Ringo Starr: The legendary drummer's career to date
Including his time in The Beatles and his solo career
Ringo Starr is best-known as a member of The Beatles with Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison. He had a keen interest in music from a young age and it has certainly served him well, as he is now not only one of the world's most famous musicians, but the richest drummer of all time.
Following his success in The Beatles, Ringo has gone on to have an amazing solo career which has seen him play with numerous musicians over the years in his All Starr Band. In November 2023, Ringo teamed up with Paul to release The Beatles final song 'Now And Then'.
Here we take a look at Ringo's career which includes singing, songwriting and acting. From timeless songs, to awards he's won and his upcoming country album — we're taking a look back at some of Ringo Starr's biggest moments.
Take a look through Ringo Starr's incredible career:
Ringo Starr- Childhood home
Ringo Starr - real name Richard Starky - moved to Dingle, Liverpool when he was three with his mum Elsie after his parents separated. He lived at 10 Admiral Grove (pictured) for the next 20 years.
Ringo Starr - Early interest in music
Ringo suffered from some serious illnesses and was hospitalised for long periods of time as a child. While in hospital he joined a band with the other children and it was here that he developed a love for drumming.
He played using household objects until he got his first real drum kit for Christmas in 1957, and the rest as they say is history.
1950s - Ringo Starr joins Rory Storm and the Hurricanes band
Ringo joined the band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes in the late 50s and it was during this time that he started going by the name Ringo Starr.
While on tour in Hamburg, he met The Beatles which was then made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe and Pete Best. Paul, George, John and Ringo played a track together for the Huricanes' singer Lu Walters.
1962 - Ringo Starr joins The Beatles
Ringo officially joined The Beatles in 1962, replacing Pete Best as the drummer for the band. Later that year the group released their first official single 'Love Me Do' followed by 'P.S. I Love You'.
1963 - The Beatles release debut album 'Please Please Me'
Following the release of their debut album 'Please Please Me' in March 1963, The Beatles became a pop sensation with the album topping the charts in the UK. With their success in the UK and later the US, Beatlemania was in full-swing in the 60s.
1964 - A Hard Day's Night Documentary
The Beatles made this comedy documentary film in 1964 where they starred as themselves in the fictional storyline, and released a record of the same name with songs from the film as well as new music. The album made it to Number 1 in the UK charts.
The Beatles also went on to make similar films Help!, Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine and Let It Be. These film projects saw Ringo's acting talents come to light.
1965 - The Beatles perform at Shea Stadium
Perhaps the most famous of all The Beatle's concerts, the group performed at the world-famous Shea Stadium in New York in August 1965.
This was the beginning of their third US tour, and they performed in front of 55,600 fans at the historic show.
1965 - The Beatles are appointed MBEs
The Beatles were awarded their Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire medals at Buckingham Palace in 1965. As well as their meeting with Queen Elizabeth II they took the time to sign autographs for some of the other people receiving awards.
1968 - Ringo Starr quits The Beatles
While recording their album 'The Beatles' (often called the 'White Album') in 1968 Ringo quit The Beatles due to tensions in the band coming to a head. Ringo explained that at the time: "I felt I wasn't playing great, and I also felt that the other three were really happy and I was an outsider." As it turned out when he spoke to the other members about how he was feeling, they all felt like the outsider of the group.
Ringo took some time and went to Sardinia with his kids and during this time he wrote 'Octopus's Garden'. The band sent him a telegram saying 'You're the best rock'n'roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you.' and Ringo returned to The Beatles.
1969 - The Beatles' last live performance
The Beatles put on a legendary performance on the rooftop of the Apple Corps headquarters in London in 1969. This was the last time the band performed publicly together and saw them play 'Get Back', 'Don't Let Me Down', 'I've Got A Feeling' and 'Dig A Pony'.
Footage from the concert was included in The Beatles: Get Back documentary which was created by director Peter Jackson. The highly anticipated film first aired in November 2021 and is now available on DVD.
1969 - The Beatles release 'Abby Road'
The Beatles released a total of 12 studio albums in their time together, and 'Abby Road' was one of the most monumental, with songs like 'Come Together' and 'Here Comes the Sun' as well as the iconic album cover.
Released in 1969, this was their 11th studio album, with their final studio album 'Let It Be' released the following year, not long after their break-up had been announced.
1970 - Ringo Starr's solo career
Following The Beatles' split in 1970, Ringo released his first solo album 'Sentimental Journey'. As a solo artist Ringo has released 20 studio albums.
The drummer has had numerous hit songs including 'It Don't Come Easy', 'Photograph', 'You're Sixteen' and 'Back Off Boogaloo'. His mosts successful solo albums include 'Time Takes Time' and 'Ringo'.
