-year-old is playing it and the feel is crappy---whereas "Savoy Truffle" is 100% world-class grooving. Bernard Purdie-style grooving. I know these are later tracks, but there it is. Take the listening test for yourself. And by the way, if anyone ever had the PR and financial muscle to hush up a thing like this, The Beatles did. (And also by the way, if any drummer has no motive whatsoever to embellish on the credits of his career---his career being absolutely stellar---that drummer is Purdie.)

        The drummer on Bold textbothBold text "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Savoy Truffle" is Ringo Starr and Bold textonlyBold text Ringo Starr.

In 1969, Paul sent Ringo a card reading, "You are the best drummer in the world. Really." This was a day after the rooftop concert.

George Harrison once called him "the best backbeat in the business". As far as Ringo being replaced, this was only on "Love Me Do", the first single. During the White Album sessions, Ringo got fed up with the others and left for a few days, Paul filled in for him on drums during some songs on that album. Danthemankhan 20:01, Feb 11, 2005 (UTC)
He was replaced on "Love Me Do" because when they auditioned for George Martin, Pete Best was their drummer(my source here is the Anthology, and it's a little sketchy, but worth looking into, so take it as you like, but my point is that Andy White was replacing Pete, not Ringo).

- -Andy White replaced Ringo Starr on September 11, 1962. It is Andy White on drums for the LP version of "Love Me Do." Ringo Starr had "failed" his audition on drums on September 4, 1962. Starr was to play the drums from November 1962 on, however.

There is a recording of "Love Me Do" with Ringo on drums on a Beatles Rarities album from the 80's.  Also, I recall in the Anthology, either Paul or a recording of John is heard calling Ringo "the best rock drummer".

John Lennon was once asked in an interview if Ringo was the best rock 'n' roll drummer in the world and his answer was, "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!!!"

Re. the above (unsigned) contribution: I have yet to see a citation for the interview where Lennon is supposed to have said this about Ringo. I have seen articles claiming he said it, but only in the last few years (long after his death). Prior to that I recall Jasper Carrot (UK comedian) used the line (unattributed to Lennon) in his act in the late 70s/early 80s. --Beatlefan63 16:49, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Paul also plays drums on Ballad of John and Yoko.

[edit] Alcoholism

I remember reading about Ringo's alcoholism, but there's no mention of it here. I recall reading that he recorded an album (late 90s? early 21st century?), and sobered up during post-production, then blocked the album's release because he felt his alcohol-influenced performance was substandard.

Is there someone more knowledgeable than I who would like to add something about this?


Ringo did sue producer Chips Moman over some session tapes recorded in 1987 for a proposed album. The judge heard the tapes in court, and I believe the judgment came out in favor of Ringo. In 1989 Ringo submitted to a cover story in the American magazine "People", discussing his and his wife's alcoholism and their treatment.

[edit] Organization

I've reorganized this article a bit -- created separate sections for early years, role in the Beatles, then everything after the Beatles. This makes it easier to follow, and also puts it a bit more in line with the Harrison article.

Also, I've reorganized the material in the Beatles section. It should be drumming first, then singing, then songwriting, since that was the order of importance of his roles in the Beatles. The contribution his personality made needs to be added, as someone noted above, as well as his country mustic influence. I'll try to do that next. The post-Beatles material also needs a lot of work. --jls


"The post-Beatles material also needs a lot of work." Do you mean the article or Ringo's actual material!?!?! Ha HAHAHAHAHA

[edit] Maybe I'm just being stupid...

But:

Starr's parents split up when he slept with his Mr. Granmothers nose;

Makes no sense to me.


Make's sense to me....

[edit] From a recent edit

This was deleted almost immmediately (it certainly didn't belong at the top of the article like that), but I thought I'd paste it here in case there's anything important (or even true - it's the first I've heard of it):

According to "The Beatles Anthology" book printed in 2000 on page 33 (this is the United States version I'm quoting.) "My real name is Parkin, not Starkey. My grandad was named Johnny Parkin. When my grandfather's mother remarried, which was pretty shocking in those days, she married a Starkey, so my grandfather changed his name to Starkey too. (I went to have my family tree done in the sixties, but I could only trace back two generations -- and they couldn't find me. I had to go to my family to find out, and even they hadn't wanted to say anything in case the press found out.)"
This makes me think that The Beatles page should be changed to reflect this or that this information needs to be proven false. However I believe that this is most likly true as it is one of the few books that they contacted all of the living members of The Beatles to write this book. (This is according to "The Beatles Anthology" book to be released in fall 2000 which I think is at least partly accurate.)

