The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr will forever be remembered for his shaking head of moptop hair and clownish demeanor. But beyond his good natured appeal Starr’s contribution to the world’s most influential rock and roll band was very creative and highly individual, mirroring The Beatles’ diverse songs with surprisingly clever and resourceful drumming in a groove that felt as comfortable as an old brown shoe.
Biography
Born Richard Starkey on July 7th, 1940 in Liverpool’s tough Dingle section, Ritchie, as he was affectionately known, was a sweet but often sick child who was afflicted almost yearly with near fatal illnesses that caused him to lag behind in his school work as he grew more introverted and sensitive. Ritchie’s stepfather Harry Graves gave him his first set of drums, a cheap kit that was soon replaced by a professional model from Premier. With bad grades preventing him entering a trade school, Ritchie gravitated towards the then popular skiffle craze and joined his first band, the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group.
From 1957 to 1959, Ritchie’s reputation grew as he played with a variety of bands such as the Darktown Skiffle Group, Al Caldwell’s Texans, and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. With his flashy attire, streak of prematurely gray hair and shiny collection of rings, Richard Starkey became Ringo, photos from the period revealing his quick grin and comic persona in full flower (his solo portion of the Hurricane’s show was billed as “Starr Time”). By 1960, powered by Ringo’s steady and swinging beat, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were Liverpool’s top beat group.
The Beatles were another popular Liverpool group whose then drummer, Pete Best, was fired on the verge of their contract-signing with EMI Records. Ringo and Beatles’ guitarist George Harrison were already close friends from the two group’s joint gigs in Hamburg, Germany, so when Best was ousted, Ringo was the only call for the vacant drum chair. His first gig with The Beatles was a mere 18 days before their EMI recording session.
Practically overnight, The Beatles became England’s best selling group. On the strength of a tremendous run of #1 singles, The Beatles were set to conquer the world. Starr’s personable drumming style is evident even on their earliest recordings, Please Please Me and With The Beatles displaying Ringo’s tasteful use of big band style swing triplets; Motown influenced groove patterns and driving rock and roll feel.
As The Beatles’ songwriting matured and expanded, so did Ringo’s drumming. He always managed to find the perfect groove, fill or pattern to every song, setting the mood with unusual cymbal embellishments and tom tom punctuations, or creating a beat that became as integral to the songs as the lyrics or guitar parts. A true team player, Ringo never overshadowed the songs but seamlessly integrated his role as both supportive member and rhythmic colorist.
Ringo’s drum parts were nearly perfect and always judicious. The Beatles’ vast influences, which began with British music hall and American R&B then broadened to include avant garde, Indian, hard rock, jazz, big band, blues, country and folk were matched, song for song, by Ringo’s chameleon like performances. Need some shuffle brushwork for Paul McCartney’s “When I’m Sixty Four”?” No problem. Swaggering heavy metal pummel for John Lennon’s “She’s So Heavy” or Paul’s “Helter Skelter”? How ‘bout swing for “All My Loving,” funk for “Birthday” or Afro Cuban for “I Feel Fine”? Ringo had all the bases covered. His tom tom fills are utterly unique - rolling, swinging, slightly behind the beat figures heard to perfect effect in “A Day in the Life” and “With A Little Help from My Friends.” Couple Ringo’s talent for diversity with his ability to navigate John Lennon’s odd meter obsession and the case can be made that he was practically a very skilled session drummer in a self contained band.
Oddly enough, Ringo’s contributions still go unrecognized by those who only see worth in flash and fire, but as his landmark drumming in such songs as “Come Together,” “Day Tripper,” “Rain,” “Ticket to Ride,” “Tomorrow Never Knows,” or his own “It Don’t Come Easy” confirms, Ringo Starr is the quiet man with the very large talent.
Ringo Starr
