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Ricky BanksM U S I C S T A R !

Ricky Banks is tired. He wantsto change his life. He does notwant to be a famous rock star.He and his wife, Donna, leaveLondon.They move to thecountry for a quiet life. But dothey find it?

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Arthur McKeown comes fromNorthern Ireland. He works atthe Ulster Business School inthe University of Ulster. Arthuris married and has two children.He lives with his family inBelfast.

R I C H M O N D R E A D E R S

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S T A R T E R L E V E L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

R I C H M O N D R E A D E R S

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The Man from PeruRicky Banks – Music Star!

Supercomputerman Radio Boy

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Oscar Jack’s GameMaria’s Dilemma Permission to Leave

The Boy from Yesterday The Black Mountain

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Saturday StormCraigen Castle Mystery

Jason Causes Chaos Where’s Mauriac?The Road through the Hills

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Cold Feet A Christmas CarolThe Canterville Ghost and Other Stories

Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeA Trip to the Stars Frankenstein

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Dracula Jane EyreThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer

A Trip to LondonSense and Sensibility

Ricky BanksM U S I C S T A R !

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A R T H U R M C K E O W N

RichmondP U B L I S H I N G

Richmond Publishing19 Berghem Mews

Blythe RoadLondon W14 OHN

© Arthur McKeown 1998Published by Richmond Publishing® 1998

First published 1998

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the

publishers.

ISBN: 84-294-5385-7

Printed in Spain by

Cover Design: Blue Pig Design

Cover Illustration: Geo Parkin

Illustrations: Maggie Ling

CHAPTER ONE

On the road

R icky Banks is a rock star. He is tall and thin andattractive. He is 26 years old. At the moment he issleeping. He is in a big bed in a big bedroom inan expensive hotel in Manchester in the north ofEngland. It is eleven o’clock in the morning.

Ricky is rich. He has expensive clothes. He wakesup. He gets up and puts on a white shirt andorange trousers. He drinks some strong blackcoffee.Then he plays his electric guitar quietly. Heplays and thinks. He is not happy.

He plays and thinks. He is not happy.

5

6

R I C K Y B A N K S – M U S I C S T A R !. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ricky is a famous rock star. His group are theRockers.They are always on tour★. Ricky and theRockers usually play in student clubs and atdiscos.They go to universities in a lot of differentcountries every year.They are on television a lot.They are in the newspapers a lot.

Ricky’s wife is a writer. Her name is Donna. Sheworks at home. She does not go on tour withRicky. She does not like trains and aeroplanes.

When he is away, Ricky calls Donna on thetelephone every day. He loves her.

Ricky and Donna do not have any children.Theylive in a beautiful house in the centre of London.Their house has lots of rooms and an indoorswimming pool. But they do not have a garden.Ricky likes gardens.

Ricky and Donna live in a beautiful house with a swimming pool

7

CHAPTER TWO

Big news!

It is eleven-thirty in the morning. Ricky istalking on the telephone. He is talking to a youngwoman. Her name is Zoe.

‘Good morning, Mr Banks,’ Zoe says.

‘Hello,’ Ricky says. ‘How can I help you?’

‘I work for a television company,’ Zoe says. ‘We’remaking some programmes called Pop Music People.We want to make a programme about you. BenTurner, your manager, says you like to talk aboutyour music.’

T H E G I R L O N T H E B E A C H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ricky is talking on the telephone to a young woman.

8

‘That’s very interesting,’ Ricky says. ‘What do youwant to know?’

‘Can I meet you at the hotel today?’ Zoe asks. ‘Weneed some information for the programme. I wantto ask you some questions.’

‘Come about one o’clock.Would you like to havelunch in the hotel restaurant?’

‘Oh yes, that’s a great idea!’ Zoe says. ‘I can bethere at one o’clock.’

‘Good,’ Ricky says. ‘Let’s talk then.’

He puts the telephone down.

‘What’s she going to ask me?’ Ricky thinks. ‘Whatam I going to say?’

■ ■ ■

Ricky and Zoe are sitting in the hotel restaurant.It is two o’clock in the afternoon and they aretalking. She is 25 years old and very beautiful.They are drinking coffee after their lunch.

Zoe asks Ricky questions about his life. Shewrites down his answers.

‘Are you from London?’

‘Yes, I am,’ says Ricky.

‘Tell me about your school,’ Zoe says.


