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Ringo Starr speaking candidly about his music career and lost Beatles reunion
Music

Ringo Starr Shares Heartbreaking Truth About Lost Beatles Reunion

Decades after the Fab Four split in 1970, the legendary drummer looks back on the missed comeback that never was.

By Dee AlvarezPublished Updated 2 min read

Ringo Starr is opening up about the legendary career of The Beatles and the heartbreaking reality that the world's most famous rock band never reunited on stage. Decades after the groundbreaking group dissolved, the famous drummer is reflecting on the lost opportunities and the devastating losses that kept the original four members from ever mounting an official comeback. The Fab Four officially parted ways in 1970, instantly sending shockwaves through the pop culture landscape and changing the music industry forever. For years following the high-profile split, music fans across the globe held out hope that the band would eventually set aside their personal differences and launch a monumental stadium tour. However, a complete reform of the original lineup never materialized.

Did The Beatles ever collaborate after splitting up?

Ringo Starr.
Ringo Starr, seen here in June, spoke to about what he’s doing now and, of course, The Beatles.

Even though an official full-band reunion never took place, the musicians did not entirely cut their creative ties. Reports highlight that the individual members frequently contributed to each other's solo albums in the years following their 1970 breakup. Ringo Starr and his former bandmates routinely reunited in smaller setups behind closed doors in the recording studio. They laid down drum tracks, provided background vocals, and offered creative support on various individual releases. These casual sessions allowed the artists to preserve their deep personal bond and offer fans subtle glimpses of their classic musical chemistry.

The Beatles.
Starr said he believes The Beatles would have reunited to record new music had John Lennnon and George Harrison not died.

Why didn't The Beatles ever officially reunite?

The Beatles.
Starr said he misses the camaraderie of being in the band, photographed here in 1963.

The chance for a full four-member reunion was ultimately silenced following the tragic deaths of both John Lennon and George Harrison. Lennon died in 1980, while Harrison passed away in 2001, effectively ending any potential for the complete original group to stand on stage together again. Reflecting on those devastating losses decades later, Starr has acknowledged the painful emotional truth behind the group's history. The passings of Lennon and Harrison left Starr and Paul McCartney as the sole remaining bandmates tasked with carrying forward the incredible legacy of the group. While the surviving members have continued to celebrate the group's massive catalog, Starr's admissions highlight the lingering heartbreak over what was lost. The Beatles defined an entire era of global pop culture and changed the course of rock music, but their history remains forever marked by the bittersweet reality that they never got to share one final curtain call together as a complete group.

The photos · 6

Ringo Starr speaking candidly about his music career and lost Beatles reunion
Ringo Starr, seen here in June, spoke to about what he’s doing now and, of course, The Beatles.
Starr said he believes The Beatles would have reunited to record new music had John Lennnon and George Harrison not died.
Starr said he misses the camaraderie of being in the band, photographed here in 1963.
He and Paul McCartney, photographed in 2024, are still good pals.
Starr thinks it’s “amazing” that there will be four Beatles movies with Barry Keoghan playing the drummer.

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Ringo Starr’s relationship history: Two marriages and a shared recovery

Beyond the Beatles, Starr’s personal timeline runs from marriage and three children with Maureen Cox to a lasting partnership with Barbara Bach.

  1. 1965-02-11

    Ringo marries Maureen Cox

    Ringo Starr — Ringo marries Maureen Cox

    Starr marries Maureen Cox at Caxton Hall in London, with Beatles manager Brian Epstein as best man. Their son Zak arrives that September; Jason and Lee follow in 1967 and 1970.

  2. A film brings Barbara Bach into his life

    Ringo Starr — A film brings Barbara Bach into his life

    Starr meets Barbara Bach while they are making the comedy Caveman. Their relationship begins before the film reaches cinemas in 1981.

  3. 1981-04-27

    Barbara becomes his second wife

    Ringo Starr — Barbara becomes his second wife

    Starr and Bach marry at Marylebone register office in London. Paul McCartney and George Harrison attend, bringing his surviving former bandmates together for the wedding.

  4. The couple enter treatment

    Ringo Starr — The couple enter treatment

    Starr and Bach enter rehabilitation together for alcohol problems. Their shared treatment becomes a turning point in a marriage that continues for decades afterward.

  5. 1994-12-30

    Maureen dies at 48

    Ringo Starr — Maureen dies at 48

    Maureen dies of leukaemia at 48. Her death comes nineteen years after her divorce from Starr, with whom she shares Zak, Jason and Lee.

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People also ask

When did The Beatles officially break up?
The Beatles officially disbanded in 1970 after a decade of massive worldwide success.
Did The Beatles ever reunite on stage?
No, the original four members never performed together as The Beatles again after their 1970 breakup.
Which members of The Beatles are still alive?
Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney are the two surviving members of the band following the deaths of John Lennon and George Harrison.