The Death of Ringo Starr

DSS

Inspired by Emperor Norton's timeline about Paul McCartney dying in 1966.

What if Ringo Starr died during the Beatle years? I'm really leaving this up to any time really. Tell me what you think the effects would be of a Starr death just before "Please Please Me," before "Let It Be," or anywhere in between. I'm sure it wouldn't have as much of an effect on the musical world as McCartney's death (or Lennon's, or even Harrison's death) would, but what would be the effects of the death of Ringo Starr during the Beatles years?
 

The Admiral Hook

It really depends on when it is. Ringo was important to the band for different reasons at different times.

In the beginning, Ringo had the best meter of pretty much any drummer around the group. He added a subtle legitimacy to their version of a medium which held little at that time. Pop music was barely considered music at the time, and it wasn't just the genius of Lennon/McCartney/Martin that would help change this...

...it was also a drummer who didn't want any attention, came up with tasteful and infinitely imitated fills, and, for the most part, kept the meter almost perfectly even at times without a metronome.

As the sixties wore on and the song briefly became less important than the amount of experimentation behind it, a steady drummer wasn't a prerequisite in really any rock group: A flashy drummer was.

However, by this time, Ringo was more than a steady drummer, he was really the glue of the band. The only member who was friends with the other members equally.

Without Ringo's pouting during their infighting, the band would have fewer checks and balances and as a result, break up earlier. Unless their replacement was just as good at keeping them together and keeping their egos (including his own) in check.

That's the best I can describe it.
 
Emperor Norton I

Emperor Norton I

Depending on the date, Jimmie Nicol could be brought back. His name popped up in the later 60's when Ringo walked out of the band for a while and they needed someone on the drums if he was gone for good.
 
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