-GTBacchus(talk) 19:15, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

As I've said in my recent edit, it certainly doesn't belong in the first line of the article. He received his MBE as Richard Starkey, his songwriting credits are as Richard Starkey. Secondly, now I have time - vandals blocked - to read this more closely, I think you misunderstand the quote. He's saying that by rights he is a Parkin, through the male line. When his great grandmother remmaried, his grandfather changed the male line to Starkey. Richard is legally Starkey, and always has been, but had things been different he would have been a Parkin. Am I right?
Right or wrong, if I find it in the first line again I'll be deleting on sight. We don't rewrite history round here, we simply chronicle it. --kingboyk 05:11, 11 March 2006 (UTC)
OK, further logic to say I'm right. He traced his family tree back 2 generations because they were Starkeys. The trail stopped there, because prior to that they were Parkins. That does not legally or for the purposes of our article make him a Parkin. It's no more than trivia (and could go into the trivia section). --kingboyk 06:35, 11 March 2006 (UTC)
I support mentioning it somewhere appropriate (trivia, family background, a footnote to one of those, something). I oppose it being in the lead sentence, it's not relevant enough to be a lead sentence thing, IMHO. I've added the page to my watchlist as well, and will revert on sight unless the person who puts it in discusses it here first. ++Lar: t/c 00:46, 12 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Recent Vandalism

There's been a lot of vandalism of this page in the last weeks.And it consists in changing a few names ( like "Hamburg" to "Ham Bug" ), which makes it hardly locatable.

Why aren't the last changes watched ? Maybe we should lock the page, I don't know.

MrGater 20:43, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

It's been crazy tonight, and I've just blocked 2 IP addresses for an hour. I didn't have this article on my watchlist but will add it now. In future if you see vandalism as organised as this, please rush over to Wikipedia:Administrator intervention against vandalism to report it, or Wikipedia:Requests for page protection to request protection. --kingboyk 05:13, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ringo Starr vs. Apple Sauce

Is it really a coincidence that Ringo was in an apple sauce commercial, or was the japanese word part of the stage name etymology? --Nintendude 07:42, 21 January 2006 (UTC)

Re: the recent sauce → juice edit — seems to be correct [1] [2] unless he did both. Femto 11:57, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "last" song

' Starr did all this without ostentatious flash: the only drum solo in The Beatles' catalogue is on "The End" (in some senses the "last" Beatles song) ' The parenthetical was removed but if there's a source for it, I think it's a neat thing to keep. Unsourced? Must go. ++Lar: t/c 14:04, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] References to Ringo in text and exception.

In accordance with discussions over at The Beatles:Project and elsewhere I have changed all references from "Ringo" to "Starr"/"Ringo Starr", except one. This is where Carl Palmer says he sold his drumkit to Ringo. Whilst it is not in quotes it is very likely to be reported speech, and therefore I have kept it as is. In any event, this article is the one where the policy is least effective - since Ringo IS Ringo. I am sure that I have seen "serious" articles elsewhere in the past where The Beatles are named as Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Ringo.LessHeard vanU 12:37, 17 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Irish?

Am I right in suggesting that of all the Beatles, Ringo was the only one who didn't (or couldn't) claim Irish descent? We know of Paul and John, and I had always assumed that George had some Irish in him somewhere.. but did Ringo? I ask because he is listed in the article List of Irish people#Notable people of Irish descent as being of Irish descent. --Mal 10:49, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

Who in Liverpool is not of Irish decent, Liverpool is sometimes jokingly referred to as the real capital of Ireland. Starkey is an Irish surname to my knowledge! George is connected on both sides, his paternal grandgather Harrison came from Co Waterford, Ireland. 86.40.10.82 14:21, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
I'm somewhat reminded of a sketch on Goodness Gracious Me - "Indian!" :-) --kingboyk 02:19, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Starkey is certainly not a common name in Northern Ireland (though that doesn't necessarily mean that its uncommon in the Republic also). Having done some research on it, it looks as though it is of English and/or German origin - not Irish. However, that doesn't mean that people with the surname Starkey hadn't settled in Ireland at some point.. after all, FitzGerald is a common name in the RoI, but its not an Irish name - its Norman.

Gleave (his mother's maiden name) is also not an Irish name.

According to Alan Clayson's biography, Straight Man or Joker? he was described as the only Beatle not to have had Irish blood.

His maternal great-great-grandfather was a Cunningham (a ancestral surname I have in common with Ringo). This is common in Ireland (particularly in Ulster), but it is primarily Scottish. However, it has been used as an Anglicisation of some Irish surnames.

