Ringo Starr’s son, Zac, was always destined to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a drummer. Interestingly, however, it wasn’t Ringo’s work with The Beatles that persuaded him to step behind the drum kit but their family friend, Keith Moon. (Faroutmagazine)
At first, Zac Starkey had no intention of becoming a drummer and told the Pittsburgh Post in 2019 that he started as a guitarist. Starkey told the publication: “When I was about 7, I went with my dad to see T. Rex, and I said to my dad, ‘I want to be like that guy. I want a guitar. I got a guitar and started to learn, and I was playing guitar for two or three years.”
“I found a Who record in my parents’ record collection, and I made this connection between the guy on the cover and a guy that was always ’round at our house,” Starkey explained. “This guy used to come and hang out with me and my brother and play Monopoly and feed the hamsters and stuff like that.”
Hearing The Who’s Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy at 10 years old was an unforgettable moment for Starkey that changed the course of his musical education. The drummer revealed it “just blew me away, and that day I switched to drums. I started learning to play drums by listening to The Who and playing along with it.”
Moon, who he grew up calling ‘Uncle Keith’, gifted Zac with a white and gold Premier drum kit which he played at his first shows. The item later sold at auction for $16,000.
Of course, his father played a role too. Zac recalled, “One day we were together in the studio, and he said, ‘Do you want me to show you how to do this?’ And I said, ‘Yeah.’ And he gave me one lesson and the next day came back and said, ‘Try doing this,’ and I said, ‘I can do that,’ and he said, ‘You’re on your own, mate.'”
Below an excerpt of Rolling Stone's Ringo Starr interview
Bonham and Keith Moon. Which of the two was the most reckless?
Ah, both. When I moved to Los Angeles in the 70s and the Led Zeppelins passed through the city, Bonham had this fixed nail so he had to take the car, come to my house, pick me up and throw me in the pool. And it really did. It could have been day or night, but he would come and throw me in the pool.
And Keith, he was a beautiful person, but we all took stuff and he was no exception. For my parents it was Uncle Keith and for a time he lived with us, more or less. It is thanks to the two of them if we drummers have the reputation of decerebrates. It's not that all drummers are like that. The two of them did, and they were my friends.
There is this story according to which Keith Moon gave gifts to your children, only that he didn't buy them ...
He came to our house with a jukebox. We thanked him and some time later the invoice arrived. I remember a Christmas when he and his girlfriend arrived with gifts, he dressed as Santa and she as a snow queen. And even that time I got the bill. At the end I said: listen Keith, don't buy me any more gifts, I can't afford them!
Ringo Starr says The Beatles turned down a 'crazy' £200m reunion gig in 1976 because the bizarre warm-up act was a man wrestling a shark
An 18ft Great White shark scuppered plans to for a £200million Beatles reunion show in 1976, according to Sir Ringo Starr. (Dailymail)
The drummer, who is 80 on Tuesday, said the iconic band was offered £50million - worth quadruple that in today's money - to reunite five years after their breakup.
All four bandmates, including Paul McCartney and John Lennon, discussed the offer from showman Bill Sargent, despite the recent acrimonious split.But the producer planned to have a wrestling match between a man and a shark as the warm-up act, something which put off the Fab Four.
Ringo told The Sunday Mirror: 'We did talk one time. There was a crazy offer out there.
'We called each other to see what we think. We decided not to do it because the opening act was a guy biting a shark. So we thought no.'
Ringo Starr Sends ‘Peace Love & Continuous Support’ to Those Protesting Racial Injustice
The Beatles always stood for equal rights&justice and I’ve never stopped working for peace&love ever since"
The day after Paul McCartney shared a poignant statement about the protests stemming from George Floyd’s murder, Ringo Starr added his own thoughts to his Beatles bandmate’s message.
“As my brother Paul said The Beatles always stood for equal rights&justice and I’ve never stopped working for peace&love ever since,” he tweeted, sharing McCartney’s statement. “#blacklivesmatter,#peaceispossible-I send my peace love&continuous support to everyone marching & speaking up for justice & a better world”
When ask about if he ever thought about the withdrawal, Ringo answered
“I’m glad you ask me this question. So I announce my withdrawal: it will take place in 10 years. In 2028 I give up everything. Actually, I never thought about retiring. This is what I love to do and I still have the opportunity to do.The 50 years of each Beatles album are celebrated. In a little while, though, it will be half a century since the band broke up …
“For now I enjoy the remastering of the tracks. They have a modern, brighter sound and finally you can hear the drums ».