The Beatles: Rock Band / 09.09.09

By the time Ringo Starr bought his trademark Ludwig drum kit, the group was based in London and there were plenty of tempting music stores to hang out in. One of Ringo’s favorites was Drum City, where Ringo and Brian Epstein paid a fateful visit in April 1963. What really caught Ringo’s eye was the snazzy oyster black pearl finish that Ludwig put on its drums, and he likely knew that the loud, bright sound of Ludwig was perfectly suited to rock & roll. A deal was struck, and everything was set…until Brian’s managerial instincts kicked in. He reasoned that if Ludwig’s name would appear on the bass-drum head, The Beatles’ should be on there as well…and bigger. Store owner Ivor Arbiter took out a piece of stationary, drew a circle and wrote out a stylized version of The Beatles’ name…and the rest was history.  Ringo’s main kit was simple by modern rock standards – just two toms, one snare, two cymbals, a high-hat, and a 20-inch bass drum – but it gave him all the power he needed.