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When asked if Ringo Starr was the best drummer in the world, John Lennon quipped that: “He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!” Many, not for the first time, misread Lennon's impish wit for a sage judgement on the unassuming musician who did as much as any of the Fab Four to make the Beatles the most hummed rock'n'roll band ever. Lennon later amended the record by saying “Ringo's a damn good drummer.” Sir Paul McCartney told Ringo: “You are the greatest drummer in the world.” This paean came in a postcard sent to Ringo the day after the Beatles performed on the roof of Apple's Savile Row offices in 1969.
Last night Ringo was on a rooftop again. He was performing on the roof of St George's Hall in Liverpool to launch the city's year as the Capital of Culture. There could be no fitter ambassador for a city that was made famous from Calcutta to Kowloon by the Beatles (all due respects to Bill Shankly and his Liverpool football team).
Ringo represents all that is great about Liverpool: a vibrant spirit, puckish humour, a modest profile that belies a glorious history and an unconventional grace that the French term jolie laide. The Beatles stand among Britain's greatest gifts to the world, alongside parliamentary democracy, railways and never inflicting on cinemagoers an actor as implausible as Sylvester Stallone.
In addition to inspiring two generations of drummers who understood that his deceptively spare style was as pathbreaking as Hemingway's deceptively spare prose, Ringo capped his Beatles career by injecting some vim into the travels of Thomas the Tank Engine, and by never doing anything embarrassing. Given that Paul McCartney has been knighted - let alone Cliff Richard - it is surely preposterous that this national treasure lacks a similar honour.
The Times has submitted an online petition to Downing Street to remedy this oversight. Last night Ringo Starr was drumming from the rooftops of Liverpool. This morning we should be singing from the rooftops: “Arise, Sir Ringo.”
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Simply because Ringo is looked upon as 'a bafoon' who contributed absolutely NOTHING to the Beatles - or to Pop Music in general !
With 'Macca' given the 'Sir Gong' ... I do hope this 'oversight' is rectified in June this year, and it'll be ' Arise - Sir Richard Starkey' !
....
Norman Tomlinson, Lancaster, North-West England
Arise Sir Richard Starkey
CathyG, Basildon, Essex, England
all the beatles should be knighted enough said
jim, pittsfield, ma
Sir Mick??....Sir Elton?...Sir Cliff?.......BUT.....NO SIR RINGO???
Insane!!!!!!
Jim Cushman, South Dartmouth, Massachusetts USA
It's about time Ringo was knighted. He is part of the biggest cultural export this country had in the last 50 years.
No question about it...Knight him!
D.Dent, London,
Cliff was actually knighted for the enormous amount of work he has done for charity as well as being the most successful British male pop artist. I don't know anything about Ringo (other than he was a Beatle) and whether or not he does a lot for less fortunate people but I'm sure there's a good reason why he hasn't been knighted. Don't forget the Beatles broke up about 40 years ago and he hasn't really done much since that I'm aware of except a film or two.
Linda, Watford,
I love the sound of "Sir Ringo" but I've also read where he's said he doesn't want it anyway. If he was offered it, would he turn it down? Probably not.
Robin, Jermyn, USA/PA
long overdue, honour our ringo his playing the drums on the concert for george at the albert hall was magnifcent .to see the 2 remaining beetles on one stage honouring one of there friends was fantastic i think concert for george is one of the best music dvds ever made so lets honour ringo before its too late .jeff
jeff lambe, salford, uk
Ringo Starr remains one of the most famous names in the world and his contribution to the Beatles and to the history that they created in modern western culture is deserving an honour such as knight of the realm.
Tony Bailey, Rochester, Kent
He put the township as well as the casino of Rama, Ontario, Canada on the map.
He should be knighted. No questions asked.
TK, Toronto, Canada
Would John or George have taken a knighthood? Idont think so
Darren Long, walgett, Australia
I'm all for Sir Ringo, it's a royal oversight that he's not already.
Alex Radeff, Toronto, Canada
Here! Here! Sir Richard Starkey sounds great to this US citizen whose life was changed on February 9, 1964 by Ringo and his three mates from Liverpool.
Gary Astridge, Buffalo, NY
''Arise, Sir Ringo''?
You mean, ''Sir Richard''.
But wait --- make that, KING Richard!
Yankysnoodle, Mid West, USA
Don't stop at knighting him . . make him king!
John, Oklahoma City, USA/Oklahoma