Okay so I watched the anthology a while ago and they mentioned that Ringo quit the band during the white album.  The explantion on why he left was so simple and the way the other Beatles where able to get him to come back was even more simpler.  But I read recently somewhere that their was more to why he left.  I read things such as that he couldn't play the drums right on Back in the USSR and Paul kept trying to explain to him how to do it but he just couldn't get it so he left.  I also read that an interview someone asked John(Ringo was already out of the band) "Is Ringo the best drummer in the world?"  Then John said "Best drummer in the world?  He isn't even the best drummer in the Beatles".  So can someone tell me the full story of what happened?  And can someone tell me how they where able to get him back after harsh things were said about him.

Paul sent him a post card that said simply "You're the Greatest Drummer in the World.  Really"  John was just joking around too.  He says in Anthology that he thought the other 3 were tight and were excluding him, but once they reached out to him after he left, he knew they still cared.

I'd read that he just felt like a bit player after awhile, he'd play cards for hours on end with Mal Evans while the others were putting their stuff together. He was also insulted that Paul erased some of his drum parts during the White Album period and recorded his own.

I don't know if John was joking or not.  I mean a joke like that probably is not funny to Ringo, plus he was already out of the band.  So thats more of an insult.  And Paul earasing Ringo's drum parts is pretty insulting, thats just wrong.  It sounds Like John and Paul were pricks towards George and Ringo.

Quoted from juniorsfarm

He was also insulted that Paul erased some of his drum parts during the White Album period and recorded his own.

I didn't know that. It's a pretty shitty thing to do. I've always tried to defend Pauls So called overbearing attitude as necessary for the bands survival, but that's indefensible.
Mind you, I think Ringo always felt like the outsider (not playing on Love Me Do, so readily replaced by Jimmy Nicol) that it wouldn't have taken much to set him off

My spin on it is that Ringo is a bit sensitive. I mean who would'nt get paranoid from time to time with 3 songwriters like that. John alway's had a viscious quick wit about him. Also, when you are writing something and you can 'hear' what you want...It's quite easy to make someone feel inadequate by getting on a playing the part. Especially if you start nailing the beat first take because of your own familiarity with the song, if that makes any sense?
I'm glad he came back though. He was the best drummer in the Beatles even 'if' Paul could out-groove him on a few songs that dos'nt sum up the whole Beatle catalogue and Ringo's perceptive contribution.

I think it took awhile for him to be confident that they weren't "Pulling a Pete" on him. George Martin said he couldn't play a drum roll to save his life, but so what? When he joins the band and they have Andy White playing the drums on 'Love Me Do' which doesn't exactly have the toughest drum part in the world, I'd be paranoid as well. Maybe he felt unfulfilled, they just kind of called him in when they needed him, meanwhile he's sitting around the studio for hours on end, and I think that's why he started getting involved in film, because it was him doing something creative, if that makes any sense. John loved Ringo to pieces but still said in the Playboy interview that if there was ever a reunion, it could just be him, Paul and any two other people. Ouch.

ringo left because EGOS
i left too.....

Quoted from juniorsfarm

. John loved Ringo to pieces but still said in the Playboy interview that if there was ever a reunion, it could just be him, Paul and any two other people. Ouch.

Huh? What Playboy interview is this? I've never read that. Which year is it from so I can give it a read. That's pretty harsh. And completely untrue. The fans would want ALL four! Like when Plant and Page got back together. That wasn't Zeppelin at all. He must have been insane when he said it. Going through one of his 'periods.'

Quoted from Maccalvr

Huh? What Playboy interview is this? I've never read that. Which year is it from so I can give it a read. That's pretty harsh. And completely untrue. The fans would want ALL four! Like when Plant and Page got back together. That wasn't Zeppelin at all. He must have been insane when he said it. Going through one of his 'periods.'

I've just scoured the January 1981 interview twice looking for it, and I'm seeing double because its almost 3:30. I couldn't find it, but I know I read it in this interview. Stay tuned, I'll find it.

Okay Sandra. I lied. It wasn't the Playboy interview, it was the Newsweek interview with Barbara Graustark. From the September 29 1980 interview session and I quote:

John: "The four guys who used to be that group can never ever be that group again even if they wanted to be.  What if Paul and I got together?  It would be boring.  Whether George or Ringo joined in is irrelevant because Paul and I created the music, OK?"

Man, after all the things John said I'm beginning to believe that John had a much bigger ego than Paul.  The things he said are really cold and pretty heartless.  It's almost as if he doesn't care what the others feel.

