Drummer and former Beatle Ringo Starr won't pen his memoirs or cooperate with biographers, so Clayson ( The Quiet One: The Life of George Harrison ) attempts to fill the void with this wordy effort. Readers interested in learning of rock 'n' roll's advent in England will particularly enjoy the early chapters, which detail Ringo's working-class origins, associations with little-known bands and musical influences. The author acknowledges his subject's initial scapegoat status as the least articulate and lowest paid member of the Fab Four, meanwhile praising the musician's simple, functional drumming style. Ringo's post-Beatles years, his alcoholism and eventual detox, his failed first marriage and pairing with actress Barbara Bach are recounted--but his true personality remains vague here. Fans may be tempted to buy this portrait, but it is too smug and dense with Britspeak to appeal to a mainstream American audience. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

This July, the world's most famous drummer turns 52--old enough, it seems, to merit a full-length biography. And so from British rock-musician/writer Clayson (who chronicled Roy Orbison's life in Only the Lonely, 1989) comes an affectionate, well- researched, moderately incisive look at the Beatle who kept the beat. That Ringo is the last Beatle to be biographed isn't surprising. As Clayson emphasizes--hence the subtitle--Ringo's story has always been one of a struggle for identity. Drawing on archival material and myriad interviews (though none with any surviving Beatle), Clayson traces his subject's Liverpool youth (mostly well adjusted, even after early desertion by his dad and a battery of serious illnesses); rise to modest local fame as a drummer; and tapping by the Beatles in 1962 to replace their odd- man-out drummer Pete Best (who, despite drawing the short straw of the century, is today, it's nice to learn, a happy civil servant and fixture at Beatles conventions). But once a Beatle, Ringo's star, for all its luster, began to wobble as he was kept by the rest of the Fab Four from any significant role as a singer or songwriter: He was, Clayson says, the first of the group to smoke marijuana. And despite--as Clayson's intelligent musicological analysis makes clear--Ringo's great influence, if not skill, as a drummer, his career plummeted after the Beatles' breakup. What's an ex-Beatle to do? In Ringo's case, issue a series of increasingly awful albums, act in some forgettable movies--and finally coast into an alcoholic haze, from which he recently has emerged, with a new album and an American tour in the wings. A poignant portrait of an ordinary man cast in an extraordinary role--and just barely surviving. (Eight pages of b&w photographs.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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1.6 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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2.0 out of 5 stars IT DON'T COME EASY, July 7 2001

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker? (Paperback)

When I was a little girl, Ringo was my all time favorite Beatle (and I was a major Beatles FAN)! For years I hoped a good, comprehensive biography of the world's most famous drummer would be published, so I naturally expected this book to fit the tab.

Wrong! It is written in a rather pedantic, condescending tone and offers very little in the way of new information. Instead of treating Ringo with respect, the author appears to trivialize the major obstacles Ringo had to overcome to attain the level of success that he did.

Although I was very disappointed by this book, I am glad to see that Ringo is getting more coverage. My suggestion? Skip this. Read the Beatles' "Anthology" instead. You'll be glad you did.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Starr biography fails to twinkle!, Aug 3 2002

Glen Hannah (Melbourne, Victoria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker? (Paperback)

There are many books about The Beatles but most of them focus on the accomplishments of the group as a whole or the exploits of Lennon and McCartney, and to a lesser extent, George Harrison. Ringo Starr is usually overshadowed, so a biography on his life should have been a worthy addition to any Beatle fan's bookshelf. Unfortunately, it's not the book it could have been and ultimately disappoints.
Beginning in his teddy boy days in Liverpool and ending with his first "All Starr Band" tour, this biography does have segments to recommend it. In particular, the chapters covering 1970-1990, as Ringo's post-Beatle life has been chronicled less than his days as a mop top. We get some insight into his successes and failures in this period including wayward record deals and a bout with alcoholism.
Sadly though, Clayson's book fails to get close to his subject in any meaningful way. Ringo wasn't interviewed for it and nor were any direct family or former lovers or any of the other Beatles or Beatle sidekicks or musicians who worked with his after the break up. Clayson relies almost solely on newspaper stories, articles in the music press and other author's books to piece together Ringo's story. Those interviewed for the book are a bunch of no-names who could probably call themselves acquaintances of the man but nothing more. It's obvious that Starr and everyone who is really close to him, decided not to cooperate with the author, so Clayson's book reads like a scrappy research project cluttered with endless footnotes. Because of this, the book lacks depth and we learn little of the man who was once Richard Starkey. Clayson's writing style is also quite awkward because he tries to string together forty to fifty referenced quotes into each chapter, making it read like a university thesis at times. The odd factual tidbits are the only thing that recommend it because other than that, it's a hollow book, lacking both insight or emotion.

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2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth your time, July 5 2001

Michael Harrington (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker? (Paperback)

This book is just hard to read -- period. One would think that a biography on Ringo would be like himself -- fun. Instead, Clayson wrote a book on an interesting subject and made it as much fun to read as the collected works of Milton. Maybe Clayson is embarrassed that a writer of his "caliber" is churning out books on Ringo, instead of writing the great British novel, and wants the reader to suffer along with him. God knows he seems more intent on showing the reader how smart he is, rather than informing and entertaining us.

Clayson also seems focused on Pete Best, who I guess gave him an interview (Ringo would not). Finally, there are many sloppy factual errors in the book. The one error I found most ridiculous was Clayson's saying that there was trumpet on Helter Skelter. A trumpet? Is he sure there wasn't a fiddle and banjo on that one too?

One of the few interesting things about the book is a picture of Ringo as Elton John tries to kiss him. His expression is priceless.

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Most recent customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars uninteresting
i bought this book on ringo starr---read only some of it.it was boring and uninteresting.i did not like the style of writing at all.i learnt little about ringo in this book.... Read more

Published on Jun 6 2000

2.0 out of 5 stars Not good
I learned some details I didn't know in this book, but otherwise it is a blandly written book, that didn't keep my interest (I skimmed parts). Read more