Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr Facts
| Sign | Cancer |
| Born |
Jul 7, 1940 Liverpool, England |
| Age | 86 |
| Total Facts | 44 |
"Ringo Starr" was a natural stage name for a young man who'd grown up loving Western movies (he particularly admired Gene Autry, the "singing cowboy"). Considered moving to Texas, before joining The Beatles.
The Beatles had several drummers before Starr joined. Pete Best had been with them for two years, when he was fired after failing the band's audition for George Martin at EMI.
The Beatles were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [11 November 2004]
Phil Collins states Ringo as his biggest influence as a drummer and songs such as "That's All" (by Genesis), "Thru' These Walls" and "We Said Hello Goodbye" deliberately copied Ringo's style of drumming.
A single of his, "The No-No Song", was a song against drug abuse. But in a darkly ironic note, the song was banned from several radio stations because of the drug references.
According to George Harrison, Starr unintentionally inspired a number of songs by his witty off-the-cuff remarks. For example, after a long session on The Beatles first film, he was heard to say, "It's been a hard day's night." That was approved by the studio as the title of the film and subsequently the song, "A Hard Day's Night". John Lennon affirmed this in his 1980 Playboy interview, mentioning that "Ringo-isms" had supplied the titles of "A Hard Day's Night" and "Tomorrow Never Knows".
Before becoming an official member of The Beatles in 1962, he played many gigs with them, guesting when Pete Best was not available. Also made one recording with them, backing a singer named Wally, before he joined.
Born and grew up in the Dingles section of Liverpool, England. Attended St. Silas School and Dingles Secondary Modern School.
Bought Tittenhurst Park estate from John Lennon (Lennon's last English home), when John and Yoko Ono decided to move to America; the deal came complete with Ascot Sound Studios, located on the grounds, and home of several albums ("Plastic Ono Band", "Imagine", and "Fly"). He renamed the facility Startling Studios. Judas Priest planned to record their "British Steel" album there, but preferred the acoustics of the house itself (which they had leased).
Drummer with The Beatles (1962-1970).
During April 1963 Ringo purchased a slightly used drum kit at "Drum City" a local outlet. In exchange for payment, Brian Epstein agreed to paste the distributor's "dropped T" logo as well as the manufacturer's name, "Ludwig " on the drum. The logo, the "large T" in Beatles, was adopted into their trade mark in 1969.
First of The Beatles to become a grandfather upon the birth of son Zak's daughter, Tatia Jayne Starkey. [1985]
Friends with Keith Moon. The two shared a house in California in the mid-1970s with John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, while they worked on each other's records.
Got his first set of drums as a present from his stepfather, who brought them back from London. Was able to turn professional with a £25 loan from his grandfather Starkey to make a deposit on a better drum set.
Got the last name "Starr" from his birth name, Starkey. He got "Ringo" because he liked to wear rings on all his fingers.
He and the Beatles were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
He and the other Beatles were awarded MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours List for their services to music. John Lennon returned his MBE in protest in 1969 for the Vietnam War. Paul McCartney was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1997 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to music.
He had three children with Maureen Starkey: Sons Zak Starkey (a featured drummer with The Who) and Jason (born August 19th 1967) and daughter Lee (born November 17th 1970).
He is a longtime fan of the comedy troupe Monty Python, and even appeared on an episode of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969). .
He is a strict vegetarian, as is former bandmate Paul McCartney.
He is three months older than John Lennon, who founded The Beatles, and the last to join the group, technically making him both the oldest and youngest Beatle.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California for his services and contributions to the Recording Industry.
In 1985 he accepted the role of Locke Walls on "Guiding Light" (1952) but pulled out at the last minute. The role was recast with Jeremy Slate
In his time as a Beatle, Starr single-handedly consolidated "Ludwig" as the drum set of choice among popular bands of his era.
In the mid-1970s he was involved with British singer-songwriter Lynsey De Paul and appeared on a single she wrote for Dame Vera Lynn.
Inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2002.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles on January 20, 1988.
Is left-handed, though he plays a right-handed drum set and makes unusual accents and stops.
Leader of "Ringo Starr's All Starr Band".
Missed several years of school, because of illness growing up. Learned to read and write with the help of a neighbor girl, who became his babysitter.
Played drums on several songs by Paul McCartney on the album "Pipes of Peace".
Starr cites drummers Jim Keltner and Cozy Cole as major influences on his career as The Beatles' drummer. Starr and Keltner performed as a team at The Concert for Bangladesh (1972), and Keltner played drums on Starr's "Rotogravure" album.
Starr mystified many of his contemporaries with his practice of draping light towels over his snare drum in order to deaden the characteristic timbre of his instrument. He famously removed the front skin of his bass drum and stuffed the cavity with cushions to deepen the punch of the bass sound.
Stop and Smell the Roses was engineered and mixed by Bruce Robb in association with Bruce Robb Productions.
The 2009 Sunday Times List estimated his net worth at $196 million.
The first song he had a hand in writing for an album by The Beatles was "What Goes On", from the 1965 "Rubber Soul" album (which he co-wrote with John Lennon and Paul McCartney). He began his own first song "Don't Pass Me By" years earlier, but it did not appear until 1968's "White Album".
The first song he sang with The Beatles, as far as actual album cuts go, was a cover of The Shirelles' classic "Boys".
Though Paul McCartney is the most successful ex-Beatle, Ringo actually had more solo US Top ten hits. (McCartney performed most of his Top Tens with Wings).
Two of his biggest solo hits, "It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph", featured ex-bandmate George Harrison on guitar and backing vocals.
Was originally hired as a Beatle for a salary of £25 a week, with the promise of a full partnership in the band in time. The promise was kept, and after the Beatles began to have hit records, Starr's mother discovered the top of his dresser covered with money (wondering at first if it was all come by honestly), and opened a savings account for him. Nonetheless, Starr's initial £25 salary was never discontinued, and he would pick it up every week from NEMS (Brian Epstein's management company). He used it for pocket money.
Was the first member of The Beatles to "drop out" of their visit to India in the spring of 1968, to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Despite packing some home comforts (like cans of baked beans), he couldn't handle the spicy cooking the camp offered, and was missing his family.
Was the only member of The Beatles to willingly accept Yoko Ono in John's life (and consequently theirs); he offered them the use of his London apartment, while John and Cynthia Lennon settled their divorce. Yoko tried to return Ringo's kindness over the years, and years later, when John was murdered, Ringo and future wife Barbara Bach flew to New York, to keep Yoko company.
While recording "Stop and Smell the Roses" at Cherokee Studios, he was joined by two former Beatles and their wives. John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as well as Paul and Linda McCartney came into Cherokee to collaborate with Ringo on the solo album. Ronnie Wood from the Rolling Stones also collaborated, adding guitar, bass, saxophone, keyboards, and back-up vocals.
Wrote the song "Octopus's Garden" while on vacation. He claims to have got the idea for the song after conversing with a chef about octopi.