Pictures to come, I promise!

So I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm trying to figure out how to post my Liverpool and London pictures that I took 3 weeks ago. I took an obscene number of photos and I'd love to share them. Just, just give me time!

Happy 73rd Birthday Ringo!

Today marks the oldest Beatles' birthday and one of two to keep the legacy going!

On July 7, 1940, Richard Starkey was born into a rather poor family in Liverpool, England, during the infamous "Blitz," in which the Nazis mercilessly bombed Britain in World War II. Liverpool was the second most bombed city, only behind London, as it was one of the most important port cities of the UK. So, it really is a miracle that the little house on the outskirts of Liverpool where Richard was born was left intact. In The Beatles Anthology, Ringo describes what his mother always told him, "The Second World War started because of you." It was this chaotic and uncertain environment that Richard and the rest of The Beatles for that matter, was born into and grew up in, and it had a considerable impact on who they were as people and musicians.

Ringo was the poorest of The Beatles, growing up in a single-mother household in one of the more dangerous parts of the Liverpool suburbs. School was something he believed to be beneath his notice and efforts, as evinced by his rare appearances at St. Silas. This habit was not made any better when he was stricken with appendicitis at the age of 7, adding to his myriad of sicknesses as a child. He was told he was going to die throughout his childhood by doctors and family friends alike. Still he remains, as the oldest of the four. Ironic isn't it? For The Beatles story, though, his sickness really was a blessing. It was during his month-long visits to the hospital that he was first introduced to music, and more specifically, the drums, as a means of entertaining the poor kid who was bored to tears. By the time he was allowed to leave, drums were all he could think about. Though he tried to go back to school, he had been away so long, the administrators didn't believe he attended the school and didn't recognize him. So Richard left for good and managed to get his hands on a small drum kit.

Following his stint with a Teddy Boy gang, in which, he claims, he saw people get their eyes gouged out, he joined the most popular Liverpool rock n roll band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. For a few years, Rory Storm was THE band, and they played all over Liverpool, but most famously and importantly, in The Cavern Club. They all had matching suits, though in different colors, a manager, and a character of a frontman, Rory Storm himself. The band even managed to get bookings in Hamburg, Germany to play in the red light district of St. Pauli. It was in Rory Storm, that Ringo (he had by now changed his name forever) first met John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe, and Pete Best, though I'm sure Pete Best would probably like to forget the incident where he met the guy who was going to replace him in the most popular and important band in the world. The Beatles were also playing in Hamburg at the time, and on those occasions where Pete was unable to play (which were numerous), Ringo happily sat in with them. Everything seemed to click when the four played together for the first time, Paul remembers in The Beatles Anthology. By 1961, when both bands returned to Liverpool, The Beatles had a manager, Mr. Brian Epstein, and even had a record producer at EMI records, Mr. George Martin, something Rory Storm had yet to accomplish. So when Pete had the "dreadful talking to" and was kicked out of the band, John, Paul, and George suggest Ringo as the new drummer. They offered him 25 pounds a week, five pounds more than Rory Storm offered. So Ringo took The Beatles for the money.

The rest of the story is history, and a much repeated history at that. Ringo was catapulted into global stardom as "the funny one" who had a pretty good attitude about all the times his nose was made fun of by everyone. His drumming developed into extremely competent to innovative and dynamic, most obviously for the first time in 1966 on Revolver's "Tomorrow Never Knows," and incredible counter beat to John's monotonous singing. But the dream that was The Beatles came to an end in 1970.

Ringo has continued to make music, releasing numerous solo albums, starring in movies and even has become the voice of Thomas the Train Engine. Ringo has three children, Zak, Jason, and Lee, who all have strong resemblances to their father. So, a very happy birthday to Ringo, who is more than The Beatles, but will always be remembered as the funny one who could drum pretty well! Many thanks, Ringo.

                                                         RINGO STARR 1940-