Drum kit that Ringo Starr played on early Beatles hits sells for $1.75 million at auction

INDIANAPOLIS – Jim Irsay is reuniting the Beatles piece by piece.

The Indianapolis Colts owner made his latest pricey purchase Friday, picking up Ringo Starr's first Ludwig drum set at auction for $1.75 million.

"Finally, after 45 years, the Beatles are together again," Irsay said in a text message to The Associated Press.

Irsay owns prominent guitars from the group's other three members — Paul McCartney, the late George Harrison and the late John Lennon. Earlier this year, Irsay also purchased a drumhead that will fit the set he just bought.

Irsay is a huge music fan and an avid collector. He owns roughly 30 famous guitars, including instruments used by Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and Eric Clapton.

In 2001, Irsay paid $2.43 million for the original manuscript of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." Known as "the scroll," it's a continuous, 120-foot scroll tracing paper sheets that the author cut to size and taped together.