The Beatles’ Ringo Starr recently gave an interview to CBS News and shared his insights on how his hospitalization at 13 gave him the inspiration to pursue a music career as a drummer.
Back when he was a child, Ringo Starr struggled with severe illnesses. For that reason, he spent a long time in the hospital. When he was six years old, Starr developed appendicitis and contracted peritonitis after his appendectomy. Sadly, this caused him to fall into a coma that lasted for days, and his recovery took twelve months.
Starr’s mother decided he should stay home when he returned. This caused him to miss school and fall behind his peers. When he finally caught up to them, Starr sadly contracted tuberculosis. The drummer was then admitted to a sanatorium and stayed there for two years. As it turns out, he became interested in drumming during this period.
In a recent interview with CBS News, Ringo Starr recalled those days and said the medical staff gave him a percussion instrument to help him keep busy. According to the Beatle, he decided to be a drummer when he hit the drum for the first time. He was 13 years old at that time, and he joined the hospital band soon afterward.
Thanks to the hospital staff, Ringo Starr decided to pursue a drumming career and became a renowned musician who made history with the Beatles. However, his family members didn’t think he could make it. As Starr said, every member of his family came to his house and told him he was crazy after hearing his decision. Little did they know that Starr would become a respected drummer years later.
Here is what Ringo Starr told CBS News:
“To keep us busy, this woman came in with many triangles, tambourines, and drums this big that you hit. I hit that drum and wanted to be a drummer from that moment.
But every member of our family came to our house to tell me, ‘Are you crazy?’ [However,] it worked out well.”
When he returned home in late 1955, Starr entered the workforce briefly. He then became friends with Roy Trafford and played with him in Eddie Clayton Band. After a career in Rory Storm And The Hurricanes, Starr joined the Beatles in 1962 and achieved international fame.
