Alex Cain

I've developed a bit of a crush on Beatles-era Ringo Starr but I know nothing about drums - and this book was cheaper than the more expansive main text, Ringo Starr and the Beatles Beat!

The debate about whether or not Ringo was a good drummer is still droning on - mansplainers, most with an equal lack of technical knowledge to myself, insist that he was merely serviceable and 'you should listen to [insert rock drummer's name] instead' but a lot of those same famous names, including Dave Grohl, and some not so famous but still professional drummers, insist that Ringo deserves his enduring reputation. I thought this book would be in Ringo's camp, but as Ringo famously left the band midway through the sessions, his drumming doesn't feature on half of the tracks and is damned with faint praise as 'safe' and 'plodding'. Plus, Charles Manson blamed the White Album for inspiring his murder spree in Los Angeles, 1969, so it's not my favourite. I'm still tempted to buy the first book, despite all the musical notation!

For me, Ringo did what he was paid to do and did it well - no, there are no lengthy (and tedious) drum solos, but who apart from other drummers wants to hear those? I am starting to listen to the drums in other music now, which I haven't really done before, so Ringo is still a great poster child for drummers!… (altro)