RINGO Starr arrives in Bournemouth this month on his first European tour since 1998. Gavin Haines caught up with the former Beatle and his All Starr Band at their last rehearsal before hitting the road....

AFTER a 13-year hiatus ex-Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr is touring Europe again with his All Star Band, mark 11.

The latest line-up welcomes some fresh faces – Romantics guitarist Wally Palmer, The McCoys guitarist Rick Derringer and Mr Mister bassist, Richard Page – as well as some more familiar faces in the form of Edgar Winter, Gary Wright and Greg Bissonette.

“This is the twelfth band I’ve put together,” says Ringo, casually lumping The Beatles in with the previous incarnations of his All Starr Band.

“To still be playing is great – the dream is still unfolding from when I was 13 and wanted to be in a band.”

So was he tempted to pick up the phone to Macca before he decided on the latest lineup?

“I ask Paul every time I put a band together,” says the drummer.

“I promise him two numbers like everybody else.”

Although Ringo is keen to steer conversations away from The Beatles, the rehearsal I watched earlier finished with a version of With A Little Help From My Friends, which Ringo sang on the Fab Four’s 1967 album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The set list also featured the song Boys, originally performed by The Shirelles in 1960 but covered by The Beatles in 1963. It was the first time Ringo did vocals for the band and apparently he nailed the recording in one go.

Yet despite the back catalogue of Beatles’ classics Ringo has to lean on (not to mention songs from his fortyyear solo career) this is the All Starr Band remember, so expect some hits from the other members too.

In fact during the rehearsal (which took place in an aircraft hanger in Sussex), the small crowd was treated to Mr Mister’s Broken Wings, sung by Richard Page, of course, and the Edgar Winter Group’s Free Ride with Edgar on vocals and keyboard.

What retirement?

As well as rehearsing with his All Starr Band, the 71- year-old has been busy working on a new solo album.

“I have finished the new album now,” he says.

“I feel blessed; it’s a long time since I started and I’m still doing it.”

Ringo joined the Beatles in 1962, replacing Pete Best on drums.

This means next year will be the fiftieth anniversary of him becoming one of the Fab Four, so will he be celebrating?

“I think I’ve got enough birthdays to celebrate,” he says.

“We were just lads making music in Liverpool. We were just doing what we wanted to do and I suddenly had three brothers.”

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band play at the BIC on June 24. Look out for the full interview with Ringo and the band, which will be appearing soon in the Echo Weekend Magazine.