Ringo Starr talks Zayn Malik leaving One Direction: 'The pressure is more now'

Ringo Starr knows a thing or two about boy bands breaking up.

The 74-year-old drummer for the Beatles -- arguably the biggest band to ever exist, don't tell the Directioners! -- offers some interesting insight into Zayn Malik's decision to leave One Direction last week.

"They are under a lot of pressure, the kids out there today," Starr tells ET's Nischelle Turner. "We were under a lot of pressure but compared to them, we were on holiday. And we could go on holiday and it was fine. And we always went together, that was mad too. We always shared a room in a hotel and we always went on holiday in at least twos. But I think the pressure now is because you cannot move. Somebody is on the phone, they're photographing you and filming you and anything that happens and you've got that 30 mile radius here that are always outside everywhere. The pressure's more now."

As for whether he thinks 1D will survive, Starr is very optimistic.

"I don't think it this will stop One Direction. They're just going in another direction. The the right direction," he jokes.

Zayn, 22, broke the hearts of fans everywhere last week when he made the shocking decision to leave 1D after fives years.

"I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world," Zayn said in a statement on the band's Facebook.

Since then, everyone from 5 Seconds of Summer to Nick Jonas have spoken out about that bold statement. Watch the video below to see what the youngest Jonas Brother had to say about the news ahead of hosting the Kids' Choice Awards.