How The Beatles Recruited Ringo Starr at a Butlin's Holiday Camp
The drummer recounts the pivotal 1962 conversation with John Lennon and Paul McCartney that led to his joining the iconic band.
Ringo Starr has detailed the moment John Lennon and Paul McCartney invited him to join The Beatles, a conversation that took place in 1962 at a Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness, Lincolnshire. Starr was performing with his band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, when the future Beatles members approached him.
Recalling the event, Starr said Lennon and McCartney asked him if he would join The Beatles. When Starr expressed his willingness, he was told the offer was for that very night. Unable to commit immediately due to his existing band commitments, Starr arranged to join on the following Saturday. At the time, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were a more prominent act than The Beatles. Playbills from the era indicate that Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were listed above The Beatles.
During the recruitment process, Starr was reportedly asked by Brian Epstein, The Beatles' manager, to shave off his beard. He complied, and also adopted the distinctive haircut associated with the band. News of Starr's potential move spread quickly through the Butlin's camp, as staff and visitors were aware of his popularity with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Madeline Morrison, a Redcoat at the Clacton camp, noted that the rumors circulated throughout the interconnected holiday villages.
After Starr's departure, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes recruited a new drummer to complete their remaining two weeks of the summer season. Starr's integration into The Beatles marked a significant turning point for both the band and his own career.