Peace & Love, Ritchie...

...and Happy Birthday.

If you wanna take Mr. Starkey home, this photograph is available in a beautiful silver gelatin print (16x20 Limited Edition or 11x14 Open Edition) made directly from the original negative. Email me for a special birthday price.



And my bonus shot:

Ringo's house from back in the day, known as Tittenhurst Park...which I believe originally belonged to John Lennon. I was there to photograph a doorknob for my book Starart. The doorknob was a replica of Ringo's hand that was designed by Klaus Voormann.

Ringo Starr

Today is his birthday. He is --- wow --- Ringo is 69 today. I was thinking 65, maybe 66. Good on him for hittin' the number 69.

I actually have had lots of encounters with Mr. Starkey. Mostly all good.

The first was when I made a scouting trip to L.A. to see if this little Canadian girl had any chance of hell making it in the big city (I'm still trying to determine that, btw). And lo and behold, my first day in town, somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody else got me an invite to an album release press conference at Capitol Records. Now, ain't that the way to roll into to Hollywood. Especially since it was for a Beatle. Ringo. And just days after I had shot another Beatle in concert in Vancouver. George.

There were tons of photographers at the press conference. I'd never been to one of these and didn't have a clue what I was doing. I'm not a pushy paparazzi type of shooter. But I guess my concert experience - where you really have to anticipate your subject's next move or you miss the shot - paid off. I managed to get at least one shot I love.

Ringo Starr

7/7/40 - Still Rockin'

If you'd like to own this photograph, click on Ringo Starr or click here.

After the press conference I shot the filming of the promotional video on Vine Street. This is one of my photos...

And here is a little piece of the video...

I did not meet Ringo on this occasion. That would come a couple of years later. When I was putting together my first book, Starart. Klaus Voormann is in the book and he sent me up to Ringo's house to discuss getting some of the KV art he owned to shoot for the book. I had a lovely visit with him and he was extremely supportive of the project. As a matter of fact, it was Ringo who suggested I get Ron Wood in the book.

My next Ringo encounter was in England, where I was working with Cat Stevens on his section of Starart. I had the good fortune to be introduced to Maureen Starkey - not through Ringo - and she more or less took me in (I can't even begin to tell you what an amazing person she was and what she did for me). During a stay at her country home, Ringo turned up to recuperate from an intestinal surgery before returning to the states. It was Easter and family time. And I was homored to be included.

Once the book was done, I threw an opening bash at a gallery in Los Angeles...on my birthday...and look who showed up...

Me (with my Lucy's margarita) and Him

That was a mighty cool night. Best birthday ever.

So, Ringo, since I can't be at, or should I say wasn't invited to your 69th, the best I can do for your birthday is bring this guy in to sing to you...

Or how about you sing it to yourself...

And last but not least...I'll have a margarita for you at Lucy's tonight...since you can't.

Happy Birthday, Richie!

Searching

I have spent the last two hours searching for a piece of paper that I need for tomorrow morning.

No luck.

Fuck.

Chuck.

Lame duck.

But all is not lost... At least I found a Polaroid photo I was looking for a couple of months ago that I wanted to scan and post. And now I'm wondering if I had actually scanned it and posted it before and hadn't filed it back in its proper place.

Well, too bad if I did...'cause I got nothing else. If you need to understand why, just scroll down and read yesterday's post. And what I didn't mention yesterday is that my office is a hella mess and I'm so far behind on things I'm supposed to deal with - you know, those things that I should deal with in the moment but I let pile up until they become an overwhelming mountain of crap that will eat up tons of time to shovel through with absolutely no return for me? Yeah, those things.

Okay, never mind. Like I said, I did find this Polaroid that I couldn't find before and whether or not I had found it before and posted it, I am posting it again. It is one of my fondest memories...

This was one of the times I was staying at Maureen's house. Probably the time that Ringo was there recuperating from intestinal surgery. He may have even taken this picture. I had a lot of fun there...staying up really really late...doing artsy-crafty things...drinking yummy Irish coffees with double cream. And posing for ridiculously silly pictures.

Now, if I could just find that piece of paper...

A Little Help From My Friends

I'm reaching out for a little help from my friends. Since I consider every person who stops by my blog a friend, that means you. And you. And you.

I need to sell 150 copies of
Everybody I Shot Is Dead
in the next 6 days.

Here's the deal. You have to purchase the books directly from my website - don't worry about security 'cause all the orders go through Paypal and they don't let me see any of your personal information other than your name and shipping address. All the books will be signed by the author. Oh wait, that's me. Yeah, I'll sign the books and even personalize them to whoever you want if you put a note on the order.

And as a bonus, since this is A Little Help From My Friends, I will include a special edition 8.5x11 signed inkjet print of Ringo for your framing pleasure.
For those friends who already own a copy of my book, I hope you'll consider buying another as a gift for a friend or even your local library (and you can keep the print).

If you can't help directly, I would appreciate it if you could link this post on your blog or facebook it or send it to all your friends and ask them to send it to theirs or twitter it or viral it the old fashioned way - you know, just open your window and shout it out to the masses.

Click to check it out:
Everybody I Shot Is Dead

And I thank you very much in advance.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Starkey!

And in honor of this Beatle's birthday, I am releasing a fine art photography print of the man who wore rings.

I pulled this one out of the people I shot who are fortunately still alive box back in March and debuted it at the Fest for Beatle Fans in New York. I was planning to launch it on my blog and website right after that but I've been so busy I just haven't gotten around to it. Until now. Since he's the birthday boy.

This photo was taken in November 1974 at Capitol Records in Los Angeles. I had shot George (Harrison) on November 2nd and then made a trip to L.A. to see if I had a hope in hell of making it in the B.C. (Big City) After making the 24 hour drive and landing at the Continental Riot House on Sunset I made a call to someone who invited me and my camera to the Ringo Starr press conference for the launch of his album, Goodnight Vienna. I took that as a very good sign on my chances of making it in the B.C. even though it wasn't an actual job or anything. Just an opportunity to shoot some photos of another Beatle.

It was a lot of fun as they had a big production after the press bit where they had a space ship flown to the top of the Capitol Records building where they ultimately shot a video of Ringo singing a song from the album, with Harry Nilsson sitting in a lawn chair off to the side.

This is my favorite shot of him from the press conference:

If you are interested in owning a lovely silver gelatin archival print of this picture, I am running a Ringo Starr birthday special. The 16x20 Limited Edition of 75 numbered & signed prints is currently available at $275 per print ($500 framed) and an 11x14 Open Edition signed print is $125 per print ($225 framed).

I'll have this deal up on the website by the end of the day tomorrow. If you want it sooner than that you can send an email to info@cheshercat.com and we'll take care of you.

A year and a half after I took this photo I was sent to Ringo's house by Klaus Voormann to discuss the various pieces of Klaus' artwork that I needed for Starart. He spent a couple of hours with me discussing what I was doing with the book. It was at that initial meeting that he told me Ronnie Wood was a great artist and that I should have him in the book. I had no idea he was an artist so I am indebted to Ringo for the suggestion. Ringo also showed up for the gallery opening of Starart and also purchased #7/300 of the Limited Edition version of the book. He was very supportive.

Happy Birthday, Richie. And keep on rockin'!