Ringo Starr celebrates his 82nd birthday today. The legendary drummer was born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940 in Liverpool, England. Although he achieved unbelievable success with The Beatles followed by a solid solo career, one of Ringo’s aspirations was to act and work in film. While Starr garnered a wide variety of acting roles, JamBase takes a look at his zany 1978 television special, Ringo, in celebration of the iconic artist’s birthday.
In 1964, The Beatles released their first feature film starring themselves and directed by Richard Lester, A Hard Day’s Night. The film and its titular song were named after one of Ringo’s famed and often paradoxical phrases, quickly picked up on by John Lennon who could turn a phrase or two himself.
While each member of the Fab Four had their own brand of wit and charm that translated well to the screen, Ringo possessed a down-to-earth, relatable quality — even at the height of Beatlemania — that drew people to him. One of the most iconic and artistic scenes in A Hard Day’s Night is Ringo walking alongside the River Thames in London. Although Ringo has famously said he was just hungover and not acting, he might not be giving himself enough credit.
Whatever the case, The Beatles’ next film, 1965’s Help!, although not as critically acclaimed as A Hard Day’s Night, centered around Ringo and the rings that gave him his nickname. Although it would be The Beatles’ last live-action fictional feature film, Starr would take the kookiness of Help! up another notch for his 1978 TV special simply titled, Ringo.
The film follows a Prince And The Pauper format, imagining that Ringo had a doppelganger, Ognir Rats (Ringo Starr backward sans the extra R). Although they looked exactly alike, Ognir didn’t achieve the success Ringo did. All of this is set up rather hilariously by George Harrison during a press conference, a setting where The Beatles were often at their most charming. George’s segment starts with him answering an unheard question by saying, “I think it was the trousers,” a reference to the parody All You Need Is Cash starring bizarro Beatles The Rutles.
While it’s pretty over-the-top, the nearly hour-long special also features some performances from Ringo and company of songs from his current album at the time, Bad Boy, as well as older solo material and Beatles tunes alongside appearances from Carrie Fisher, John Ritter and more.
To celebrate Ringo’s birthday, watch his 1978 TV special below:
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Happy Birthday Ringo Starr: Beatles Isolated Drum Tracks
