Ringo Starr has said his early attempts at songwriting were met with laughter from his The Beatles bandmates, as he looks back on his development as a writer.
The 85-year-old drummer and singer shared the story in a new BBC interview, coinciding with the release of his latest solo album Long Long Road, which arrived on 24 April 2026.
Early songwriting struggles in The Beatles
Speaking to the BBC, Starr admitted that his first ideas did not go down well with the group.
“They’d all be just laughing hysterically because all I’d done is rewritten another song.”
“So it took me a while to get through that moment into writing my songs, you know, and in the end they started turning out really good.”
During his time with The Beatles, Starr wrote “Don’t Pass Me By” and “Octopus’s Garden,” while also contributing to tracks including “What Goes On,” “Flying,” “Dig It” and “Maggie Mae.”
New music and Paul McCartney collaboration
Starr’s new album Long Long Road leans into an Americana-influenced sound and marks his latest studio release.
He is also set to reunite musically with Paul McCartney on a duet titled “Home to US,” which will appear on McCartney’s upcoming album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, due next month.
Tour plans and live setup
Starr will take Long Long Road on tour across the western United States in May and June 2026.
Despite stepping forward as a frontman during performances, he confirmed he will still play drums during the shows, with two kits set up on stage so Gregg Bissonette can switch in when needed.
Reflections on Beatles-era stories
Starr also addressed long-standing anecdotes about his time in The Beatles, including his introduction to cannabis.
“Yes.”
“I took the first puff.”
He also confirmed he has never eaten pizza or curry.
Longevity and lifestyle
Discussing his energy levels in a separate interview, Starr credited his diet.
“Well, you’ve got to eat more broccoli.”
“All the good things about me, I blame broccoli for. So now I say, peace and love and broccoli.”
