More than half a century after The Beatles changed the world, the bond between its members remains etched in music history—and in the hearts of those who lived it. But for Ringo Starr, the last surviving Beatle alongside Paul McCartney, that bond is far more than just legend. It’s personal. It’s loss. And it still hurts.
In a rare and emotional interview released this week, Ringo opened up about the weight of outliving his two closest friends—John Lennon and George Harrison—and the moments that still bring him to tears.
“I miss them every day,” he said, his voice breaking as he paused to collect himself. “Not just as bandmates. As brothers.”
The 83-year-old drummer, often the cheerful heartbeat of the group, admitted that time hasn’t dulled the ache of losing them. “We were just kids, really,” he reflected. “We laughed. We argued. We made history. And then one by one… they were gone.”
Ringo was especially candid about the final moments he shared with George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001. Fighting back tears, he recalled rushing from Boston to be by his side.
“I told him I had to leave for treatment,” Ringo said, referencing his own health scare at the time. “And George just looked at me and said, ‘Don’t worry, Ringo. I’ll see you soon.’ That was George. Peaceful. Reassuring—even as he was slipping away.”
And then there’s John.
Ringo admitted he still struggles with the suddenness of Lennon’s murder in 1980. “We didn’t get to say goodbye,” he said quietly. “That’s the hardest part. One minute he’s there, and the next… he’s a headline. It was like the whole world stopped.”
Over the years, Ringo has honored their memory through music, memories, and moments of reflection. He speaks to their families. He revisits old recordings. And sometimes, when he sits behind the drum kit, he swears he can still feel them there.
“Every time I play, I think of them,” he said. “George with his guitar, John cracking jokes. They’re still with me. Just… not in the way I want.”
Fans watching the interview were deeply moved by Ringo’s honesty, many commenting that it’s rare to see such vulnerability from someone known for his playful spirit.
But perhaps what touched most was this:
“People see us as legends,” Ringo said. “But at the end of the day, we were just four lads from Liverpool who loved each other. And I was lucky—so lucky—to have had them in my life.”