Quote Of The Day By Ringo Starr: 'I Hit The Drum And ...'

As one-fourth of the Fab Four — and one-half of the remaining two Beatles, along with Sir Paul McCartney — Ringo Starr has indeed led a star's life. The octogenarian Starr has an entire, storied career behind him, is one of the richest musicians in the world, and he did it all because he never wavered from his one, singular goal of being a drummer.    

Starr has come a long way from the Beatles' OG Liverpool Cavern Club days in the early '60s. He was in his early 20s at the time and the Beatles' replacement drummer for Pete Best, the forgotten Beatle who didn't really fit in with the rest of the group. When Best got canned, Starr was in (he'd subbed for Best before), though not without upsetting fans who disliked the hire so much that they rioted in the Cavern Club. However, this didn't deter the Beatles or Starr, who hit mainstream success a couple years later. At that point, the wider public loved Starr, his goofy, golden retriever-like grin, and shaggy haircut. 

None of this would have happened if Starr hadn't chosen to be a drummer — chosen, mind you, albeit via a combination of misfortune and intent. Starr was hospitalized with peritonitis (inflammation of the belly) as a child for an entire year, and he quite literally started banging on things to keep himself entertained. In doing so, Starr discovered his first, last, and ultimate love that he never gave up, and that's why he gets our quote of the day.

"I hit the drum and I only wanted from that moment to be a drummer, and that was what my aim was."

Ringo Starr said this to The New York Times in 2025, when he described being hospitalized along with a bunch of other bored kids. A nurse brought them all some basic instruments like a triangle and tambourine, and that was it for Starr. 

Starr never wavered from his original goal, to the point where it was all he wanted to do. He also tended to get poked fun at for sounding like a simple drummer, no matter that he was precisely what the Beatles needed; Paul McCartney continues to praise his skills. But we doubt Starr cares much about the opinions of music snobs or jealousy-stricken doubters. Such fortitude and commitment are absolutely admirable and worth emulating.

Monotony can be crushing, so there's a lot to be said for following your instincts and/or desires from one thing to another, whether it be work, city of residence, travel destination, and so on. But there comes a point where variety starts to resemble avoidance and a lack of commitment. No matter how important it is to stay open to new experiences, success is far more likely to come from consistency over time. 

In Ringo Starr's case, the singular dedication needed to become a professional drummer didn't need to last a terribly long time, as he attained his main goal in his early 20s with the Beatles. He got lucky, of course — there's always some component of fortune involved in success — but luck requires presence. Ringo dove into musical spheres as soon as possible as a young adult, and as much as possible, playing with bands such as Rory Storm and the Hurricanes before meeting Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon. Then, he had to cultivate relationships — professional and personal — to get to the point where he was gigging with the Beatles on and off. That's why, when Pete Best left the band, Starr was an obvious, easy-fit choice.

In retrospect, this may all sound like it happened rather smoothly and easily, but there was no reason things had to unfold the way they did. Starr didn't merely pay lip service to a vague dream, but pursued it, physically, and didn't stop. It's doubtful that many people will be fortunate enough to know what they love so early on, as Starr did, but no matter where a person is in life, Starr's example reverberates like a drum. 

• "It never got in the way of the music, no matter how bad the row [fight] was."

• "... If I'm having a bad day, this too shall pass. It will change. I don't get in the mire with it, you know."

• "I am optimistic. I'm not a pessimist at all, really. 'It will be good' -– I have that attitude. I do."

• "Life has a rich pattern of changing."

• "Up or down, there's always tomorrow."

• "Peace and love, peace and love."