Ringo Starr (LIVE) Chooses Love & The Beatles Every Time

Summary

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Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Ringo Starr (LIVE) Chooses Love & The Beatles Every Time

Date: April 2, 2026
Guest: Ringo Starr
Duration: ~40min (content segment begins at [03:54])

Episode Overview

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Dana Carvey and David Spade share a rare, in-person conversation with Beatles legend Ringo Starr. Set in an “undisclosed hotel,” they dive into Ringo’s new album “Long Long Road,” his creative process, his iconic drumming with the Beatles, and enduring philosophy of “choosing love.” The discussion is warm, humorous, and full of reverence as the hosts—both self-professed Beatlemaniacs—probe Ringo about the band’s musical evolution, recording sessions, and how he approaches both collaboration and solo work. Ringo's humility, quick wit, and deep musicality shine throughout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Landing Ringo & Fan Nerves

• Hosts express genuine excitement and anxiety at having Ringo—Beatles members rarely do podcasts, making this interview particularly special. ([04:27]-[05:57])
• Quote from David:

  "We were very lucky ... to get Ringo was a double thrill." ([04:44])

• They reflect on memorabilia, their own Beatles encounters, and how deeply the band resonates with generations.

2. Ringo’s New Album & His Philosophy of Love

• Topic of “Long Long Road” and its themes: emotional playing, “choose love,” and living in the present.
• Ringo on songwriting inspiration:

  "No matter what you choose, choose love. ... Let the thoughts come in, but let them go out." ([17:16], [18:01])

• Hosts praise distinct lyrics & country influences.

3. Musical Influences: Country, Blues, and Motown

• Ringo’s early music love:

  “I love country, but I love the blues. I love Motown. I love, you know, Al Green and Eddie Cochran.” ([19:25])

• He resists ranking favorites, saying:

  “I can't answer these questions ... I love a thousand records.” ([19:39])

4. Collaborative Spirit & Studio Partnerships

• The making of his new album—lots of guest musicians, notably Billy Strings and producer T Bone Burnett.
• Ringo on collaboration:

  “I call around ... T Bone introduced me to all the country people. ... It’s been a really great experience.” ([21:14]–[21:42])

• On All-Starr Band:

  “If there's three people turn up to see us, we'll play.” ([38:14])

5. The Beatles: Transformation, Genius, and Camaraderie

• The moment Ringo realized the band were “geniuses”:

  “We all changed, you know ... we were big in Liverpool and then we went way outside.” ([22:26]–[23:07])

• Selection into The Beatles:

  “When Brian called to say hello, Ringo, would you join the Beatles? ... I said, yeah ... I left Saturday.” ([24:17]–[24:43])

• Band’s on-stage dynamic:

  “At weekends we’d play eight hours between two bands. … I loved the front line.” ([23:57]–[24:13])

6. Drumming Innovations & Anecdotes

• Hosts dig into Ringo’s unique style: heavy foot, love of toms, quirky fills—which drummers and fans obsess over.

  Dana: “You didn’t all go to the Splash when you think you would … And you go to the floor tom a lot on the chorus.”
  Ringo: “I love the depth of the toms. ... I had one I played for years that had a hole in it and I just put chewing gum in it. It lasted five years, you know.” ([25:55]–[26:29])

• On playing songs like “Ticket to Ride” and “Act Naturally”:

  “They are [harder], but I was guessing. It seemed to work.” ([26:51]) “Act Naturally”—playing brisk hi-hat rhythms while singing (“rare thing”). ([27:47]–[27:58])

• Recording process:

  “We just played through it. … Sometimes, you know, you could sit there all year and you wouldn't have got what you just made.” ([29:13]–[29:26])

• On “Come Together”:

  “Hadn’t done it before that minute. … Just threw it up and see what’s happening.” ([30:16], [30:22])
  “The two things I'm blessed with is that I don't play a lot. I keep good time.” ([30:21]–[30:30])

7. Freedom and Spontaneity in The Beatles

• Recording process was organic, room for all ideas:

  “There’s not any memory of mine of like, ‘Oh, you can’t do that in my song.’” ([29:30]–[29:36])

• Multiple takes were mostly false starts:

  “Like, they’ll say, ‘Oh, take nine.’ ... Where usually take nine was 2, 3, 4 ... only got as far as the counting.” ([36:44]–[37:15])

8. Solo Career & Friendships

• On solo success and peers:

  “I've got the band. John came and played it, wrote a song and played. George happened to come into town ... So come on over. ... It was great.” ([30:57]–[31:33])

• Hosts note Ringo’s popularity among musicians:

  “Everybody wanted to play with you ... you were the anchor.” ([31:35])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On creative freedom:

  “If there's three people turn up to see us, we'll play.” — Ringo ([38:14])

• On playing Beatles classics live:

  “I still like to be with the audience.” — Ringo ([37:45])

• On making mistakes in the studio:

  “You couldn't make a mistake. Then they have to start over ... Well, we didn’t. So we're lucky.” — Ringo ([36:44])

• On “Come Together” drum beat

  "Hadn't done it before that minute. ... It just came." — Ringo ([30:16]–[30:22])

