Ringo Starr couldn’t teach George Harrison’s son, Dhani, the same way Paul McCartney might have mentored Jack Berry or Elvis Costello. It wasn’t a matter of incompetence; Ringo could teach drums like nobody’s business after all. He was, however, hampered by an almost unbreakable unspoken rule in band fraternities: Never fraternize with the offspring on your domain. Ringo understood those boundaries more than anyone. Dhani, being part of the illustrious “next generation” of musically gifted youngsters connected to The Beatles came with inherent pressure to emulate. Trying wouldn’t have just been a personal connection, it’d be the Beatles legacy colliding right there in music rehearsals – an unfair spotlight.
Beyond the implicit taboos that Ringo likely observed, there’s Dhani himself. George’s son pursued multi-instrumentalism far stronger than simply beating backbeat; he played guitars (his father inspired, but his own signature style), bass and keyboards – more varied skills than one drummer could practically address as Dhani needed exposure across genres – rock was vital but acoustic, orchestral, electronic influences were what made his sound uniquely him.
It was smart to separate those spheres. What Ringo could do beautifully for Dhani’s growth in the Beatles family circle? Play live together, be supportive with fatherly drumming advice during a jam session… but formal lessons wouldn’t have matched him becoming both musically autonomous and respecting that personal heritage built in collaboration, not tutoring by Ringo the icon next to George’s son inheriting more than genetics but legacy too. Think Stevie Wonder influencing John Legend: inspiring mentorship is crucial, but personal style must emerge independently for true artistic impact
Dhani got excellent drumming teachers alongside his dad’s rock lessons – practical and perfect considering his wide range, and avoids pitting family legacy (like Ringo) against creative identity (something he could never truly teach anyway), letting Dhani forge his own path in that musical wonderland. Ringo? Left to provide inspiration by being in their realm, not educating a legend’s offspring. The boundaries they both respected fostered something more profound; a shared musical future built through individual growth, not direct lineage on the drumsticks