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| 13 Reasons to Respect Ringo | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 31 2008, 10:22 AM (321 Views) | |
| Jacaranda | Aug 31 2008, 10:22 AM Post #1 |
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THIRTEEN REASONS TO GIVE RINGO SOME RESPECT By John Bryant © copyrighted Ringo Starr, the luckiest no-talent on earth. All he had to do was smile and bob his head. Oh yes, and keep a beat for three of the most talented musicians/songwriters of this century. What other impression could one have when judging the role that Ringo played in the success of the Beatles? Did Ringo really make a difference? Upon listening to the latest release by The Beatles, Anthology 1, you get a chance to listen to Pete Best and two other drummers play on over twenty songs. Was Ringo simply in the right place at the right time? The following items may help in going beyond the image: 1. Ringo was the first true rock drummer to be seen on TV. All the Rock & Roll drummers featured with Elvis, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis were mostly R&B drummers that were making the transition from a swing drumming style of the 40's and 50's toward the louder and more "rocking" sound that is associated with "I Want To Hold Your Hand". They were dressed in tuxedos and suits and held the drumsticks in the "traditional" manner of military, orchestra, and jazz drummers. Ringo showed the world that power was needed to put the emphasis on the "rock" in Rock & Roll music, so he gripped both sticks like hammers and proceeded to build a foundation for rock music. 2. Ringo changed the way drummers hold their sticks by making popular the "matched" grip of holding drumsticks. Nearly all drummers in the Western World prior to Ringo held their sticks in what is termed the "traditional" grip, with the left hand stick held like a chopstick. This grip was originally developed by military drummers to accomodate the angle of the drum when strapped over the shoulder. Ringo's grip changes the odd left hand to match the right hand, so that both sticks are held like a flyswatter. Rock drummers along with marching band and orchestral percussionists now mostly play with a "matched" grip, and drum companies have developed straps and accessories to accomodate them. 3. Ringo started a trend of placing drummers on high risers so that they would be as visible as the other musicians. When Ringo appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, he immediately caught the attention of thousands of "drummers to be" by towering over the other three Beatles. Elvis's drummer was looking at a collection of backs. 4. These same "wannabe" drummers also noticed that Ringo was playing Ludwig drums and they immediately went out and bought thousands of these drumsets, thus establishing Ludwig as the definitive name in Rock & Roll drums at that time. 5. Ringo changed the sound of recorded drums. About the time of Rubber Soul (released Dec. 6,1965), the sound of the drumset started to become more distinct. Along with help from the engineers at Abbey Road studios, Ringo popularized a new sound for the drums by tuning them lower, deadening the tonal ring with muffling materials, and making them sound "closer" by putting a microphone on each drum. 6. Ringo has nearly perfect tempo. This allowed the Beatles to record a song 50 or 60 times, and then be able to edit together different parts of numerous takes of the same song for the best possible version. Today an electronic metronome is used for the same purpose, but the Beatles had to depend on Ringo to keep the tempo consistant throughout the dozens of takes of the songs that you know and love so well. Had he not had this ability, the Beatles recordings would sound completely different today. 7. Ringo's "feel" for the beat serves as a standard for pop-rock record producers and drummers alike. It is relaxed, but never dragging. Solid, yet always breathing. And yes, there is a great amount of musical taste in his decisions of what to play and when to play it. In most recording sessions, the drummer's performance acts as a barometer for the rest of the musicians. The stylistic direction, dynamics, and emotions are filtered through the drummer. He is the catcher to whom the pitcher/songwriter is throwing. If the drumming doesn't feel good, the performance of any additional musicians is doomed from the start. The Beatles rarely if ever had this problem with Ringo. 8. Ringo hated drum solos, which should win points with quite a few people. He only took one solo while with the Beatles. His eight measure solo appears during "The End" on the "B" side of Abbey Road. Some might say that it is not a great display of technical virtuosity, but they would be at least partially mistaken. You can set an electronic metronome to a perfect 126 beats per minute, then play it along with Ringo's solo and the two will stay exactly together. 9. Ringo's ability to play odd time signatures helped to push popular songwriting into uncharted areas. Two examples are "All you Need is Love" in 7/4 time, and "Here Comes the Sun" with repeating 11/8, 4/4, and 7/8 passages in the chorus. 10. Ringo's proficiency in many different styles such as two beat swing ("When I'm Sixty-Four"), ballads ("Something"), R&B ("Leave My Kitten Alone" and "Taxman") and country (the Rubber Soul album) helped the Beatles to explore many musical directions with ease. His pre-Beatle experience as a versatile and hard working nightclub musician served him well. 11. The idea that Ringo was a lucky Johnny-on-the-spot-with-a-showbiz-stage-name is wrong. In fact, when Beatle producer George Martin expressed his unhappiness after the first session with original drummer Pete Best, the decision was made by Paul, George, and John to hire who they considered to be the best drummer in Liverpool - Ringo Starr. His personality was a bonus. 