Buddy Rich Being an A-hole – IOTW Report

Buddy Rich Being an A-hole

We’ve given Buddy Rich a hagiography of sorts in the last couple of weeks. But, Buddy Rich was a bull-headed, opinionated, dope.

In addition to what he says here, in this cringe interview (especially in front of George “Goober” Lindsey), he has slammed drummers who use the matched grip (holding the right stick the same as the left stick) as opposed to the traditional grip.

When he slams Glen Campbell and Chet Atkins, he went too far.

25 Comments on Buddy Rich Being an A-hole

  1. I like listening to Jazz but never thought it oozed in creativity. He sounds like he would be a devote lefty because he thinks his views and likes should be embraced by all.

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  2. I’ve met more jazz drummers who were first rate assholes than not. YMMV, but that is my experience. I believe Ginger Baker was as well. Never met him, but watched a few documentaries.

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  3. Drummers…can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em.

    Did Buddy Rich ever write any hit songs? Ever play in the Wrecking Crew? Glenn Campbell did.

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  4. I am not a country music fan , but I do consider it an American art form that has produced some of the finest singers and musicians.
    For him to sit there and pontificate his opinion in such a way that it belittles a guest and those people who enjoy country music says a lot about Buddy Rich. Classless.
    Glen Campbell was a fine artist along with Chet Atkins and a host of many more. Roy Clark is a guitar legend.

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  5. Wonder what Buddy Rich might think about rap? Further, what does a drummer have to say about intonation and pitch? I know, I know, drummers are musicians too, stop already.

    Western music is a recent development, structure and organization wise. Music that is more accessible is by definition simpler. Listen to traditional Indian or Chinese symphonic music and get back to me with your thoughts. The suspended fourth used to be considered satanic or at least influenced by Satan in western musical structure.

    For me learning to play a piece of music on a single instrument is a long exercise in drudgery, a mathematical equation of multilayered complexity requiring, to be done correctly, perfect reproduction of time, pitch and intonation as well as volume and intensity. This includes reproducing musical phrases that spring unbidden out of my own head. And this is just western musical organization, a relatively simple and accessible structure. Talent, or lack thereof, rears it’s ugly head here.

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  6. Buddy is way off on Chet Atkins and Campbell. Was it here that posted the Buddy Rich “Bus Tapes”? That was good stuff. He is an a-hole As a drummer, Buddy was the first drummer my drum teacher told me to go listen too. He is amazing and had great technique of doubling his speed of the stick.
    There are couple of guys on YT that show you how to do it.

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  7. Buddy looks like he treats his sleep apnea with a toilet plunger. I’m sorry that Goober and 99 had to listen to that rubbish. Talent, class, and grace would be an advancement for him. He out simians Ed Sullivan.

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  8. I think that George Lindsys polite composure was amazing. He was polite and never interrupted or got nasty. It’s almost like Rich was spoiling for a fight.

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  9. Absolutely CT Ginger. Roy fricking Clark was awesome. I understand Rich trying to draw people into more complex music of jazz, but to denigrate fellow musicians who are as talented or more talented on their instrument as you are on yours is not they way to do it.
    He mentions Charlie Christian as comparison. The little I’ve heard of Charlie is impressive. But I don’t see him playing bass lines and melody all at once.

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  10. I would have loved to see Goober pull the toupee off that monkey-looking SOB and shove it up his ass on live TV. Nothing Rich ever played on his drums could evoke the emotions brought forward by people like George Jones, Willie Nelson and George Strait. Rich pathetically tries to convince anyone who will suffer through his BS that he is a higher form of sophisticated human that they could ever hope be. He is nothing more than a self-loathing, insecure, humility challenged, obnoxious punk who can bang on things. Harry James gave Rich his big break and I suspect it was to get rid of him.

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  11. One of my favorite guitarists is Mark Knopfler who did some lovely duets with Chet Atkins. Always loved Glen Campbell & Roy Clark and thanks to a corny TV show named Hee Haw got to enjoy plenty of Roy Clark . Music is Good for your soul PERIOD Why be a snob about it?

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  12. Buddy Rich is but a footnote of musicians that were assholes that couldn’t read music.
    I still remember him on (I think it was) Ed Sullivan wearing a monkey mask and playing drums. When he took the mask off his appearance was similar.
    I thought he was an arrogant prick then.

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