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Ringo Starr performs all-star jam session in MasterClass drumming course

The former Beatles drummer is the latest musician to share his expertise through the online subscription platform

By Hollie Geraghty

Ringo Starr wears a dark blazer and sunglasses
Ringo Starr in the promotional video for MasterClass. (Photo: YouTube/ MasterClass).

Ringo Starr is the latest musician to offer his expertise on the subscription platform MasterClass, which includes a performance from an all-star band.

In addition to the lessons, musical students can watch a performance that features guitarists Joe Walsh (Eagles) and Toto‘s Steve Lukather, along with keyboardist Jim Cox, bassist Nathan East and drummers Gregg Bissonette and ​​Jim Keltner.

Ringo Starr Teaches Drumming & Creative Collaboration is made up of 10 lessons, categorised into topics like ‘playing in bands’, ‘songwriting demystified’ and ‘connecting with your audience’.

“If I can give any piece of advice, it’s to love what you’re doing,” the former Beatles drummer said in a statement.

​​“In my class, I will not only teach members how to get started with drums but share how to bring creativity into anything they are passionate about and inspire them to work at something they love.”

Founder and CEO of MasterClass David Rogier added: “Ringo is an international icon. As a member of the bestselling band of all time, he candidly shares a behind-the-scenes look into the trajectory of his life as a musician, teaching members how to forge a personal relationship with music and instrumentation.”

The course is one hour 49 minutes total and requires a £14 monthly subscription.

Starr follows shortly after Metallica, St. Vincent, Alicia Keys and more who have become MasterClass instructors.

Elsewhere, a previously unheard song recorded in 1968 featuring George Harrison and Ringo Starr was discovered in a Birmingham attic earlier this month.

The song, titled ‘Radhe Shaam’, was written by the journalist Suresh Joshi in 1968 for a documentary called ‘East Meets West’.

Recorded at Trident Studios in London, Harrison and Starr were there recording ‘Hey Jude’ at the time, and offered to contribute guitar and drums.

The track was first played to 100 people at the Liverpool Beatles Museum, and then received its first airplay on BBC Radio Merseyside along with an interview with Joshi.

You can listen back to it here, with the interview beginning at 2 hours 16 minutes, and the song at 2 hours and 27 minutes.