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LoL, I like Ringo. But will defer to a statement from John Lennon: Ringo wasn't in the top 5 best drummers in The Beatles.
His drumming style worked with their music and it didn't stick out. But John Bonham, Keith Moon, or Neil Peart, he is NOT!
John Lennon was joking.
It is a common quote, taken out of context. He was referring to the fact that the guys were always trying to tell Ringo what to play.
Which is how most bands work.
Everyone seems to think anyone can play this stuff.
He also said Ringo was the perfect drummer for The Beatles.
Why do people like to jump all over Ringo?
None of the musicians in the Beatles were virtuosos, but they sounded phenomenal together. May as well crap all over Lennon or McCartney or Harrison.
Or a band like The Stones or Aerosmith or ZZ Top. None of those guys are virtuosos either, but they sound phenomenal together.
Most rock musicians are nothing more than competent.
It is the musical choices they make, they know what notes to play to make a song sound good and make the band sound good.
Dark Side of the Moon? Mostly simple stuff, simple patterns, simple melodie, simple rhythms. But it sounds
good. Very good.
Have you ever seen Levon Helm play? Mostly very simple stuff, but the feel is
incredible.
Charlie Watts? even simpler. But extremely musical, tasteful, he really drives the band.
If you want to listen to virtuosos, listen to jazz. Or classical music.
To compare Ringo to Keith Moon is rather amusing.
Everything Moon played was in 4/4 time.
Ringo played in 4/4 and 3/4 and also had to handle the odd time signatures Lennon would unwittingly throw into songs.
He knew exacty what to play to make the band sound great.
He forged a style that countless drummers have imitated for years.
Not too many guys try to play like Moon. Outside The Who it has little relevance.
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