Ringo walks off `Regis' over song flap

TheLancinator · 01-23-2008, 01:26 AM

Ringo walks off `Regis' over song flap
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs.

Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press.

When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gelman said it had to be less than 3 minutes.

"We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis.'"

A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" disputed some of Freund's contentions. The representative, who declined to be named -- citing show policy -- told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr. The spokeswoman also said the time of his song was almost 5 minutes, not 4 minutes and 15 seconds. She also said that his appearance had been booked since November and that Starr's representatives had agreed to the time requirement for the song.

With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time.

Despite Tuesday's drama, she said the show would absolutely welcome Starr back.

However, Stewart had plenty of criticism for the show, calling it "disrespectful treatment of us as artists."

"Four minutes (3 minutes and 40 seconds, actually) seemed like an appropriate amount of time for a former Beatle. Mr. Gelman apparently felt Ringo's musical legacy should take a back seat to additional banter about the size of Ms. (Kelly) Ripa's derriere," he said in a statement.

The spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" said there would be no comment on Stewart's statement.

Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said.

But he was able to play the full song later Tuesday on "Rachael Ray."

"Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray.

Goofy™ · 01-23-2008, 01:32 AM

Quite fucking right! Why should he be forced to cut his song short??? So that theres extra time to talk a load of shit

Magnum, NY · 01-23-2008, 04:17 AM

It's about being a pro. He's always been a bit of a jerk off the least talented of the Fab Four.

This has been done for over 60 years in television and promotion with every single type of music star or band but he has to have more time than anybody else...

Ringo I love ya but remember you're just an adequate drummer, brother!

Magnum, NY

bensonboo · 01-23-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnum, NY

It's about being a pro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelancinatorZ

"Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray.

He is a pro, why get him on if there's only time for half his song, he cut it down for another show and felt it couldn't be cut down further.

Legmann · 01-23-2008, 06:33 PM

He's a Beatle! Give him what he wants!

Besides, it beats watching Regis leering over Kelly for an extra couple of monutes!

BlobbyBob · 01-23-2008, 06:34 PM

Too right! If I was a singer/songwriter I'd want to perform the song as I've written it or not at all. I'd not cut it down just to suit them.

01-23-2008, 01:26 AM	#1
TheLancinator I love Post Icons Join Date: Jul 2006 Tournaments Won: 2 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 119,407 Thanks: 83 Thanked 875 Times in 613 Posts	Ringo walks off `Regis' over song flap Ringo walks off `Regis' over song flap By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer Ringo Starr is known for being the amiable Beatle, but the rock star showed his tough side Tuesday when he walked off the set of "Live With Regis and Kelly" rather than cut short one of his songs. Starr, who is promoting his new album, "Liverpool 8," planned to perform the title song with fellow rocker Dave Stewart. However, due to miscommunication between his publicist, Elizabeth Freund, and the musical director, Starr didn't realize the performance had to be 2 1/2 minutes or less, Freund told The Associated Press. When told Tuesday morning that the performance had to be shortened, Freund said Starr tried to cut about a minute of the song's 4 minute, 15 second length, down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. However, according to Freund, producer Michael Gelman said it had to be less than 3 minutes. "We offered to cut back our chat time and asked them to fade or go to commercial. They were not willing to do that and Ringo was not willing to cut it further, so without a compromise we were not able to stay," Freund said in a statement to The Associated Press. "Ringo left saying, `God bless and goodbye. We still love Regis.'" A spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" disputed some of Freund's contentions. The representative, who declined to be named -- citing show policy -- told the AP the show's producers tried to work with Starr. The spokeswoman also said the time of his song was almost 5 minutes, not 4 minutes and 15 seconds. She also said that his appearance had been booked since November and that Starr's representatives had agreed to the time requirement for the song. With Starr absent, fashion designer Michael Kors and the winners of CBS' "The Amazing Race" did extra segments to fill his time. Despite Tuesday's drama, she said the show would absolutely welcome Starr back. However, Stewart had plenty of criticism for the show, calling it "disrespectful treatment of us as artists." "Four minutes (3 minutes and 40 seconds, actually) seemed like an appropriate amount of time for a former Beatle. Mr. Gelman apparently felt Ringo's musical legacy should take a back seat to additional banter about the size of Ms. (Kelly) Ripa's derriere," he said in a statement. The spokeswoman for "Regis and Kelly" said there would be no comment on Stewart's statement. Starr, 67, shortened his song for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," but it was still over 3 minutes, Freund said. But he was able to play the full song later Tuesday on "Rachael Ray." "Ringo taped an interview and performance on our show this afternoon, which was absolutely amazing. He performed `Liverpool 8' in its entirety ... and was a complete professional and a pleasure to work with," said Charlie Dougiello, a spokesman for Ray. __________________

01-23-2008, 01:32 AM	#2
Goofy™ Drunken Reprobate Join Date: Oct 2006 Tournaments Won: 1 Location: Alba Posts: 35,878 Thanks: 17 Thanked 138 Times in 62 Posts	Quite fucking right! Why should he be forced to cut his song short??? So that theres extra time to talk a load of shit __________________

01-23-2008, 04:17 AM	#3
Magnum, NY Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New York City, NY Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It's about being a pro. He's always been a bit of a jerk off the least talented of the Fab Four. This has been done for over 60 years in television and promotion with every single type of music star or band but he has to have more time than anybody else... Ringo I love ya but remember you're just an adequate drummer, brother! Magnum, NY __________________ "Hi guys."

01-23-2008, 06:33 PM	#5
Legmann Let it snow! Yeah, right. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 33,523 Thanks: 298 Thanked 738 Times in 374 Posts	He's a Beatle! Give him what he wants! Besides, it beats watching Regis leering over Kelly for an extra couple of monutes! __________________

01-23-2008, 06:34 PM	#6
BlobbyBob Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 784 Thanks: 1 Thanked 8 Times in 2 Posts	Too right! If I was a singer/songwriter I'd want to perform the song as I've written it or not at all. I'd not cut it down just to suit them. __________________ Oh patron saint of lonely souls, tell this boy which way to go. Guide the car, you got the keys, farewell to mediocrity. Kicking off the cruise control and turning up the radio. Got just enough religion and a half a tank of gas. Come on, let's go!

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