12. The rumors that Ringo did not play on many of the Beatle songs because he was not good enough are also false. In fact, he played on every released Beatles recording (not including Anthology 1) that include drums except for the following: "Back In The USSR" and "Dear Prudence", on which Paul played drums due to Ringo temporarily quitting the band, "The Ballad of John and Yoko", again featuring Paul on drums because Ringo was off making a movie, and a 1962 release of "Love Me Do" featuring session drummer Andy White. 13. When the Beatles broke up and they were all trying to get away from each other, John Lennon chose Ringo to play drums on his first solo record. As John once said, "If I get a thing going Ringo knows where to go, just like that.." A great songwriter could ask no more of a drummer. Except maybe to smile and bob his head. John Bryant is a session drummer and producer in Dallas, Texas. He has recorded and toured with Ray Charles, the Paul Winter Consort, and currently is a member of the percussion ensemble, D'Drum. In 1976, Mr. Bryant played a rehearsal with Paul McCartney and Wings when regular drummer Joe English became ill and could not make it. Mr. Bryant started playing drums after seeing Ringo Starr on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. |
 "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| Deleted User | Aug 31 2008, 04:08 PM Post #2 |
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Great article and good points all, but Ringo also founded a touring rock and roll nursing home for aging rock stars who could no longer tour arenas on their own (or for other reasons). :D Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Bands First All-Starr Band 1989 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Joe Walsh - guitar, vocals (James Gang, The Eagles) Nils Lofgren - guitar, vocals (Crazy Horse, E-Street Band) Dr. John - keyboards, vocals (solo) Billy Preston - keyboards, vocals (Fifth Beatle) Rick Danko - bass, vocals (The Band) Levon Helm - drums, vocals (The Band) Jim Keltner - drums (solo Beatles) Clarence Clemons - saxophone, vocals (E-Street Band) Second All-Starr Band 1992 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Joe Walsh - guitar, vocals (James Gang, The Eagles) Nils Lofgren - guitar, vocals (Crazy Horse, E-Street Band) Todd Rundgren - guitar, vocals (Nazz, Utopia) Dave Edmunds - guitar, vocals (Rockpile, solo) Burton Cummings - keyboards, vocals (Guess Who) Timothy B. Schmit - bass, vocals (The Eagles) Zak Starkey - drums (son) Timmy Cappello - saxophone (Tina Turner band) Third All-Starr Band 1995 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Randy Bachman - guitar, vocals (Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive) Mark Farner - guitar, vocals (Grand Funk Railroad) Billy Preston - keyboards, vocals (Fifth Beatle) Felix Cavaliere - keyboards, vocals (The Young Rascals) John Entwistle - bass, vocals (The Who) Zak Starkey - drums (son) Mark Rivera - saxophone (Tycoon) Fourth All-Starr Band 1997 - 1998 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Peter Frampton - guitar, vocals (Humble Pie) Gary Brooker - keyboards, vocals (Procol Harum) Jack Bruce - bass, vocals (Cream) Simon Kirke - drums (Free) Mark Rivera - saxophone (Tycoon) Fifth All-Starr Band 1999 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Todd Rundgren - guitar, vocals (Nazz, Utopia) Gary Brooker - keyboards, vocals (Procol Harum) Jack Bruce - bass, vocals (Cream) Simon Kirke - drums (Free) Timmy Cappello - saxophone (Tina Turner band) Sixth All-Starr Band 2000 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Dave Edmunds - guitar, vocals (Rockpile, solo) Eric Carmen - keyboards, guitar, vocals (The Raspberries) Jack Bruce - bass, vocals (Cream) Simon Kirke - drums (Free) Mark Rivera - saxophone (Tycoon) Seventh All-Starr Band 2001 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Roger Hodgson - guitar, keyboards, vocals (Supertramp) Ian Hunter - guitar, keyboards, vocals (Mott the Hoople) Howard Jones - keyboards, guitar, vocals (solo) Greg Lake - bass, vocals (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake and Palmer) Sheila E. - drums, vocals (Prince) Mark Rivera - saxophone (Tycoon) Eighth All-Starr Band 2003 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Colin Hay - guitar, vocals (Men at Work) Paul Carrack - keyboards, vocals (Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music) John Waite - bass, vocals (The Babys) Sheila E. - drums, vocals (Prince) Mark Rivera - saxophone (Tycoon) Ninth All-Starr Band 2006 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Billy Squier - guitar, vocals (solo) Richard Marx - guitar, keyboards, vocals (solo) Edgar Winter - keyboards, saxophone, vocals (Edgar Winter Group) Rod Argent - keyboards, vocals (The Zombies, Argent) Hamish Stuart - bass, vocals (Average White Band) Sheila E. - drums, vocals (Prince) Tenth All-Starr Band 2008 Ringo Starr - drums, vocals Billy Squier - guitar, bass, vocals (solo) Colin Hay - guitar, vocals (Men at Work) Edgar Winter - keyboards, saxophone, vocals (Edgar Winter Group) Gary Wright - keyboards, vocals (Spooky Tooth) Hamish Stuart - bass, guitar, vocals (Average White Band) Gregg Bissonette - drums (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, David Lee Roth and Electric Light Orchestra) |