9

‘I don’t remember my school,’ Ricky says. ‘I likemusic. I like singing and playing the guitar.’

‘Tell me about your group,’ Zoe says. ‘Ricky andthe Rockers are famous in Europe and America.’

‘We go to a lot of different cities and towns ontour every year,’ Ricky says. ‘Manchester - Milan -Madrid - Montreal.We go by train and byaeroplane.We usually visit three or fouruniversities a week. It’s hard work. But we likesinging and playing our music.’

‘Do you like your job, Ricky?’ Zoe asks.

‘Yes, Zoe, I do,’ Ricky says. ‘But sometimes I feeltired. I work hard. Donna, my wife, doesn’t likemy life. She wants to live in the country. Shedoesn’t like living in a city.’

‘Are you going to leave the group?’ Zoe asks.

‘Maybe. I want a house with a big garden,’ Rickysays. ‘I want to grow flowers and vegetables.’

‘This is big news! Thank you, Ricky,’ Zoe says.‘I’m going to talk to the camera people.Theywant to film you this evening.’

Zoe leaves the restaurant.

‘She’s nice,’ Ricky thinks.

B I G N E W S !. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10


‘I want a house with a big garden. I want to grow flowers and

vegetables.’

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CHAPTER THREE

Talking to the Rockers

It is four o’clock in the afternoon. Ricky Banks isin his hotel room. He is talking to the Rockers.Their names are Barry, Larry and Harry.

Barry is sitting on a sofa. He is 26 years old. He iswearing a green shirt and brown jeans. Larry issitting on a chair. He is 27 years old. He is tall. Heis wearing a blue shirt and black jeans. Harry isstanding near the window. He is 28 years old. Heis wearing a yellow shirt and red jeans.

‘When are we going home?’ Barry asks. ‘We’re ina different city every night - Manchester or Milanor Madrid or Montreal.’

‘Yes, I feel tired,’ Larry says. ‘I want to go home.’

‘I want to see my family,’ Harry says. ‘I want tosee my children.’

‘We’re all tired,’ Ricky says. ‘But the last concert isin two weeks.We can have a holiday next month.Our contract with Ben ends then. Perhaps wedon’t want to sign★ a new one ...’

T A L K I N G T O T H E R O C K E R S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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‘Perhaps we don’t want to sign a new contract…’

13

The Rockers are happy.

‘We can have some time at home,’ Barry says.

‘We can talk to our friends,’ Larry says. ‘We can goto restaurants with them.We can go to the cinemain the evening.We can go to discos and nightclubs.We can have normal lives.’

‘We can see our families,’ Harry says. ‘We cansleep and read books and listen to music - otherpeople’s music.’

‘Yes, let’s have a holiday,’ Ricky says. ‘Let’s thinkabout the future.’

T A L K I N G T O T H E R O C K E R S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER FOUR

‘What shall I do?’

R icky Banks is at home in London. He is talkingto his wife, Donna. She is young and thin andattractive. Ricky and Donna are sitting on thesofa, drinking tea.

‘I’m happy to be at home, Donna,’ Ricky says.‘The Rockers are tired. I’m tired, too. Five yearson tour with no holiday is a long time.We allneed a holiday.’

Donna drinks some tea.

‘I work very hard,’ Ricky says. ‘And I have a bigproblem with my work. I haven’t got any goodideas for new songs. People say my music isboring now. It’s always the same.’

‘I like your music,’ Donna says.

‘I want to change my life.We’re rich.We’re veryrich.We can sell this house.We can go and live inthe country.’

‘Ricky, that’s a great idea,’ Donna says. She putsher arms round him. ‘No more concerts! No more

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‘ W H A T S H A L L I D O ? ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

‘Ricky, that’s a great idea,’ Donna says.

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tours! No more nights in hotels! We can leaveLondon.You know that I don’t like cities. Let’smove to the country. Let’s buy a little house witha garden.’

■ ■ ■

Ricky and Donna have an invitation to a partythe next day. Donna is ill. She does not want togo. She does not like parties. So Ricky goeswithout her.

Ricky sees Ben, his manager, there. He talks tohim.

‘Ben, I’m tired,’ Ricky says. ‘I want to stopworking.’

‘What!’ Ben says. ‘You’re famous! You’re rich! Youcan’t stop now!’ His face is red and he is veryangry. Ricky and the Rockers are his number oneclient.

