Musicians and music fans have long debated how good a drummer Ringo Starr is, but for two respected beat-keepers who were interviewed for recent New York Times profile of the Beatles legend, there is no argument.
Longtime E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg, who has been friends with Ringo for decades, told the newspaper that Starr’s style simply cannot be duplicated.
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“It’s impossible to play like Ringo did in the Beatles,” Weinberg said. “It’s sort of like singing along with a [Frank] Sinatra record—you might get close, but you’ll never get the phrasing, you’ll never get the little odd things that he does.”
Weinberg also scoffed at people who suggest that Starr was somehow a lesser member talent-wise of the Fab Four.
“It’s the most ludicrous and funny argument that, you know, you had these three talented singer-songwriters up front, and then you had the guy who got lucky,” Max maintained. “That was so far from the case, if you really go back and talk to people who were in that scene. To get Ringo in what became the Beatles was a coup for the three of them.”
Weinberg then commented on a couple of examples of Starr’s technical finesse.
He pointed to the way Ringo used his tom-toms “as a separate voice” at the end of the first chorus of the Beatles classic “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
Max also noted that many drummers were influenced by Starr’s “creative use of opening and closing the hi-hat [cymbals.] That sizzle, that swish.”
Weinberg got to witness Starr’s drumming firsthand when he played at various All Starr Band concerts in 1989 and 1995.
Sheila E. Comments on Starr’s Drum Talents
Sheila E. also was a one-time member of Ringo’s All Starr Band, touring with the group from 2001 through 2006.
Speaking with The New York Times about Starr, she explained that she studied Starr’s playing while touring with the All Starrs.
“His simplicity was complicated,” Sheila noted. “Those drum fills [on Beatles songs] are not him trying to play a bunch of fills just to be heard. They land in a place where there was space and where they make sense.”
Sheila described Starr’s drumming as “very melodic,” adding, “It was his voice, whether he was singing or not. That drum fill was another vocal part, as far as I’m concerned. Not a lot of people do that.”
Sheila also recalled an interaction with Ringo at the end of her first All Starr Band tour that exemplified his generous collaborative spirit.
She revealed to the newspaper that Ringo told her that working with her had made him a better drummer. Her response? “I cried,” she said. “Wow. Wow.”
Starr’s Upcoming “Peace and Love” Birthday Celebration
As previously reported, Starr will host the 2025 edition of his annual “Peace and Love” birthday celebration this Monday, July 7.
Ringo will be marking his 85th anniversary at the gathering, which will take place at an undisclosed location in the Los Angeles area.
As per tradition, Starr is asking fans across the globe to say or think about “peace and love” at noon local time on July 7, wherever they are in the world. He also encourages people to post messages about peace and love on their social media pages that day.
Fans everywhere will be able to watch the celebration, as it will be streamed live via Ringo’s social media pages.
The event will begin at 11:20 a.m. PT with a series of musical tributes in honor of Ringo. This will be followed by Starr leading those attending the gathering, and everyone watching the livestream, in a “Peace and Love” chant at noon PT. The festivities likely also will include celebrity appearances and a large birthday cake.
Ringo’s fans around the world also will be hosting “Peace and Love” gatherings marking Starr’s birthday. More than 34 global celebrations have been confirmed so far. The full list of events will be shared posted on Ringo’s Facebook page.
Ringo and the All Starr Band’s Upcoming Tour Plans
Ringo and the All Starr Band will launch a second 2025 U.S. tour leg in September. The trek runs from a September 10 show in Chicago through a September 27 performance in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas gig is part of a six-date residency at the Venetian Theatre. Starr’s other Vegas concerts are scheduled for September 17, 19, 20, 24, and 26.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Bruce Springsteen)