George was getting alot of independence for himself in those days. He was writing more, and wanted things to go his way - where, when we first started things basically went John and Paul's way. You know, 'cuz they were the writers.Collection: Independence
And I came back and it was great, 'cuz George had set up all these flowers all over the studio saying welcome home. So then we got it together again. I always felt it was better on the White one for me. We were more like a band, you know.Collection: Home
We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter.Collection: Music
I feel the older I get, the more I'm learning to handle life. Being on this quest for a long time, it's all about finding yourself.Collection: Learning
And in a marriage you can't TRY and be married. You're married or you're not married... as far as I'm concerned.Collection: Marriage
Everything government touches turns to crap.Collection: Government
I never studied anything, really. I didn't study the drums. I joined bands and made all the mistakes onstage.
At the end of the day, I can end up just totally wacky, because I've made mountains out of molehills. With meditation, I can keep them as molehills.
I want to deal with what's in front of me now to the best of my abilities, and sometimes that's not very good. But a lot of the days it is really great.
I've never been able to sit round on my own and play drums, practice in the back room, never been able to. I've always played with other musicians. It's how I play, there's no joy for me in playing on my own, bashing away. I need a bass, a piano, guitar, whatever, and then I can play.
I'm on my feet and I'm doing what I love to do, and I'm in a profession, as a musician, where we can go on for as long as we can go on.
I couldn't put my finger on one reason why we broke up. It was time, and we were spreading out. They were spreading out more than I was. I would've stayed with the band.
I am a big Beatles fan. And, you know, unbeknownst to anyone, I used to be one. But I have no problems of putting titles and lines from other songs in my songs, because they're great lines and great titles.
And the White Album is important to me for different reasons. One - I had left the band on the White Album.
Being in The Beatles was a short, incredible period of my life. I had 22 years leading up to it, and it was all over eight years later.
I think the most exciting thing is that you expect people our age to know the music, but actually a lot of kids know the music, and if anything is left, we have left really good music, and that's the important part, not the mop-tops or whatever.
First and foremost I am a drummer. After that, I'm other things... But I didn't play drums to make money.
Gene Autry was the most. It may sound like a joke - Go and have a look in my bedroom, It's covered with Gene Autry posters. He was my first musical influence.
I mean, I was born the day war broke out, but I don't remember all the bombs though they did actually break up Liverpool, you know. I remember when I was a little older, there was big gaps in all the streets where houses used to be. We used to play over them.
And so we went away to play, and we'd come back to Liverpool. And while we were doing this - 'cuz we did it for two years. And then we'd go to Germany, and that's where I met the Beatles.
That's when we decided to stop in '66. Everyone thought we toured for years, you know, but we didn't. I joined in '62, and we'd finished touring in '66 to go into the studio where we could hear each other... and create any fantasy that came out of anybody's brain.
We've got the children so we have to deal with each other because we have to deal with children's problems, you know, and our own problems. But some days it's fine, and then some days we just are at each other's throat.
People only look at me as a Beatle, but my friends look at me as a whole person. That's how life works, but it's not bugging me anymore.
I don't collect any memorabilia. I wish I'd have kept everything I had. But who knew you had to keep it. Just gave it away. And we lost so much and we didn't look after a lot of it.
If you made a record, I'd probably pick out tracks that I like and download that. That's just how it is.
When they come here, the English make a choice: New York or L.A. L.A. suited me better, I just feel comfortable here.
The trouble with leaving your feet on the ground is you never get to take your pants off.Collection: Feet
My soul is that of a drummer.... I didn't do it to become rich and famous. I did it because it was the love of my life.Collection: Love Of My Life
You either kiss the future or the past goodbye.Collection: Inspirational
Take a dose of rock and roll, and wash it down with cool clear soul.Collection: Rocks
Fondest memory of being a Beatle: Having three brothers.Collection: Brother
I'm not going to say anything because nobody believes me when I do.Collection: Believe
Let's make my birthday, July the 7th at noon, Peace and Love Day. Everybody go, 'Peace and love.' In the office, on the bus, wherever. It's still peace and love for me, I'm a product of the 60s and it was a very influential period in my life, and you know, my head was turned around a bit, my eyes were opened as it were. In fact, I even have it on my arm, 'Peace and love'. I see nothing wrong with peace and love.Collection: Eye