Drum legend Ringo Starr has admitted that even after 50 years in the business and having the accolade of having played drums for arguably the greatest band in the world, he still gets stagefright.

The former Beatle, who is currently on tour in Europe, told a magazine that even though he still loves gigging and touring, he can never get over his pre-stage butterflies. “I feel like running away three seconds before I’m due to hit the stage. That’s why I always run on to it. I would love to coolly stroll on stage but I cannot.”

Playing with his All Star Band, he says that even though he turned 71 last week, he has no plans to slow down his schedule to something more befitting of his age. He says “I love to work. Other bands may play two concerts a week when on tour. I prefer doing five,” he continued. He’s also not planning on giving it away any time soon. He says “I’ll give concerts as long as I can hold on to the sticks. You cannot tell when it’s all over.”

In between his work recording voiceovers for the Thomas The Tank Engine kids TV show and undertaking his own tours, he along with the other remaining living Beatle, Paul McCartney, are both working harder than many bands less than a third of their age.

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