To continue celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' landing in America in 1964… On this somber anniversary of the assassination of John, can we agree that Paul, George, and Ringo offered unorthodox brilliance, and that's what made #FabFour Special?
Ringo's left-handed/right-handed kit setup created such unique fills and patterns. Because he led with his "wrong" hand, his drum parts had an unexpected flow that became integral to the Beatles' sound. Those fills coming in on the downbeat rather than the more conventional approach are pure magic.
https://cimages.me/sites/default/files/media/hear-and-now-and-second-sunday.mp3 Begin at 5:23
And that crash-as-ride, a flat stick gave songs like "Help" that bright, washy sound instead of the traditional "ting-ting" ride pattern. It's so distinctive once you know to listen for it. He wasn't trying to be a technical virtuoso—he was serving the song, and that's what made him perfect for the Beatles.
His drumming on tracks like "Come Together," "A Day in the Life," and "Rain" shows someone who thought in terms of texture and feel rather than flash. That pocket was unshakeable.
It's heartbreaking to think about what was lost 44 years ago today with John, and how George left us too soon as well. But what John, Paul, George, and Ringo have produced is immeasurable. Long live Paul and Ringo.