• On his drumming approach:

  "It’s all in the moment of the emotion. ... I just cannot do it twice the same." ([36:26])

• On living and writing lyrics:

  “Let the thoughts come in, let them go.” — Ringo ([18:01])

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Important Timestamps

• [03:54] – Interview with Ringo begins
• [05:48] – Behind-the-scenes: landing Ringo, host nerves
• [17:05] – Discussion of “It Don’t Come Easy” and new album
• [18:01] – Ringo on mindfulness and letting thoughts go
• [21:14] – Collaborating with musicians on new album
• [22:26] – Realizing Beatles were special
• [23:57] – Playing clubs, Beatles pre-fame
• [25:31] – Drum approach, physicality, technical tricks
• [26:51] – Playing challenging Beatles drum parts
• [29:13] – Strawberry Fields and spontaneous recording
• [30:10] – “Come Together” drum pattern origin
• [31:33] – Solo albums and All-Starr collaborations
• [37:45] – Playing live shows, love of audience
• [38:14] – “If there's three people turn up ... we'll play.”

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Tone & Atmosphere

• Playful, reverent, and energetic conversational style.
• The hosts are open about their fandom, inserting music nerd questions and inside jokes, but always deferential to Ringo.
• Ringo is affable, witty, and deeply unpretentious—quick to credit fellow musicians, happy to reminisce, and adamant about spreading love and positivity.

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Summary Takeaway

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode is a treat—a rare, relaxed window into the creative process, humility, and generous spirit of an icon. Ringo’s approach to music and life is shaped by spontaneity, emotional honesty, and a choice to embrace love every time.

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Transcript

[A]

The April 15 tax deadline is coming fast. But don't worry, you can hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today. Seriously, Dana, doing taxes the old way is like being stuck in the writer's room at 4am Mentally freaking out, overloaded, chasing updates, rewriting, waiting on someone else. Jim Downey. It's a disaster.

[B]

Yeah. Is it done? Because, you know, did I miss the deduction for the wig? You know, the wig David Tax.

[A]

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[B]

get every dollar you deserve. You can go about your normal routine, giving your time back to working on my Mickey Rooney impression. I was the number one star in the world. Or finally watch that trending clip. Everybody's right.

[A]

And I'd rather be at the gym doing crunches, you know, whatever. TurboTax gives you your time back. So we can just sit here and riff on the absurdity of showbiz, which is all we do. It's a win, win. Don't wait. Visit TurboTax.com and hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today. I just have to tell you, Dana, there's something I'm excited about.

[C]

Now.

[A]

You remember we talked about Jury Duty, the show. Oh, season one. Yeah, yeah. And that one. I saw it on Tick Tock and then it was kind of a word of mouth thing. It blew up. It was funny. And it actually all pulled together, which I was shocked. They pulled that thing together.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I was like, will they do it again? And they did.

[B]

Cool. I think that's very cool.

[A]

It was set in the courtroom the first time. And this is going to be a company retreat. Yeah. Yeah. Jury Duty presents Company Retreat. It takes this groundbreaking social experiment out of the courthouse. Stay with me, Dana.

[B]

I got it.

[A]

And drops it into the most relatable setting ever.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Company corporate retreat. And if you've ever survived that awkward team building exercises or a trust fall with co workers. You know the vibe.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, this is an inspired idea, I gotta say. After Jury Duty to put it in a company retreat. This season follows. Anthony, A real temp hired by Rock and Grandma's Hot Sauce for their annual retreat. Right there.

[A]

They should figure it out. Rock and Grandma's Hot Sauce.

[B]

Yeah, I know. Except he has no idea the entire thing is staged around him. It's a workplace comedy meets hidden camera. And it's unpredictable, it's authentic. It's so full of heart. The stakes are higher, the laughs are bigger, and it still celebrates the goodness in people. And here's the wild part. Rock and Grandma's Hot Sauce. They're actually making it.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And the flavors will be available on Amazon.

[A]

Oh, my God. I wonder if they started that first or if they. They just made up that name and then it sounded funny and it's going to get a lot of attention. But, you know, this thing I'm kind of glad they didn't do in the courtroom again, because someone would figure that out. I would think, oh, I don't think

[B]

they could do it in the courtroom. I think the company retreat is the next best one. Yeah.

[A]

It's hard to think of where to do it, but they did a good job. So looking forward to that.

[B]

Me too. Watch now on Prime Video.

[C]

No matter what you choose, choose love. It's a long leather jacket. Me, where I am today. You know, in those days when Brian called to say hello, Ringo, would you join the Beatles?

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, and I come from very early country.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And, you know, there was like, the wife's left. The dog said, oh, I don't have enough money for the jukebox.

[B]

David, it's your life.

[A]

It's from my book.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, we got a big one today, Dana.

[B]

And we really. It was kind of nerve wracking a little bit. But first of all, his name is Ringo Star, and he doesn't do a lot of podcasts. I couldn't find any other podcasts. Maybe a couple. Just very rare.

[A]

I love it.

[B]

So we were able to. We were very lucky a little while ago on the podcast to do Paul McCartney, which is a thrill. And then to get Ringo was a double throw.

