The Story behind the Story

• “I had a phone call from the shop to say that someone called Brian Epstein was there with a drummer. Here was this drummer, Ringo, Schmingo, whatever his name was. At that time I certainly hadn’t heard of the Beatles. Every band was going to be big in those days! ”* — —** IVOR ARBITER**

The famous Beatles logo — Known as ‘the Drop-T’ design was based on a sketch made by instrument retailer Ivor Arbiter in 1963.

The store owner quickly drew the design after negotiating with Beatles manager Brian Epstein who was looking for a drum kit for Ringo Starr in 1963. Arbiter wanted the name of the drum company, Ludwig, placed on the bass head, and Epstein agreed — if the Beatles’ name was also featured.

And what was Arbiter paid for creating a logo that will outlast us all? Five pounds.

(Source: The Beatles — Best Band Logos by Matthew Wilkening)

Ringo owned and played six different drum kits while with The Beatles. At first he played his original Premier kit that he played in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The first Ludwig kit was a, Oysterblack 1963 Downbeat with a 5.5″X14 Jazz Festival Snare drum. In 1964 when they visitied New York to do the Ed Sullivan show, he acquired a second Donwbeat set. He kept his original Jazz Fest throughout his Beatles tenure. In late ’64 he got a Super Classic kei which has the larger sizes, 13–16–22 drums. During the filming of Help!, he acquired a second Super Classic set so that he had one on the movie set and one for live performances and in the recording studio. In 1969 he got a natural maple colored Hollywood kit which he played during the famous rooftop concert.

8pm on Sunday 9th February, 1964, the live broadcast of the first Ed Sullivan Show was aired. The band played five songs (All My Loving, Till There Was You, She Loves You, I Saw Her Standing There and I Want To Hold Your Hand) and made broadcasting history.