GetAgrippa
Diamond Member
Here is an interesting article about Buddy Rich. https://jazztimes.com/features/buddy-rich-legacy/
I suspect that those who think BR was a one trick pony have never heard his brush work or his small combo recordings. I guess as the OP said that everyone from Peart to Weckl, plus others like John Bonham saying Buddy Rich is the greatest of all time just isn't good enough for some on this thread.
Reason 2: Just because we can't all agree on who the "best" is, doesn't mean that there is no best. We'll never know who the best is, that's true, but it's not because there is no best. It's because our opinions and tastes, among other factors, won't allow for a consensus.
Are you saying that the ambiguous imaginary construct by which we declare our favorite idols superior to others is not.... an ambiguous imaginary construct?
Who would have guessed?!
O¿O
^^Agreed.
Sometimes the internet just blows my mind with attitudes about people who have worked hard to become bonafide masters. On Facebook, someone commented on the death of Ndugu Chancellor saying that anyone could have played the drums on Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. The best response to that from someone was (paraphrased) "He got the call, and he did it. You didn't. And not anyone could have done it".
This is the same case here (and any other discussion of people we may hold in high esteem. They did the work to get there. You didn't, and by nature of this, they got there first. It's not just technique and mastery of your instrument that gets you places (and we keep discussing that here). It's who you know, how you get along with them, and the interaction of the musicians you work with.
Does it matter that he couldn't have composed Tom Sawyer? Does it matter that his feet aren't what Mike Mangini's are? The fact is, Buddy became a bonafide drum star by being able to cut it with his contemporaries, and by being sociable enough to make lifelong career friends. This seems like a lot more than working hard to be a bedroom Youtube drummer, no? Which, by the way, is the majority of people you meet at NAMM. All those products? Being sold to the dreamers who dream about making it bigger than where they currently are.
I think it's cool that people have opinions, but it would be cooler if those people would look in the mirror first about where they're at before espousing an opinion on someone who made their music career the first thing in their lives, and to try to push along their craft. In fact, I've often noticed that people who are always working, are not on internet forums complaining about others. They're too busy working and playing music with other musicians.
This has happened in the past - remember when everyone complained about Hannah Ford? You know, the musician who got the gig playing for PRINCE? I'm pretty sure she wasn't busy worrying about what was said about her on Drummerworld. Heck, people say mean things about Lars Ulrich (still) or (insert any drummer you don't like). But you know, they're out there doing what they do. As we should all be doing. I'm going out right now.
Wow, some of these Buddy Rich accolades are starting to sound like a certain beer commercial.
He's one the greatest musicians ever born.
He could play 600 strokes per minute continuously with his left hand--cleanly.
If he would have played another instrument, he would be the greatest at that instrument.
He could play anything in front of him, in any genre, without practice. He just looked, listened and played.
He once wowed a packed house with nothing more than two bass drums.
He famously played a complete set with NO SPRING on his pedal.
His version of Tom Sawyer would have made Neil Peart cry tears of joy.
He is... the most interesting drummer in the world.
Buddy: "I don't always play drums. But when I do, I play the shit out of them."
(Note that I paraphrased or combined some of these responses for effect)
I'm so into this response. Right on.
Thanks, Watso. Obviously Buddy was an amazing drummer, and I hope no one thinks I was trying to put him down or anything like that. But you have to admit, some of these over-the-top accolades begin to sound more like "legend" than reality. Of course, I know a few of these were meant to be funny.
Just for the record, my two favorite drummers are Vinnie Colaiuta and Gavin Harrison. I can watch either of them for hours on end. But every time I watch a Buddy Rich video, after 5 minutes I've had enough. That's not to say that he's not a great drummer, it's just that his style of playing doesn't really resonate with me. If he resonates with anyone here, great. By all means, watch him and say how great he is to your heart's content. Everyone is going to have a different favorite drummer, and everyone is entitled to their favorites.
I guess what irks me is the notion that Buddy is, was, and will always be the greatest of all time, period. That kind of thinking is very closed minded, like you're just supposed to "accept" that as fact, and anyone who questions it be damned. I'm the kind of person who likes to question things and come up with my own conclusions.
And my conclusion is that there isn't a greatest of all time. No one, not Buddy, not Vinnie, not Neil, not Gavin, nor anyone else can claim that title. As others have mentioned (and as I've alluded to), there's really no way to objectively measure who's the greatest, so no one really can be.
But if anyone wants to say that Buddy was the GOAT, I'm not going to argue with you or try to talk you out of it. Just as I'm entitled to my opinion, you are entitled to yours.
I would put Gene Krupa above Buddy
Edit- Krupa also brought more to the drumming world.
I guess what irks me is the notion that Buddy is, was, and will always be the greatest of all time, period. That kind of thinking is very closed minded, like you're just supposed to "accept" that as fact, and anyone who questions it be damned. I'm the kind of person who likes to question things and come up with my own conclusions.
If you think that's bad you should have seen the guys saying the same about Travis Barker.