The former Beatles star met with 17-year-old Alexx Kipp – who also suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome – at the Los Angeles’ Hard Rock Cafe as part of a new partnership between the restaurant chain and the Make-A–Wish Foundation last week and gave Alexx a black and white set of Ludwig drums, before playing on the kit with him.
Alexx - who has been playing drums since he was eight – had wanted to meet Ringo for several years, and last year his family approached the charity to try and grant him his wish.
His father Charles Kipp said: “Alexx came to me one morning and he said, ‘Dad, I had a dream last night and I met Ringo.’
“This was before we knew it was going to happen. About a week later we got the call. I told him, ‘It looks like your dream came true.’ ”
Alexx’s next goal is to learn the Beatles hit ‘I Am The Walrus’ and he was given some advice by Ringo.
According to the Los Angeles Times newspaper, Ringo told him: “I get the easy bit. I come, I say hi, we hang out, we have a bit of fun.
“In the band I was in, we knew when we’d done the take, because it just feels good. It’s like golf: When you hit that ball right, you know. You feel it - you feel the connection. And connecting is good.”
The musical legend also spoke about his ongoing involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation – who accept requests from children with life-threatening illnesses and try and make them happen – admitting it gives him a different perspective on life.
He said: “It's huge. It puts you in your place. You think you’ve got a cold - you’re all, ‘Oh, what about me?’ Then you help these kids. You think of the families. I’ve got children too, and it’s got to be hard.”
Ringo has designed a T-shirt which will be sold throughout Hard Rock International locations, with proceeds benefiting his Lotus Foundation, which directly supports Make-A-Wish.
‘Like’ our facebook page and be entered into a draw to win 1000 CDs including rare, signed and promotional copies here!