# Is Ringo Starr the luckiest man in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 13, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868 "2002-05-13T18:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/41 "2026-09-30T05:19:14Z")
True, and Geddy and Alex didn’t always write the best music to accompany them. However, when they did it right, they REALLY got it right. Example: I was writing for a zine in the early 1990s, and described “Counterparts”, which a lot of people really like, as “Rush Lite.” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/42 "2026-09-30T13:52:11Z")
I’ll nominate [Harrison Schmitt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Schmitt). He was on the final lunar mission, Apollo 17. Originally a geologist, Schmit was brought into the astronaut corps at a time when it was all military and test pilots. Now, he did work his ass off and was highly qualified. But he was also lucky as hell: - NASA needed scientists as the Apollo program got beyond the merely getting there and back phase. He was in the right place at the right time, with the right background. Who do you send to the moon? A geologist, of course. - He was able to absorb the required pilot training. A few other candidates were not. They threw them in with regular Air Force cadets and had to get up to flying supersonic jets. Schmitt had no prior flight experience, but he did very well in that program. - He had supporters within NASA and needed them, because there were others who felt him under-qualified in flight experience. - He was slated to fly on Apollo 18. When that was cancelled they bumped a guy (Joe Engle) from Apollo 17 so Schmitt could go! Dude got to practice his science on the moon. Damned lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/43 "2026-09-30T16:40:41Z")
> [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](#): > > what do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? Since this is a very old thread and it’s been determined that Ringo is both lucky and talented, here’s my favorite drummer joke (honest apologies to the drummers, I actually feel they are the glue for most bands) How do you know there is a drummer at your door? The knocking speeds up ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/44 "2026-09-30T16:47:47Z")
Waylon Jennings has got to be up there. He was supposed to get on that airplane but gave up his seat to Buddy Holly. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/45 "2026-09-30T17:17:42Z")
What do you call a drummer who has broken up with is girlfriend? Homeless How do you get a drummer off your porch? Pay for the pizza These jokes work for any maligned musician. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/46 "2026-09-30T17:41:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > These jokes work for any maligned musician. And they also work for drummers. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/47 "2026-09-30T18:56:54Z")
Ringo is also lucky because he survived two deadly diseases as a child. Following an appendectomy he contracted peritonitis, causing him to fall into a coma that lasted days. It took him about twelve months to recover. Later he contracted tuberculosis and spent two years in a sanatorium. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/48 "2026-09-30T18:58:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And they also work for drummers. 😁 Ouch! That’ll leave a mark. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/49 "2026-09-30T21:13:19Z")
> [@gex\_gex](#): > > adam clayton was (i think) the one who stuck the notice up at his high school looking for musicians to form a band. I know this thread is ancient, but it was Larry Mullen jr. who put up the notice (I just happened to reading about it recently.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/50 "2026-09-30T22:15:05Z")
A band is looking over their new music, and one of the pieces is in 7/8 time. What the heck does 7/8 time sound like? How do you even count that out, they all wonder. Finally, the drummer says “I’ve got it! It’s ONE-two-three-four-FIVE-six-se-ven.” ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/51 "2026-10-01T03:38:26Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Bumping this thread 24 years later (repost of Washingon Post article): > > [Why is Ringo Starr still performing at 86? Because he can.](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/why-ringo-starr-still-performing-100001440.html?guccounter=1) And I’m glad he is! I’m slated to see him at a concert this weekend. I’ve never seen a Beatle live in concert before. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/52 "2026-10-01T03:43:27Z")
Last time I saw him was over 20 years ago, but I saw him twice. It was great both times. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/53 "2026-10-01T03:57:19Z")
Ringo is still married to Barbara Bach. 45 years. yeah- lucky and smart. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/54 "2026-10-01T04:13:57Z")
> [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](#): > > what do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? The version I heard was, What do you call a crazy person who hangs out with musicians? Which tracked pretty well with my personal experiences, back when I was doing sound for rock bands in the 1970s. No reflection on Ringo intended. ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/55 "2026-10-01T14:40:47Z")
Mercury Records did NOT hire Neil; Geddy and Alex auditioned the potential new drummers for Rush and Neil was the 2nd or 3rd one they heard. After that, and their immediate personal chemistry became apparent, they knew he was the man 4the position. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/56 "2026-10-01T15:17:00Z")
> [@drollman](#): > > The only “unlucky” drummer was the drummer for “Spinal Tap.” Which of them? ETA: I just realized this is a Zombie thread and the poster probably will never know about my attempt at humor. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/57 "2026-10-01T15:31:28Z")
> [@robby](#): > > And I’m glad he is! I’m slated to see him at a concert this weekend. I’ve never seen a Beatle live in concert before. Back in the day, I was dating a girl who was an original member of the official Beatles fan club. As such, she got first dibs at some of the concert tickets. We saw Sir Paul and Wings in Dallas - 5th row center. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/58 "2026-10-01T16:36:05Z")
In _That Thing You Do_, with Tom Hanks as the manager of a One-Hit-Wonder band, the drummer’s name is never spoken and he’s listed in the credits only as “the drummer.” ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/59 "2026-10-01T16:47:36Z")
Ringo was a good enough drummer in 1960 Liverpool to be locally famous. There’s a reason John and Paul sought him out when they were looking for drummer. You might argue that _they_ were the lucky ones. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868/60 "2026-10-01T17:15:10Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > In _That Thing You Do_, with Tom Hanks as the manager of a One-Hit-Wonder band, the drummer’s name is never spoken and he’s listed in the credits only as “the drummer.” The drummer is the lead character, Guy “Skitch” Patterson, played by Tom Everett Scott. He parallels the Ringo situation a bit in that he joins the band (replacing Giovanni Ribisi’s character, who had broken his arm) right before the performance that sets them on the road to (brief) stardom. You’re thinking of the bass player, portrayed by Ethan Embry, who is only ever called “the bass player.” Even the “Where Are They Now” montage at the end of the film just calls him “T.B. Player.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ringo-starr-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world/108868.md?page=4)