The veteran drummer believes the Fab Four could have found their way back together as he reflects on losing John Lennon and George Harrison.
Ringo Starr believes The Beatles would have found their way back together to make more music had John Lennon and George Harrison lived.
The 86-year-old drummer said he thought the Fab Four could eventually have reunited after their split, reflecting on the deaths of John, who was 40 when he was shot dead outside his New York home in 1980, and George, who was 58 when he died from cancer in 2001.
Ringo remains close to Sir Paul McCartney, 84 – the only other surviving Beatle – more than half a century after the group broke up.
Speaking to Page Six, Ringo said: “I do think (The Beatles) possibly would have got together sometime from, you know, John leaving us to now, if we were all still around, you know.
“And George, you know, I miss George.”
The Photograph singer said what he missed most about being part of The Beatles was the relationship between the four musicians during their extraordinary rise from Liverpool clubs to becoming the biggest band in the world.
Ringo added he missed their “friendship, the togetherness, the support of each other”.
He also said: “I’m an only child. I had three brothers.
“And you know, brothers up rows and you know little get-togethers, and then little get-aparts. And for me, it was great. And musically it was dynamite, which it still is out there. You know, the chance to play that. Right. And you know, it’s all happened in eight years.”
Ringo said he and Paul remain in regular contact and speak “a couple of times a month”.
He added: “If he’s in England, we go to visit England, mainly to visit family, (if) we know, we’ll have dinner or we’ll go around and hang, so yeah, a couple of times a month.”
The pair have continued to collaborate since The Beatles ended.
Ringo said Paul has played bass on a number of his records over the years, adding: “We’re still pals.”
Interest in the group is again growing ahead of director Sam Mendes’ ambitious four-film Beatles project, which will tell the band’s story from the perspectives of each member.
Harris Dickinson will portray John, Paul Mescal will play Paul, Joseph Quinn will appear as George and Barry Keoghan will take on the role of Ringo.
The four films are scheduled to arrive in cinemas in 2028.
Ringo said about the project: “I think it’s amazing, actually.
“The difficulty was he’s putting this story with that story. And Paul and I have to both let go of that. It’s not a documentary… it’s a story of four stories. You know, one on each of us, but, you know, of course we will get in together sometimes. So, we just said, ‘Okay, it’s a movie’.”
The renewed focus on The Beatles also comes as their 1965 album Rubber Soul is receiving a new expanded special edition, featuring new stereo and Dolby Atmos mixes alongside unreleased material.
Ringo has meanwhile continued making his own music.
His 22nd solo studio album, Long Long Road, was released in April and marked his second album co-written and produced by T Bone Burnett following 2025’s Look Up.
The 10-track record includes performances by Sheryl Crow, St Vincent, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and Sarah Jarosz.
Explaining the album’s title, Ringo said: “I’ve been thinking about the road I’ve taken, starting in Liverpool, being in several bands, then with The Beatles – all those stops on your walk of life, it’s so far out.”
He is also preparing to return to Forest Hills Stadium in Queens with his All Starr Band on 1 October – his first performance at the venue since The Beatles played two sold-out concerts there in August 1964.
Those performances marked the group’s first stadium shows.
Ringo’s current All Starr Band features Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette and Buck Johnson.
Asked why he was still touring at 86, Ringo said: “I don’t know. I’m just fit enough to do it. Sometimes mentally I say, ‘Oh, that’s enough’. And then a week later I say, ‘No, it’s not’.”
Asked about maintaining his youthful appearance, he added: “That’s all the blueberries and broccoli.”
Ringo Starr reveals why he’s convinced The Beatles would eventually have reunited
