Ringo Starr was the last member of The Beatles to get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, he said he was only in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because of the intervention of another celebrity.
Why Ringo Starr was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Beatles entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison entered the Hall of Fame as solo artists in 1994, 1999, and 2004, respectively. Ringo didn’t get inducted as a solo artist until 2015.
During an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, DeGeneres commented that Ringo’s induction was long overdue. She mentioned that Paul would be at the ceremony. “Well, I’m only doing it because of Paul,” Ringo commented. He said he wasn’t trying to get inducted, but Paul pushed for his entry into the Hall of Fame.
Ringo said Paul was at a dinner where he learned Brian Epstein, The Beatles’ manager, was getting into the Hall of Fame. At the dinner, someone mentioned that Ringo hadn’t earned the same honor as a solo artist. Sometime later, Paul called Ringo and asked if he’d like to get into the Hall of Fame. Ringo agreed to accept the honor.
At the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Paul McCartney described the moment The Beatles began
Paul inducted Ringo. During his speech, he recalled an important moment when he, John, and George saw Ringo perform the drums while playing a song. Paul couldn’t remember which song Ringo was playing. He thought it might have been Ray Charles’ “What I’d Say.”
“It was a little difficult to do, but Ringo nailed it,” Paul said. “Yeah — Ringo nailed it! And I remember the moment, standing there and looking at John and then looking at George, and the look on our faces was like, ‘F*** you. What is this?’ And that was the moment, that was the beginning, really, of The Beatles.”
What Ringo Starr said about his induction during his induction ceremony
Ringo started his speech with a simple introduction. “My name is Ringo and I play drums,” he said. “I want to thank Paul for all the great things he told us. Some of them are true.”
Ringo discussed getting into the Hall of Fame later than the other Beatles. “You know, it’s a great honor to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” he said. “I was doing the press and they’re all saying, ‘Well, why did you wait so long?’
“It has nothing to do with me,” Ringo said. “You have to be invited. But anyway, apparently I’m invited and I love it.” Ringo could’ve been inducted a lot sooner; however, he was glad to be there.
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