‘Ben, I have a serious problem with my music.Lots of people say my new songs are boring.Theyare no different from the old songs. I haven’t gotany new ideas.’

Ben says nothing.

‘I want to be with Donna,’ Ricky says. ‘Donnawants to leave London, Ben.We want to live inthe country.’

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‘ W H A T S H A L L I D O ? ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

‘What! You’re famous! You’re rich! You can’t stop now!’

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‘You can’t live in the country!’ Ben says. ‘You’re arock star! You have concerts in Europe, inEngland, in America, in Australia ...’

‘Ben, our contract with you ends next month.Weare not going to sign a new contract. You haveconcerts in Europe, England, America andAustralia. We do not have any concerts.’

Ben walks away.■ ■ ■

Ricky knows other people at the party. Zoe isthere. Ricky tells Zoe about his problems.

‘My wife wants to live with Ricky Banks, ex-rockstar. My manager wants to manage Ricky and theRockers, famous rock group. I can’t write goodsongs.What shall I do?’

They dance.They have a good time.

Zoe tells Ricky about her husband.

‘We are very different,’ she says. ‘My husband likessport - football and Formula One. I like partiesand music. I don’t see him much. He’s in Portugalnow, watching the Grand Prix.’

Ricky looks at Zoe. He gets their coats.They goto Zoe’s house in a taxi. She sits near him in thetaxi.

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Ricky sees faces in his head. He sees his wife,Donna. He sees Ben’s face. He sees the Rockers’faces. He sees the faces of the people at hisconcerts. He looks at Zoe’s face next to him ...

‘ W H A T S H A L L I D O ? ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CHAPTER FIVE

Listening to the birds

Ricky opens his eyes the next morning. Hethinks about the night before.

‘What time is it?’ he asks.

‘Ten o’clock,’ Donna says. She puts a cup of coffeeon the table next to the bed.

He calls Ben on the telephone. Ben doesn’t speakto him. He doesn’t call Zoe.

■ ■ ■

It is a hot day in June. Ricky is working in thegarden. Birds are singing in the trees.The sky isblue. Ricky thinks he is happy.

He likes the country. He and Donna have a bighouse with lots of rooms.They have a very biggarden.

He and Donna eat the fruit and vegetables fromthe garden.

Donna is happy too. She likes living in thecountry. She is happy because Ricky does not goaway from home. He is not tired these days.

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L I S T E N I N G T O T H E B I R D S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Donna puts a cup of coffee on the table next to the bed.

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Ricky and Donna get up early. In the morning,Ricky works in the garden. Sometimes he thinksabout Zoe.What is she doing now? He looks atthe beautiful country, he looks at the beautifulriver at the bottom of his garden. It is always there,it never changes. He thinks about London with itsbusy streets. He pictures Zoe: she is having lunchin an expensive restaurant, she is having a goodtime with her television friends, tonight they aregoing to a night club ...

Donna works in her study. She writes.

Ricky and Donna always have lunch in thekitchen. In the afternoon, they usually go for along walk in the country.When they are walking,Ricky thinks about music and writes songs in hishead. Donna writes stories in her head.They liketheir life in the village, far away from London. Inthe evening, they watch films on television or reador visit their friends in the village.

Ricky and Donna do not have any problems.Theyhave a lot of money in the bank.

Sometimes now Ricky goes to a music group in thevillage. He likes singing and playing his guitar. Hesings and plays country music with three other men.

‘Country music is different from rock music,’Ricky thinks. ‘I like playing country music.’

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L I S T E N I N G T O T H E B I R D S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ricky pictures Zoe: she is having a good time with her television

friends.

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CHAPTER SIX

Ricky and Friends

It is a cold day in November.There are no birdsin the trees.The sky is grey.

‘It’s very cold again,’ Ricky says. ‘I can’t work inthe garden today.’

‘What are you going to do today, then?’ Donnaasks.

‘I want to play my guitar this morning,’ Rickysays. ‘I want to play my new song. I need to workon it.’

Ricky has a country music group now. His newcountry music group are Ricky and Friends.TheFriends’ names are Fred, Ned and Ted.They alllive in Ricky’s village.

Fred is 33 years old. He is short and fat withbrown hair. He plays the fiddle very well. Ned is44 years old. He is tall and has a black beard. Hecan sing very well and he plays the accordion.Tedis 55 years old. He has a big moustache and a redface. He can sing and play the drums very well.

