The two legends reflect on decades of friendship, shared memories, and their unbreakable bond
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the last Beatles standing—and that reality has only deepened the connection between them.
In a candid interview with The New York Times, the two icons opened up about a friendship that’s endured decades of fame, loss, and history. “With John and George gone, you realize nothing lasts forever,” McCartney, now 83, shared. “So we hold tight to each other. What we have is unique—there’s no one else who can share these memories. It’s just me and Ringo.”
Their bond was on full display in 2024 when they reunited onstage at London’s O2 Arena to perform “Helter Skelter” for the first time in five years. While the track is pure rock energy, McCartney admitted the moment was profoundly emotional. “It felt like home sharing the stage with him again,” he said.
The interview also casts new light on Starr’s often-underrated legacy as a drummer, with peers like Max Weinberg and Sheila E. singing his praises. “Having Ringo in the Beatles was a massive win for the rest of them,” Weinberg noted. McCartney agreed: “He was a fantastic drummer. We asked him to join the band, and luckily for us, he said yes.”
Ringo, who contributed memorable Beatles tracks like “Don’t Pass Me By” and “Octopus’s Garden,” laughed as he recalled his early attempts at songwriting. “I’d say, ‘I’ve got a new song.’ And halfway through, the others would start laughing because I was putting new lyrics over old tunes,” he joked.
Their relationship remains as strong as ever. “Paul loves me as much as I love him,” Starr told AARP in 2023. “He’s the brother I never had.”
Perhaps the most touching moment of their recent collaboration came in 2023 when McCartney and Starr released “Now and Then,” the final Beatles song. Built from a John Lennon demo and completed using cutting-edge technology revealed in Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary, the track reunited the Fab Four in spirit. “It felt like John was right there with us,” Ringo reflected.
