# Is it just me, or is Ringo Starr the worst performer ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2005, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684 "2005-06-17T09:20:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/1 "2005-06-17T09:20:01Z")
Or is Ringo Starr the worst performer ever? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/2 "2005-06-17T11:55:08Z")
It’s just you. Pia Zadora is the worst performer ever. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/3 "2005-06-17T11:58:53Z")
He gets by with a little help from his friends. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/4 "2005-06-17T12:56:30Z")
It’s just you. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/5 "2005-06-17T13:10:26Z")
Naw, he just wants to be in the movies. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/6 "2005-06-17T13:29:18Z")
> [@Large Marge](#): > > Or is Ringo Starr the worst performer ever? Was your post a response to Ringo’s appearance on Letterman’s show last night? I turned the TV off before Ringo came on for several reasons, but primarily the one stated in the OP. How bad was he? And John Ashcroft is the worst performer ever, at least in the Gospel genre. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/7 "2005-06-17T13:53:10Z")
No, the guy who sings [O Holy Night](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=885557) here is. It’s the third tune on the left, directly under Jim Nayder’s picture. WARNING PLACE PILLOWS AROUND THE CHAIR IN WHICH YOU SIT, BECAUSE YOU WILL FALL OUT OF IT LAUGHING. THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD. EVER. YOU WILL DIE. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/8 "2005-06-17T14:00:32Z")
[Mrs. Miller](http://www.franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=77) was far worse. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/9 "2005-06-17T14:10:29Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Mrs. Miller](http://www.franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=77) was far worse. Whoa. Time warp. I remember Mrs. Miller. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/10 "2005-06-17T18:47:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Mrs. Miller](http://www.franklarosa.com/vinyl/Exhibit.jsp?AlbumID=77) was far worse. One of my earliest memories is my mother going on about how bad Mrs. Miller was. I never saw the old bat, myself. Mrs. Miller, that is. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/11 "2005-06-17T22:01:46Z")
Ringo is pretty bad, but IMHO he’s not in the league of the late, great [Tiny Tim](http://www.tinytim.org/), who turned bad singing and a bizarre appearance into an oddly charming art form. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/12 "2005-06-18T00:08:32Z")
As a “performer” I always thought Ringo rocked. As a drummer he always got dissed and I never understood it. It’s drums for Chrissakes. A caveman instrument. As long as you can keep time you’re doing your job. I’ll take a Ringo over a Neil Peart or Carl Palmer anyday. I defy you to hum a Buddy Rich tune. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/13 "2005-06-18T00:18:45Z")
Changed thread title to make it just a bit more descriptive(original title-“Is it just me?”), and moved it to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/14 "2005-06-18T00:26:48Z")
Thanks, Czarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/15 "2005-06-18T00:28:40Z")
I always liked him in “Octopi Garden”. And somewhat like “With a little help from my friends” despite the fact it took a long time to get the bad taste that song left in my mouth as the theme of “The Wonder Years” ---
**Author:** ![Large\_Marge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/50afbb/32.png) [@Large\_Marge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Large_Marge)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/16 "2005-06-18T00:30:13Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > Was your post a response to Ringo’s appearance on Letterman’s show last night? > > I turned the TV off before Ringo came on for several reasons, but primarily the one stated in the OP. > > How bad was he? So bad, I wanted to jam a sharp pen through my eardrums. Then I realized I could just change the channel. He looked like a boob “dancing” in place on stage, and I would have felt sorry for him if not for the fact that **he can’t sing.** ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/17 "2005-06-18T00:45:51Z")
Ringo is an outstanding drummer. He is also fairly good as a lead for the All Starr Band. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/18 "2005-06-18T01:27:18Z")
You’ve never heard Carl Lewis sing. Ringo is a skilled drummer and a fairly charming, if very limited, singer. Doesn’t do a lot of interesting material, but even if he has a bad night and looks doofy he’s not the worst ever. Hey, the guy was in the Beatles- even if you’re not a Beatles fan and even if he _is_ Ringo, it ought to earn him an exemption from that category. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/19 "2005-06-18T01:32:53Z")
Ringo _is_ a good drummer and can be charming in some on-screen roles, particularly in [The Magic Christian](http://imdb.com/title/tt0064622/) and the long-forgotten TV movie [Ringo](http://imdb.com/title/tt0077071/), his take on _The Prince and the Pauper_. He’s also smart enough to discover how not to age: wear a beard your entire adult life to hide the wrinkles. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684/20 "2005-06-18T01:34:08Z")
I also think Ringo is a very uderrated drummer. I always thought his drumming was always 100% dead-on accurate. And deevee mentioned Buddy Rich. I wonder what the Beatles’ success would have been if they had a drummer of similar proficiency (and EGO), who seemed to think that the entire musical spectrum is centered around the drum. Nothing like a rock and roll song with a 10 to 15 minute drum solo is there? :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-me-or-is-ringo-starr-the-worst-performer-ever/308684.md?page=2)