Ringo Starr Tells Fans No More Mail, He Will Burn It

LONDON — Ringo Starr doesn't want to hear from you. If you do write, your letter will end up in the trash. After 45 years of stardom, he doesn't want to spend any more time answering mail or sending signed photos back to fans.

The fan fatigue led the former Beatles drummer to post a sometimes angry sounding short video clip on his Web site telling fans that any mail sent to him after Oct. 20 will not be read or answered. British television stations broadcast the video on Tuesday.

"It's going to be tossed," he says on the video. "I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail. Thank you, thank you. And no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love."

WATCH:

The drummer and singer did not elaborate on the reason behind his decision to cut off a major point of contact with his many fans.

Starr, 68, has maintained a very active touring and recording schedule in recent years, drawing large crowds for performances with his All-Starr band.

The band plays a mix of old Beatles hits, Starr's many solo offerings, and other classics from the 1960s and 1970s. Starr usually serves as front man, though he sometimes plays the drums.

But he has angered longtime fans in Liverpool by telling interviewers that he does not miss his native city. Vandals there beheaded a topiary sculpture of Starr earlier this year _ he was the only one of the four Beatles whose likeness was desecrated.

The good-natured drummer, who also enjoyed a brief acting career after star turns in Beatles' films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!," guest starred on a 1991 episode of "The Simpsons" in which he is shown scrupulously answering every piece of fan mail that comes his way.

Story continues below

advertisement

"They took the time to write to me, and I don't care if it takes 20 years, I'm going to answer every one of them," Starr says on the show.

In his mail, he finds a package from Marge Simpson that contains a portrait she painted of him back in the Beatles heyday. He puts it on his wall and writes back to tell her _ a few decades late _ how much he likes her painting.

___

On the Net:

http://www.ringostarr.com/

Comments

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Mediocre drummer as compared with.......? That would be 'your' favorite drummer. Look, you either liked him (and The Beatles) or you didn't. I've never cared for Elvis or Frank Sinatra, but that doesn't diminish their importance. From the beginning, I was a Beatles fan--less so after they broke up--but I've never felt the need to write a letter. And say what? Oh, wow, you guys were great. Please write back and provide my life with meaning. If Ringo never answers another letter, about all it will mean is people will post here and take the opportunity to mention he was little more than mediocre.

[BetterAmerica]

This is funny. Maybe it's a publicity stunt.

But who can blame him. Maybe he feels a responsibility to tell his fans so they don't get disappointed when he doesn't write back.

[NickyD]

No one really cares. What he should have said was that he was saving trees or something genius like that, instead of acting like an old ornary man that just couldn't be bothered. Why'd you get in the public eye to begin with then?

[editorjuno]

The real story here is that it's 2008 and people are still writing fan mail to Ringo Starr -- how pathetic is that?

[HelloooCanada]

holy crap, give the guy a break, not many people i know want to sit in their house doing favors for people they've never met, 30 years after they've stopped working.

the guy was part of the band that arguably contributed more to world culture than any other modern day entity and we all feel that he owes US something? that's some fuzzy math right there.

he could punch me in the head like 100 times and i still come out ahead in the all time ringo-to-me equation.

i love 'im. have a guiness and a kip, bro.

[siciliabel]

This is the first I've heard of Ringo Starr in a very long time. I've always considered him one of the luckiest people in the world. He is a relatively talentless drummer who fell into one of the greatest groups of all time. With that came much unwarranted superstar status. Please Ringo, return to your much deserved obscurity. For our part, we'll take you off our mailing list.

[MrsPeel]

Au contraire. IMO, and in many others', Ringo is a pretty damn good drummer.

Do you know any of the Beatles' history and how The Beatles ousted Pete Best to take Ringo away from Rory Storm and the Hurricanes?

Anyway, as George Harrison said toward the end of his life, "We (The Beatles) gave our nervous systems" to the public. Godspeed, Ringo.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

Burn the mail. Don't read it or respond. It will give you more time to learn to play drums well.

[moveover]

I also want to announce that as of Oct 20th, I will not be accepting anymore mail ... especially no bills ... that means no electric bill, no Cable TV bill, no credit card bill, no Car Ins .... NOTHING! Anything marked after that date will be tossed! Peace and love ..... thank you for your time.

[NickyD]

That was funny!!

[topkatnc]

bye ringo. you were always my favorite

[PackyJ]

Ringo,
I always thought the way you were marginalized as a contributing Beatle was a bit unfair.
However, you are at best a passable drummer.
Don't worry, though. I've no intention of ever sending you fan mail.

[Gasparilla]

He's far more than a passable drummer. He was great on those early songs like Twist and Shout and I Saw Her Standing There.

[jdw1981]

There are very few rock drummers who could copy what he does on "Rain", "A Day in the Life", or "Strawberry Fields Forever". His son Zac (Oasis, The Who) is a phenomenal drummer.

[grailknight]

Ritchie, you need to get a secretarial pool at your label to handle your mail. If anyone wants an autograph, you should have those letters put in a hopper and once a month have a drawing for a few dozen of the ardent. That wouldn't be a demanding task and a lot less taciturn.

Everytime I see your face,
I'm reminded of the places
you used to go,
and all I've got is an AUTOGRAPH
to remind me I won't be going
to your concerts anymore!

[DangerDave]

Morrissey said it best... Hey Ringo it's sad though, but it's hard to walk tall when you're small.
By this time he should be thankful that someone remembers him, i mean, not only as the dude Marge painted on that episode from the Simpsons.

[NoSillyName]

Send a letter to Pete Best or save your stamps.

[NoSillyName]

But he's NOT retired. He recently had another album and a big tour. Apparently, he does have fans. but they're probably kinda old to be writing fan letters.

The man should never ever sing.

[Klip]

...some publicist silliness.
Right/place/ right/time Ringo hasn't gotten fan mail since 1970!
LOL LOL