Ringo Starr, the iconic drummer of The Beatles, has had two marriages in his life. His first wife was Maureen Cox, whom he married in 1965. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1975 after ten years together. Maureen Cox, the mother of Ringo’s three children, led a relatively private life and rarely spoke to the press, with one rare interview being an exception.
Ringo and Maureen’s relationship began in 1963 when Maureen was just 16 years old and already dating Johnny Guitar, a member of the band Hurricanes. Ringo, who was the drummer for The Beatles at the time, was captivated by Maureen’s beauty and asked if he could drive her home. This led to a six-week period of Ringo driving both Maureen and her friend home before he finally asked her out on a solo date.
Their relationship blossomed amidst the sudden fame of The Beatles. In January 1965, Maureen became pregnant, and they quickly got married in February of the same year. Despite societal pressures for teen idols like Ringo to avoid marriage, he didn’t hesitate to tie the knot, stating that he had always been the marrying type.
Throughout the 1960s, Maureen embraced her role as a wife and mother. She stayed at home, raising their three children – Zak, Jason, and Lee – while personally answering Ringo’s fanmail. Despite the constant fame and infighting within the band, Maureen formed close bonds with the other Beatles’ partners, including Jane Asher, Cynthia Lennon, and Cynthia Powell (George Harrison’s partner at the time).
However, tensions grew within the marriage. Ringo quit the band temporarily during the recording of The White Album in 1968, and there were instances of infidelity and drinking on his part. It was during this time that Maureen had an affair with George Harrison, which was eventually exposed to Ringo by George’s then-wife, Patti Boyd.
The couple’s marriage finally ended in divorce in 1975, as Ringo’s affair with American model Nancy Lee Adams became public knowledge. Following the divorce, Maureen entered a relationship with entrepreneur Isaac Tigrett, the founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain. They married in 1989 and had a daughter named Augusta.
Maureen maintained a private life and rarely spoke to the press. She passed away on December 30, 1994, at home due to leukemia. At her bedside were all four of her children, her mother Florence, her husband Isaac, and her ex-husband Ringo. Paul McCartney dedicated the song “Little Willow” to Maureen in 1997, as a tribute to her and her children.
Ringo’s second marriage took place in 1981 when he tied the knot with Barbara Bach, his current wife. Together, they have enjoyed a lasting and fulfilling relationship, celebrating over 40 years of marriage. Barbara Bach, known for her role as a Bond girl in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” has been a constant companion and support to Ringo throughout the years.