“How can there be?,” he asked, incredulously, then added that he has a U.S. booking anyway that would prevent him from joining the “other” former Beatle, Paul McCartney on stage.

When CNN said, “Paul said you may want to do it,” Starr said “Paul can do it.” Then, when CNN said, “But it’s not the same without you,” Starr responded “Well, he is doing quite well without me. He is doing OK.”

After talking about their having played “Birthday” together at Radio City Music Hall as part of a 70th birthday bash for Starr, the drummer made it clear, once more, that he will not be playing Beatles songs at the Olympics.

“I will not be at the Olympics,” he said. “I have to be very definite about that because they will say, ‘Oh, is he coming? Isn’t he coming?’ No, I am not going — but to all the athletes, ‘Peace and Love!’ ”

As for future reunion hopes, the drummer again pointed out that the hopes of a Beatles reunion died with half the Beatles.

“Well, the door is open that Paul and I might play together, but it is not like a reunion,” he said. “It is not going to be the Beatles, you know? They have those crazy ideas that maybe we could use their children. It is never going to happen.”