Ringo Starr Denies Drumming on Pre-Beatles Tapes

The tapes of Rory Storm and the Hurricanes that surfaced recently do not feature Ringo Starr. That's the word coming from Starr, who was Storm's drummer before leaving to join the Beatles shortly before their recording career began in 1962.

Starr issued a statement through his publicist in which he denies that he was on the tapes, which were reported to have been recorded in 1960 at a club called the Jive Hive. The tapes had been in Storm's sister's basement. Storm passed away in 1972.

The statement reads as follows:

It’s not me, that was done after I’d left to join the Beatles. I don’t know who the drummer was but I hope that Rory fans enjoy it anyway.

The only two tracks I was on were recorded while we were in Germany in 1960, when we made a two track acetate, and for those of you in the digi world that is a-ce-tate, of 'Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues,' a Buddy Holly song sang by Lou Walters and 'Fever', and I’d love to hear those tracks ‘cause I don’t have a copy.

Peace & Love, Ringo.

Concidentally, 'Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues' was recorded by the Beatles during the 'Get Back' sessions that resulted in the 'Let it Be' album. It was eventually released on 'Anthology 3' in 1996.