It would make sense if none of The Beatles ever wanted to perform music together again after the intense drama that surrounded their last few years. The Beatles were already divided creatively in the late 1960s. Despite this, attempts to reunite in the 70s were reportedly met with tension, as Paul McCartney clashed with the other members. Ringo Starr never lost respect for the bass genius McCartney could produce. Even though he didn’t deserve for his friends to be at each other’s throats.
Because, when you get down to it, in most bands, the drummer and the bassist need to be soulmates. The goal is to maintain consistency whenever they attempt to lock into a groove on a track. Regardless of how much flash each of them wants to add to a song.
If the rhythm section is out of time, the guitar solos on any song will probably not hold together. Replacing Pete Best was a quick decision that brought McCartney into the Beatles. Despite any initial adjustments, Ringo Starr found McCartney to be a perfect musical partner in the studio.
Though Starr’s mother and everyone else tease him about not being able to write songs like the rest of them. Part of the reason he fits in with the band so well is because of his growth as a musician. Starr was able to stay up with his friends in every aspect of his career by offering a satisfying beat. He also provided the kind of gritty, unpolished groove that left most in disarray, as on “Helter Skelter.”
Even though Ringo Starr could keep everything together, McCartney wasn’t quite content with playing root notes. Paul McCartney craved new ways to express himself musically. This led him to experiment with the typical role of the bass, resulting in some of his most iconic basslines. People might not hear a bass hook like “Dear Prudence” often. Similarly, they might not notice how Macca colored the chords on George Harrison’s “Something” compared to other standard bass players of the era.
After getting into a legal dispute with manager Allen Klein, McCartney would go on to have fallingouts with all of his friends. In the years that followed, he would subtly criticize Starr. McCartney became so enraged that he threw Starr out of his house after Starr had to inform him that they were going to go on a courtship.
However, not many people would appreciate it if their best friend showed up to punch them in the stomach. Even with those years apart, Ringo Starr believed McCartney was the best bassist, telling Rolling Stone, “If he’s in L.A., and I’m making a record, he’s on a track.” It took a few years for the dust to settle. I still think he’s the world’s best, most melodic bass player, and I adore his work. But now you see that I’ve been saying that for forty years.
Over his career, McCartney was able to elevate his four-string, which was intended to be the foundation of the band, all the way to the front of the bandstand. It’s not easy for anyone to find their voice on their instrument. Although his voice may get more attention if you choose to listen to the low end of some classic songs like Abbey Road. You’ll discover some fascinating details beneath the surface.