His maternal great-great grandfather was a Johnson - and that is even harder to determine when it comes to ancestry, being such a common surname throughout the English-speaking world.

I can't see that Ringo has any Irish ancestry at all. Even if he does.. somewhere along the line, it is tenuous at best. I'm going to remove him from the list.

As for who in Liverpool is not of Irish descent.. ermm.. non-Irish descended people perhaps..? lol --Mal 21:02, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Did he die?

I heard from our teacher who is a fan that Ringo Starr died not long ago. Is it true?

no Anger22 13:59, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
Tell your teacher to read a book sometime. --andreasegde 09:20, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ringo's lack of talent

In everything I have read and seen in documentaries, all I can gather is that Ringo Starr was not a very good drummer at all and all the innovation this article talks about is not true.

I have read in many places (Blender magazine's recent article about the song Ticket to Ride, for example) that Paul McCartney had to constantly tell Ringo how to play. I also remember a quote that went something along the lines of this:

Interviewer: "Is Ringo Starr the best drummer in the world?" John Lennon: "He's not the best drummer in the Beatles!"[3]

As far as I'm concerned, that puts a lot of the statements about Starr's abilities and virtuosity into question and this article needs a lot of citation. There's also a question of whether Ringo was great because of his drumming or because he was in the Beatles. There are/were plenty of much better drummers (Buddy Rich, for example) with far less fame because they weren't part of the most popular rock group in history. --Stellis 01:14, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm afraid most of the Beatles articles are in need of citations and referencing. Why not join the Beatles WikiProject and help with such tasks?
i've always held to the belief that he was merely an adequate drummer, but the most adequate drummer there is. in terms of time keeping, he has a very great reputation, rather than someone like Keith Moon, who can make an awesome din but can barely keep a simple rhythm. Joeyramoney 02:05, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
As regards to your specific comments, can you tell me how John Lennon can be considered an authority on drumming quality? I really wouldn't give too much weight to what he said in a jokey context; I'd give more weight to what he did, which is to sign Ringo in place of Pete Best just as they were on the verge of fame.
Ringo certainly isn't a flashy drummer, and flashiness is how drummers tend to be assessed these days. However, he kept a solid beat and was sympathetic to the music of the times (cf. Charlie Watts). Ultimately, though, what you, I or other editors think is - as you've alluded to - irrelevant. Ideally this article would quote other drummers on Ringo's qualities and deficiencies. I think there's serioys schools of thought both for "Ringo is great" and "Ringo is a talentless chancer who got very very lucky"! --kingboyk 01:20, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Nod. Let's teach the controversy. Find the cites for all viewpoints and present them all, and let the reader draw their own conclusion. As usual, because that's the essence of WP:NPOV... ++Lar: t/c 01:40, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Ref Macca telling Ringo how to play, it should be noted that Sir Paul was also in the habit of telling George Harrison how to play the solo's on Beatles record... few people today doubt Harrisons ability and status as a guitarist.LessHeard vanU 12:24, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Telling George what guitar sound he wanted might have been a bit bossy, but it's not the same as disputing his talent. (Sorry, but I see a continuing gentle undercurrent of anti-Macca sentiment on talk pages round here :) George is my favourite Beatle too but Paul a) is not dead (just thought I'd clear that one up :P ) b) was (in terms of songs written and playing ability) every bit as good as Lennon, if not better! :) ) --kingboyk 12:43, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Just to clarify what I (thought I) was saying, having Macca tell/suggest what/how to play does not mean the player is substandard. Macca seems to have a very clear vision of how he wanted "his" songs to sound like, and would detail the arrangements. I thought that this aspect of his approach, contrasting with Lennons more experimental methods, was understood to be one of the reasons for the tensions that later arose within the group? The Lennon quote regarding Macca's assumption of "leadership" after the death of Epstein appears to refer to it. For the record, I believe Macca to be the better tunesmith and Lennon the better lyricist - but I liked George best of all!
As for Ringo, if they had used different drummers then they would likely have credited it. They did when Macca played drums, or when Billy Preston played keyboards or Eric Clapton played guitar - Lordy, they used to credit Mal Evans if his handclaps were on the track - so the theory that Ringo was substituted doesn't hold water. If his drumming standards were not always maintained to the highest level, then it may be that it was because he was merely excellent (but maybe not the greatest in the world). It still appears that he is under-rated, even after all these years.LessHeard vanU 20:33, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

"Lack of talent" is just plain disrespectful. Ringo was not the greatest drummer technically, indeed he was never formally trained and learned by listening to records. But being ambidextrous and improvising his drumming, he had a style that could not easily be emulated, which gains him much respect in the drumming world. Many excellent and professional drummers have tried – and failed – to copy him, which is why he’s in such a respected category. He’s Ringo Starr, for crying out loud! He only got the MOST fanmail of all the Beatles ;-)

