Through his versatile roles and earning back- end royalties from music by The Beatles, he has amassed a $350 million networth and become the richest drummer in the world.
Starr was playing a residency with Rory Storm & the Hurricanes at Butlins. Shortly before, Starr had agreed to join Kingsize Taylor in Hamburg, as Taylor was offering £20 a week, but Lennon and McCartney offered £25 a week, which Starr accepted.
Starr was playing a residency with Rory Storm & the Hurricanes at Butlins. Shortly before, Starr had agreed to join Kingsize Taylor in Hamburg, as Taylor was offering £20 a week, but Lennon and McCartney offered £25 a week, which Starr accepted.
One year later In 1963, The Beatles played a basement in Liverpool called the Cavern club.
Within almost exactly two years, the band had led the British invasion of the States, kicked up the storm of Beatlemania, and were just about to take to the Shea Stadium in New York City in front of a sold-out 56,000-strong crowd. It was the first time anyone had done this.
Watch extraordinary footage of The Beatles’ first stadium performance
Ringo Starr would later comment, “It was coming to the end for me. Nobody was listening at the shows. That was OK at the beginning, but we were playing really bad.”
The sonics at the Shea Stadium certainly weren’t great, nevertheless, this is all part of the legacy of The Beatles, and it’s a manic moment that proves fascinating to watch. In order, to seed a message, you need an audience and while the mantra of the ‘Fab Four’ would elucidate itself over time, you still get the feeling that the following ‘Macca’ quote is in the air: “I still believe that love is all you need. I don’t know a better message than that.”
May-August 1962: Band signs with George Martin, hires Ringo
After getting rejected by the Decca label, which tells Epstein that “guitar groups are on the way out,” the Beatles get signed by George Martin to Parlophone, a sub-label of EMI. The producer disapproves of Best’s performance during a record session, leading to the firing of the drummer in August 1962. They soon hire Ringo Starr, the drummer for fellow Liverpool band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
"If Paul weren't in the Beatles, we'd probably have made two albums."
Ringo Starr Speaks on BBC Radio How Paul McCartney Behaved in The Beatles & How He Compared to Lennon, Addresses 'Weird Combination' With Eagles Legend
During an appearance on BBC Radio, The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr looked back on the Fab Four, his bandmates, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, and more.
