Ringo Starr Gets a Little Help from Paul McCartney’s Stepdaughter in Heartwarming Beatles Studio Moment
It was a delightful surprise in the Beatles’ storied history – the day Ringo Starr shared the drums with a very unexpected guest: six-year-old Heather, the stepdaughter of Paul McCartney.
Captured in a newly released trailer for The Beatles: Get Back, the moment shows young Heather joyfully grabbing a pair of drumsticks and joining Ringo as the band rehearsed in January 1969. The light-hearted clip is part of a treasure trove of restored footage that had remained tucked away for over 50 years.
Ringo playfully acts perturbed as Heather takes over the drums, but the interaction is nothing short of charming. Her enthusiasm adds a spontaneous warmth to the studio sessions, breaking up the intense focus of the band’s rehearsals.
The three-part documentary, crafted from hours of behind-the-scenes material originally filmed for the 1970 Let It Be movie, also features Heather lending her voice alongside John Lennon. Her presence brings a fresh, innocent energy to the scenes, offering fans a glimpse of the Beatles in their most candid and human moments.
Directed by Peter Jackson, the series also revisits the band’s legendary final performance atop their Apple Corps rooftop headquarters in London – a moment now etched in music history. Set to premiere on Disney+ over three days, the documentary provides an unprecedented look into the Beatles’ creative process as they work on 14 new tracks for what was meant to be a live album.
Another highlight in the trailer is a rare appearance by Allan Williams, the group’s original manager, seen inside a studio with McCartney and Lennon. Williams, often referred to as “the man who gave The Beatles away,” famously parted ways with the band in 1961 following a disagreement over commissions. Despite their falling out, he played a crucial role in launching their early career, notably driving them to Hamburg for their first major gigs.
Williams, who passed away in 2016 at age 86, remains a pivotal figure in Beatles lore, even warning future manager Brian Epstein to steer clear of the band — advice Epstein wisely ignored.
As the documentary unfolds, viewers are treated to intimate moments of songwriting, rehearsal banter, and emotional highs and lows as Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr navigate their return to live performance after a long hiatus.
Executive producers include McCartney and Starr, along with Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, making The Beatles: Get Back not just a look at the band’s final chapter, but a family affair in more ways than one.