Quoted from juniorsfarm

Okay Sandra. I lied. It wasn't the Playboy interview, it was the Newsweek interview with Barbara Graustark. From the September 29 1980 interview session and I quote:

John: "The four guys who used to be that group can never ever be that group again even if they wanted to be.  What if Paul and I got together?  It would be boring.  Whether George or Ringo joined in is irrelevant because Paul and I created the music, OK?"

I think he was just sick of people asking him about a Beatles reunion. He knew George created the music as well. And that all four of them together were the reason why it worked. I think he said a lot of things that came out of his a**. You know, before he gave them a good thought. Here's a quote from the 80's interview that puts it into perspective (his feelings for Ringo anyway):

PLAYBOY: "Let's move on to Ringo. What's your opinion of him musically?"

LENNON: "Ringo was a star in his own right in Liverpool before we even met. He was a professional drummer who sang and performed and had Ringo Starr-time and he was in one of the top groups in Britain but especially in Liverpool before we even had a drummer. So Ringo's talent would have come out one way or the other as something or other. I don't know what he would have ended up as, but whatever that spark is in Ringo that we all know but can't put our finger on... whether it is acting, drumming or singing I don't know... there is something in him that is projectable and he would have surfaced with or without the Beatles. Ringo is a damn good drummer. He is not technically good, but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way Paul's bass playing is underrated. Paul was one of the most innovative bass players ever. And half the stuff that is going on now is directly ripped off from his Beatles period. He is an egomaniac about everything else about himself, but his bass playing he was always a bit coy about. I think Paul and Ringo stand up with any of the rock musicians. Not technically great... none of us are technical musicians. None of us could read music. None of us can write it. But as pure musicians, as inspired humans to make the noise, they are as good as anybody."


Anyway, do you have a link to that whole interview? I'd love to read it. It's not on the site where I read a lot of his other ones. I'm looking for it, but haven't found it yet.  

As inspired humans to make the noise.......what a great way to put it

[quote=Maccalvr]

I think he was just sick of people asking him about a Beatles reunion. He knew George created the music as well. And that all four of them together were the reason why it worked. I think he said a lot of things that came out of his a**. You know, before he gave them a good thought. Here's a quote from the 80's interview that puts it into perspective (his feelings for Ringo anyway):

I did a Google search and can't find a link to the interview. You can probably find a copy of it on Ebay or there is a paperback that has the interview called 'Strawberry Fields: John Lennon Remembered". I think that he was lashing out at George as well. You sound like you're pretty familiar with the Playboy interview, and so you know he mentions on several occasions that he was hurt/pissed about George's book, so all that stuff was coming out during all the different interviews he was doing the Summer of 1980 through December 8th.

Yeah, I've read that interview quite a few times. Then someone around here has said the George DID mention him!! So now I'm confused. What was John's problem? Pitty that he said that shortly before his death. I'm sure it weighed on George's shoulders a bit.

Quoted from Maccalvr

Yeah, I've read that interview quite a few times. Then someone around here has said the George DID mention him!! So now I'm confused. What was John's problem? Pitty that he said that shortly before his death. I'm sure it weighed on George's shoulders a bit.

I have the cheapo hardcover of "I Me Mine" but its been so long since I looked through it, I can't remember. I remember someone saying he mentioned John, but I don't think so.

Actually I know who said it and he sort of insulted me for saying that George left him out without my having actually read it. (I read what John had said) Then went on to say that John HAD been mentioned several times in it or something like that. Which made me think that either John had exceptionally poor reading comprehension skills or that this poster was mistaken.

Quoted from Maccalvr

Actually I know who said it and he sort of insulted me for saying that George left him out without my having actually read it. (I read what John had said) Then went on to say that John HAD been mentioned several times in it or something like that. Which made me think that either John had exceptionally poor reading comprehension skills or that this poster was mistaken.

I believe I remember the poster in question, and I think he was wrong. I don't think John was that hard up to find a beef with George that he would be so adamant about it. So I don't think it mentioned him.

Yeah, I didn't think John was THAT paranoid. Although he did have his moments. Like the whole Paul was looking at Yoko everytime he sang Get back to where you once belonged. I don't know about that.

Quoted from Maccalvr

Yeah, I didn't think John was THAT paranoid. Although he did have his moments. Like the whole Paul was looking at Yoko everytime he sang Get back to where you once belonged. I don't know about that.

A bit of a martyr complex.

yeah i think someone here posted that John was mentioned several times in the book.  However George didnt blatantly say how much he learned from Lennons style early on

Quoted from Maccalvr

Anyway, do you have a link to that whole interview? I'd love to read it. It's not on the site where I read a lot of his other ones. I'm looking for it, but haven't found it yet.  

Hi Sandra, if you go to the All Links Beatles thread and check out ....Oh b*gger it, here u go, heres the link...I think the interview is on this site somewhere.

http://www.beatlesnumber9.com/