I found this on the NOt so modern drummer site. According to this article DW built Buddy a kit sometime in 1982 and he played it up until he had his heart attack in 1983.
Hello Tommyp can you shed some light on this. I remember you saying Buddy before he died was in talks with DW for an endorsement but this is years before that.
http://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/submissions/reader-articles/dw-buddy-rich-drum-set/
Yeah Glad you posted this. I was going to myself. Great read for sure.
DG1988!
Goes without saying, I had seen/read that article prior! As to my thoughts on it, well... I can't definitively say that it isn't true... but I can't say that it IS true either! The drums were of course built, and they DO exist!, but... what has always bothered me personally is the lack of evidence that shows Buddy playing them. My research into the timeline suggests that it "could be" possible as Joe MacSweeney didn't present Buddy with the restored 40's Slingerland Radio Kings until after Buddy's heart attack as he presented the snare drum to Buddy while he was in the hospital I believe. That said...
... if all of this is correct regarding the DW's: WHY did Buddy STOP playing them?! Are we to believe that he took the restored 40's Slingerland RK's OVER the factory built to his specs and factory supported DW's? Seems odd to me... and always has! Was there a monetary compensation to go along with the DW's? Knowing Buddy, I would say there would have to be! Maybe THAT was why he stopped playing them... no compensation. There's no way to definitively know as Buddy's not here to say. I will say this though: I would love to see that video from "Fantasy" and/or some pics of Buddy playing these for more than a couple nights, as otherwise... they just were NOT drums that he ACTIVELY played for any length of time. We all know the 40's Radio Kings were!, with plenty of film.. vid .. and pics to support it.
Tommyp
interesting. i also never heard about the kit. being it was at the end of his career i'm not surprised no one knows about it.
time to search youtube for some videos!
just think if buddy was known for playing dw too?
interesting. i also never heard about the kit. being it was at the end of his career i'm not surprised no one knows about it.time to search youtube for some videos!just think if buddy was known for playing dw too?
drummerfish!
There are NO videos! Did you read my post?
Tommyp
I thought this a bit odd also Tommy !
DG1988!Goes without saying, I had seen/read that article prior! As to my thoughts on it, well... I can't definitively say that it isn't true... but I can't say that it IS true either! The drums were of course built, and they DO exist!, but... what has always bothered me personally is the lack of evidence that shows Buddy playing them. My research into the timeline suggests that it "could be" possible as Joe MacSweeney didn't present Buddy with the restored 40's Slingerland Radio Kings until after Buddy's heart attack as he presented the snare drum to Buddy while he was in the hospital I believe. That said...... if all of this is correct regarding the DW's: WHY did Buddy STOP playing them?! Are we to believe that he took the restored 40's Slingerland RK's OVER the factory built to his specs and factory supported DW's? Seems odd to me... and always has! Was there a monetary compensation to go along with the DW's? Knowing Buddy, I would say there would have to be! Maybe THAT was why he stopped playing them... no compensation. There's no way to definitively know as Buddy's not here to say. I will say this though: I would love to see that video from "Fantasy" and/or some pics of Buddy playing these for more than a couple nights, as otherwise... they just were NOT drums that he ACTIVELY played for any length of time. We all know the 40's Radio Kings were!, with plenty of film.. vid .. and pics to support it.Tommyp
Sounds like we have a mystery here Folks.
DG1988!
I never thought there was a mystery, and I'll tell you why: I hang/chat with TONS of BR fanatics... guys that are even more hardcore than I am! ( is that possible??!! )
... let's see if the video surfaces. I can't help but ask just WHERE it has been for the past 32 years though! I mean if I had that, well I'd want to share it! Where's DW's PROMO featuring the great, the one and only, Buddy Rich playing their drums??!! There is none, otherwise we ALL would have seen it by now. If it were legitimate, and again it could be ... it certainly seems like it was done on the QT!
Tommyp
DG1988!I never thought there was a mystery, and I'll tell you why: I hang/chat with TONS of BR fanatics... guys that are even more hardcore than I am! ( is that possible??!! )
Excellent Points Tommyp.
