Ringo: Harrison is 'fine'

Starr: Paul or George would tell him anything serious

Ringo Starr has said former Beatles bandmate George Harrison was "fine" last time he saw him three weeks ago.

Starr told reporters he did not believe weekend media reports that Harrison was close to death, saying: "If he had been bad, he would have told me."

George and Olivia Harrison: Denied reports

Harrison, 58, who has been treated for cancer three times, had said he was "disappointed and disgusted" by the reports.

Starr, Harrison and Sir Paul McCartney are also considering another compilation album of hits after the success of 1, the drummer told the Access Hollywood television show.

Guitarist Harrison was treated for a brain tumour last month and received treatment for lung cancer earlier this year and throat cancer in 1997.

Each time, he has claimed to have made a full recovery.

The news is real when either George tells me or Paul tells me

Ringo Starr

But the Mail on Sunday newspaper quoted the band's former producer Sir George Martin as saying Harrison was prepared to die "soon" - although Sir George later denied making the comments.

Starr told the TV show that the reports did not worry him.

"I didn't panic because I will wait until it becomes a reality," he said.

"The news is real when either George tells me or Paul tells me.

The surviving stars will discuss a new compilation

"We do that to each other. We say, 'Watch out, something's happened and they will be calling you'.

Harrison released a statement denying his imminent demise on Monday.

"The reports were unsubstantiated, untrue, insensitive and uncalled for," it said.

All Starr tour

Harrison, whose life was threatened when he was stabbed by an intruder in 1999, has blamed his health problems on smoking.

Starr is about to begin an American tour with his All Starr Band, which includes Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Roger Hodgson of Supertramp.

He also told the show that the three surviving Beatles expect to discuss a 2 album later this year.

1 - which includes 27 of the band's hits - was the UK's best-selling album of 2000, and has topped the music charts in more than 34 countries since its release