Ringo Starr

[HeyWayne]

Just heard his "announcement" on Radio 2.

Has he lost the plot?

[Pumpkin Becki]

I caught the tail-end of something on 'Breakfast' this morning - is it that he's not going to sign autographs anymore (or was there more to it?)

[kirsty b]

I saw this on the news yesterday and immediately thought 'you cheeky b@***@*d!!'
Perhaps if he has too much to do and can't sign things for his fans, then perhaps his fans may find they have better things to do than keep pouring money into what is already a pretty large wallet.
Honestly, if it wasn't for fans, he wouldn't be where is he now.

[di]

I reckon he lost the plot some time back in the 60's!!But as far as his announcement!!Hmmm!Initially,like you I thought he'd gone a bit mad,but having pondered I can almost see his point!!He's no doubtedly spent 40yrs getting continual fanmail,probably all saying the same stuff,having to go through ALL that hassle of signing autographs(that prob only get sold on Ebay)Bless Him!!!Oh my heart feels for the chap!!
That or he's not had any fanmail for several years & thinks this would be a great publicity stunt to start getting some!!?

[HeyWayne]

That or he's not had any fanmail for several years & thinks this would be a great publicity stunt to start getting some!!?

I doubt much of the Beatles fanmail was directed at him, and it's likely most of the Thomas the Tank Engine fans have moved on now....

[kirsty b]

Unlikely that he's had no fanmail!

When you are a member of one of the biggest bands ever, what do you expect? I think there will be a huge amount of interest in the Beatles for a long time to come still. But if he expects to send this sort of message and for everyone to go 'oh, okay then' he might be in for a disppointment.
There may be a lot of negative response to this, and it won't be confined to letters anymore, not now t'internet can reach masses of people and be largely uncontrolled.

[Marthaclematis]

I think he might be at some stage of senile dementia or altzhimers, I've thought this about him before, a couple of years back..... Its a shame he couldn't be talked out of it by his doctors and management, surely they're supposed to be looking after his best interests - this just makes him look silly. Then again, perhaps they tried and he just wasn't having any of it.

[flowerofshona]

Its one way to boost a sagging old ego !!!
Lets hope his 'fans' decide not to bite !

[bluemoon]

My Grandson is a new convert to Thomas the Tank Engine, HW. Sadly for Mr Starr though, my GS hasn't a clue who he is, the attraction is with the engines and the stories, it's irrelevant who narrates them and, frankly, I'd let him watch it more often if someone with a slightly less irritating or more inspirational voice were to do it. Let's be honest, with acting 'talent' like that your average Joe wouldn't get a speaking part in the village panto.

[di]

I doubt much of the Beatles fanmail was directed at him, and it's likely most of the Thomas the Tank Engine fans have moved on now....

......even Thomas has moved on(forget the fans!!),think he's been dumped for the fresher faced Pierca Brosnan!!....Poor ol' Ringo!!!You almost gotta feel for him!

[Pumpkin Becki]

'I love Bongo, he's my favourite he is, he's my favourite' quote from Eric Morecambe in the Intelligence Men (but I heartily agree - he is my favourite).

I don't see the point in autographs anyway, they are mostly signed by the PA to the star rather than the star themself, so how you could ever authenticate an autograph as genuine...unless you took a photo of the star signing their name on the thing...

Having said that, I got Terry Pratchett to sign my Discworld Tshirt with fabric pen at an event in Ipswich. He is famous for his signature getting shorter and simpler over the years - however, because the fabric paint was tricky to use he had to do it very slowly - he said I probably got the fullest autograph he'd signed in many a year!

[bluemoon]

......even Thomas has moved on(forget the fans!!),think he's been dumped for the fresher faced Pierca Brosnan!!....Poor ol' Ringo!!!You almost gotta feel for him!

The last Thomas I saw was a few days ago and it still had Ringo, but if this is true of the newer ones then I'm heartily pleased.

[HeyWayne]

I think the whle point of autographs has been lost - especially as people sell them. I've always taken autographs as personal mementos - not a commercial opportunity. The autographs I have (very few), all have a bit of a story behind them - they mean something to me, but are of no value to anyone else.

[piskieinboots]

I'm sure he will get by with a little help from his friends.....
.....thank you, thank you - I'm here all day

[HeyWayne]

I'm sure he will get by with a little help from his friends.....
.....thank you, thank you - I'm here all day

I don't get it....