Wow . . . .just wow! Eye Ball

Robyn64/blackd!

When I met with BR in his dressing room, it was 1973 and my 2nd time seeing Buddy and the band. I was but 17!, and at that age, well ... one has a lot of personal moxie and ***** made out of titanium! So in that regard, no ... I was looking quite forward to meeting my drumming idol! However, without going into a lengthy scribe ... although it is an amusing story! ... I will tell you that it started not so well, but ended GREAT! I remember it like it was yesterday actually. Cathy Rich asked me if I had ever met her father ... I said oh yes!, but it didn't start so well. She laughed and said well, that was pretty typical! I got to see BR LIVE 5 times between 1972 and 1978, just a fabulous time for Buddy who was certainly still at the height of his powers. Not that he lost all that much of course, but ... my favorite period for BR is from approx. 1964 to 1978, and both playing wise and drum/endorsement wise. A very active period! Regarding the book:

That is still in the "works" ... "works" in quotes as you KNOW how these things can go. There is a publisher, there is interest, and all the preliminary photography has been done. The actual focus is going to be on the BR snare drum collection with each drum featured on it's own page with a write up on that drum including Buddy's like/dislike of that particular drum, when he played it, and anecdotes having to do with that period and/or drum. The small issue today is ... the internet! Everything I have researched over decades, can now be found by anyone as just about everything is out there! Still, it's not all in one spot per se as it would be in a tome dedicated specifically to Buddy and all his snare drums, endorsements, history. So ... a work in progress? I would most certainly let the membership know though ... and THANK YOU for the interest and nice words! As the mod over here, I generally let the membership have free reign and don't get too involved .. unless .. it's something about BR. That usually flushes me out of the bushes!

Tommyp

good to hear that its still ongoing, I am really looking forward to seeing it

one BR fan to another

Kev

Rolling Stoned magazine put Buddy Rich at number 15 of the top 100 drummers of all time. Now, I love Ringo and Charlie and Neil and John, all were ranked higher than Buddy, but none could play like Buddy. Obviously this poll was not conducted by drummers. Any drummer with brains knows who the greatest drummer of all time was....Buddy, PERIOD.

Damn right, I think when they were saying that about the others they might not have realised that they were just into a style thing more than buddy's totaly natural talent which if he had been in there shoes would have at the very least been able to do the same but would have in actuality probably have cut them to pieces.

No disrespect intended, Neil Peart is an amazing technical drummer, but buddy rich- what can you say?

thanks for sharing your Buddy stories with us TommyP. I, for one, really enjoy reading them. The best of luck to you with the book. I really hope it happens. i would much rather read a book then search the internet. i don't always trust the internet.

When this book does happen...i get the first autographed (by you) copy (big grin). Please?

Question about the snare collection: are these snares actual snares Buddy owned/played, or are they just the same model/type he played over the years?

I agree with you 100% Mark. even as good as all those guys were/are....aint none of them can do what Buddy did. and i really like Neil Peart, he is my next favorite.

Great post!!

Hope the book happens.

Short Buddy Rich story. Monday, Feb. 28 1972, Bethel College Newton, KS. Dad took me to see him perform with the college kids. After the show bus door was open so dad stopped. Invited in and dad and Buddy talked a bit then Buddy asked me to play. "You have long fingers, try holding the sticks like this". Still do to this day. I was 11. No idea at the time I'd met the best.

List's are always slanted one way or another. I don't pay much attention to them.

Creighton

Creighton!

GREAT BR story!, but even better that you got to see him LIVE! So many of the greats are gone now, and I still feel blessed that I was able to see so many of them back in the day! Gotta agree with you completely on lists/polls. Pointless, and most always meaningless ... not to mention the fact that they are ALL completely subjective to personal opinion!

Tommyp