Ringo Starr and Dave Grohl Interview: Beatles, Nirvana, Drumming – Rolling Stone

GROHL So I think that the sign of a great drummer is knowing who that drummer is within eight bars of the song. I think that’s the goal. I think a lot of it has to do with being self-taught, because you were just doing what came naturally to you, so you weren’t restricted by any of that stuff. To this day, when we’re in the studio — I’m sure every band in the world, if they want that fill — they say, “Hey, do a Ringo thing right there.”

STARR Well, that’s high praise coming from you, Dave. It’s like, not knowing has really helped me a lot. Even from starting, the kit was set up right-handed. I sat behind it, didn’t care I was left-handed. So I did it the best I could in a left-handed way, which, in the end, was great for me ’cause I suddenly had my own style. And the style was: There’s always a couple of seconds before I can do a fill. The only thing I do is write with my right hand. I’m a left-handed golfer.

GROHL [Laughs] That’s gotta be slang for something else.

STARR “Oh, you know, Ringo’s a left-handed golfer.” “Oooh! I thought he’d given all that up.”