Ringo Starr Says He Still Feels ’24’ When He Looks in the Mirror: ‘I Never Get Older’

Ringo Starr doesn’t feel a day over 24!

Speaking with the New York Times on Wednesday, July 2, the former Beatles drummer — who’s turning 85 on July 7 — reflected on his milestone birthday.

“It blows me away,” Starr told the outlet.

“I look in the mirror and I’m 24. I never got older than 24,” he added.

When asked how he maintains his vitality, Starr said, “I love what I’m doing.”

“When I first started… my mother would come to the gigs. She would always say, ‘You know, son, I always feel you’re at your happiest when you’re playing your drums.’ So she noticed. And I do,” he said. “I love to hit those buggers.”

At the end of the conversation, Starr said he enjoys spontaneity.

“I live in the now,” he said. “I didn’t plan any of it. I love that life I’m allowed to live.”

In March, Starr, who released a country album titled Look Up in January, opened up to PEOPLE about the idea of retiring — and said his kids get fed up every time he brings it up.

“Sometimes when I finish a tour, I’m like, ‘That’s the end for me.’ And all my children say, ‘Oh, Dad, you’ve told us that for the last 10 years.’ And they get fed up with me,” Starr said. “I do feel, ‘Oh, that’s got to be enough,’ and then I get a phone call: ‘We’ve got a few gigs if you’re interested.’ Okay, we’re off again!”

In addition to the album, Starr had a concert special filmed at the Ryman Auditorium and will perform a series of shows with the All Starr band in September.

In February, the Beatles won a Grammy Award for best rock performance for “Now and Then,” a demo recorded by John Lennon that got a second life thanks to Starr, Paul McCartney and artificial intelligence technology.

“I didn’t expect to win, but it was great,” Starr said. “It just felt like John was with us.”