Former Beatle Turned 80

Today is a very special day in the rock world. For it is today, that former Beatle, Ringo Starr, has turned 80! Take a look at the photo below taken from last year - doesn't quite look like he's 80, does he?
A colour photograph of Starr doing a peace sign wearing sunglasses and a black T-shirt.

He's had a busy life

Born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, in 1958, he formed the band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The band was short lived, for in 1962, Ringo Starr received an invitation from John Lennon to replace drummer Pete Best. With Starr on board, the long-lasting lineup of The Beatles was born.

With The Beatles

Starr is often responsible for co-writing many of their songs and has even lent his singing voice to several of them such as Honey Don't, Yellow Submarine, With a Little Help From my Friends, Octopus' Garden, and Don't Pass me By. Other than a period in June 1964 when Starr was ill, and August and September 1968, when he temporarily left, Starr played drums on nearly all Beatles' songs. On those he didn't play, McCartney also doubled on drums. Macca's drum duties during these two brief stints were supersceeded by a period in 1973 when Macca had to double on drums for one full album, 1973's Band on The Run. 

Following the Beatles

Even though Starr (and George Harrison) briefly joined Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, which in the early 70s sparked some Beatle reunion rumors, Starr became known for leading Ringo Starr's All Star Band. Less-known, they had two remarkable hits in the 70s with It Don't Come Easy, and Photograph. 

Beatles Reunion

Starr took part in a Beatles reunion in 1994 where the remaining members recorded a few tracks for the Beatles' Anthology series. Most of these came from before the Beatle days, reamins of recordings by The Quarreymn - a band Starr was not a part of. 

In addition, Ringo's son, Zak Starkey, has been the side drummer for The Who since 2003.

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