After poor album sales, Ringo speaks out against music press

Remember Ringo Starr? The musically maligned former Beatles drummer, who remains a former Beatle all the same? If you didn't know he had a new album out, don't feel bad: no one did. His new album, Liverpool 8, sold just 7,000 copies in its first week in January, good for #94 on the Billboard chart. Imagine if you told your parent in 1965 that a Beatle would ever have an album debut at #94, much less with a number as puny as 7,000. The lack of media attention to the new material old guys, even former Beatles, left Ringo out in the cold, according to Ringo:

“It’s difficult with record sales,” Starr, 67, says, calling from tour rehearsals in Niagara Falls, Ontario. “I’m doing OK, but it’s hard to get the play you want. It’s just how it is. If you’re over 21, it’s difficult. I don’t think it’s only for me. I think it’s most people who’ve been around for awhile. There’s still artists coming through from the same era, so there’s a lot of us still out there, and it’s difficult - and there’s a lot of new people. There’s only so much room.”

As a result of dissapointing sales, Ringo's taken it on himself to renew the power of his name with a massive tour one that, somewhat strangely, features only one song from Liverpool 8 in its regular repertoire. The supporting All-Starrs (hur hur) are on tour with the following remaining planned dates:

07.02 Clearwater, FL: Ruth Eckerd Hall

07.03 Hollywood, FL: Hard Rock Live (Seminole)

07.05 Biloxi, MS: Beau Rivage

07.06 Nashville, TN: Wildhorse Saloon

07.08 Kettering, OH: Fraze Pavillion

07.09 Milwaukee, WI:Potawatomi Casino

07.11 Windsor, ON: Casino Windsor Limited

07.12 Mount Pleasant. MI: Soaring Eagle Casino

07.13 Chicago, IL: Charter One Pavillion/Northerly Isle

07.14 Prior Lake, MN: Mystic Lake Celebrity Palace

07.18 Airway Heights, WA: Northern Quest Casino

07.19 Woodinville, WA: Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery