With a Little Help From My Friend”: Paul McCartney Inducts Ringo Starr into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
It was a night steeped in nostalgia, rhythm, and reverence. On a glittering April evening in 2025, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed back two of its most beloved sons. Sir Paul McCartney, already a two-time inductee, took the stage once again—not for himself, but to honor his lifelong friend, bandmate, and the heartbeat of The Beatles: Ringo Starr.
Though Ringo had already been inducted in 2015 for Musical Excellence, this time the Hall recognized his extraordinary contributions as a solo artist, bandleader, and cultural icon. And who better to do the honors than the man who stood beside him through the whirlwind of Beatlemania and beyond?
A Standing Ovation Before a Word Was Spoken
As Paul McCartney stepped up to the microphone, the audience at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium erupted. It wasn’t just applause—it was a collective exhale of admiration, a tribute to a friendship that had endured for over six decades. Dressed in a sharp black suit with a subtle red poppy on his lapel, McCartney smiled, adjusted the mic, and began.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “tonight I have the immense pleasure of inducting not just a drummer, not just a Beatle, but one of the kindest, funniest, and most soulful people I’ve ever known—my mate, Ringo Starr.”
The Beat That Changed the World
McCartney’s speech was more than a tribute—it was a journey. He took the audience back to Liverpool, to the smoky clubs of Hamburg, to the first time he, John, and George played with Ringo.
“I remember the moment like it was yesterday,” Paul said. “We were in Hamburg, and our drummer couldn’t make it. Ringo sat in. And suddenly, the music just… clicked. We looked at each other—me, John, George—and we knew. That was it. That was the sound.”
He recounted how Ringo’s steady, intuitive drumming became the foundation of The Beatles’ sound. “He didn’t just keep time,” Paul said. “He gave the songs their soul. Listen to ‘Come Together,’ ‘Rain,’ or ‘A Day in the Life’—that’s not just drumming. That’s storytelling.”
Beyond the Beatles
But the night wasn’t just about the Fab Four. McCartney highlighted Ringo’s solo career, which blossomed in the 1970s and never truly slowed down. From hits like “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Photograph” to his All-Starr Band tours that brought together legends from every corner of rock, Ringo carved out a legacy that was uniquely his own.
“Ringo didn’t just rest on Beatles laurels,” Paul said. “He kept playing, kept touring, kept spreading peace and love. He brought people together—on stage and off.”
He also touched on Ringo’s influence as a bandleader. “The All-Starr Band wasn’t just a clever name,” Paul joked. “It was a celebration of collaboration. Ringo always knew that music was better when shared.”
A Friendship Forged in Rhythm
Perhaps the most touching moments came when McCartney spoke not as a bandmate, but as a friend.
“We’ve been through everything together,” he said. “The highs, the lows, the madness, the magic. And through it all, Ringo’s been the same—funny, grounded, and full of heart.”
He recalled late-night jam sessions, inside jokes, and the quiet moments backstage. “There’s a reason we’re still mates after all these years,” Paul said. “It’s because Ringo’s the real deal. No ego, just love.”
A Legacy That Echoes
As McCartney wrapped up his speech, he turned to the audience with a twinkle in his eye. “You know, people always ask me, ‘What was it like being in The Beatles?’ And I tell them—it was like being in a band with Ringo Starr. And that, my friends, was the greatest gift of all.”
With that, he extended his hand toward the wings of the stage. “So please, join me in welcoming the one, the only, the legendary Ringo Starr!”
Ringo Takes the Stage
The crowd rose to its feet as Ringo walked out, beaming beneath his signature sunglasses. He embraced Paul in a long, heartfelt hug—two old friends, still standing, still smiling.
“Thank you, Paul,” Ringo said, his voice cracking slightly. “You always know how to make a drummer feel like a rock star.”
He kept his speech short and sweet, peppered with humor and humility. “I never thought I’d be here again,” he said. “But I guess if you hang around long enough and keep playing your drums, good things happen.”
He thanked his family, his bandmates past and present, and the fans who had supported him through every beat of his journey. “Peace and love,” he said, flashing his trademark hand sign. “Always.”
A Final Jam
The night ended with a thunderous performance. McCartney strapped on his Hofner bass, Ringo took his place behind the kit, and a supergroup of inductees and guests launched into a raucous rendition of “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
It was more than a song—it was a statement. A reminder that music, at its best, is about connection. About friendship. About showing up for each other, year after year, note after note.
The Echo of a Moment
As the final chords rang out and the lights dimmed, the audience knew they had witnessed something rare. Not just an induction, but a celebration of a bond that had shaped the soundtrack of the 20th century—and continued to inspire in the 21st.
In a world that often moves too fast, Paul and Ringo reminded us of the power of rhythm, memory, and enduring friendship. And as they walked off stage, arms around each other, the message was clear:
Some legends don’t fade. They just keep playing.
Paul McCartney Inducts Ringo Starr at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Dive into the full Beatles and Ringo Starr Induction Ceremony video collection at:
inductees and watch all videos, read from the official Hall of Fame program bios and view image galleries from the big night and archival materials.
Be the first to comment