Was Ringo's drumming "deceptively simple" or just plain simple?

I think every member of the Beatles is somewhat overrated regarding their instrumental skill

remember that prior to ringo, the "drum set" wasnt very popular at all. most bands before his time would have a "percussion" section, where you could have one or more percussions playing different things like a snare, a bass drum, and other stuff like chimes, woodblocks etc. ringo was really one of the first to pioneer the kinds of things that a single person could do on a drumkit, basically playing the parts of multiple people. so yes, his stuff is pretty simple. but its also brilliant in the sense that for his time, it was so new and innovative. i think a lot of beginner drummers can play most of his stuff, but what makes ringo awesome is his ingenuity and progressiveness to his instrument.

imho.

Hello.Yes I would say he could hold his own.Simple straight drumming is often hard to play.Like Charlie Watts for example.

Ringo's son Zak is a superb drummer.One of the best on the scene.

I'd say a little bit of both. In the beginning it was just plain simple. Then he drastically improved in the later albums. He could do complex stuff too. It shows in songs like "Oh! Darlin" and "Come Together".

Out of all of their solo work, Ringo is definitely the WEAKEST LINK ...

... but I'm sure he's a good bloke, and he did okay for himself, so who are we to slag him down?

Hell, I'll even give BEIBER his props ... kid's already had way better money/chicks than I could ever have dreamt of.

It doesn't take genius, it takes restraint and taste...something few drummer have.