Ringo: Now I Feel Bad, But Not Enough to Stop

As Dr. X is somewhere in Africa on the run for not only for the preservation of what is becoming known in economic circles as "The Protraxis Solution," a mathematical formula a mere stolen fragment of which transformed Little Debbie Snack Cakes into a major international currency and arms trader, but for his very life, and as reports filter in, and his potential survival against the Ouagadodan Termination Sudden Explosion Assignation Patrol seems less and less a certainty, it seems unfair to onesidedly reflog our animated discussion over the relative merits of Mr. Starkey's drumming.

But these delicacies were tossed aside when I hit on the bright idea of writing my actual British rock star friends for their opinion on the matter. I.M. and J are a two-piece band, which as every schoolboy knows is ala mode; drummer J. is also a working session guy around London. I withold their names for the potentially explosive power of the following.

I.M. wrote back immediately.

It's widely known in the muso world over here that Ringo didn't play drums on any of the early recordings, Macca did it all, and this continued throughout the bands career with the formidable Mr McCartney doing it or various session drummers. I guess he was a good vibe to have around, and good enough to play live because the girlies were screaming so loud the band were inaudible. If I remember rightly he did play drums at the Concert for Bangladesh, however there were 2 drummers on that gig mostly playing in unison!

The term "Macca" is apparantly for McCartney. Who knew? Anyway, I now feel rather badly: Ringo is a fine fellow and wrote some nice songs, and now, if this is true, it appears that his career as a musician was something of a sham. It does however suggest that Dr. X. would have to allow that Paul McCartney is the exceptional drummer in question, a strangely less palatable position.

On a more pleasant note, I. also notes that she met Ian Holm, Bilbo in the movies, just today, and he was a "bright eyed, lovely chap," which is only right and proper. She has also met Pete Townsend, but I didn't want to push it over Keith Moon.