By Tim Barlass
Who better to take pictures of the Beatles than a member of the band? You get great access and the inside story.
Ringo delivers just that in his new book Photograph, which also includes images from the very early days.
Ringo playing at the Cavern Club Credit: © Ringo Starr
There he is in the first shot of him playing at the Cavern Club before the band was formed.
And in the picture of his first car, a Standard Vanguard that cost £75 so he could carry his own drums.
Ringo in his first car, a Standard Vanguard, bought from another drummer, Johnny Hutch, for £75 Credit: © Ringo Starr
"I took George Harrison in my Zephyr Zodiac to pick up his first car. He bought a Ford Anglia – he was young! On the way home, a dog ran in front of my car, and this was the bill for my helpful endeavours," he writes in one of the insightful captions.
In 1960 he got a three-month gig at the Butlins holiday camp in Wales. "There was a little consternation at home – it was like a family gathering. They said, 'It's all right as a hobby, son,' but I said,'No, this is what I'm going to do'."
Butlins was where he took a call from Brian Epstein, soon to be the band's manager, asking him to join the band.
"So I said,'Sure, when?'
George Martin, Steve Gadd and his lady, Paul and Linda, Ringo and Barbara. Montserrat, February 1981 Credit: © Ringo Starr
"This was Wednesday and he said, 'Today, Tonight.'
"I said, 'No, I can't join tonight, we're in a band here, we've got a job. No, I'll come Saturday!'"
Ringo with the Harmony guitar that he had when he went to Nashville to record Beaucoups of BluesCredit: © Ringo Starr
He adds that everyone knows the rest of the story.
Photograph, by Ringo Starr, is released on September 21, 2015
John, Ringo, Maureen and Cynthia on holiday in Tobago, January 1966Credit: © Ringo Starr