[A]

Yeah. I will say that. Nervous. Of course, there's some. When you're with one of the Beatles. And I know at a certain point someone like Ringo or Paul is like, they haven't had it with the Beatles thing. But, you know, it just. It's like talking about something forever. Forever. But lovely dude, super cool. Looks great. And I don't want to sound like Kelly Ripa, but looks great. She got in trouble for telling a guest that. And such a magnificently huge star. And you play the drums, which I mentioned, I didn't want to put you on the spot. I just wanted to say that someone like you will look for more things than someone like me. When you watch a good drummer and you know every Beatles song back and forth. I think he appreciates that.

[B]

Right. And the, the. Because of back channels and people working for us trying to get Ringo for, for a long time and landing him. And then we, we found out it was about going to be about 20 minutes. So it was sort of like, okay, what do I ask in these 20 minutes? Because I, I could have gone for three hours. But to your point, you know, you don't really know till you see someone in person. So we saw Ringo in person. Sharp as attack, voice really strong, moves really well. So it's like cool. This guy is like, you know, and has a new album out, which we talk about a lot, which is great. So yeah, I was a little hyperbolic. I was a little amped up. I was trying to calm down. You'll see I was a little. And I kind of apologized to him, you know.

[A]

Well, it's too exciting. Like I was just, you know, I go on these things like where it's old celebrities, old Hollywood things they sell and things that are cool. And recently there was Beatles stuff and that's such a fun one. I think you have a signed Beatles album and.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Which is unbelievable. Unbelievably cool to have all four Beatles on there. And I was looking because I thought, oh, I wonder if I could get anything. And then I knew it was going to be out of my range. And then they just said the ring you would love. Oh, the drum star drums from I think Ed Sullivan Show.

[B]

It was the, the kick drum cover which was preserved perfectly and it says, yeah, you know, meet the Beatles or the Beatles.

[A]

The Beatles.

[B]

And it's an iconic kind of thing.

[A]

And that one from one early, early, probably Ed Sullivan went for 2 million or something.

[B]

2.3 after starting 500,000.

[A]

Yeah. So I would have been out from the get go. And they sold John Lennon's piano that he wrote Lucy in the sky and sergeant Pepper. And I don't even know what that went for. But all that stuff, it's all one of a kind. It's all so interesting. And anything to do with the Beatles, they tell me sells so well, so exciting. And a guy that's part of history. I met him years ago at the MTV Awards. We did a sketch where I played the receptionist. Remember that? When I was doing that on snl?

[B]

Of course.

[A]

Condescending. This is regarding. And so we had people coming into the MTV Awards that year. I don't think it was the year you hosted. I think it was one of the other years. And then, yeah, Ringo came. And then we got Ringo to come up, and I had to go, why would I know you and you in the music world, which I don't listen to many. And so he was a great sport, but I don't know if he would remember that because. But of course I did. And then. Oh, you know what? We'll show Heather. I ran into him about six months ago. Our stupid manager gave it. Hey, I got a little party for Eddie Vedder. You want to come by? Eddie says, come by. So it was a birthday party, and when I walked in, I'm on the stairs and to the backyard, and Ringo's there, and I'm like, holy. And he turned around and took a picture with his friends, and I whipped in and photobombed it.

[B]

Oh, that's right. Yeah.

[A]

And then they left. And then I told Gervitz that we're having on. He goes, did you ever see that picture? Didn't you Photobomb? And he sent it to me. So we'll put it up so you can see it. And it's super stupid, but great time. Also, we can say this, that during the interview, I know you love this, too, when he starts explaining drumming and he starts doing it on his knees and his feet. His feet are going. And we're, like, mesmerized.

[B]

Well, there is. It's on YouTube. There's a guy who goes, ringo, I can play anything. Ringo can play. Ringo's easy. And so he has a song, Act Naturally, where the hi hat is going. 16 time or 94 hits a minute, it's like. And then he sings the same time. So that bringing that up led him to do a little very quick slap rhythm thing that you'll see. And that was like, oh, my God, he's his. He's got timing. I just want to put it in context for people. The thing about us Beatle fanatics, and there's millions of us, is because what they did in, like, six and a half years is still hard to comprehend. And who did what. So at one point, I did. We were talking about that, and then he'll. He'll bring up a song. I don't know if I should mention it, but I had some questions about a song called Come Together, and his answer to that is really sort of

[A]

gave me the chill little goosebumps. Not to overstate it, but it was very cool.

[B]

You'll love it because he does a little act out with it and it kind of says it all. And so for me, I knew Ringo was the perfect drummer for the Beatles. I didn't know the extent of his talent in the moment like that.

[C]

He.

[B]

Here's the song and he's not suffering over it or thinking much. He just. A lot of his stuff was spontaneous and that. So that was really cool to learn that after all these years. And that's why we're still obsessed with the Beatles. What did John Lennon do? What did Ringo do? What was the relationship? We had the Get Back documentary, but there's still a lot of questions.

