The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community

mrbassbone · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:56 pm Post subject:

Slightly off topic but if you PM me, I will forward you the "imfamous" Buddy Rich chewing out his band on the bus audio clip.

Shell

hartg · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:01 am Post subject:

I have had the pleasure of seeing the Buddy Rich Band twice.

When I joined the Percussion Class at Deal in 1972, it was under the leadership of Russ Davis. Having never lifted a pair of sticks in anger I was informed on my first few days that the class had organized a trip to see Buddy Rich play at Folkestone. "Never heard of the guy, funny name" I thought. Having given up on the oboe after six months of grief from a certain oboe professor and transferred to the kitchen sink department, this was altogether something new and exciting.

So we toddle off to the gig. Yes, I bought the t-shirt (all yellow with Buddy Rich in lime green emblazoned upon it.. it was cool then) and the record, clutched lovingly as I gawped at what this guy could do, and all the while thinking how the hell do I get to play anywhere remotely like that!

Especially when he did the one-handed roll...smart-ar$e!

I'd never ever heard a big band before that day, or knew what one was! I had a classical upbringing, big bands weren't in my fathers 33 rpm's!

The second occasion was only some months before BR passed away, when he was appearing at the Barbican. A friend of mine in the band (I by now was in the Central Band of the RAF) had belatedly heard about the gig and we hurridly purchased tickets only a few days before the concert. What a turn up for the books that was. We had the two left-hand seats in the front row. Buddy Rich had set his kit up at that end right at the edge of the stage, couldn't have got any nearer if I'd tried. RIP BR.