64 Years Ago Today: Ringo Starr Joined The Beatles, Transforming Rock Music Forever

On this day, 64 years ago, a 22-year-old drummer from Liverpool stepped onto the stage with three other young musicians. Just like that, the rock and roll music industry had changed forever.

When The Beatles formed in 1960, the original group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best. In 1961, Sutcliffe stepped away as their bassist to focus on a full-time career in painting.

Best was the group’s original drummer, but the bandmates had grown frustrated over his inability to improve. The group’s manager at the time, Brian Epstein, dismissed Best on Aug. 16, 1962.

Needless to say, The Beatles’ search for a new drummer would be quick. Two days later, Lennon found a potential replacement for Best and invited him to play at an Aug. 18 show.

On Aug. 18, 1962, Ringo Starr joined The Beatles on stage to perform at the Horticultural Society dance, per Oldies 93. The event was held inside the Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight, a village in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, England.

A large portion of The Beatles’ passionate fanbase initially opposed the band’s decision to swap Best for Starr. Nonetheless, the group stayed committed to Starr, and they released their first album, Please Please Me, in March 1963.

Source: aol.com/Alex Hoegler

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