Ringo Starr Walks Out On "Regis"

NEW YORK — Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs.

Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press.

When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gelman said it had to be less than 3 minutes.

"We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis.'"

A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" disputed some of Freund's contentions. The representative, who declined to be named _ citing show policy _ told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr. The spokeswoman also said the time of his song was almost 5 minutes, not 4 minutes and 15 seconds. She also said that his appearance had been booked since November and that Starr's representatives had agreed to the time requirement for the song.

With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time.

Despite Tuesday's drama, she said the show would absolutely welcome Starr back.

However, Stewart had plenty of criticism for the show, calling it "disrespectful treatment of us as artists."

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"Four minutes (3 minutes and 40 seconds, actually) seemed like an appropriate amount of time for a former Beatle. Mr. Gelman apparently felt Ringo's musical legacy should take a back seat to additional banter about the size of Ms. (Kelly) Ripa's derriere," he said in a statement.

The spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" said there would be no comment on Stewart's statement.

Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said.

But he was able to play the full song later Tuesday on "Rachael Ray."

"Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray.

___

On the Net:

Ringo Starr:

http://www.ringostarr.com

"Live With Regis and Kelly":

http://bventertainment.go.com/

Comments

[imsosure]

I think Ripa and Couric are sisters separated at an early age.

[jukesgrrl]

Ringo just did an entire hour with Craig Ferguson. An interview and FOUR songs. No mention of the idiot Regis -- nothing but enjoyable chat and music. When's the last time I heard four rock songs by a single band on network television?? Not even a stupid talking head making inane comments between every song and fading to commercial the way they do everytime Springsteen is on TV.

[chrismathewsgreatestfan]

If the only thing Ringo did was show up and drool in front of the microphone for 4 minutes, Regies and Kelly should still bend down and kiss his ass.

[truthyguy]

Allowing that airhead, self-centered, no-talent Kelly Ripa to rant and try to act cutesy for an hour is what the producers prefer to hearing music performed by Ringo and Stewart for 220 seconds. Amazing. I am glad he walked and I hope Ringo doesn't return regardless of what they offer him in their attempt to make amends.

[trinity]

I figured Ringo just walked off to get away from Kelly the squeaky Airhead's shrill...

[StealthisBlog]

To Cambel & Nocontest: That shawl of jealousy you two are sharing is somewhat unbecoming. Ringo isn't the best or most talented Beatle (those guys are dead), yet I bet he has written more hit songs than you two combined. C'mon! 'Act Naturally', 'It Don't Come Easy', and many more. What have y'all done, hmmm?

[StanTheManic]

Yeah, cuz you wouldn't want to cut into what pearls Kelly had for America!

[Sneakerface]

What will it take to make people realize music is an art form ? We don't cut up famous paintings or statues because they are too much bother to look at the whole thing ! Yet we still see even concert films about one paricular group or musician where they show half a song and then cut away to an interview about the song, or hear about radio stations that would rather play commercials and thus limit the length of songs. Two and a half minutes for a song is an outrage. That's like hiring Picasso to do painting and then telling him to just give us the best parts, and put it on an index card.

[CAMBEL]

Ok, this guy is STILL riding his fame from the Beatles, he's never put out a worthwhile song, big deal he didn't want to cut a few min off a song that probably sounds just as bad as all his other stuff. Remember, this is the guy that sued to PREVENT one of his albums from being released because he was so high it was just a bunch of noise.

[booker52]

He is lucky he didn't appear on the Today show, they just want to rush everyone and every segment!!!

[gcallaghan]

But, hey! We've got laundry detergent and adult diapers to sell here, Ringo!

[Purple Girl]

God I miss John Lennon!!!

I can still "Imagine"

[Purple Girl]

Wish you woud have said what the song was about- it may give more light to this controversy.
I'm sur eif it was a RAH RAH song for the U.S. action in Iraq/World- they'd ahv efit the whole song in.
Anything 'deep' or Thought provoking could stir the masses- can't wake up the audience on Regis, there could actually be a movement. Add Oprha's ladies and you'd have a revolution!

[Freedomfinder]

I see a parody of a Beatles song in this,of the staff's behavior on Regis!
called
"Petty Lane"

[Counterglow]

I've never been able to figure out how Regis Philbin got to be popular anyway. He's a loudmouthed talentless hack...one of those annoying little men who keeps endlessly (and fruitlessly) trying to prove he's as good as the big boys.

Regis should have been flattered Starr even agreed to appear on that homage to mediocrity he calls a show, much less stand for having his work butchered by some chattering monkey with delusions of grandeur.