1980s
Following Lennon's murder in 1980, Harrison modified the lyrics of a song he had originally written for Starr, "All Those Years Ago", as a tribute to their former bandmate.[135]The track, which included vocal contributions from both Paul and Linda McCartney and Starr's original drum part, peaked at number two in the US charts, and number 13 in the UK.[136][nb 11] In 1981, Starr released Stop and Smell the Roses.[138] The LP contained the Harrison composition "Wrack My Brain", which reached number 38 in the US charts, but failed to chart in the UK.[139] Lennon had offered a pair of songs for use on the album: "Nobody Told Me" and "Life Begins at 40", but following his death, Starr did not feel comfortable recording them.[138] Soon after the murder, Starr and his girlfriend Barbara Bach flew to New York City to be with Lennon's widow Yoko Ono.[140]
From 1984 to 1986, Starr narrated the children's series Thomas & Friends, a Britt Allcroft production based on the books by the Reverend W. Awdry.[141] Starr also portrayed the character Mr. Conductor in the programme's American spin-off Shining Time Station, which debuted in 1989 on PBS. He left after the first season.[142] In 1985, he performed with his son Zak as part of Artists United Against Apartheid on the recording, Sun City.[143] In 1987 Starr played drums on the song "When We Was Fab", from Harrison's album Cloud Nine.[144] The song, which was co-written by Harrison and Jeff Lynne, charted in the top 30 in both the UK and the US.[145] The same year, Starr, Harrison and Lynne joined Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins and Ray Cooper in a performance for the Prince's Trust charity.[146]
During October and November 1988, Starr and Bach attended a detox clinic in Tucson, Arizona, each receiving a six-week treatment for alcoholism.[147][nb 12] On 23 July 1989,Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band gave their first performance to an audience of ten thousand in Dallas, Texas.[149] The band consisted of Starr and a varying assortment of musicians who had been successful in their own right with popular songs at different times.[150] The concerts interchanged Starr's singing, including selections of his Beatles and solo songs, with performances of each of the other artists' well-known material, the latter incorporating either Starr or another musician as drummer.[150]
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