Paying Credit Where Credit Is Due: What Phil Collins Thinks of Ringo Starr’s Drumming

John Bonham, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, and Ginger Baker are the drummers who are often cited as some of the most influential in rock ‘n’ roll history. However, the man who arguably paved the path for them and many others was Ringo Starr. Given that Ringo Starr shared the limelight with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, his contributions to The Beatles are often overshadowed. However, his contributions to the world of drumming are not, and Phil Collins has paid credit where credit is due.

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Phil Collins is a masterful drummer in his own right. Although Ringo Starr’s influence seemingly helped Phil Collins take over the music business with his drumming. And did Phil Collins do that? Yes, he did, as Phil Collins and Genesis created hits, “Invisible Touch” and “Turn It On Again”. Also, Collins, in his solo career, created the iconic “In The Air Tonight” and the ever-memorable and Oscar-winning soundtrack for the 1999 animated Tarzan film. Though again, Phil Collins couldn’t imagine the world of drumming without Ringo Starr.

Phil Collins Has “Nothing but Praise” for the Former Beatle

Very few people have spoken badly about Ringo Starr and his drumming, but only a select few people have spoken about Ringo Starr as highly as Phil Collins has. Concerning his affinity for Starr, Collins told Michael Seth Starr, the author of Ringo: With A Little Help, “What [Starr] did was perfect.”

“I don’t think you could imagine any of those Beatles tunes with a different kind of drummer…I don’t know how many people picked up sticks because of Ringo. But I do know that amongst the drumming fraternity, Ringo is much appreciated. Ringo has always been the guy. I have nothing but praise for him.”

In the rockumentary, The Beatles Rare & Unseen, Collins also stated that “Ringo is a fantastic drummer, fantastic drummer.”

“If you listen to the drum fills in ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, ‘A Day In The Life’, ‘Rain’, it’s just staggering what he did. He didn’t ever do anything that you would normally do. It’s not the kind of thing that a drummer naturally sits down to play like that,” added Collins.

Needless to say, the Grammy-winning drummer is just like the rest of us, as he too is a staunch Beatlehead. However, it isn’t because of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or John Lennon. Rather, it’s because of the underrated man behind the kit, Ringo Starr.

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