IN his annoyingly catchy new single Ringo says it was `destiny' that took him away from Liverpool. These things happen.

"But I never let you down" goes the song, (again and again).

Ringo sang the title track to his album, Liverpool 8, at both of the weekend's openers.

The 67-year-old, who looks in remarkably fine fettle, didn't need to justify his flight to the adoring 40,000-strong crowd who stood bravely in the cold on Friday night.

Nor did he need to tell the 10,000-plus sitting in the new Echo Arena on Saturday night that he might move back - yeah right! His compatriots don't blame him for leaving the city for the charms of LA and Barbara Bach.

He is a Beatle and as such teflon-coated. I may have wondered how Mancunians would react if Morrissey were to stand up in Albert Square in 20 years waving his arms and singing "Manchester I left you, but I never let you down."

But the crowds in Liverpool lapped it up, echoing the sentiments of 1980s popster Pete Wylie: "Ringo for President!"

Another Liverpudlian treasure, of course, is Ken Dodd, who has stayed true to his Knotty Ash roots.

Inevitably, octogenarian Ken was rolled out, looking a bit jaded from his hernia operation but still on comedy form - though he didn't embark on one of his marathon five-hour stand-up sessions (that comes in March).

The city's roll call of famous names in the world of arts and entertainment is impressive by anyone's standards and the organisers of the opening events did well to pull off an extravaganza that attracted the big hitters and engaged the masses - despite a couple of technical hitches.

The acoustics in the new concert hall weren't perfect and on Friday night MC Brian Dodd's (no relation to Ken) plea to the departing throng to be mindful of the city's tragic crowd control record somewhat jarred with the euphoria of the evening.

Yet, on balance, this was a success that must have been all the more sweet for the organisers to savour given the problematic build-up.

"Well, we did it," said Phil Redmond. But, as he noted, this was just the beginning.


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