Biographie

He has worn sunglasses in and out since the 1980s

He often has a beard

Making the peace sign

His complicated, individualistic drum fills, such as phrasing just slightly after the beat

His unique sound and style that influenced successful drummers from Phil Collins to Dave Grohl

According to George Harrison, Starr unintentionally inspired a number of songs by his witty off-the-cuff remarks. For example, after a long session on The Beatles first film, he was heard to say, "It's been a hard day's night." That was approved by the studio as the title of the film and subsequently the song, "A Hard Day's Night". John Lennon affirmed this in his 1980 Playboy interview, mentioning that "Ringo-isms" had supplied the titles of "A Hard Day's Night" and "Tomorrow Never Knows".

He was the only member of The Beatles to willingly accept Yoko Ono in John's life (and consequently theirs); he offered them the use of his London apartment, while John and Cynthia Lennon settled their divorce. Yoko tried to return Ringo's kindness over the years, and years later, when John was murdered, Ringo and future wife Barbara Bach flew to New York, to keep Yoko company.

Like George Harrison, he is a longtime fan of the comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus ; Absurde, n'est-il pas? (1969). Starr even appeared in an episode of the series.

Sixteen years before they met and married, his wife Barbara Bach was in the audience at The Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert.

He got the last name "Starr" from his birth name, Starkey. He got "Ringo" because he liked to wear rings on all his fingers.

[on his early drumming years with The Beatles] I started to be an engineer but I banged me thumb on the first day. I became a drummer because it was the only thing I could do. But whenever I hear another drummer I know I'm no good. [John Lennon] taught me the song I sing. I can only play on the off beat because John can't keep up on the rhythm guitar. I'm no good on the technical things but I'm good with all the motions, swinging my head, like. That's because I love to dance but you can't do that on the drums. I figure we're good for another four years. I don't want to invest me money in stocks or anything. I just want to have it and draw 20 or 30 quid a week. The main thing is, I don't ever want to go back to work.

[on meeting Elvis Presley in 1965] The saddest part is that, years and years later, we found out that he tried to have us banished from America, because he was very big with the FBI. That's very sad to me, that he felt so threatened that he thought, like a lot of people, that we were bad for American youth. This is Mr. Hips, the man, and he felt we were a danger. I think that the danger was mainly to him and his career.

I'd like to end up sort of unforgettable.

I don't like talking. It's how I'm built. Some people gab all day and some play it smogo. I don't mind talking or smiling, it's just I don't do it very much. I haven't got a smiling face or a talking mouth.

[on is marriage to Maureen Cox [aka Maureen Starkey] She's just sort of ordinary, she's from Liverpool. And the genuine fans wrote in saying, you know, "If you are going with her, good luck and I hope you're happy.".