There are rock stars, and then there is Ringo Starr. The prolific musician is releasing his fourth EP in three years, "Rewind Forward." And he's recorded a country music EP, is hitting the road on a tour and added fresh drumming to the muchdiscussed AIassisted final Beatles song. He sat down with Maria Sherman of The Associated Press to talk in this extended interview about all that, plus voicing Thomas the Tank Engine and the "Octopus's Garden" creation story.

__ In this video __
0:00 introduction
0:27 the "Rewind Forward" EP title
1:57 prolific last few years
3:41 country EP
5:31 creating "Rewind Forward"
6:47 Paul McCartney relationship, new song together
8:28 touring
10:10 AIassisted final Beatles song
12:55 music and technology
15:31 Peter Jackson's "Get Back" and "Octopus's Garden" creation
19:25 The Beatles and optimism
21:08 Thomas the Tank Engine
22:52 new music