Todd Rundgren stated that Ringo Starr was the only member of the Beatles who emerged from the band relatively unscathed.

He argued that, to varying degrees, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison had never fully escaped their shared legacy.

In a recent interview with Vulture, Rundgren also discussed why he enjoyed his time in Starr’s All-Starr Band so much.

“Ringo was perhaps the only one who moved on from being a Beatle and became Ringo… [But] there was a time early on during the All-Starr tours when he was afraid that if he stopped anywhere in public, he’d be mobbed. So he would ignore everyone. By the time of the last couple of tours I did with him, he was out there… engaging with fans and comfortable in his own skin.”

However, Rundgren noted that it hadn’t been easy for Starr to step out of the shadow of his previous band. “After the Beatles disbanded, he recorded some music but didn’t tour. He was too shy on stage. Fast forward ten years later, and Ringo decided that as part of his recovery, he would start performing again. He got into serious trouble because when he stopped playing, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

“He began hanging out with Harry Nilsson and getting into all sorts of trouble, realizing that he might die unless he sought rehab. Part of that rehabilitation involved starting the All-Starr Band.”

The guitarist added: “He has his own routine, and he’s incredibly healthy. It’s astonishing how well he takes care of himself. He’s great to work with… it’s a fantastic gig if you can get it.”

Todd Rundgren’s History with Ringo Starr

Rundgren described his “interesting history” with Starr, which includes multiple stints with the All-Starr Band from 1992 to 2017, following a one-off collaboration for a Jerry Lewis telethon in the ‘70s. “[I]It was a fun experience. Traveling like Ringo does is enjoyable,” he said.

“I was invited back in 2012. By then, Steve Lukather and Greg Rolie were part of the band, creating a whole different dynamic. Everyone got along so well that at the end of the tour, instead of doing what he usually does – ‘We should break up the band and get a whole new lineup’ – Ringo kept the same band together for four and a half years.

“It was wonderful because you fly by private jet everywhere and stay in the same hotels as Ringo. You live like royalty.”

Explaining why he left, Rundgren said: “The only issue for me was after nearly five years; it’s exactly the same show every night with the same jokes and everything. At some point, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I need to feel like I’m progressing and evolving.”