Buddy Rich was one of the most incredible technicians in the world, on this planet, but the only people he could really impress, who knew what he was doing was another musician or another drummer.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
As regards my feelings about drummers - there's Buddy Rich, and then there's everybody else.
Buddy Rich is one of a kind; he's a genius, and that's all there is to it.
Almost the moment he died, they put him in Playboy as one of the greatest drummers, which he was - there's no doubt about it. There's never been anybody since. He's one of the greatest drummers that ever lived.
Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.
I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way.
And, well of course, Count Basie, and I think all of the black bands of the late thirties and early forties, bands with real players. They had an influence on everybody, not just drummers.
A drummer is usually like the backbone.
Phil is a real drummer's drummer.
The drummer is stereotypically the dumb guy. Maybe that's why I always respect drummers who do more than drum.
I don't like drum solos, to be honest with you, but if anybody ever told me he didn't like Buddy Rich I'd right away say go and see him, at least the once.