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| Bill | Aug 31 2008, 08:13 PM Post #3 |
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Brilliant article! I try to sum it up by simply saying: He was in the Beatles. And you weren't. |
| Put a puppet on it. | |
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| BeatlesBiggestFan | Aug 31 2008, 08:19 PM Post #4 |
I Love The Beatles
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Great Article Ringo Is Talented And He Is Not Talented! |
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Paul John George Ringo Julian Are So Handsome!!!!!! The Beatles Rule!!!!! Beatles Biggest Fan Kirsten RIP John Lennon RIP George Harrison RIP Maurice Gibb RIP Andy Gibb RIP Michael Jackson RIP Larry Gelbart RIP Grandpa Nick RIP Grandma Tess Gold Strawberry: BeatlesBiggestFan (16 votes)  | |
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| Jacaranda | Aug 31 2008, 11:21 PM Post #5 |
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Touring rock and roll nursing home? Lapis! :rofl: The article said to give Ringo respect, not pity. I absolutely agree that Ringo was proficient with different styles of percussion needed for the differing styles of songs The Beatles began to produce. I found this article to be quite eye-opening. |
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"If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| Deleted User | Sep 1 2008, 01:11 AM Post #6 |
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I do respect Ringo for performing a public service for aging rock stars... :P :giggle: |
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| maccascruff | Sep 1 2008, 10:53 AM Post #7 |
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Sing the Changes
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I think Ringo was perfect for the Beatles and he is the drummer who the Beatles wanted when they went big. I have given up on the All Starr tours. I don't like the format and the songs don't change. Edited by maccascruff, Sep 1 2008, 10:57 AM.
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| iscreamer1 | Sep 1 2008, 11:06 AM Post #8 |
Baking Fairy Cakes
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I had no idea he was instumental in changing the grip on the sticks. I think that is a pretty substantial contribution in and of itself. You gotta love Ringo (even if he isn't very fan friendly) |
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge | |
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| Monkey Chow | Sep 1 2008, 01:02 PM Post #9 |
beep beep m beep beep yeah
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I was thinking about this recently when I was listening to I Am the Walrus through an Ipod from the Beatles Love album. Ringo starts off and then the drums melt into the mix. He may not have done much, meaning he never tried to play lead drums, but he was always dead on and could change tempo with ease. Not many others that do that. I'm stuck with a drum machine, personally... |
| Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey. | |
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| Deleted User | Sep 1 2008, 01:13 PM Post #10 |
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Monkey Chow, Ringo on Line Two wants to know if you are available for the 2009 All Starr Band tour? He heard 'Apart', 'Peacetown', 'Lonely Universe' and 'Castle on the Right' and wants you to headline along with that guy from Bachman Turner Overdrive that no one remembers and another guy that was kicked out of the Mothers of Invention for 'acting odd' in 1969. |
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| Monkey Chow | Sep 1 2008, 01:20 PM Post #11 |
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beep beep m beep beep yeah
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I can throw in a bass player who got kicked out of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a keyboard play who was too nuts for Edgar Winters... |
| Everybody's got something to hide 'cept for me and my monkey. | |
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| Deleted User | Sep 1 2008, 02:07 PM Post #12 |
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Deleted User
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Sounds like the super group from Hell. I like it. :clap: |
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| Jacaranda | Sep 1 2008, 10:41 PM Post #13 |
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How is he not fan friendly Irene? I really don't know a lot about Ringo.... |
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"If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through." General Melchett, Blackadder Goes Forth | |
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| Deleted User | Sep 2 2008, 01:21 PM Post #14 |
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He seemed nice enough to me. He threw me his sweaty Beatles' towel in 1995 when I saw him, but I was out-jumped by some NBA reject sitting in the 2nd row in front of me. |
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| BeatleBarb | Sep 27 2008, 12:53 PM Post #15 |
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He weighs considerably less than me and has aged incredibly well. He has my respect. |
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2:01 AM Nov 27
