Ringo Starr Recalls Walking Out of an Elton John Concert After Three Songs

Going to concerts is a magical experience for many music lovers. They get to hear their favorite songs in a new light. Sometimes, they’ll get to hear sneak peeks of an artist’s upcoming album when they play unreleased songs for concertgoers. Some thoroughly enjoy the latter. Ringo Starr, on the other hand, walked out of an Elton John concert because the Rocket Man decided to play a set packed with new songs.

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Starr talked about the experience in a recent interview with The Sunday Times. He spoke to the publication about his new record Look Up and about his live shows. The story came out while he was discussing his choice to stop adding new songs to his setlists.

[RELATED: American Songwriter January/February Cover Story: Looking Up (& Back) with Ringo Starr as He Reflects on Drums, Songs, and Timeless Friendships]

Ringo Starr Recalls Walking Out of an Elton John Concert

It was 1975 and Elton John was playing at Wembley Stadium after the release of Captain Fantastic. Ringo Starr attended the concert with John’s mother. “He came on and said, ‘I’m only going to do the new album.’” Starr recalled. “Me and his mother left after three tracks because we didn’t know them,” he added.

Starr has been on the other side of that as well. “In the late ‘90s, I would put in, like, two or three [songs] from the new album, and you could feel the room empty,” he explained. “It happens to everybody,” he added. So, those who plan to see the former Beatle in future concerts probably shouldn’t expect to hear many tracks from his most recent release.

The Inspiration Behind Look Up  

In an interview with American Songwriter, Ringo Starr said he didn’t plan on making a country record. In fact, he didn’t plan to make a full-length album at all. Instead, he wanted to make another pop-rock EP. Then, he had a chance meeting with T Bone Burnett.

While chatting Starr told Burnett that he was making an EP and added, “If you have a song and you want to put some meat on it, send it to me.” The all-star singer/songwriter/producer said he’d think about it.

“He sent me this beautiful country song,” Starr recalled. “The music on it was great, and the sentiment was great,” he added. That song made the former Beatle decide to record a country EP. Then, he learned that Burnett had nine songs to share. As a result, the EP became an LP, and the rest is history.

Look Up is available to stream or purchase now.

Featured Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images