1970s & 1980s - Ringo Starr continues to work with former bandmates
While all of The Beatles members focused on their solo careers after the split in 1970, they collaborated with one another on song recordings from time to time.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Ringo worked with George Harrison on 'The Concert for Bangladesh', 'Living in the Material World', 'Somewhere in England' and 'Cloud Nine'. Ringo played drums for John Lennon's 1970 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' album, and also worked with Paul McCartney on 'Tug of War', 'Pipes of Peace' and 'Give My Regards to Broad Street'.
All of the former band members contributed to Ringo's albums 'Ringo' and 'Ringo's Rotogravure'. Since John and George's deaths, Ringo and Paul have recorded and performed together several times.
1980 - Ringo Starr lands role in Caveman film
As well as being a musician, Ringo tried his hand at acting and appeared in several films including 200 Motels, The Magic Christian, That'll Be The Day, Son of Dracula and Caveman, where he met his second wife Barbara Bach.
1980s - Present - Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band has changed its lineup several times over the years and has included Joe Walsh from Eagles, Nils Lofgren and Clarence Clemons from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and Ringo's son Zak.
The All Starr Band has spanned decades with different members, and the band has gone on numerous tours and released several live albums over the years.
2013 - Ringo Starr published his Photograph book
In 2013, Ringo showed his talent for photography when he published a photography book with never-before-seen photos of The Beatles. Titled Photograph, he explains that he felt the book was a better representation of his life than a written autobiography.
2015 - Ringo Starr is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Although The Beatles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Ringo Starr received his own individual induction in 2015. At the ceremony he was inducted by former bandmate Paul McCartney.
2018 - Ringo Starr is knighted by Prince William
The music legend was knighted by Prince William in 2018 for his services to music.
2019 - Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney pay tribute to John Lennon
In 2019, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney got together to perform John Lennon's track 'Grow Old with Me' from the 1984 posthumous album 'Milk and Honey'. The song appeared on Ringo's 'What's My Name' album and includes a line sung by George Harrison in 'Here Comes The Sun', so that all four members would be involved in the song.
Ringo and Paul said they collaborated on the song to pay tribute to John 40 years after his sad death.
2021 - Ringo appears in 'My Sweet Lord' music video
Ringo Starr made a cameo appearance in the music video created for George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' song. Although the track was released in 1970, it didn't have a music video so one was created to mark the 50th anniversary of the song.
The star-studded cast of over 40 people also included Jeff Lynne, Mark Hamill, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer and Reggie Watts.
2022 - Ringo Starr releases his book, Lifted
In 2022, Ringo released a book called Lifted which shared untold storied about his time in The Beatles. The proceeds from the book go to his Lotus Foundation, a charity which helps several causes including substance abuse, physical illnesses, homelessness and domestic abuse.
Speaking about the book, Ringo said: "This book has really lifted my spirits and took me back to where I once belonged in a whole new way. And in the end, that's why this new book is called Lifted. The Beatles changed my life forever. So it's about getting back and giving back."
2022 - Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band on tour
Ringo and his All Starr Band announced they would be back on the road and continue touring across North America in 2022. The current line-up includes Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette, Hamish Stuart, and Edgar Winter.
In a statement he said: "This is the longest I've been off the road in years — up until 2020 I was touring every year with the All Starrs — and I've really missed it."
2022 - Ringo Starr announces 'EP3'
In August, Ringo announced an EP called 'EP3' with four new songs would be coming out digitally in September and on CD, vinyl and cassette in October.
2023 - Ringo celebrates his 83rd birthday
On 7th July 2023, Ringo celebrated his 83rd birthday with his annual chant of 'Peace & Love' in a Beverley Hill park, attended by hundreds of friends and fans.
2024 - Ringo announces a new country album called 'Look Up'
In October 2024 the legendary Beatles drummer announced he will be releasing a country music album on 10th January 2025. The new album will feature 11 songs, nine of which have been written or co-written by American record producer and guitarist T Bone Burnett.
The album is the result of a chance meeting between Ringo and T Bone after they were at an event in Los Angeles back in 2022, after having originally met back in the 1970s.
How did Ringo Starr celebrate his birthday?
On 7th July 2024, Sir Richard Starkey MBE, better known as Ringo Starr, celebrated his 84th birthday. He celebrated his big day in the way he usually does, leading local friends in a chant of "peace and love" in a Beverley Hills park.
Sharing the video on Instagram, he wrote: '3, 2, 1... PEACE & LOVE!! Thank you for spreading Peace & Love for Ringo’s birthday on July 7, 2024! 😎✌️🌟❤️💖🎵🎶☮️ Team Ringo is so appreciative for your efforts to bring Ringo’s birthday wish to fruition this year—thank you and Peace & Love! #peaceandlove'. (sic)
You can hear songs by The Beatles on Greatest Hits Radio.
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