Ringo Starr shares reason behind his unusual stage name

Ringo Starr recalls his early experience of song-writing

By Web Desk
January 23, 2025
Ringo Starr shares reason behind his unusual stage name

Ringo Starr, the drummer of legendry British rock band The Beatles, opened up about his bizarre stage name.

The Here Comes The Sun singer, originally named Richard Starkey, explained how his stage name came to be.

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While celebrating the release of his new country album, Look Up, on Sirius XM’s The Beatles Channel, the 84-year-old star said that one of his favourite accessories which helped him in shaping his identity when he was beginning his career were, rings.

"I mean, even in those days, I wore quite a few rings, which I don't wear now," he said. "And in Liverpool, it's like you get known. So, people would start calling, 'Hey Rings, what's going on?' You know, that started to come about."

He said that, "everyone changed their names," except for late Rory Storm who had already changed his previously.

"So, I became Ringo and Ringo Starkey didn't sound rocking and so just, Ringo Starr. Yeah. And that's what many people know me [as] up to this day, including you," explained the Twist and Shout singer.

However, he said that he have always found the name a bit out of place admitting, "It always sounded funny though, John, Paul, George, Ringo."

Elsewhere in the interview, he reflected on the time when he first started trying to write song saying that he would make his bandmates "be rolling on the floor laughing" because instead of writing something original he would just rewrite someone else’s song.

The Beatles biopic has been officially confirmed with Sony Pictures holding the full rights and approval for the music. The tentative release date is set for somewhere in 2027.

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