Ringo Starr uncovers illness details in October 2024 interview

Ringo Starr, the legendary drummer of The Beatles, has recently revealed the challenging circumstances surrounding a health scare he experienced which led to the cancellation of tour dates. In an interview with Variety, Starr, now 84, disclosed that he had a white blood cell count of 12,000, indicative of an infection or inflammation. He described the illness metaphorically as a 'mad thing eating my body,' reflecting on the gravity of the situation. Thankfully, through medication and treatment, he recovered fully within two weeks. Despite his health issues, Ringo is making a notable return with a new country album titled 'Look Up,' set for release in January, featuring artists like Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle. Starr expressed his intention to keep the album focused on artistic expression rather than leveraging celebrity popularity, a contrast to current trends in the music industry. He emphasized the importance of his identity as an artist over celebrity appearances. Additionally, he discussed his involvement in an upcoming Beatles documentary, 'Beatles ’64,' which will air on Disney+ in November. As one of the producers, Starr reflected on the emotional challenges of revisiting the band's history, especially as he and Paul McCartney are the last surviving members of the iconic group. Starr's resilience and ongoing engagement in music demonstrate his strong spirit and commitment to creativity, affirming that he still has much to contribute to the music world.