A Damn Good Drummer
Ringo Starr is sometimes self-deprecating about his skill as a drummer, once saying, "I'm no good on the technical things ... I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills ... because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that."
But many others have a much higher opinion of the former Beatle’s talent:
Phil Collins has cited him as an influence and said Ringo is “vastly underrated” as a drummer.
Tjinder Singh of the indie rock band Cornershop believes Ringo was a pioneering drummer and stated, “He's totally unique, a one-off, and hip hop has a lot to thank him for."
British historian and biographer Mark Lewisohn (often considered the world's leading authority on the Beatles) noted that relatively few of the band’s recording session breakdowns were due to mistakes by Ringo. They were far more often caused by mistakes of the other Beatles.
Music journalist Robyn Flans wrote that “Starr influenced various modern drumming techniques, such as the matched grip, tuning the drums lower, and using muffling devices on tonal rings.” Flans also said, "I cannot count the number of drummers who have told me that Ringo inspired their passion for drums".
The authors of the 2007 book, Classic Rock Drumming, observed that "Ringo's fat tom sounds and delicate cymbal work were imitated by thousands of drummers."
In a Sept. 1980 interview, John Lennon said his former bandmate was a “damn good drummer” whose talent would have been recognized even if he had never been with the Beatles.
In a 2011 Rolling Stone readers’ poll, Ringo was voted the fifth-greatest drummer of all time.
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Ringo regards his drumming on “Rain” as his best recorded drum performance with the Beatles. He certainly did a great job on the song.
[media=https://youtu.be/cK5G8fPmWeA]
But many others have a much higher opinion of the former Beatle’s talent:
Phil Collins has cited him as an influence and said Ringo is “vastly underrated” as a drummer.
Tjinder Singh of the indie rock band Cornershop believes Ringo was a pioneering drummer and stated, “He's totally unique, a one-off, and hip hop has a lot to thank him for."
British historian and biographer Mark Lewisohn (often considered the world's leading authority on the Beatles) noted that relatively few of the band’s recording session breakdowns were due to mistakes by Ringo. They were far more often caused by mistakes of the other Beatles.
Music journalist Robyn Flans wrote that “Starr influenced various modern drumming techniques, such as the matched grip, tuning the drums lower, and using muffling devices on tonal rings.” Flans also said, "I cannot count the number of drummers who have told me that Ringo inspired their passion for drums".
The authors of the 2007 book, Classic Rock Drumming, observed that "Ringo's fat tom sounds and delicate cymbal work were imitated by thousands of drummers."
In a Sept. 1980 interview, John Lennon said his former bandmate was a “damn good drummer” whose talent would have been recognized even if he had never been with the Beatles.
In a 2011 Rolling Stone readers’ poll, Ringo was voted the fifth-greatest drummer of all time.
**********
Ringo regards his drumming on “Rain” as his best recorded drum performance with the Beatles. He certainly did a great job on the song.
[media=https://youtu.be/cK5G8fPmWeA]
