Rubbing shoulders with rock royalty

NEW BOOK: Ringo Starr with Photograph, a limited edition book of his talent outside of drumming and a photograph that has sparked a worldwide hunt. PHOTO/COURTESY RINGO STARR

MASTERTON businessman David Hedley can be excused for pinching himself from time to time to make sure what he has been living is not just a dream.

Mr Hedley, owner of Hedley's Bookshop, has returned from Los Angeles where - among other things - he spent time chatting one-to-one with Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and listening to him playing the drums and what's more, he is about to return and repeat the occasion.

Meeting and working alongside huge names in the music industry is not a new experience for Mr Hedley who in the 1980s helped arrange Beatle George Harrison's visit to New Zealand promoting his book I, Me, Mine and kept in close touch with Harrison from then on.

Among others he has spent time talking to are Eric Clapton, David Bowie and music maestro George Martin but meeting Starr for the first time late last month was nevertheless a special treat.

It came about when Mr Hedley was approached by publishers Genesis Publications, with which he has long had an association, and asked if he would help with the pre-publicity of Starr's unique book simply called Photograph.

The limited edition book is a transition from behind the drums to behind the lens with Starr revealing his extraordinary talent with a camera, extending back to beyond the years of his world celebrity status.

Photograph is limited to 2500 copies worldwide and each is signed by Starr.

The traditionally hand-crafted book, half bound in Italian leather and housed in an archival cast that gives it the appearance of a photo album will sell for NZ$900 and is expected to appreciate quickly in value.

Included is a photo Starr snapped back in 1964 when the Beatles were on tour in the United States.

It shows a carload of young fans laughing and gesturing appreciatively to the Beatles.

That long-taken photograph has started a worldwide search with American newspapers and other media outlets searching for the nameless occupants of the car.

Mr Hedley said the hunt was called Ringo Needs a Little Help from his Friends.

Some have been found and the aim is to find them all, if they all remain alive, and to invite them to the launch of Photograph at a palatial venue in Las Vegas, USA.

Mr Hedley's recent trip to the United States came about when the owner of Genesis Publications Nick Roylance - son of Brian Roylance with whom Mr Hedley worked over many years - telephoned him and asked him to help with event managing the book's launch, pre-launch functions and exhibitions.

"I had to go to England to meet with the Genesis people and with Ringo and his wife Barbara.

"Ringo is a delightful guy, very vibrant and still touring.

"He is also very fit and looks great."

The pre-launch was held in Los Angeles at Arclight on Sunset Boulevard and Mr Hedley will soon return to the USA, this time to Las Vegas for the official launch.

Starr is not benefiting financially from the book or the actual sale of signed photographs taken by him that appear in the book and which are selling for $4000 a print. The money is going to Lotus Foundation, a charity started by Starr.

Masterton people will get an opportunity to see the book and the prints at an exhibition to be held at the Hedley Gallery, Masterton, on Sunday at 3pm.

Present will be broadcaster Keith Quinn, a lifelong Beatles fan who has amassed a mountain of memorabilia.