“Ringo Starr Reflects on Beatles Breakup: ‘It Was Harder Than I Let On’”
London, UK – [Today’s Date] – Decades after the most famous band in history went their separate ways, Ringo Starr is opening up about what was arguably the most difficult chapter of his life — the breakup of The Beatles.
In a heartfelt moment during a recent interview, the legendary drummer reflected on the emotional toll the split had on him, despite often being seen as the most grounded and easygoing Beatle.
“Everyone thought I was the calm one, the happy-go-lucky guy,” Starr said. “But even I couldn’t pretend everything was okay. It hurt, and it hit all of us in different ways.”
The Quiet Struggle of the Band’s Steady Beat
While John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison often found themselves at the center of creative and personal disagreements, Ringo served as the emotional glue — the steady beat behind the chaos. But as the band’s internal conflicts intensified in the late 1960s, even Starr found himself disillusioned and emotionally exhausted.
“We were brothers, but brothers fight,” Ringo explained. “I tried to stay out of the politics, but by the end, you couldn’t avoid it. Everyone was hurt, everyone felt misunderstood, and suddenly, the magic wasn’t so easy anymore.”
Ringo briefly left the band during the infamous White Album sessions in 1968, citing rising tensions and a sense of being undervalued. He returned to finish the album after receiving messages of support from the other members, but the writing was on the wall.
After the Curtain Fell
When the band officially split in 1970, Starr admits he struggled with identity and direction.
“When you’re part of something that big, that loved — and then it ends — you ask yourself, ‘Who am I without it?’ I had to figure that out on my own,” he said.
Unlike the public fireworks between other members, Starr dealt with the breakup quietly — but not without pain. He poured himself into solo music, forming Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and eventually found peace in creating on his own terms.
Peace, Love, and Looking Back
Now in his 80s and still touring, Starr says he’s made peace with the past. The band members reconciled in later years, and Ringo cherishes the personal and musical memories with Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison.
“We were four lads from Liverpool who changed music forever. That’s something to be proud of — even if the end was messy.”
Ringo continues to advocate for peace and love, a motto he champions at every show and interview. But in reflecting on the Beatles’ final years, he’s letting the world know that even the “funny Beatle” had his moments of quiet heartbreak.
“It was the end of an era, and for me, the start of becoming whole again — not as a Beatle, but as Ringo.”