[A]

So, yeah, the Get Back documentary. I think if you're into music at all, it's just so fucking riveting to me that out of the blue, the arguably the greatest band in the world and then you get to see. They don't know it. It's their last album. They don't know what it's their last concert and how they got along. Intricate in full color, fully mic'd. It's shocking. That was just sitting there and then everything you're seeing, they're trying to put songs together that you know now and they're doing like some. Was it something that George Harrison's working on? He's like, la, la. They don't know the words yet, but you do, because you know the final product and you think, oh my God, this is really how they make it, how they put it together. And Ringo, with the coolest name out there, one of the coolest names, nicknames. His name is Richard Starkey. I think that's what it is.

[C]

How do you.

[B]

How cool is it? I don't know how it went from Richard Starkey to Ringo Starr. And it's like the greatest name translation.

[A]

Somebody made a good call there because it's so much more memorable. I was going to ask him here's. I didn't ask him. They met Elvis and I had watched the Night before that. He was asked about meeting Elvis, which two of my favorites. And he said, you know, the Beatles were going through so much up and down and so much craziness when they met Elvis at his house, it was. They felt for him because he was going through the same thing, but there was only one of him and there was four Beatles. And they got to like share their experience and relate to each other, like, well, at least we're all in the same hotel. Should we get out of here? Elvis was one he had his friends, but they weren't like super talent geniuses like the Beatles were. And so I was gonna say that house I heard was way up on Hillcrest. And is that the house? Cause I used to live kind of up there and I was always told that was Elvis's house. I was like, is that the one you guys met at? Cause I was very interested, no one else would give a fat fuck. But I didn't. Cause I had one left. But then when he. We kept him over 20 for sure, rudely, but he went right into a BBC and I think that was his only other interview and we didn't see him. And I was like, shit. So great though, while we had him.

[B]

To your point, the Beatles, when they came out, they're like exotic insects. And I didn't even get into this, but John F. Kennedy had just been assassinated and was really kind of. And then they came out with their accents and their haircuts and Paul McCartney said they'd be in the hotel room before Ed Sullivan and they take out. We took out a little suits, you know, the little black suits. We put on a little ties and said, there we. There we are, a four headed monster. So when the Beatles would do a press conference and the press would try to be snarky, they would just go, I just got my haircut yesterday. They just completely made fun of them. They were just like rock star Marx Brothers. But Elvis was up there kind of sweating and tortured by himself. I don't know exactly how to answer that, colonel and they had colonel Tom Parker.

[A]

So poor Elvis, someone taking advantage of him. Instead of like three guys or four guys that are equal, that are all just so great in their own way.

[B]

It just. And the wit. One of the press said, what's the secret to what you're doing? And Lennon said, well, if we knew, we'd create a band and become their managers, you know. That is true. I mean they were all like this. And Ringo too. All of them were just snappy, funny. And anyway, it was just.

[A]

So, yeah, we have to say we'll throw it to Ringo here, but we went to a undisclosed hotel. We were nervous. We got there, we walked around and then he came up and super unassuming.

[B]

I didn't know. You know, in a way sometimes it's. You just don't know how to compliment people who have heard it all and been famous this long, but you still just want to say it anyway, you know. And I made sure that I. I took a picture of the lyric sheet of one of the lyrics of one of the songs he wrote and said, that's a great lyric. And even, you know, and I don't know, Ringo can't go, oh, yeah, you know, it's like anyway. But you still can't help it. Gush a little bit. Sometimes when you meet people that, you know. I was. Saw him when I was 8 years old playing the drums and said, that's what I'm going to do.

[A]

I see that when people walk up to me and I know they've seen bench warmers. It's pretty much the same thing. So they were. They're nervous, they're sweating. But when I think he just wanted to be like, oh, these guys are funny. I've seen him and stuff and I want to do a fun one. I don't want to get like these heavy questions. I just want to go goof around. And he's a very light guy in his feet. So. Yeah, I think he liked the idea that it wasn't like a super serious 60 minute.

[B]

No, it wasn't dark or serious. It was more inquisitive. But he's. He gets. I think he enjoyed. I know I did.

[A]

Yeah. Had a great time. So I think we can throw it to him. Here's the man in question and the guy we were all excited about.

[B]

Ringo. We got to interview. Paul McCartney.

[C]

Oh, yeah. I met him once.

[B]

He said that you guys used to sit down for a plunker, you know.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I love the way he.

[A]

He's a plunker.

[B]

The humility with the catalog is. So you guys are both very humble.

[C]

Oh, yes.

[A]

Poor Ring.

[B]

I thought the Beatles were good.

[C]

I'm gonna live in la. I'm so humble. I love la.

[B]

Are we in Always Recording productions?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Okay, good. Because we don't have a half apple.

[A]

We're gonna go on.

[B]

So, Richard Starkey,

[A]

those are, I think, your tour dates.

[B]

Love the album.

[A]

Heard everything.

[B]

And I'm going to give you specific examples of what I love. Choose she's gone Heartbreaking Heartbreaking yeah Choose love Another one of your.

[C]

No matter what you choose choose love this is perfect.

[B]

You guys are rolling. Okay. Wave of love Gotta pay your dues if we want to sing the blues yeah.

[C]

Because you know, it don't come easy. That's not on this album.

