Ringo Star

[Hitman!]

Why Ringo has so many detractors?
I was listening to this video on YouTube where the bassline and drums are isolated and DAMN, Ringo grooves like a pig!! Listen to those drums fills staring at :57 ...he's no Buddy Rich but those fills grooves as hell.
...That is unless the myth is true and somebody else was playing the drums in studio... (no, I don't believe that at all, Ringo was a machine!)

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[cactusandy]

What a lot of people don't know about Ringo is that he's actually left-handed and sets his kit up like a right handed drummer. That accounts for some of his "unique" style. Here's a link to an interesting interview in which he discusses his drumming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhjDClExtZs

I always thought he was as good as any drummer, and keeps time just as well as Charlie Watts. His son is also an awesome drummer; trained by none other than Keith Moon. :D

[BrokenNose]

What a lot of people think a good drummer is composed of is usually chops, speed, and flashiness.

Ringo just did the fundamentals in the art of drumming, and he did them well.

[Sixstring]

Ringo is a very underrated drummer.

[Raycing]

maybe it's jealousy, maybe their own inadequacies in bed, who knows,
either way he's a solid drummer, he gets the job done and he does it well. I'm a fan!

[amatch]

Obviously, Ringo is legendary. Rhetorically I would ask, what would anyone change in those Beatles songs? I for one, believe that he played them perfectly.

[Mr. Boston]

I ALWAYS loved Ringo's drumming. I'd say he's every bit as technically skilled on his instrument as any of the other Beatles were on their own. The Beatles weren't about virtuosic technical wizardry; they were about great songwriting and solid grooves. Ringo's personality was also a HUGE part of the Beatles' appeal.

[Sixstring]

Obviously, Ringo is legendary. Rhetorically I would ask, what would anyone change in those Beatles songs? I for one, believe that he played them perfectly.

I agree. I've been on a Beatles kick for the last 6 months or so and revisited all of their stuff repeatedly and the more I listen to what he played, the more I appreciate it. My son in drumming now and at first listen didn't think Ringo was all that hot. Then he got Beatles Rock Band and played along. His whole opinion has changed and now he gets it, too.

Ringo is a great drummer and his kit had great tone. I think the way his cymbals just bloom on "Something" is beautiful. One of the best cymbal tones ever, to my ears.

And HUGE props to George Martin for capturing their sound so perfectly.

[scott powell]

I still chuckle when i think how John Lennon was asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the world,and Lennon replied 'Ringo isn't even the best drummer in The Beatles'

[phingerboard]

I think he made better records than any of the rest of them after they busted it up.

[Mr. Boston]

I think he made better records than any of the rest of them after they busted it up.

On the whole I might agree, but I think George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" is the greatest solo-Beatle album.

Ringo's two best songs are "Photograph" and "It Don't Come Easy," both of which were co-written with Harrison.

Can you tell I'm a George fan?

[seamas]

Ringo seemed to have a very "musical" manner of playing the drums.
he was no show off (and wouldn't have been hired if he was), but I find his drumming enjoyable to listen too -more so than most of his contemoraries.

Ginger Baker was probably much better in all manners of criteria, but was often so busy he'd kind of sound messy.

Keith Moon was exciting as hell, but He couldn't do "A Day in the Life" or "Something" et al with anything close to Starr's sensitivity.

Plus is there anything cooler than the bass and drums in "Rain"? (IMHO one of the best examples of the Fabs playing as a band).


There were a couple instances of Starr being subbed for.
I believe their very first single version of "Love me Do" was by a session guy. This was just done for expediency and Ringo's unfamiliarity with the studio. -the album version was by Starr (which I prefer).

There were a couple instances of McCartney playing drums (ballad of John and Yoko and a few others)because Ringo wasn't available.

[Hack]

Ringo rocks. I think he has one of the best backbeats in the business.
He has such a tasty way of playing things. Stuff that few other drummers would think to do. That video up there is a great example. So sparse, but the groove never fails.

[urry4]

I heard he's starting his own band.

[Pauly 6 String]

The Starr (Starkey) drumming legacy continues with his son Zak. Saw The Who the year before Entwistle died and the he was amazing. Awesome drummer. I think he is still playing with them.

And I too liked Ringo's drumming.

[seamas]

Ringo is a great drummer and his kit had great tone. I think the way his cymbals just bloom on "Something" is beautiful. One of the best cymbal tones ever, to my ears.

And HUGE props to George Martin for capturing their sound so perfectly.


Especially Abbey Road. While the technical achievement on Sgt Pepper's was intense, the sound of every instrument, the mix and mastering of Abbey Road is definitely in the top 10 of great recording. It's just beautiful to listen to.

Ringo's playing is so perfect for the tunes there -Something and Come Together are most notable to me.
Plus McCartney's bass going with it is as close to perfection you can get for a drum/bass combo. They have a pulse, a musicality and a different approach than anyone would think of doing.