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.

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])

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])

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.”

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.

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.