Editing Ringo Starr (section)

=== First bands ===
{{see also|Rory Storm}}
Soon after Trafford piqued Starkey's interest in skiffle, the two began rehearsing songs in the manufacturing plant's cellar during their lunch breaks. Trafford recalled: "I played a guitar, and [Ritchie] just made a noise on a box ... Sometimes, he just slapped a biscuit tin with some keys, or banged on the backs of chairs."{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=341}} The pair were joined by Starkey's neighbour and co-worker, the guitarist Eddie Miles, forming the Eddie Miles Band, later renamed Eddie Clayton and the Clayton Squares after [[Clayton Square Shopping Centre|a Liverpool landmark]].{{sfn|Spitz|2005|pp=341–342}} The band performed popular skiffle songs such as "[[Rock Island Line (song)|Rock Island Line]]" and "Walking Cane", with Starkey raking a [[thimble]] across a [[washboard (musical instrument)|washboard]], creating primitive, driving rhythms.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=342}} Starkey enjoyed dancing as his parents had years earlier, and he and Trafford briefly took dance lessons at two schools. Though the lessons were short-lived, they provided Starkey and Trafford with an introduction that allowed them to dance competently while enjoying nights out on the town.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=342}}

On Christmas Day 1957, Graves gave Starkey a second-hand drum kit consisting of a [[snare drum]], [[bass drum]] and a makeshift [[cymbal]] fashioned from a [[waste container|rubbish bin]] lid. Although basic and crude, the kit facilitated his progression as a musician while increasing the commercial potential of the Eddie Clayton band, who went on to book prestigious local gigs before the skiffle craze faded in early 1958 as American [[rock and roll]] became popular in the UK.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|pp=37–38}}: The UK skiffle craze succumbed to American rock and roll by early 1958 {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|p=343}}.</ref>

In November 1959, Starkey joined [[Rory Storm|Al Caldwell]]'s Texans, a skiffle group who were looking for someone with a proper drum kit so that the group could transition from one of Liverpool's best-known skiffle acts to a full-fledged rock and roll band.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=45}}: Starr joined Storm's band in November 1959; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=58}}: Starr joined Storm's band in November 1959; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=324, 341–343}}.</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Starr had first drummed with the Texans on 25 March 1959, at the Mardi Gras club in Liverpool.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=44}}; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=58}}.</ref>}} They had begun playing local clubs as the Raging Texans, then Jet Storm and the Raging Texans before settling on Rory Storm and the Hurricanes shortly before recruiting Starkey.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|pp=44–45}}; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=324, 341–343}}.</ref> About this time he adopted the stage name Ringo Starr; derived from the rings he wore and also because it implied a country and western influence. His singing solos were billed as ''Starr Time''.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|pp=57–58}}: (secondary source); {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=324, 341–345}}: (secondary source); {{harvnb|The Beatles|2000|p=39}}: (primary source).</ref>

By early 1960, the Hurricanes had become one of Liverpool's leading bands.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=50}}; {{harvnb|Davies|2009|p=150}}.</ref> In May, they were offered a three-month residency at a [[Butlins]] holiday camp in Wales.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=58}} Although initially reluctant to accept the residency and end his five-year machinist apprenticeship that he had begun four years earlier, Starr eventually agreed to the arrangement.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|pp=54–55}}; {{harvnb|Davies|2009|p=150}}; {{harvnb|Spitz|2005|pp=245–246}}.</ref> The Butlins gig led to other opportunities for the band, including an unpleasant tour of [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] bases in France about which Starr commented: "The French don't like the British; at least I didn't like them."{{sfn|Davies|2009|p=150}} The Hurricanes became so successful that when initially offered a highly coveted residency in [[Hamburg]], they turned it down because of their prior commitment with Butlins.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=54}}; {{harvnb|Davies|2009|p=150}}.</ref> They eventually accepted, joining [[the Beatles]] at [[Bruno Koschmider]]{{'}}s [[Kaiserkeller]] on 1 October 1960, where Starr first met the band.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=63}}: Starr first met the Beatles in Hamburg; {{harvnb|Davies|2009|pp=150–151}}: Starr first met the Beatles in Hamburg; {{harvnb|Harry|2004|p=302}}: Bruno Koschmider; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=23}}: arriving in Hamburg on 1 October 1960.</ref> Storm's Hurricanes were given top-billing over the Beatles, who also received less pay.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=62}}: the Hurricanes were paid more than the Beatles; {{harvnb|Harry|2004|p=302}}: the Hurricanes were given top-billing over the Beatles.</ref> Starr performed with the Beatles during a few stand-in engagements while in Hamburg. On 15 October 1960, he drummed with [[John Lennon]], [[Paul McCartney]] and [[George Harrison]], recording with them for the first time while backing Hurricanes singer Lu Walters on the song "[[Summertime (George Gershwin song)|Summertime]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=63}}: Starr recording with the Beatles for the first time; {{harvnb|Davies|2009|p=151}}: Starr performed with the Beatles during a few stand-in engagements while in Hamburg; {{harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=23}}: Starr recording with the Beatles for the first time.</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Of the nine [[Gramophone record|78-rpm discs]] that were cut, only one is known to have survived.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=23}}}} During Starr's first stay in Hamburg he also met [[Tony Sheridan]], who valued his drumming abilities to the point of asking Starr to leave the Hurricanes and join his band.<ref>{{harvnb|Clayson|2005|p=69}}; {{harvnb|Gould|2007|p=126}}.</ref>