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RINGO STARR SAYS BEATLES’ FAMED ROOFTOP CONCERT WAS ALMOST HELD INSIDE A VOLCANO

by: Joe Robinson 

When somebody who has seen and done as much as Ringo Starr has over the years is hanging around, you never know what wild stories might pop out of his mouth. A prime example could be from Monday night (Jan. 31), when the former Beatles legend stopped by SiriusXM’s Town Hall event while on the promotional rounds for his just-released new album, ‘Ringo 2012.’

An audience member brought up the fact that Monday was the anniversary of the final Beatles concert — their famed impromptu Jan. 30, 1969, gig on the rooftop of Apple Corps in London, England — and that got Ringo talking about the Fab Four’s initial plans for a farewell gig.

“The four of us were thinking, ‘We’ll do it at the Pyramids, or we’ll do it in Hawaii in a volcano,’” Starr revealed. “We had all these big, grandiose ideas and at the end you say, ‘Sod it, just let’s do it on the roof.’”

Another surprising Starr story? His thoughts on the late, great Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The two are both famous beat keepers, but to Ringo, the comparisons pretty much ended there.

“I don’t listen to records for the drums,” he recently told USA Today. “John Bonham’s incredible solos didn’t knock me out. I don’t feel you need solos. “You need to feel emotion in the track,” he continued. “It’s no good calling me if you like modern jazz. I play pop and rock. I support the song. I can hold steady time.”

Ringo’s not done experimenting with new promotional methods, either. He’s currently giving filmmakers the opportunity to create the official video for his new song ‘Wings’ in a special competition. You can get all the details at Genero.tv/Ringo.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images