How Ringo Starr got his nickname before joining the Beatles

In 1962, the Beatles arrived at an early crossroads. While the band was preparing for a big date with producer George Martin, they had a battery problem. The problem was that Martin would not use drummer Pete Best in his records because he was not good enough.

Martin, thinking that Best was his appearance rather than his musical skills, badumed that he would use a session drummer for his recordings, while the Beatles would keep Best for their concerts. But that did not happen. The band's manager promptly dismissed Best and brought Ringo Starr aboard.

At the time, Ringo was no stranger to anyone. He was sometimes Best's best and had earned his reputation in Liverpool playing behind Rory Storm. Paul McCartney said his friends and his group considered Ringo the best drummer in town.

But Paul said the group also wanted Ringo because of his swaggering air. This included his beard, the car he drove, and the name of the scene he had already adopted.

The first half of Ringo's stage name comes from the rings he wore.

In AnthologyPaul explained why Ringo seemed perfect for the group. "We really started to think we needed the best drummer in Liverpool. [That was] Ringo Starr, who had changed his name before one of us, who had a beard and who was tall and was known to have a zodiac Zephyr. "

Born to Richard Starkey, Ringo received the first half of his nickname while he was playing in bands with Eddie Clayton and Rory Storm. Nobody sank too deeply: they called Ringo because he was wearing several rings in both his hands.

By the time he joined the Beatles, Ringo (born 1940) was 22 years old, making him the oldest member of the group. John Lennon, also born in 1940, was a few months younger than Paul and George Harrison by several years.

As for the second half of his name, Starr seems to be only a slight shortening of Starkey. However, the first groups he played with in Liverpool made this name a part of the attraction.

A Ringo drums solo was featured as "Starr Time" these days in Liverpool.

According to The Beatles Bible, Ringo was not so shy about drum solos before joining the burgeoning band. During his first concerts in Liverpool, they called his solo time behind the "Starr Time" kit, making the second half of his stage name a stick.

Still, Ringo never hesitated to get up in front of the bright lights. During the first interviews of the Beatles in America, you can see him jumping, unsolicited, to answer questions and express thoughts in the conversation.

When the Beatles started making movies, Ringo was incredibly comfortable in front of the camera. In the late '60s, he played in movies alongside Marlon Brando, Richard Burton and Peter Sellers.

After the break-up of the Beatles, Ringo made his own film (a T. Rex concert film) in which he also appeared. Even next to Marc Bolan (and young Elton John), who was ready to shoot, Ringo seemed to be the most comfortable on the screen.

See also: Why the friendship between John Lennon and George Harrison collapsed