I was in high school when Beatlemania hit the States. I, like millions of other teenagers, fell immediately in love with their music and my favourite Beatles, who were George and Ringo. I thought I knew everything about the Beatles, but Tom Doyle’s book, Ringo: A Fab Life, reveals so much more through Richard Starkey’s eyes.
Ringo: A Fab Life
Author Tom Doyle is known for his highly acclaimed books: Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s, Captain Fantastic: Elton John’s Stellar Trip Through the 70s, Running Up That Hill: 50s Visions of Kate Bush. Doyle is a journalist whose work appeared in MOJO, Billboard, Q (RIP), Sound On Sound, The Guardian, and The Times. His profiles include Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Elton John, U2, Madonna, Keith Richards, Yoko Ono, and Kate Bush.
Ringo: A Fab Life offers the reader insights into the life of Ringo Starr, the energetic drummer of the singing sensation known as the Beatles. As I read this easily digestible biography of Ringo’s early life and battles with childhood tuberculosis and peritonitis, whose lasting effects lingered well into his adult life, I slowly began to realize that Ringo was so much more than the “Happy-go-lucky” persona that he displayed on the stage. Doyle draws us into the complete history of Richard Starkey and the years before Richard became Ringo.
Doyle’s book includes the good, bad, and ugly events that finally flesh out one of my childhood idols into a person who had a life before the Beatles, and continues to astonish us with his talents with his newly released country Americana album, Long Long Road with features collaborations with artists such as Molly Tuttle and Sheryl Crow as well as his 2026 Tour with his All Star Band. What was it like to interview and write a book about Ringo? Let’s ask the author, Tom Doyle.
Gilbert: I loved your book, Tom. Between Paul and Ringo, which of the two Beatles was more comfortable revealing unknown facts about themselves?
Tom Doyle: Ta! Well, I’m always aware that both of them were bored with being interviewed even before I was born! So I try to take them down a twisty path, as well as relying I suppose on cheeky Scottish humour, which seems to chime with both of them as Liverpudlians. It seems to disarm them and divorce them a bit from their legends. They’re both pretty honest, in my experience, but Ringo probably edges it. Paul was always a bit reluctant talking about his weed-heavy days in the ‘70s when he was frequently being busted. Ringo is more to-the-point and will answer pretty much anything, on the nose, and within a few snappy sentences.
Gilbert: Does it help that you are also a musician when interviewing other musicians? Are they more comfortable with the fact that you understand the good, bad and ugly side of the music world?
Tom Doyle: I never mention my musicianly side, to be honest, so it’s maybe implicit more than explicit. But I suppose I can’t help but reveal my so-called insider knowledge from time to time. I play drums, and so when you end up talking to Ringo about his trademark fills, I think he appreciates the fact that you know roughly what you’re talking about and that you’re an admirer of his unique drumming style. But sometimes it goes further. I ended up being a co-producer/songwriter of various tracks with Paul Weller after chatting about music during our interviews.
Gilbert: What impressed you most about Richard Starkey, the man, as you prepared to write your book Ringo: A Fab Life?
Tom Doyle: Really, that he – like Paul – has managed to maintain his sanity and something resembling a normal day-to-day life after experiencing the phenomenon of being A Beatle. They’re both surprisingly normal, funny and engaging…
Gilbert: What are you working on now?
Tom Doyle: I’ve got a few ideas for future books bubbling up, but nothing that I can divulge yet. Quite excited about them though, so hopefully other people will be, too…
