Ringo Starr Tells Dan Rather 'I'm a Band Guy': Watch Clip From Rather's 100th Show

Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Robert Plant, Meat Loaf, Patti LaBelle, Neil Young, Roger Waters, Gene Simmons, Carlos Santana, and Dolly Parton are among the performers who have all sat down with Dan Rather for his AXS TV show, The Big Interview With Dan Rather, since its launch in 2013. Now it’s Ringo Starr’s turn. 

The Beatles drummer will appear on the 100th episode of Rather’s series on Oct. 2. In this exclusive preview, Starr has a confession to make: Growing up he didn’t pay attention to drummers. “I never listened to the drummer, I listened for the whole thing… I listened for the whole feel of the record.” 

For years now, Starr has toured with his All-Starr Band. Even though he’s the centerpiece, he says he’s happiest surrounded by other musicians. “I’m a band guy…I play with all these other guys,”  he says. “When the band first started, I was so insecure, though I’d said yes, there were three drummers. I was in the middle, Jim Keltner, my hero from L.A., drummer, was on this side and Levon Helm was on this side and we were all boogieing away. Life is good.” 

Starr also addresses the “risk” he took in leaving The Hurricanes to join the lesser known Beatles. It obviously worked out okay for Starr.  

Other musical guests coming up in season 6 of Rather’s show are Rod Stewart (Oct. 9), Toby Keith (Oct. 16), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Oct. 23), Kansas (Oct. 30), Joan Baez (Nov. 6), Buddy Guy (Nov. 20), Kenny Loggins (Nov. 27), Ricky Skaggs (Dec. 4), Brian Setzer (Dec. 11) and Dickey Betts (Dec. 18).