[B]

It don't come easy. Do you got Act Naturally. I. Was that on this album or. No, that's earlier.

[C]

Yeah, much earlier.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Like 68.

[B]

68, but not that early. Okay, here's a lyric that you wrote. I'm just starting with this stuff. Because I love specific.

[C]

Well, you know, T Bone wrote most of this record.

[B]

Well, I think that Long, Long Road, didn't you?

[C]

Long, Long Road I wrote. Which.

[B]

Okay, this is a quote. Yeah, this is a quote from one of the. I guess the chorus. I don't know. You guys have choruses and stuff. So, anyway, don't be attached to your thoughts. Let them come in, let them go. There was a night I was on my own I was feeling pretty low When Things have changed since you came back oh, yeah, things have changed now. Things have changed. It came back to me without your love I'm drowning in the deep blue sea yeah. Which is interesting. You didn't go to a dark sea.

[C]

No, I went to a deep blue sea anyway, you know, I love oceans. But, you know, it was you. You know, just as you're going through life, you learn certain things. And one of them was pointed out to me years and years ago. I said, you know, let the thoughts come in.

[B]

Right.

[C]

But let them go out, you know, because mainly we sit around and for three days we're like, oh, yeah. You know, when I used to sit down on one seat, 25 in here, 25 people all had something to say. And now I'm getting up there, five.

[B]

And you said, your plane's kind of more emotional or more in the moment, or on the last album and this one, I assume.

[C]

Well, I think, because it's country.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, and I come from very early country.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And, you know, there was like, the wife's left, the dog said, oh, I don't have enough money for the jukebox.

[B]

David, it's your life.

[A]

That's from my book. Yeah.

[C]

Anyway, that's.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, that sort of it. So, yeah, I think, you know, there's the. She's gone and things happen, and it's good, you know.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like the. All the early country singers was all at a bit of, you know, downer in it.

[A]

Yeah, sure.

[B]

Right. But it's very, very emotional. But, yeah, it works great. The album is beautiful.

[C]

Anyway, I love it because I love country, but I love the blues. I love Motown. I love, you know, Al Green and Eddie Cochran. You know, I was asked one time, like, to do that thing we. The best movie, the best record.

[A]

Right.

[C]

I said, we have to stop. I can't answer these questions, right, Because I say one film and then, oh, God, I know a record. I love a thousand records.

[B]

One thing that's run through my mind lately, you know, of course, my Beatles. The Beatles. Your Beatles. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, wow.

[B]

Is. Is what's Going on by Marvin Gaye kind of a work of genius. It's one of the greatest songs ever.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Well, for you.

[B]

Well. And he sold 3 million. I mean.

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[C]

No, he's. I love Marvin Gay.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

When you do. I love Johnny Ray.

[B]

Yeah, of course.

[C]

Did you ever hear him?

[B]

Absolutely.

[C]

Before your time.

[B]

No, no, we go way back.

[C]

He would try. Yeah. Frankie Lane.

[B]

Frankie Lane, Yep.

[C]

I loved his power. So he was like. They were the last two before, like, groups came in and. That's right. The music started to change.

[B]

Yeah. And you still have this great voice and it's. It's very distinct and.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

So it's all right there. And I love the mix right in. The drums are. The sound is great. Really tight, you know.

[A]

So, anyway, great album.

[C]

Long drive ahead. TikTok shows road trip spots, car hacks, travel playlists, best routes, hidden cafes, scenic stops. Drive smarter, Explore more. Download TikTok now.

[A]

When you do a new album and you have sort of at your fingertips, I can't imagine any musician that wouldn't want to kind of jump in with you. Is it. Do you just call people and say, you want to come and jump in on this with us?

[C]

When I'm doing a regular album, yeah. Yeah. I call around and. But this with T Bone. T Bone introduced me to all the country people, you know, Molly and Billy and you know everyone who's on it.

[A]

Sure.

[C]

And because last year with the other album, we did a big show.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And we got to say hi, but not really hang out. So. Yeah, it's been a really great experience.

[B]

Billy Strings is on it.

[C]

Billy Strings on both of them.

[B]

Good old Billy. He's learning how to play the guitar.

[C]

He's now. What is he now, 14?

[B]

Yeah, yeah. He's a junior in high school. I think he's on the gymnastics team.

[C]

He is fast.

[B]

He is like that. That kind of guy. So the Beatles. These are my questions. Did you ever. Was there a moment early on where John and Paul would bring in a song and you kind of said, oh, my God, we're. We're working with geniuses. I mean, this is not normal. And I don't know what song it might have been, but there must. There's a moment where it's like the. Oh, the mop top, bop, bop. And then it was like, oh, wait a minute. Because it was so much.

[C]

Well, I think we all changed, you know, we were these pop stars and we played clubs. I played. I played weddings, whatever. Any chance you could. But Rory and the Eddie Clayton Group. I was only in three bands, so I did really well.

[B]

So did the other two do really well? Too well.

[C]

They did well in Liverpool.

[B]

Yeah. Okay.

