Why Does Ringo Have a Second Drummer?

Who is the drummer for Ringo Starr's All Starr Band?

There are two. Ringo Starr is one, of course. The other is Gregg Bissonette, who has held the second drum chair in the All Starr Band since 2008. Before joining Ringo he was known for playing in David Lee Roth's band. His first gigs with Ringo actually came earlier, in 2003, on the promotional shows for Ringo's Ringo Rama album.

Why does Ringo have a second drummer?

Watch an All Starr show and you will notice how often Ringo is out front with a microphone rather than behind the kit. He opens the night with "Matchbox" and "It Don't Come Easy", and he also sings songs like "Photograph", "Yellow Submarine" and "I'm the Greatest" from the front of the stage. Somebody has to keep the beat while he does that, and that is Bissonette's job.

When Ringo goes back to his own kit, the two drummers play together and split the parts between them. Bissonette has described this arrangement in an interview with Rolling Stone. For the audience it means the songs sound full whether Ringo is singing or drumming, and you get the fun of seeing two kits going at once.

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Has the All Starr Band always had two drummers?

Yes. Two drummers were part of the concept from day one. The first All Starr Band in 1989 had both Levon Helm of The Band and session great Jim Keltner behind kits next to Ringo. That first lineup also included Joe Walsh, Dr. John, Billy Preston, Rick Danko, Nils Lofgren and Clarence Clemons. You can read more about it in our history of the band.

Who had the drum chair before Gregg Bissonette?

For years the second drum seat followed the same rule as the rest of the band: it went to a drummer who had hits of their own. Sheila E. and Simon Kirke both filled it in earlier lineups. According to Bissonette's Rolling Stone interview, when he was hired in 2008 he was told that Ringo had run out of drummers with hits. Rather than keep searching, Ringo brought in a specialist drummer, and Bissonette has been there ever since.

What does Gregg Bissonette do during the show?

A lot. He plays most of the night, including all the songs Ringo sings from the front. He also drives the All Starrs' own hits, from Toto's "Rosanna" and "Africa" to Men at Work's "Down Under". On the 2026 setlist, Average White Band's "Cut the Cake" includes a Bissonette drum solo, which is one of the moments drummers in the crowd tend to wait for. See the full order on our setlist page.

It also gives the show a different rhythm to most concerts. Instead of one drummer carrying every song, you get a handover system: Bissonette for the songs Ringo sings out front, both drummers when he sits down, and a full two-kit sound on the big finales.

Where should I sit to see the drummers?

Drum kits normally sit toward the back of a stage, so a centered seat with a bit of elevation gives the clearest view of both. Very close seats on the far sides can have a partial view of the back line. Our best seats guide explains how to choose, and what to expect covers the rest of the night.

Will Bissonette be on the fall 2026 dates?

Yes. The fall 2026 run uses the same lineup that has played since 2024, and Bissonette is in it alongside Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Warren Ham and Buck Johnson. The ten shows run from September 24 in Easton, PA to October 7 in Albany, NY. Full details are on our band members page and our tour dates page.

Does Ringo still drum at his shows?

Yes. He splits his night between singing out front and playing his own kit, and the moments when he sits down behind the drums get some of the loudest cheers of the evening. The two-drummer setup is what lets him do both without the music ever stopping.

Second drummer: frequently asked questions