Ringo finally knighted this New Year

MANILA, Philippines — Things don’t come easy for Ringo Starr, 77. Well, not anymore.

The Beatle beacon is returning to Buckingham Palace after 54 years to be knighted in the 2018 New Year’s Honors in recognition for his services to music and charity donations for abused children, AIDS awareness and other relevant causes.

That’s 52 years after getting his medal as Member of the British Empire (MBE) with the rest of the Beatles after John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison used the comfort room of British monarch’s official residence to get turned on by marijuana.

Based on the encouragement of Paul, the conferment is traditionally by Queen Elizabeth except when she strongly disagrees such as in the case of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones for his anti-establishment views and acts.

As the knighthood is given only to living recipients, Ringo received his in 2018, or 21 years after Paul was knighted in 1997.

It might seem it doesn’t come easy for the Beatle drummer like his eponymous first single release hit exposes but this is not entirely true. Although he got solo credit, it was composed with more than a little help from friend George who gave it to him already completed with a scratch vocal that Ringo completed plus the last verse.

But the knighthood is well-deserved although late as the Beatles owe its phenomenal collective success to members and non-members, record producer George Martin and business manager Brian Epstein. It started to happen upon Ringo’s recruitment that the charm of his “cute” appeal synergized.

The limelight always focused on John and Paul as its tandem composers who got to sing lead vocals of most of their compositions. This was unless George wrote a rare song and/or Ringo got his paltry lead vocals per new album release unless he wrote a song even rarer than George.

As such, Ringo was always last in the order of Beatle issues although it would have been complete without his drumming contributions and stability being the oldest among members, thus becoming the fantasy trippers’ guide to reality.

Ringo motions all are now okay with him. — Digiart by Jaime Torres of Diamond Bar, California