Fanmail is not a yardstick for talent. Ringo was a very good drummer, and he was part of The Beatles right until the end. His technique was good enough for the band to expand their sound and attempt various styles throughout their career.LessHeard vanU 23:28, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
He was brilliant because he didn't play like a normal drummer. Listen to the later Beatles stuff and get a drummer to try and copy it. Ringo played like an orchestral percussionist on many tracks, and never just blasted his way through. "Come together" is a perfect example. It's not about expertise, it's about originality. All of The Beatles were not technically gifted, but they were original, and that's the hardest part... --andreasegde 10:58, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Ringo" or "Ritchie"

What was the name that the others used to refer to him? Listening to Harrison's "Living In The Material World" there are the lines "Though we started out quite poor / We got Richie (sic) on a tour" and I found that kind of odd, if the guys usually referred to him as "Ringo". Also, in the beginning of the atrocious "Magical Mystery Tour" he identifies himself as Richard Starkey, not Ringo. So I was just wondering how people in his personal life addressed him. (People, that is, who knew him from before becoming famous - there could be a difference between what people he knew, pre-fame, in Liverpool called, and what people, meeting him only after he had become famous, called him.) Does anyone know? Hi There 04:23, 9 May 2006 (UTC)
Ringo or Richie I believe. His wife Maureen and family called him Richie. This is all from memory (reading books and listening to bootlegs), I can't tell you exactly how I know... :) --kingboyk 10:20, 9 May 2006 (UTC)
Paul often called John "Johnny". George and Ringo often called The Beatles 'them', or 'they' (third person) when referring to The Beatles on Anthology. --andreasegde 11:05, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Contradictory Sentence?

The sentence "Starr commented that the other Beatles gave him very explicit instructions on what to drum so it's worth bearing in mind that he was to an extent "programmed"" seems to contradict the paragraphs above it. Is this a legitimate sentence? If so I think it needs a source and needs to be rewritten for clarity.

[edit] sections

This article could really do with a lot more subsections. Stevage 08:15, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Old Wave LP

The article stated that "Old Wave" was only released in Germany, Canada and Brazil but I have seen this LP as being released in Scandinavia as well as Australia. I have lived in both places and currently reside in the latter. Does anyone know of other countries where this LP may have been released? I have added this information to the article relating to what I have stated.--Peter Jensen 13:00, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ringo's drumming ability

I think there's a lot of negative nonsense being written about Ringo's talents. Many drummers have praised Ringo's talents including Phil Collins. There's a great article called THIRTEEN REASONS TO GIVE RINGO SOME RESPECT by John Bryant (a drummer). This article as written by a drummer clearly shows just why Ringo deserves recognition for his abilities as a drummer. I would copy it here but it is copyrighted so I can't without infringement of the copyright. But I'm sure if anyone does a search on the Internet they will find a copy. Please do proper research before posting negative comments.--Peter Jensen 13:14, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

As the majority of tyhis page are Beatles fans, it's safe to say we agree with you. However, it would be wrong to ignore the critisism Ringo has recieved. However, we have also made an effort mention the praise he has recieved and it seems very well balenced to me. I like him, fuck Phil "slaphead" Collins with his massive drumkit or that twat out of Cream and his 20 minute drum solos that bored me shitless. Fuck them, hail Ringo for being steady and innovative.
A bit embarrassed to sign your name?LessHeard vanU 15:38, 29 July 2006 (UTC)
Uncited comments regarding Ringo's drumming, for good or bad, are POV and should not be included in the text. A link to the article mentioned above could be included at the end of the article, if appropriate.LessHeard vanU 22:06, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

I think Ringo Starr could beat Phil Collins and Nick Mason in a three-way tornado drumming fight. Do I win £5?--Crestville 22:55, 28 July 2006 (UTC)

Here's a link to the John Bryant article http://web2.airmail.net/gshultz/bryant.html but please don't copy and paste the article into the Ringo Starr page without permission from the author.--Peter Jensen 04:38, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

"Hello Goodbye" is proof enough.[4] Ever heard a drummer playing a solo in the verse, and floor tom in the chorus? Never. Originality is something that hours in the woodshed with a rubber practice pad can never be achieved. How many drummers have you seen with a tea towel over their snare to make it sound different? None. This kind of conversation makes my blood boil...--andreasegde 06:37, 10 October 2006 (UTC)
It seems fashionable to critisize Ringo's drumming, but I think the last word should rest with The Beatles. From 1965 onwards the band were the biggest in the world, and every musician would have sold their mother to have played with/for them. In that time Ringo's place was never in doubt, even as Lennon and McCartney pushed songwriting and recording into hitherto unknown areas. He was good enough for the greatest band of the era - 'nuff said!LessHeard vanU 09:45, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] external links - Russian (?) entry

