Good morning

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 7:38 pm

I think he was a great drummer, very underrated, had a very classy style and a great powerful sound. He was usually mixed too low as drums often were during the 60's. Like any great band the whole is greater than the parts (however that goes) he was just as important as any of the others to their overall sound. He rocked, listen to Twist and Shout. McCartney did nothing for his style IMO he ruined it if anything. I am not a McCartney hater BTW, he was my inspiration for picking up the bass, just that he is no drummer.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 7:37 am

Ringo and Charlie Watts were the first two drummers whose styles I tried to cop when I got my first kit at the age of nine...it still cracks me up when people I play with tell me how hard it is to find a drummer who can (or will) 'just play like those guys'...

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 9:25 am

Ringo fit in as a good drummer but also as a good friend. J P & G were one entity and Pete was their drummer. Pete (although a good drummer in his own right) was just not fitting in on a personal level. I dont think the Beatles would have been able to weather the storm of worldwide Beatlemania like they did if they had gone into it already battling amonst themselves.

As for adding to the greatness of the music itself, I agree that he didn't play a large part. Ringo himself said that the thing he remembers most about the Sgt Pepper sessions was thats the time he learned to play chess. He said that when they finally started playing more like a band (on the White Album) he was happy and releived.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:06 pm

I disagree that he didn't add a large part to their music, any band I have ever been in has changed drastically when a member has left including drummers. There were 4 members (5 with GM?) of that band not two, they all contributed their part to the sound. Pete Best was a loner and very independant, he still looked like a greaser when the rest had their new Beatle haircuts, he did sound like decent drummer. Also all the woman loved him which could have even played a part because he wouldn't change and was the focal point, was not a team player, that could have ruined or held back the band. Ringo went in there and just played his drums, he was not overly handsome like Pete Best was so he was not a threat, but was cute to the girls in a more innocent way and he rocked. He is a much better drummer than people give him credit for, same with Charley Watts who is another rocking drummer. There are many more things to being a great musician besides being a great technician which is not high on my list. You need soul, feeling, I've met players who practice all day and can play rings around many people but can't connect with others in the band nor the audience.

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:22 am

Ditto Bob's observations on soul & feeling.

WARNING... SARCASTIC VENTING FOLLOWS!

In my little town, we have a family of drummers who are considered MONSTER musicians. Two brothers, and the son of one of the bros. These guys are talented. They can (and prefer to) play the most complex jazz-fusion you could possibly think of. Marvels! Geniuses! The Chosen!

Problem is, they're too good.

They feel (at least I'm guessing that they feel) that their talents are far and away much more of a contribution than any typical band deserves access to.

So instead of blessing the local/area (and who knows, maybe even worldwide) music scene with their God-given gifts, they'd rather just "waste away" as it were... prefering to not co-mingle with us troglodytes, lest we bring them down to our level, and force them to "rock out".

Sure, it's their right... but damn it, did it have to be the BEST drummers in town that decided to make themselves unavailable... er, um... unattainable?

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 3:40 pm

no no, Ringo added.....and anyone that dosent think so dosent examine the beatle history enough. Ringo's drumming was very distinctive at the time........His work on things like A day in the life, she said she said, and Help....constitue him being there. He also is one of the best time keepers in the world....because of this, the beatles were able to edit many early takes together. Even the way he held the drumsticks was quite new.....many drummers were still drumming like jazz drummers in america in 64'. also, his brilliant syncing of bass drum and bass was brilliant. Him and mccartney were able to understand (before most bands) that when play certain lines, the bass drum sounds really nice and punchy with the bass. Ringo's voice was also different as well, which was wonderful because its nice to have a change. If it wasnt for the beatles diversity in there music, we would all be very bored of it. Without him we wouldnt have Tommorrow never knows, or Hard Days night....no pass me by, no distinctive yellow submarine....no octopusses garden...matchbox...Dont pass me by....great sounding with a little help from my friends....acouple of lines in "what goes on".....please re-evaluate your desicion to kick ringo out so soon....

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 8:47 pm

Yes I agree he had great timing and he and Mac really played well together, that's what happens when you play live 7 days a week all night, you start to think alike. Ringo also played some very classy fills early on like in "Eight Days a Week" that were buried in the mix.

joepee · Post by **joepee** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:22 am

I heard Ringo is left handed, but plays drums right handed. This may account for his unique sound.

Listen to him rip it up on "I'm Going to Sit Right Down and Cry Over You" on Live at the BBC.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:40 am

Ringo's cool, always has been. I played with a drummer who learned how to play with earphones and Beatles records, he could do him to a T.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:33 am

That's how I learned, only I didn't have headphones. The things neighbors have to put up with in army 'housing areas'...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:39 am

He played on real drums though, haha!

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:54 am

Hey, my drums were real! Just not Oyster Blue, like I woulda died for...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 10:58 am

I mean I don't think his neighbors were real pleased either.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 11:03 am

What drummer's neighbors are pleased?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:15 pm

Well actually I don't think any drummers neighbors are pleased, haha!
I bought an old SVT cab about 5 years ago and didn't want to earthquake my parents house so I put it in the driveway and played it for about ten minutes at moderate volume just to see how it sounded and the lady across the street called the cops on me.