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Is it time to re-evaluate Ringo Starr?

...but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way Paul's base-playing is underrated. Paul and Ringo stand up anywhere with any of the rock musicians.
IMO, McCartney was never underrated. In the day, PM typically won every "Best Bass" poll (except Downbeat).
IMO, Lennon's rhythm guitar playing was underrated.
 
[SIZE=+2]"R[/SIZE]ingo's a damn good drummer. He was always a good drummer. He's not technically good, but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way Paul's base-playing is underrated. Paul and Ringo stand up anywhere with any of the rock musicians." John used two drummers on his early albums; Alan White, and Ringo.

I would say John's opinion was, Ringo was a great drummer.His famous, "he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles" remark was meant as a joke.

I have to chuckle reading the two quotes together like that.

Okay John, you think Ringo's a great drummer (but not "technically good"). And you think Paul is a better drummer. Got it ;)

If that doesn't cast a stigma on a guy, I don't know what will.
 
"he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles"

That's the quote I meant.

To whom was John referring?

He was just making a joke. They all consider themselves multi-instrumentalists.

He could have been referring to Paul, but nobody with any sense honestly believes Paul is a better drummer than Ringo.

Paul played drums on "Back In The USSR," "Dear Prudence," "The Ballad Of John & Yoko," "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?," & "Wild Honey Pie."

Which of those songs stands out as having better drums than "Rain," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Come Together," "Yer Blues," (including the perfectly smooth time changes,) or "Helter Skelter?"
 
He was just making a joke. They all consider themselves multi-instrumentalists.

He could have been referring to Paul, but nobody with any sense honestly believes Paul is a better drummer than Ringo.

Paul played drums on "Back In The USSR," "Dear Prudence," "The Ballad Of John & Yoko," "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?," & "Wild Honey Pie."

Which of those songs stands out as having better drums than "Rain," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Come Together," "Yer Blues," (including the perfectly smooth time changes,) or "Helter Skelter?"

Lennon was obviously referring to McCartney.

And you mentioned some of the songs McCartney played drums on as a Beatle (John and George were never featured on drums BTW). McCartney made entire albums playing all drums as a solo artist, and it's equally obvious the guy can handle a trap set pretty damn well.

I'm not going to get into who is better between McCartney and Starr, that would be a ridiculous discussion. The point we're addressing is Lennon cast a small shadow on Ringo, and it's a bit reflective of the way a lot of people feel about Ringo Starr.
 
I've heard tens, if not hundreds of Beatle cover bands over the years. They all could have had drummers better than Ringo I suppose. Then again, none of them did.
Some say Picasso wasn't as good as Monet, because many of his works were simple. To each his own.......
 
[SIZE=+2]"R[/SIZE]ingo's a damn good drummer. He was always a good drummer. He's not technically good, but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way Paul's base-playing is underrated. Paul and Ringo stand up anywhere with any of the rock musicians." John used two drummers on his early albums; Alan White, and Ringo.

I would say John's opinion was, Ringo was a great drummer.His famous, "he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles" remark was meant as a joke.

Are you sure this wasn't a back-handed apology for his remark about Ringo not even being the best drummer in the band?
 
Are you sure this wasn't a back-handed apology for his remark about Ringo not even being the best drummer in the band?

I'm sure that on Lennon's first couple of solo albums, he could have had any drummer he wanted, but he used Alan White, and Ringo.

On Plastic Ono Band, easily one of the greatest albums ever made, he used Ringo.

On Imagine, he used Alan White, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon.

George also used Ringo on Wonderwall Music and All Things Must Pass, The Concert for Bangladesh, Living in the Material World, Dark Horse, Somewhere in England, and Cloud Nine.

Paul used Ringo on Tug of War, Pipes of Peace, Give my Regards to Broad Street, and Flaming Pie.

Keith Moon used Ringo on his solo album, Two Sides of the Moon; Harry Nilsson used him; Leon Russell used him; Peter Frampton used him; as did Howlin' Wolf, BB King and Jackie Lomax.

For a guy with "OK to Middlin'" drum skills, he sure got a lot of phone calls from big name rockers.

And when did John Lennon ever apologize for ANYTHING????
 
I'm sure that on Lennon's first couple of solo albums, he could have had any drummer he wanted, but he used Alan White, and Ringo.

On Plastic Ono Band, easily one of the greatest albums ever made, he used Ringo.

On Imagine, he used Alan White, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon.

George also used Ringo on Wonderwall Music and All Things Must Pass, The Concert for Bangladesh, Living in the Material World, Dark Horse, Somewhere in England, and Cloud Nine.

Paul used Ringo on Tug of War, Pipes of Peace, Give my Regards to Broad Street, and Flaming Pie.

Keith Moon used Ringo on his solo album, Two Sides of the Moon; Harry Nilsson used him; Leon Russell used him; Peter Frampton used him; as did Howlin' Wolf, BB King and Jackie Lomax.

For a guy with "OK to Middlin'" drum skills, he sure got a lot of phone calls from big name rockers.

And when did John Lennon ever apologize for ANYTHING????

He must've felt really bad about what he said. And I wasn't the one who said he's "OK to middlin'" - that's a bit generous from my perspective. I'm sure he apologized to Yoko for something or another. Also ...
 
I agree with this. Ringo himself said, "I'm not a busy drummer." He's not a busy drummer for the same reason I don't play slap - I'm not very good at it.

Just because you can't slap doesn't make you a bad bassist.
If I take what you wrote literally.... ... .. .

I would say John's opinion was, Ringo was a great drummer.His famous, "he's not even the best drummer in the Beatles" remark was meant as a joke.

As ANY Beatle fan would know you can take everything John said literally. He would just blurt the first thing that comes to mind sometimes. He being the "witty" one. Anything for a laugh...ya know what mean nudge,nudge.

"All you need is love." - John Lennon
What about a job, healthcare, car, house, clothes, b3k and this paddleball. Thats all I need!