Ringo Starr has just released a video for his cover version of the rock ‘n roll classic “Rock Around the Clock” from his new EP, Change the World.
Ringo says the song, made famous by Bill Haley and The Comets, brings back a lot of memories.
Ringo says, "I’d been in hospital with tuberculosis for a year or so, where I’d already spent my seventh and 14th birthdays, and I didn’t want to spend another one there again. I was doing well, so my mother talked to the doctors, and they agreed to let me out [for my 15th birthday]."
When he was released he went to the home of his grandparents on the Isle of Man off the coast of England to see the movie ‘Rock Around the Clock.’
Talking about that movie, Ringo says:
"What happened was that Bill Haley came on [and] started playing 'Rock Around the Clock' and they ripped up the cinema. Ripped the seats out. I mean it was like a madness. And I thought, 'Wow, this is the life for me.' You know, because I'd been living a very sheltered life in hospital and to see this going down was like magic to me."
Ringo Starr is joined on the song by Nathan East on bass, and Ringo's brother-in-law, Joe Walsh plays guitar.
On having Joe Walsh on guitar on the song, Ringo says:
"I went to Joe 'cause he's Mr. Rock and Roll, and Joe can't say no he's in the family now. And everyone I feel that's ever covered it do the solo that's on the Bill Haley version and I didn't want that and Joe didn't want to do it anyway ... and it makes it fresh."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]