Beatles drummer can’t wait to return for Culture year

Dec 18 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

FORMER Beatle Ringo Starr believes Capital of Culture will show Liverpool “in an incredible light” to the rest of the world.

The legendary drummer said he could not wait to return to his home city next month.

He also gave a heartfelt defence to the accusations that the Beatles were traitors by leaving Liverpool.

Ringo reveals that accusations the Beatles had abandoned Liverpool did hurt, but they simply did not have the choice of staying in their home city.

He said: “I don’t think I have let Liverpool down.

“When we left they all called us traitors. We only left because we had to go where the jobs were and in those days it was London and everything you did was based out of there.

“Now you can live in Liverpool, Leicester, it doesn’t matter where you live and you can deal with it, but at the time it was a move and people were shouting ‘traitors, you left us’.

“But I think no matter what – and we’re still loved in Liverpool – that even though we left we never let Liverpool down and we’re always still proud of that heritage.”

Thousands of people will see the former Beatle when he takes part in the Capital of Culture opening weekend, including a performance from the top of St George’s Hall.