The video for Blame Ringo's first single Garble Arch from their new album, Lucky Number 9, featuring a cast of tourists all attempting to recreate the iconic Beatles album Abbey Road, and trying not to get flattened in the process.
It's a surprisingly busy spot and clearing a fan magnet. I didn't have to watch the webcam long before I say a group taking photos, though most people cross obliviously. You can see many of the results on Flickr.
The Australian band, described as "wussy indie folk-rock," has received a creative boost from a legal dustup with Ringo Starr himself.
"Originally billed as "Goodnight Vienna," the band had to change its name in late 2007 after being threatened with legal action by Richard Starkey Jr. (aka Ringo Starr). Apparently "Goodnight Vienna" was the name of Ringo's fourth studio album and although he 'thoroughly enjoyed the music' he was 'obliged to dissuade any profiteering which resulted from the use of his intellectual property.'
"What a bastard.
"After a spiteful name change (and a lot muckracking) the new and improved Blame Ringo are set to have their revenge by seeking to expose the man who claims to inventing the peace sign.
And expose they do: "...he is a malevolent force, instrumental in many ugly world events, including, (but not limited to) the secret conspiracy to break up the Beatles." Photos: A retouched picture show Lee Harvey Oswald's head on the photo of Ringo holding two Marxist newspapers — The Militant and The Worker — in one hand, a rifle in the other.
Ich bin ein Ringo - On February 6, 1932 Hitler met with Putzi Hanfstaengl at a German airfield. This photograph was take on that day. Closer inspection of the photo reveals a shadowy figure and a familiar grin. Could it be?
Back in 1991, Ringo Starr said he would answer every one of his fan letters, "and I don't care if it takes me another 20 years." Seventeen years later, he's had enough.
Sure, his pledge was made by a cartoon version of himself on The Simpsons episode Brush with Greatness, but the sloughing off of his fans was no joke. Earlier this week the fourth Beatle posted a short rant on his website (which now appears gone), telling anyone who was still enamored with the drummer to stuff it.
"This is a serious message. I want to tell you please, after the 20th of October do not send fan mail to any address you have. Nothing will be signed. If that has a date on the envelope it’s gonna be tossed. I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail. Thank you, thank you. And no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love."
Apparently peace and love is the equivalent of telling somebody "with all due respect" before you dump all over their idea.
Of course Ringo is under no obligation to sign anything for anyone, but I can't help but wonder what influence his Simpson appearance had on his level of fan mail.
Dear Marge, Thanks for the fab painting of Yours Truly. I hung it on me wall. You're quite an artist. In answer to your question, yes, we do have hamburgers and fries in England. But we call french fries `chips'. Love, Ringo. PS: Forgive the lateness of my reply.
Have people been sending him new mail ever since? And the show is in permanent reruns, so countless people have see it anew every month. And how many budding painters will give up their dreams, just because Ringo has gotten all crotchety?
Photos: A retouched picture show Lee Harvey Oswald's head on the photo of Ringo holding two Marxist newspapers — The Militant and The Worker — in one hand, a rifle in the other.
Back in 1991, Ringo Starr said he would answer every one of his fan letters, "and I don't care if it takes me another 20 years." Seventeen years later, he's had enough.
