Publisher's Weekly Review
In this illuminating and comprehensive biography of Richard "Ringo Starr" Starkey, New York Post TV editor Starr delves into every aspect of the life of one of the 20th century's most famous drummers. Beatles fans may come away disappointed at the lack of truly new material regarding Ringo's tenure with the band, much of which is culled from the Beatles Anthology documentary. That said, Starr successfully paints a complete portrait of the legendary drummer, whose contributions to rock 'n' roll, he argues, have largely been overshadowed by his iconic bandmates. With aplomb, Starr creates an intimate picture of Liverpool and Hamburg during the 1950s and '60s that puts the rest of Ringo's life (including his later battles with alcoholism and drug addiction) into fascinating perspective. Starr's prose is straightforward, at times stilted, but frequent eyewitness accounts and quotes from original interviews with Ringo's friends and family help him succeed in revealing the nuanced and passionate man who was the backbone of the Beatles. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Yes, the author has the same surname as his subject, Ringo Starr, who was born Richard Starkey, but he's not related. This serviceable biography starts with Starkey when he was a kid with a knack for making music on the drums, takes him through his years with the Beatles, through his post-Beatles solo era, his decline into alcoholism, and his climb back up the ladder. The author takes pains to make sure we understand this is not a biography of the Beatles, but of a man who spent a relatively small part of his long and productive life as a member of that group. The book's only real drawback, though it's a significant one, is the lack of participation from both the man himself and, for the most part, from Starr's close friends. It relies, instead, on material from sources on the periphery of the subject's life and on previously published material. Still, it's a solid recounting of Ringo's life and will be of interest to Beatles fans looking for more information on the least-chronicled member of the Fab Four.--Pitt, David Copyright 2015 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Richard "Richy" Starkey, aka Ringo Starr, probably the most famous drummer in the world, told his Facebook followers in 2012 that he wasn't participating in this biography, rendering it unauthorized except for its heavy inclusion of material from his past interviews. Usually, unauthorized biographies are entertaining reads but often contain hearsay and conjecture, while authorized biographies or autobiographies only contain what the subject wants to share. The truth is likely in the middle. New York Post TV editor and celebrity biographer Starr (no relation!) clearly likes his subject and has done his research, providing more than 300 notes and a bibliography in this accessible, fast read. While he writes about Ringo's entire life and not just his time with the Fab Four (1962-70), nearly half the book is about those eight years-not even ten percent of his life. Regrettably, and most likely owing to publisher deadlines, the book does not include Ringo's acceptance speech upon receiving the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Award for Musical Excellence in April 2015, or material from his Rolling Stone cover story that same month. The epilog features new interviews with four rock drummers, including Phil Collins, about Ringo's influence and legacy. While unnecessary, they add to the book's kind portrayal. Verdict Until Ringo pens his memoirs (if he ever does), this biography will serve as the most complete and up-to-date telling of his life story. For fans of all things Beatles and rock star biographies.-Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
