Ringo Starr has shared a music video for “Crooked Boy,” the titular track of his recent EP, which was written and produced by Linda Perry. The video features archival footage and photos as well as psychedelic scenes showing Starr alongside guitarist Nick Valensi. The Crooked Boy EP was originally released on a limited-edition marble vinyl on Record Store Day, April 20, 2024. It is now available on black vinyl and CD.
“Crooked Boy” is a nostalgic song reminiscing on peace, love, and memories of a past life: “Fell into a coma then got back up on my feet/A teddy boy who found his own way.”
“‘Crooked Boy’ itself is challenging, melodically, and Ringo nailed it. That song is all about him growing up,” Perry said of the track in an interview. “When he went into a coma, and when he had tuberculosis. I mean, Ringo, really went through it when he was a child.” In the same conversation, Perry said that she sought out Valensi to add an element of cohesion to the project, saying, “Nick was the person I got to keep it fluid, obviously besides Ringo, his voice, and his drumming.”
The Crooked Boy EP also includes the tracks “February Sky,” “Adeline,” and “Gonna Need Someone.” The former Beatles’ fourth consecutive EP marks the first full collaboration between Starr and Perry. The pair have previously collaborated on the tracks “Coming Undone” off 2021’s Change the World and “Everyone and Everything” off 2022’s EP3.
“Linda made me a great EP – she produced it in her studio and then sent me the tracks and I added the drumming and my vocals,” Starr said of the project.
Ringo & His All Starr Band are on the road and will play some favorites venues including New York’s Radio City Music Hall and Fallsview Casino Resort in Ontario. The All Starr Band includes Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette.
Buy the vinyl edition of Crooked Boy.