[C]

You know, that was it.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And not outside. And Rory, we were like in Liverpool as the top band but spreading ourselves a little outside. And then with the Beatles, we were big in Liverpool and then we went way outside.

[B]

Graham Nash, I got to talk to him once about you guys. I think it was 62 or 3 at the Cavern and you all came in with long leather jackets and he said that just there was a vibe in the air, like everybody knew something special was happening.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Well, I think that was before I joined.

[B]

Do you never had a long leather jacket?

[C]

No.

[B]

Could we get a long leather.

[C]

It's a long leather jacket. Makes me where I am today.

[A]

I think you. I think I read you saw the other three guys and you said, this is the front I want. This is a wall in front of me that I is better than what I have.

[C]

Well, I met them like, hi, how are you doing in Liverpool? And then we went to Germany and they were booked first into this other club and we were into a club with Rory.

[A]

Right.

[C]

And then the Koshmita. The guy won both of them put us both on the same stage. Oh, really? So at weekends we'd play eight hours between two bands.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[C]

But I loved the front line. Yeah, I just loved it Was.

[B]

Was it the charm? And it was not.

[C]

They were great.

[A]

Just great.

[C]

And the harmonies were great. It was just a great feel from it, you know and they, you know, in those days when Brian called to say hello, ringer, would you join the Beatles? I said, yeah, I said, I said. When he said, oh, this evening we were, you know, playing a three month gig with Rory said, I can't leave them today. Yeah, got to give him time to get another drummer. So I left Saturday.

[A]

I can leave him tomorrow.

[C]

Everybody, all the drummers and most of the players in those days, we all played the same songs.

[B]

Sure, Right.

[C]

I went on stage once and two, three band thick gig and two of the drummers just by chance didn't turn up. So I put a jacket on and played with them. And then you came on with your band and I just played with you. Then you came on with your band. I just didn't get up all night.

[B]

There's a great interview with Paul where he mentions. I don't know if it was from the documentary in the 90s, just when you joined and when you kicked in, in the back, like it was just a whole other. And I can see. I often thought, like, because you have a heavy foot and heavy hands, like, you have inordinately really big hands. Strong. Yeah. Well, look at these.

[C]

They look big to you.

[B]

Yeah. Strong hands because you just. You really brought that.

[C]

Yeah, but I hold the six lightly.

[B]

Yeah, but you still have power.

[C]

It's all in there.

[A]

Dana plays drums, so he knows more about the drum stuff than I do. Not as good, obviously.

[B]

He's, you know, horrible, but.

[A]

But he looks at it from a different lens than most people.

[B]

I just love the quirkiness of the way you played. You didn't all go to the Splash. When you think you would go to the Splash. Yeah, you just got. Dude. But you don't do the Splash. You know, this first guy to do that. And you go to the floor Tom a lot on the course.

[C]

I love the depth.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Of the toms. That's.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Always loved that. And, you know, so the snare is. Is deep because, you know, I had one I played for years that had a hole in it and I just put chewing gum in it. It lasted five years, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Far out. Oh, it's all so technical now. You know, there's a skin with a hole in it and air on a lot of Beetle records.

[A]

Are there some harder? Harder than others because, like, even me, I don't play the drums. But when I play along in my card something like Ticket to Ride, I never get it right. Like just, you know, are there certain ones that are tougher than others?

[C]

They are. But, you know, I was guessing.

[A]

It seemed to work.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, you. You know, if you saw that huge documentary, Peter Jackson. Yeah. Because he found 56 hours of unused stuff.

[B]

So crazy, you know.

[C]

You know, I'm sort of. I called him like a year later because on Get Back, how did I get to that sort of Marchy thing? Anyway, so he found footage and I'm like, get back. And then he found a sort of next stage of it than it could sue. And I said, how did I get to that?

[A]

Riveting.

[C]

How? I don't know. And. But we didn't find the actual piece that showed me.

[B]

It's just amazing when you did was act naturally, like 16th time or 94 beats a sec. I mean, it was so fast.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And then you're singing, and that's just a rare thing that.

[C]

Oh, that's boys.

[B]

Well, boys.

[C]

I'm singing.

[B]

Yeah. Boys was considered hard rock to me when I was like 10 years old, my brother I had older brothers. They said it's got this new song called Boys Reno Singing, Man, Talk them back. I mean, it was hard rock, but

[C]

that was an old song.

[B]

I know.

[C]

And it was actually done by a girl band, a girl vocal group. And I just love this. Loved it. You know, new kids.

[B]

And I didn't think you're talking about boys. They're talking about boys.

[C]

Yeah, I know.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[C]

Yeah. So I was. Hey, I'm doing it anyway, right?

[A]

Yeah. Sounds like you're celebrating.

[C]

I like this song. I never knew, because with Rory, I used to have to go star time. So I'd have, like, five songs, and that was one of them.

[A]

God.

[B]

So I could talk to you all day. But there's something I listened to recently that just blows my mind every time, because the leap between. I guess it was Rubber Soul Revolver in there somewhere. You did Strawberry Fields, and that. That last two minutes where you're doing this marching drum and it fades away and comes back is so magical. And I don't know if it's overdub, but it sounded like a marching band or.

[C]

I did very little overdub.

