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."

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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.

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"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

[sade]

What a Prat..who the hell cares Starky, John was the only interesting one anyway.

[bobbyperu]

He still gets fan mail?

[sisterdebmac]

So does Mickey Dolenz, believe it or not.

[songspeak]

I think Ringo has paid his dues over the years, no?

http://www.songspeak.com/with-peace-and-love-ringo-starr-says-no-more-fan-mail/

[mellene]

There does come a point in an entertainer's career where they simply don't need those fans. If he's reached that point then he can well stand to burn the fan letters. Time will tell...

[Revolt916]

I guess the retirement home is ready for him now. Who told him to answer all that fan mail in the first place. Hey Ringo, it's time for bingo mate.

[hortonhearsawho]

Maybe he was at Deniis Hoppers and....giv­e a him a day or two.

[SoonerThought]

He could literally spend his entire waking hours signing crap and replying to correspondence. Cut him some slack. Live your life Ringo! Right on! Peace!

[ellawensmom]

My thirteen year old will be sad to hear this.
she's just discovering the Beatles and has gone completely crazy over them. It's sad for her that she's just getting on the bandwagon as the bandwagon is being put out of commission.

[Arbicuswoo]

He deserves a rest.

[shengirl]

he could have explained himself in a nicer manner, one less likely to offend people. People can understand and be sympathetic. All this does is create a lot of ill will. It'll come back to bite him.

[Mattjoe]

I do think the Beatles were an incredible phenomena as well as a legitimate talent, deserved of the enormous and seemingly unjustified accolades heaped on them over four decades. (Ringo is not considered one of his era’s best drummers, much less singing/ songwriting)

However, with all due respect.

Who on this planet still feels compelled to write Ringo?

Honestly. Move on people.

[hortonhearsawho]

I know I know. So who besides brittany are on your fav-5.

[bobbyperu]

The Beatles are the most overrated band in the history of modern music. I'll take Velvet Underground or Pink Floyd anyday. The Beatles were just the 60's version of the Backstreet Boys. All image, no substance.

[cinemaven]

I wonder if he's just tired of having people pose as fans so they can sell his autograph on Ebay or in those hideous shops that have sprung up in malls.

Autographs used to be something real fans wanted and they would hold onto them and cherish them but lately there are people making a full time career out of getting and selling autographs and Ringo's goes for somewhere in the $200 range for a signed pic and more for a signed album.

[Changeling]

Just have other people handle that stuff like every other celeb. Quietly.

No reason to get snippy with fans. You do know that, without them, you'd be stocking veggies at a mini-mart, right?

[Think4myself]

uh-no.

I don't think Ringo is in danger of needing to work anywhere for the rest of his life.

He's pretty much set.

[Changeling]

Uhh, yes, without those screaming fans in the '60s, he wouldn't be sh*t.

And they put money in his pocket today.

Does he owe them a hand-written answer to every letter? Certainly not.

But he owes them more than angrily spouting that not only is he not answering it, but when someone takes the time to write and express themselves he's going to burn it.

[MelGoetia]

This can only mean one thing: Ringo Starr has all the money he could ever want or need. And who would doubt that this is true? After all, Ringo is the best actor this planet has ever produced! His performance in "The Magic Christian" for example, is simply breathtaking. I still cannot forgive the academy for giving the Oscar to those other lads and not recognizing Ringo's solitary importance. We all know that it was "The Ringed One" who was responsible for all of The Beatles success – even after they broke up. The Beatles were nothing until they got Ringo. Lennon/McCartney could not even write a song without Ringo’s sage advice. And that voice; such sweet sounds never did humankind hear before there was Ringo. I thank God everyday that Ringo did not become the hairdresser he had longed to be. Just think what we all would have missed. Just think of it. It is important that no one ever attend Ringo’s concerts or see his films ever again; for we would be moved to contact his greatness and lead shallow empty lives when he did not bestow on us his attentions. Good luck, Mel Goetia

[nellie]

Hmmmm. Sounds like the fan mail may be dwindling.

[VoteforOCD]

Marge is going to be devastated.