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Ricky and Friends play in the pub in the village.Lots of people come to see them. One day Rickytelephones Ben. Ben comes to see them.

R I C K Y A N D F R I E N D S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lots of people come to see Ricky and Friends.

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CHAPTER SEVEN

Back on the road

Ricky Banks is in a big bed in a big bedroom inan expensive hotel in New York. It is eleveno’clock in the morning. Ricky is sleeping.Thereis a guitar on the floor near the bed.

Ricky goes to lots of different towns and cities inEurope and America with Fred, Ned and Ted.They play country music in clubs and hotels.

Donna is at home in their house in the country.She likes the country. She does not like city life.She is writing a new story. It is about a woman.The woman’s husband is a music star. She leavesher husband. She goes to live with a man in thenext village. He has a computer business.

The telephone rings in Ricky’s bedroom. It isZoe.

‘Good morning, Ricky,’ Zoe says.

Ricky sits up. ‘Zoe? Hello, how are you?’ he asks.

‘I’m fine. I work for a different televisioncompany now,’ she says, ‘here in New York.We’re

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B A C K O N T H E R O A D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Donna is writing a new story about a woman.The woman leaves

her husband.

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The telephone rings in Ricky’s bedroom. It is Zoe.

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making some programmes called Country MusicPeople.We want to make a programme about you.’

■ ■ ■

Ricky and Zoe meet for lunch. Zoe is verybeautiful. Zoe asks Ricky lots of questions andwrites down his answers.

‘What are you doing this evening?’ Ricky asks.‘I’m not playing a concert tonight. Let’s go to arestaurant and then a night club.’

‘Great!’ says Zoe. ‘Jack can come too. He’s myhusband - my new husband. Let’s meet at nine.The children are usually asleep★ by eight.’

B A C K O N T H E R O A D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E X E R C I S E S

Comprehension

Choose the best answer - a, b or c.

1 Ricky is a famousa rock star.b banker.c gardener.

2 Donna is aa banker.b writer.c computer programmer.

3 Zoe works for a a bank.b computer company.c television company.

4 Which of these cities do Ricky and the Rockers not visit?a Milanb Madridc Moscow

5 Larry is a 33 years old. b 24 years old.c 27 years old.

6 Who is wearing a blue shirt and black jeans?a Barry.b Larry.c Harry.

7 Donna does not go to the party becausea she is tired.b she is ill.c she is going to a concert.

A

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8 When he is working in the garden, Ricky thinks abouta Donna.b Zoe.c his vegetables.

9 Who is 44 years old and has a black beard?a Fred.b Ned.c Ted.

10 Who does Zoe work for in New York?a A television company.b A restaurant.c A computer company.

Working with language

1 You can find all these words in the story about RickyBanks. Write a sentence with each word.expensive garden television programme countrydisco city village guitar beard concert

2 Choose the right verb to complete each sentence. Put itin the correct form.live make say telephone stand talk watch singbe play

1 Harry ... near the window.2 Zoe is going to ... to the camera people.3 Ricky likes ... the guitar.4 Donna wants ... in the country.5 Ben ... nothing.6 Donna and Ricky ... rich.7 ÔHeÕs in Portugal now, ... the Grand Prix.Õ8 Birds ... in the trees.9 One day Ricky ... Ben.

10 ÔWe ... some programmes called Country Music People.Õ

B

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Activities

1 Would you like to live in a city or in the country? Makeone list of good things about life in a city and another listof good things about life in the country.

2 Work in pairs.a Either: One of you is Ricky. The other is RickyÕs friend.

You are in Ricky and DonnaÕs kitchen at the beginning ofChapter 6. The friend gives Ricky some advice. Have aconversation.

b Or: One of you is Ricky. The other is Zoe. You meet forlunch in New York. Ricky is now a famous country musicstar and Zoe interviews him.

c Or: One of you is Donna. The other is Zoe. Donna stilllives with Ricky. She is at home in her kitchen. Ricky is ina hotel in Madrid with Ricky and Friends. Zoe interviewsDonna for her television programme, Famous PeopleÕsPartners.

3 You are Zoe. Write an article about either Ricky orDonna for a magazine.

G L O S S A R Y

asleep (adj) sleepingon tour to go from city to city, playing a concert in every placesign (v) to write your name on something - here, a contract

C

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