[B]

So you did it all by yourself?

[C]

We just played through it. I mean, the. The first time we'd play, it would be great because we'd all be sort of, like, making it up.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And sometimes, you know, you could sit there all year and you wouldn't have got what you just made.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

So that's how it works, Right? Pretty free.

[A]

Beautiful.

[C]

There's not any memory of mine of like, oh, you can't do that in my song. You know.

[B]

Oh, you can do that, you know, and come together.

[C]

Just let me finish this.

[B]

I love to hear this.

[C]

Just let me finish the story. So we're going. We went to another studio just to get out of Abbey Road.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And come together. And I was on drums. John was sort of sitting over there on the floor, and he had the guitar and, like, what he's playing you. And so I just sort of went, bobbity, bobbity bubbity. And he goes,

[A]

oh. Oh, yeah.

[B]

Oh, my God. I never read that story. Yeah, you just surprised him with it. And you just did it in two.

[C]

Hadn't done it before that minute. Don't like you just threw it up and see what's happening.

[B]

Wow, that's.

[C]

You know. So it just came. You know, the two things I'm blessed with is that I don't play a lot. I keep good time.

[B]

It's all in here.

[C]

Well, it's all in here.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

It's all in the store.

[A]

So when you. When.

[B]

That is a great story. I love that.

[A]

That gave me the chills actually.

[B]

What.

[A]

When you leave and you. I think you're all doing solo stuff and you do photograph and some of these big hits do they call Is it. Is it. You're still talking a lot. Are you kind of doing your own thing? But they must have to acknowledge like holy, these are rippers.

[C]

Well, if you, you know, if you look at the Ringo album and this next album I did with I Just Died. God bless him. Richard Perry. Yeah. It's. It's an. It's like an all star band because, you know, I've got the band. John came and played it, wrote a song and played. George happened to come into town. It was never planned. And. Oh, he's in the same town. So come on over. You know, we had like Dr. John and half of the band. Sure. You know, it was great.

[B]

I'd like to make an observation.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Is that you've inordinately popular with your peers. You're just really popular. I mean, everybody wanted to play with you. I mean, you are popular.

[C]

Yeah, I am.

[B]

And you were the anchor of the Beatles. We saw the documentary. You were kind of the peace and love.

[C]

They were wild, those boys. Crazy to keep them steady.

[B]

If they couldn't sing, you'd throw them in the trash.

[C]

Yeah. Next.

[B]

Who else you got? But it is. It is nice that all these years you. People come to, they want to play with you.

[C]

You. Yeah.

[B]

You know.

[C]

Well, I play on probably around about 10 people's tracks.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And I send it back, you know, send the files. I do it in my kit because I know it.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I say use me or lose me because I may not have played what you wanted, you know.

[A]

Sure.

[C]

So it only ever happened once.

[A]

Well, like you said, they. The guys wouldn't tell you what to do and you would add it and they'd say, this is great. That's kind of a good freedom to

[B]

have one thing that fascinates me. I'm sorry, I'll try to be a slow down. But she's so heavy. When you guys were playing that. And then there was a complaint this on the Escher tapes from Revolver. You can't, you know, gotta calm down the music. They're saying this and they're like us now we have to play. So Lennon said, john, let's do one more loud and then we'll play it softer after this. But that long jam in the middle of that where that song went. And you guys went into that really cool jam and you were doing this kind of the Tom's kind of in part is so fantastic. I don't know if you listen to this stuff.

[C]

Well, yeah, not every day, but yeah. You know, things just happened. That's how it wasn't like, you know, they say it's your birthday is a jam.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

We were just jamming it and then it turned into rhythm pattern. And Paul was always great. He'd jump in, you know. Yeah, he would. He was reading something in the paper about somebody's birthday and that's how it gave him the hook, you know, they say it's your birthday.

[A]

Second only to happy birthday.

[B]

It's nice to hear your rhythm section with Paul when they did the re reissues and some of the remixes. Because we're listening to you guys on transistor radios in the 60s, you know,

[C]

you listen more than I do.

[A]

He knows.

[B]

There's a lot of me and in Hollywood, a lot of us, we're on email, text, change.

[C]

Anyway, I've got a new record out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Long Long Road, which is. It's pure Ringo. I recommend you go out and buy it. Pre sold. It comes out a lot of good

[C]

tracks and T Bone Burnett produced it. And a lot of it's done in Nashville and a lot of it's done in my studio.

[B]

Wait a minute, hold on.

[C]

Okay. Oh, you've got a coffee. You know, I don't have a coffee.

[A]

This is the first one.

[C]

Must be on the way. Yeah, that's great.

[A]

Look at how cool it is.

[B]

That's hip. So you're going to have an LP out?

[C]

Yeah, Long Long Road Vinyl.

[B]

Ringo Starr.

[A]

There you go.

[C]

Yeah. This house is in la. It's a. Why T Bone heard about it. We went to do the photos with Henry Dilts and it's the craziest house you've ever been in.

[A]

Where is that?

[B]

Where is it?

[C]

Do you remember the address? Up in the hills. Is not knowing the address a crazy hill? Yeah, but you know, who knew?

