Next month stars from the worlds of rock, pop and classical music will descend on the Royal Borough for the Hampton Court Palace Festival. A gig from former Beatle Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band promises to be one of the main draws and ahead of the show Ringo took some time out to speak exclusively to Will Gore about his favourite Beatles’ tracks, what inspired him to take up the drums and plenty more besides.

What can we expect from your Hampton Court Palace Festival gig?

A fun night with great songs and great musicians. Each of the All Starrs has had their own hits so it works out usually that we do 12 of my songs and the band do 12 songs between them. We have Richard Page from Mr Mister and Rick Derringer and Wally Palmar from The Romantics and we will be doing With A Little Help From My Friends, Yellow Submarine, Photograph and It Don’t Come Easy.

Do you prefer being up front as lead singer or behind the drum kit?

I love both actually and, playing in this way, with the All Starrs, who are great musicians, allows me to do that. But if I had one choice in life it would be to be behind the drums.

Is there a Beatles song you love playing more than any other?

I wouldn’t dream of going out and not doing With A Little Help. That’s why people are there. Everybody loves it, everybody knows it, everybody can join in, and it is the peace and love song.

What are the best things about touring?

It is all about the playing but the touring part…I don’t know anyone who looks forward to another 10 hours on a plane. The travelling is the worst thing, it seems great but you’re not settled and you aren’t going on holiday, but the gig is always great and you have to do the travelling to get there.

What first inspired you to become a drummer?

I had a dream at 13 that I wanted to play drums. It took five years before I got a proper set - I made my first one out of biscuit tins and bits of firewood. Then someone in my step-dad’s family died who just happened to be a drummer. My step-dad bought his kit for me and that was the first real one that I had.

What was the last album you bought?

I’m listening to Plan B and I love Mumford and Sons’ record. I don’t usually buy CDs though, I buy tracks on iTunes. I’ll spend a couple of hours listening to the new stuff that’s out but when in doubt it is Ray Charles and the blues - the music I grew up with.

What advice would you give to a young band trying to make it in today's music industry?

Keep on playing. Get up and play. Play with your pals. Play with strangers. Just play. We were lucky, we played in Liverpool, and in Germany we were doing 12 hours on a Saturday night between two bands. You get to know your stuff.

Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band, Hampton Court Palace, June 17, for booking information and for a full festival programme, visit hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com. The Hampton Court Palace Festival runs from June 8-18.