RINGO JOINS THE BEATLES
My soul is that of a drummer . . . I didn’t do it to become rich and famous. I did it because it was the love of my life.
– Ringo Starr
After the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group disbanded, Richy Starkey played for a while with the Darktown Skiffle Group, at that time Liverpool’s biggest group. He then teamed up with Alan Caldwell, a tall, blond, athletic frontman whose unfortunate stutter disappeared as soon as he stepped on stage, and John Byrnes, a talented, maverick guitarist to play drums for their group, the Raving Texans. Al and John changed their names to Al Storm and Johnny Guitar and renamed the group Al Storm and the Hurricanes, then Jett Storm and the Hurricanes before settling on Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Rory and his band were flash; in matching coloured suits, with Rory throwing himself about on stage, and sometimes into the crowd, they were exciting to watch. They quickly became the top band in Liverpool, sharing a residency with The Beatles in Hamburg, and were regularly booked as entertainment for Butlin’s holiday camp in Pwllheli, Wales. It was here Richy Starkey became Ringo Starr and was given his own spot in the Hurricanes’ set – ‘Starr Time’ – when he sang ‘Alley Oop’ or Carl Perkins’ ‘Matchbox’.
By the end of 1961, Ringo was fed up. Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were still popular, but their repertoire and stage show hadn’t developed, and they were now eclipsed by The Beatles. He applied for an American visa, but was daunted by the number and nature of the questions on the form. When he was asked to be the house drummer in the Star Club in Hamburg backing Tony Sheridan, he ditched the emigration plans. Just before he left for Hamburg in early 1962, he was brought in to play with The Beatles for their Cavern Christmas show as Pete Best had called in sick. He had always got on well with the band since sharing the stage in Hamburg, and he was happy to step in. It was a great gig, and George started pushing the idea to John, Paul and new manager Brian that Ringo join the band permanently.
His time in Hamburg was cut short by flooding, which closed the clubs in the city, and he headed back to Liverpool. He played two more gigs with The Beatles (again due to Pete’s absence) and rejoined Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, who had been booked to play US Army bases in France.
Then, on 14 August 1962, just as The Hurricanes started another Butlin’s stint, Ringo received a phone call. Epstein asked him to join the band – if he agreed to shave off his beard and flatten his quiff. He did, of course. Much later, Epstein described how Ringo was ‘the catalyst for the others’, that he ‘completed the jigsaw’.
Pete Best was called in to Brian’s office two days later and told the news. He was offered a place in another band, which he declined.
Later that week, Ringo joined The Beatles for their gig at Hulme Hall in the Wirral where, according to onlookers, they never sounded better. On Sunday, they were due to play back on their home turf, at the Cavern. There were many grumpy Pete Best fans shouting, ‘Pete Best forever, Ringo never,’ and Epstein’s car was vandalised, but, in time, Ringo won them over.