Ringo Starr Always Thought His Name ‘Sounded Funny’ Alongside Beatles Bandmates John, Paul and George

Mar. 15, 2025

The Beatles — Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison in 1962.Photo:Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty

Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty

Ringo Starrrecognizes he had the most unique stage name in The Beatles.During Town Hall on SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel to celebrate the release of his new country album,Look Up, the 84-year-old music icon recalled how he was given his unique name — and how it stood out amongst his famous bandmates, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison.“Well, I don’t know if you could get a better name than Ringo Starr,” musician Rodney Crowell said to his guest during the conversation.Though the singer agreed, he couldn’t help but admit that it used to make him feel a bit out of place.“I know far out,” Starr said. “It always sounded funny though,John,Paul,George, Ringo.”Before that, the English musician, born Richard Starkey, explained how his stage name came to be.Starr recounted the start of his music career in his late teens, confessing, “But that didn’t work.”“And I was in a band and then I was in with Rory [Storm] and we got a three-month gig in a holiday camp and I left the factory and that’s when I went professional,” he said. “I was 20.”Ringo Starr — Town Hall for SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel in 2025.Parker Young/SiriusXM“Before that I was going to work in the day and playing at night. Now I’m just a musician. And what was great, we all changed our name,” Starr said before sharing that one of his favorite accessories at the time helped to shape his identity.He continued: “I mean, even in those days, I wore quite a few rings, which I don’t wear now. And in Liverpool, it’s like you get known. So people would start calling, ‘Hey Rings, what’s going on?’ You know, that started to come about.”Starr said “everyone in the band changed their name,” except for the late Storm, because he’d already previously done so.Ringo Starr and T Bone Burnett — Town Hall with Rodney Crowell on SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel in 2025.Parker Young/SiriusXM“So I became Ringo and Ringo Starkey didn’t sound rocking and so just, Ringo Starr. Yeah. And that’s what many people know me [as] up to this day, including you,” the singer said.Elsewhere in the interview, Starr recalled times when his Beatles bandmates would “be rolling on the floor laughing” at him when he first started trying to write music, because instead of creating something original, “I would just rewrite someone else’s song.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On Dec. 19, 2024, Starr and McCartney, 82,reunited for the first time in five yearsfor a performance at London’s O2 Arena.“The one and only Mr. Ringo Starr!” McCartney said to the crowd infan-captured video, before asking him, “Shall we rock?”

Ringo Starrrecognizes he had the most unique stage name in The Beatles.

During Town Hall on SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel to celebrate the release of his new country album,Look Up, the 84-year-old music icon recalled how he was given his unique name — and how it stood out amongst his famous bandmates, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison.

“Well, I don’t know if you could get a better name than Ringo Starr,” musician Rodney Crowell said to his guest during the conversation.

Though the singer agreed, he couldn’t help but admit that it used to make him feel a bit out of place.

“I know far out,” Starr said. “It always sounded funny though,John,Paul,George, Ringo.”

Before that, the English musician, born Richard Starkey, explained how his stage name came to be.

Starr recounted the start of his music career in his late teens, confessing, “But that didn’t work.”

“And I was in a band and then I was in with Rory [Storm] and we got a three-month gig in a holiday camp and I left the factory and that’s when I went professional,” he said. “I was 20.”

Ringo Starr — Town Hall for SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel in 2025.Parker Young/SiriusXM

Parker Young/SiriusXM

“Before that I was going to work in the day and playing at night. Now I’m just a musician. And what was great, we all changed our name,” Starr said before sharing that one of his favorite accessories at the time helped to shape his identity.

He continued: “I mean, even in those days, I wore quite a few rings, which I don’t wear now. And in Liverpool, it’s like you get known. So people would start calling, ‘Hey Rings, what’s going on?’ You know, that started to come about.”

Starr said “everyone in the band changed their name,” except for the late Storm, because he’d already previously done so.

Ringo Starr and T Bone Burnett — Town Hall with Rodney Crowell on SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel in 2025.Parker Young/SiriusXM

“So I became Ringo and Ringo Starkey didn’t sound rocking and so just, Ringo Starr. Yeah. And that’s what many people know me [as] up to this day, including you,” the singer said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Starr recalled times when his Beatles bandmates would “be rolling on the floor laughing” at him when he first started trying to write music, because instead of creating something original, “I would just rewrite someone else’s song.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Dec. 19, 2024, Starr and McCartney, 82,reunited for the first time in five yearsfor a performance at London’s O2 Arena.

“The one and only Mr. Ringo Starr!” McCartney said to the crowd infan-captured video, before asking him, “Shall we rock?”

source: people.com