In a rare and emotional interview, Ringo Starr opened up about one of the most private and painful memories he still carries — John Lennon’s final message to him before his tragic death in 1980. For years, Ringo stayed relatively silent about those final days, but when he finally spoke, it was with raw honesty and tears that reflected just how deep the loss still runs.
A Friendship That Transcended Fame
Ringo and John weren’t just bandmates. They were brothers in spirit, two very different souls who found connection in music, humor, and survival within the storm that was The Beatles. While John and Paul often dominated the songwriting spotlight, it was with Ringo that Lennon often shared his unguarded self — moments filled with laughter, mischief, and quiet understanding.
After the Beatles disbanded, all four members went their separate ways, but Ringo remained in touch with John more frequently than many realized. In the years after the breakup, John settled in New York, and though visits were rare, phone calls and letters helped maintain their bond.
The Final Phone Call
In the days leading up to Lennon’s death, Ringo was planning a trip to New York. He had spoken to John over the phone — a call that would unknowingly become their last real conversation. During that call, John had expressed excitement about seeing Ringo again. He told him, “You’re always welcome here, Ringo. Always. Bring the drums, man. Let’s play again.”
When Ringo recounted those words in the interview, his voice broke. Tears welled in his eyes. “I didn’t make it,” he said. “I didn’t get there in time. I still think about that every day. He wanted to play again. He wanted us to have one more moment.”
Grief That Never Left
The moment hit fans just as hard as it hit Ringo. For many, this wasn’t just another celebrity anecdote — it was a glimpse into the heartbreak that followed the end of an era. John Lennon’s final message wasn’t poetic or planned. It was real. It was spontaneous. And it carried the kind of warmth that made his death all the more devastating.
Ringo confessed that for years, he couldn’t listen to some of their songs. “It was too much,” he said. “His voice, our laughter… it brought him back. But also reminded me he was gone.”
A Message That Lives On
Now in his 80s, Ringo Starr continues to tour, make music, and share stories. But when he speaks about John Lennon’s final message, the world sees the human side of a Beatle — a man still grieving the loss of someone who was more than a friend.
“I miss him,” Ringo whispered. “I’ll always miss him. But I’m grateful for those words. At least I know, in the end, he was still thinking of me.”
It’s a story that resonates not just with Beatles fans, but with anyone who’s ever lost someone they loved — and wished for just one more moment.