I’m usually on RNZ once a month to have a chat about some new albums. But now and then I present features on the show too.

Last year I had nearly an hour to explore the music of George Harrison.

So I was keen, straight away, to talk Ringo Starr. Now Ringo’s legacy stays entirely with the band. He was the drummer in The Beatles. And that’s where he did his great work. His drum-playing is exquisite. Tight-but-loose. Magically inventive.

I wanted to showcase some of his best moments – some of his greatest hitting.

But we started off talking about a couple of fine solo moments. Ringo started the 70s as a solo star(r) with a hiss and a roar. Probably quite easy to do when you were in the biggest band in the world.

The wheels fell off he found drink, drugs and movies. He found many distractions. And he all but gave up trying.

So this was about celebrating some of the best things Ringo Starr did behind the kit – with one or two solo vocal highlights too.

What luck to be allowed on the radio talking about Ringo Starr.

Here’s my chat with Jesse Mulligan on his Afternoons show.
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https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018684182/simon-sweetman-ringo-starr-style-over-flash