Is this just a joke title to the correct link, or simply vandalism? I don't want to remove a legit link just because it reads juvenile in English.LessHeard vanU 20:11, 29 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Overdoing it

I feel like the section "role in the beatles" is a bit gushing at times, and it overstates his talent. The whole thing seems like an enthusiastic defense of his playing skills, rather than an objective look at them. I suggest someone look over it. AdamBiswanger1R.I.P. Steve Irwin 19:44, 28 September 2006 (UTC)

{{sofixit}} A fresh set of eyes is probably exactly what it needs. Show no mercy mate, we don't want fancruft round here :) Thank you, over and out. --kingboyk 20:02, 28 September 2006 (UTC)
Eh, this is an incredibly famous guy with passionate fans. If I did go ahead and make said changes without asking first and seeking a consensus, there would likely be an averse reaction, especially considering he is apparently the greatest drummer to ever hold a drumstick. I might delve into it soon. AdamBiswanger1 02:33, 2 October 2006 (UTC)
We adhere to NPOV here (cough)! If an opinion regarding Starrs ability or lack thereof is going to included then if needs references/citations. Removing pro comments may cause a spate of reverts, but be bold and request the reverter provide refs, etc. Removing anti comments, as you seem to suggest, may not create the same reaction but the same rules apply if there is. Have fun. LessHeard vanU 16:15, 2 October 2006 (UTC)
Yes. Most Beatle fans probably don't rate Ringo as the best drummer ever you know (whilst they certainly rate him as a vital ingredient in the mix), but some professionals do. Other professionals no doubt think he's a chancer of dubious talent who got very lucky. The ideal would be to quote both, with citations. In the meantime, feel free to zap any over-enthusiastic fancruft or, indeed, anything overly negative. Cheers. --kingboyk 16:22, 2 October 2006 (UTC)
I did a little bit of cleanup. It's ok, but it could get better. AdamBiswanger1 21:50, 5 October 2006 (UTC)
This talk about how good, or bad, he was/is should stop. If anyone doesn't like his drumming, just turn the stereo knob on your sound system to the left, or the right, and you will have no problem. The man was original, and he was in The Beatles. As Paul McCartney said on Anthology about this kind of thing; "Hey, it was The Beatles, it sold - shut up." Stop nit-picking. --andreasegde 06:43, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] References and citations from a book

Important: Read this on the editing page, or it won't make sense. Click on the "edit" icon. >->->->->->->

How to put a reference in an article:

Use a book, and start with this:

[1]

The name "Spitz" is the surname of the author.

Add this in the middle:

Spitz, Bob. The Beatles: The Biography, Little, Brown, and Company, New York, 2006. ISBN 1845131606

You will find this information in the book you have.

The whole thing looks like this:

[1]

When you want to repeat a reference from the same book in the same article, use this:

[1]

That’s all.

Note: Copy the information over to notepad, or Winword, and insert the information there, and then copy it back to the page. It will save time…

Note: Make sure the page you are editing has a "References section". (This one has.)


--andreasegde 13:23, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Citations

Does anyone else think that 42 "citation needed" tags in this article is a bit excessive? I think there is a "this article does not cite its sources" banner that could go at the top without constantly interrupting the flow? If the same philosophy was applied to every article - i.e. that practically every single statement needs a citation - then 90% of articles would be nothing but a forest of these tags.

The George article is the same, I agree it makes it hard to read (as you tend to pronounce all the 'citation needed's in your head). Perhaps a symbol, rather than the actual phrase might help. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.161.11.199 (talk) 16:34, 5 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Rolling Stone

Didn't the Rolling Stone name him the #1 drummer of all-time?--Kingforaday1620 23:20, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ringo's death?

Why does someone write in the article "Ringo passed away December 9, 2006 peacefully in his home in Reading, England at the age of 52." First of all this seems totally untrue as nothing reports his death (and no reports about fading health exist), secondly the age is totally wrong as Ringo is 66 years old. I guess this entry is a bad joke and should be removed from the article. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 170.65.192.6 (talk) 13:15, 9 December 2006 (UTC).

[edit] # of songs he sang

Does anybody know the number of song in which Ringo was the lead singer (like "With a little help from my friends")? "THROUGH FIRE, JUSTICE IS SERVED!" 04:38, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

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