Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Alan Clayson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sanctuary Music Library | Publication Date: June 1, 1998

Following Starr through his life and careers as musician and actor, Clayson's impeccable researched and highly entertaining biography details the ex-Beatle's romantic liaisons, health problems, alcoholism, and return to prominence.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860741894
• ISBN-13: 978-1860741890
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not good, March 17, 2000

By A Customer

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

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). And I recently saw Ringo Starr in concert, and he was much more charismatic than I thought he would be (and I'm a Beatles NUT, so I didn't think he'd be boring!). To think that such a lively performer, and a living legend, could have such a dull biography written about him, is a shame.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Clayson, Tell Us About Ringo!, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

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

This is the best book about Ringo Starr because it's the ONLY book, which is quite a shame. Ringo has led an incredibly interesting life, full of ups and downs, but this book somehow avoids those interesting stories. The author does appear to know a great deal about the music scene in England in the late 50's and early 60's, but he does not appear to know a great deal about the World's Greatest Drummer. For example, this book lists Ringo's drumming in the song "Birthday" as his only drum solo. What? Did he forget to buy and listen to Abbey Road and the drum solo from "The End"? This is a huge mistake. Mr. Clayson does not really seem to be very interested in Ringo, and he certainly does not appear to really respect him. Therefore, I think Beatles fans and Ringo fans will be disappointed by this book.