[A]

Well, you look cool in that purple shirt, by the way.

[C]

I know. Everybody talks. The shirt's bigger than the record.

[A]

The kitchen in the building and then.

[C]

That's from those days, you know that shirt.

[B]

Those days. Meaning?

[C]

You know those.

[B]

All those other days.

[C]

Long time ago. Let me see.

[B]

There you go.

[C]

If they put it in here, let's

[A]

see if they did it right.

[C]

No, I want to see if they. Oh, no, they'll just get. Oh, there it is. Look. In those other days.

[A]

Oh, oh, oh, okay.

[B]

Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Speaking of houses.

[C]

Anyway. Oh, everyone says, oh, man, love that shirt. So I say, good.

[A]

Yeah, really good.

[B]

You can't have it.

[C]

Come on, you got four minutes.

[B]

It's such a great. One minute.

[C]

One minute.

[B]

And in. In the chorus, you do Tom toms.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So you're back full circle.

[C]

Well, yeah, yeah, you know, I do. You know, it's no big plan. You send me the song, I'll sit behind the kit and I'll listen to it once and then we'll play it. Now, I usually now do two takes because that's enough. It's got it all there.

[A]

So.

[C]

Yeah, sometimes, you know, when we do the. The verse and we get to the chorus. Okay, I'll do it that way. And then when we get to the next chorus, you know, I may come in like a beat late or earlier or whatever happens in here.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And I've never been able to, you know. Oh, double that, you know. Double.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I can't do that. I do it at the moment of the emotion. It's weird, but I just cannot do it twice the same.

[B]

I can do this all the fingerprint.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, tomorrow never knows. I guess. It's legendary.

[C]

Yeah, legendary.

[B]

You're a very humble man, but you couldn't make a mistake. Then they have to start over, right? Yeah, I mean, it's kind of extra. Extra.

[C]

Yeah. Well, we didn't. So we're lucky. Yeah. I mean, that's the. The drag, really, with some of those reissues.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, they'll say, oh, take nine. So you. You know, everyone thinks that it's that long, right? Where usually, like, take now with 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3. You know. Come on in. It only got as far as the counting.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

You know, I was lighting a cigarette or something. I don't know.

[A]

Yeah, well, your all Star band, I've seen it in the past. I'll see it again. You're on tour starting pretty soon.

[C]

We're not the Greek.

[B]

The Greek here, you know.

[C]

So we started Humphreys. I love that game.

[B]

I've played there a lot.

[A]

I've played. Yeah, I love it.

[C]

And I shouted. The guys in the yachts, tight bastards. Wouldn't even buy a ticket.

[A]

Oh, they come in and listen. That's right. Gamma in Arizona, where I'm from.

[C]

No, I still like to be with the audience.

[B]

Yeah, that's a tight little amphitheater. You think there's no roof, but it just feels very good. I'm going to play it in in November. If you're around, you know.

[A]

Are you going out free?

[B]

I'm going to play Humphreys.

[C]

You're booking already For November, you hear?

[A]

All for November.

[B]

Well, it was kind of like these other dates didn't work. November, it's kind of outdoors. Might be cold. And I said, hell with it. Ringo would do it.

[C]

Yeah, rain, rain or storms, I don't care.

[A]

Thank you.

[C]

And I tell everybody, if there's three people turn up to see us, we'll play one of the all star bands. We were playing Denver and the monitors went out, every one of them. Well, we can't play. I said, what? What do you mean you can't play? We'll have to listen to the amps and listen to, you know, what people are doing. Right. And we did the show. I'm not stopping just because you can't hear the monitor. Because everyone has a different monitor these days. Yep. Anyway, we played the gig and to a man, they said, oh, that was great.

[B]

You never know. Sometimes the monitors can throw you off if they're too loud, then you don't push it. Anyway, I know you have to go, but one last question.

[C]

No, I do have to go. But it's been good seeing you guys.

[A]

Great to talk.

[B]

Good luck with your album. Long Long Road.

[C]

And what do you play?

[A]

I don't just mumble jokes.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

He plays with. He plays with girls.

[C]

Okay, thank you.

[B]

Thank.

[C]

You.

[A]

Hey, guys, if you're loving this podcast, which you are, be sure to click follow on your favorite podcast app, Give us review 5 star rating and maybe even share an episode that you've loved with a friend.

[B]

If you're watching this episode on YouTube, please subscribe. We're on video now.

[A]

Fly on the Wall is presented by Odyssey, an executive produced by Danny Carvey and David Spade, Heather Santoro and Greg Holtzman, Maddie Sprung Kaiser and Leah Reese Dennis of Odyssey.

[B]

Our senior producer is Greg Holtzman, and the show is produced and edited by

[A]

Phil Sweet Tech booking by Cultivated Entertainment.

[B]

Special thanks to Patrick Fogarty, Evan Cox, Maura Curran, Melissa Wester, Hillary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Colin Gaynor, Sean Cherry, Kirk Courtney, and Lauren Vieira.

[A]

Reach out with us. Any questions be asked and answered on the show? You can email [e-mail] that's a U-A C-Y dot com.