Opinion: Ringo Starr's knighthood is long overdue

Journalist and Beatles fan Andy Welch argues the Beatle should not have had to wait anywhere near so long for his top award.

Saturday 30 December 2017 08:25, UK

Ringo Starr
Image: Ringo Starr has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours
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Twenty years after Paul McCartney was knighted, and 17 years after George Harrison turned down an OBE, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has been awarded a knighthood for services to music and charity work.

It will be the first time the musician has been to Buckingham Palace since the band received MBEs back in 1965. Music journalist and Beatles fan Andy Welch looks back on the 77-year-old's legacy.

Music journalist Andy Welch
Image: Music journalist Andy Welch says Ringo Starr's knighthood is long overdue

Arise Sir Ringo.

And not a moment too soon. In fact, the knighthood of the Beatles drummer is hugely overdue.

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    Image: 1963: Ringo prepares for an appearance on the Easy Beat Show
  2. The Beatles on stage at the London Palladium in front of 2, 000 screaming fans
    Image: 1963: The Beatles on stage at the London Palladium during a performance in front of 2,000 screaming fans
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    Image: 1963: Ringo backstage in Manchester
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    Image: 1964: Ringo and John Lennon nip into London's Marylebone Station, just ahead of a horde of fans closing in on them
  5. 1964: British pop phenomenon The Beatles standing on the steps of an aeroplane at London Airport
    Image: 1964: The Beatles on the steps of a plane at London Airport
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    Image: 1964: Ringo waves at fans as he leaves University College Hospital in London, where he was being treated for tonsillitis and pharyngitis
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    Image: 1965: Ringo boards a plane at London Airport
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    Image: 1965: Ringo huddles over his drums at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain during a film shoot
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    Image: 1965: George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney in a scene from their film Help!
  10. Ringo Starr and baby
    Image: 1965: Ringo Starr with his wife Maureen and their first child Zak at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London
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    Image: 1965: The Beatles after they received MBEs at Buckingham Palace
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    Image: 1965: Princess Margaret greets The Beatles at the premiere of 'Help'
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    Image: 1967: The band at a recording session in London
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    Image: 1967: The band rehearse in London for a TV programme
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    Image: 1967: Ringo during a reception at Beatles manager Brian Epstein's home
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    Image: 1981: Ringo and Barbara Bach in the film Caveman. Pic: United Artists/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
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    Image: 1981: Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach arrive at Heathrow Airport after flying in from Los Angeles
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    Image: 1981: Ringo leaves Marylebone Registry Office after marrying Barbara Bach. They met on the set of the film Caveman
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    Image: 1987: Diana, Princess of Wales meets Ringo and Eric Clapton at Wembley Arena before a rock concert in aid of the Prince's Trust
  20. Barbara Bach and Ringo Starr attend the 2401st Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony honouring Ringo Starr
    Image: 2010: Ringo and Barbara attend the 2401st Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honouring Ringo
  21. 2010: Ringo Starr performs at Hard Rock's "Imagine There's No Hunger: Celebrating the Songs of John Lennon" in Hollywood, California
    Image: 2010: Ringo performs at Hard Rock's 'Imagine There's No Hunger: Celebrating the Songs of John Lennon' in Hollywood
  22. Ringo Star, his wife Barbara Bach celebrate his 71st birthday at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hamburg, Germany
    Image: 2011: Ringo and Barbara celebrate his 71st birthday at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hamburg, Germany
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    Image: 2013: Ringo and Barbara in front of a 1964 yellow submarine before the "Passion Ocean" exhibition at the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco
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    Image: 2014: Ringo and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page at a reception and dinner celebrating Jimmy's new autobiography
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    Image: 2015: Musicians perform onstage with inductee Ringo during the 30th Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio

John Lennon and Paul McCartney were, of course, the driving force behind the band, widely regarded as the greatest of British exports, with notable songwriting additions from George Harrison.

Ringo Starr
Image: The 77-year-old is one of two surviving Beatles

As a result, McCartney was knighted in 1997, quite rightly the first popular music icon to be awarded the honour for services to British music, years ahead of Mick Jagger, Cliff Richard and the rest.

It's perhaps safe to assume the honour would have at least been offered to Lennon too had he not died in 1980.

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Whether he'd have accepted - he returned his MBE, awarded in 1965 alongside the rest of The Beatles - is another matter. The same could be said for Harrison, who sadly died in 2001.

The Beatles on stage at the London Palladium in front of 2, 000 screaming fans
Image: Starr takes to the drums as The Beatles perform on stage at the London Palladium in front of 2,000 screaming fans

Ringo should not have had to wait anywhere near so long, not when the honours are handed to sports stars, actors and politicians whose achievements and impact on the world pales in comparison with his.

As one of two remaining Beatles, he can't help but be in the shadow of the creative colossus that is Paul McCartney.

But Ringo was a quarter of the greatest cultural force the world has ever seen. And a brilliant part of it at that.

Ringo Starr 16
Image: Starr was awarded an MBE alongside his three bandmates in 1965

"John Lennon said he wasn't even the best drummer in The Beatles."

Quiet at the back. Lennon never said anything of the sort, that joke was made by one-time TV staple Jasper Carrott in about 1983.

It's attitudes like that wrongly attributed 'joke' that have, I believe, held back Ringo's right and proper treatment. It's all part of the same pernicious, lazy perceived wisdom among pub bores and casual fans around the country that Ringo was some sort of talent-less journeyman, in the right place at the right time.

1964: British pop phenomenon The Beatles standing on the steps of an aeroplane at London Airport
Image: The Beatles standing on the steps of a plane at London Airport in 1964

Nothing could be further from the truth. There was nowhere to hide in that band.

The next time you listen to a Beatles track, listen closely to the drums.

Ringo's drumming, so fluid, so intuitive, is unlike virtually every other rock and roll drummer before or since. It couldn't be anyone else on the drum stool.

He played the song, rather than merely adding a beat. His drumming has feel, he could swing like no other. Imagine, if you can, Beatles songs without his playing. It's impossible.

2010: Ringo Starr performs at Hard Rock's "Imagine There's No Hunger: Celebrating the Songs of John Lennon" in Hollywood, California
Image: Starr performs at the Hard Rock Cafe in 2010

After The Beatles was his solo work. Of course, it never hit the heights of his three bandmates. There are, however, diamonds in the rough - check out It Don't Come Easy and Photograph, if you need persuading. His tours with his All Starr Band are hugely successful.

There's also his underrated acting career, Thomas the Tank Engine narration, and philanthropy - one auction of his belongings in 2015 raised more than $9m (£6m) for his and wife Barbara Bach's Lotus Foundation.

Not bad for a boy from Liverpool.

So arise Sir Ringo, better late than never.

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