ringo starr

He’s been one of rock’s premier sidemen for nearly 40 years. Now Benmont Tench, the keyboardist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, and he's brought along some old friends.

On Feb. 9, 2014, CBS will mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in a big way.

Although they wouldn't officially disband until April 1970, the first signs that the four-headed beast known as the Beatles was starting to come apart at the seams took place on Aug. 22, 1968. A little more than six years to the day that he performed his first show with the group, drummer Ringo Starr walked out during the recording sessions for 'The Beatles.'

Few things seemed more incongruous on children's television in 1989 than Ringo Starr's time on PBS' show, 'Shining Time Station' (apart, of course, from when George Carlin took over for Ringo a year later). Starr is about to make the year spent as 'Mr. Conductor' look perfectly normal later this year when he lends his talents to a Cartoon Network special of 'The Powerpuff Girls.'

Last July Ringo Starr celebrated his 72nd birthday with a stage full of players familar to fans of rock and country music. This star-studded performance will now be released on DVD. Look for 'Ringo at the Ryman' to arrive on March 11.

Before there were the Beatles, Richard Starkey was a group called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The drummer, who would go on to change his name to Ringo Starr, recorded with the band before joining the Fab Four, and now some of those early recordings have surfaced after more than 50 years.

Drummers are the Rodney Dangerfield of rock. From jokes like, “What did the drummer get on his IQ test?” (answer: drool) to the mock tragedies that befell Spinal Tap’s myriad timekeepers, drummers get no respect. However, a new list shows that many of them are laughing all the way to the bank.

Three of the four sons of famous Beatles are willing to team up to honor their dads. James McCartney — son of Paul – had suggested the possibility earlier this year, adding that Sean Lennon and Dhani Harrison were fond of the idea.

It’s summer, and Ringo Starr is back on the road with another lineup of his long-running All-Starr Band — all of whom recently sat down with Rock Cellar Magazine to share their favorite Beatles albums.

A three-year battle to preserve Ringo Starr‘s childhood home has resulted in a victory. The small house in the Dingle section of Liverpool had been on a list of houses to be demolished as part of an urban renewal project, but a campaign started by local Beatles fans has saved No. 9 Madryn Street from the bulldozer.

In addition to promoting his new solo album, cleverly titled ‘Ringo 2012,’ former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is lending his support to a worthy cause – the endangered rhinoceros species. Starr recently modified his official website, replacing the picture of his cat with a rhino image.

After watching the film version of ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,’ you’d think Ringo Starr would have no love for rock movie musicals, but think again — the Funny Beatle is teaming up with erstwhile Eurythmic Dave Stewart to write and executive produce a project for Paramount.