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As a fledgling drummer in the 1970s, I was told that Buddy Rich was the greatest
drummer in the world. But I had only seen him perform a couple of on the Tonite
show and, owing to the technical limits of television sets of that era, could
not really get an appreciation of his skill and talent. I made a skeptical comment
to my high school band director who said "you ought to see him in person. He
can get a thousand rythms going!" Indeed I found out that that was true. I
had the good fortune to see him play two times in six months in the early 80's.
I bear witness to the fact that he could discard a broken stick and pick up a
new one with no decrease in the volume or intensity of his playing. In fact,
if I had only been listening instead of watching I would not have know he had
broken a stick! I also saw him play a 9-stroke roll with just his left had, and
have yet to see anyone replicate that! I literally could not believe my eyes!
During a break in one show, two children went on the bus to get his autograph.
They each came back with half a towell, each half was autographed by Buddy Rich! ~
Maury
Blair
I recently viewed a History Channel bio. on virtuoso drummer BUDDY RICH and his band. Whoa!, it bought back some memories. The RICH entourage toured Australia twice...this is what happened the second time around...circa 1975.
Col Joye's ATA at Glebe, had the sound reinforcement contract for the massive Hordern Pavilion at the showground...where the Rich band was to appear. For years they employed likeable, but addle-brained, bespectacled Fred, to drive the sound system at the Horden's frequent indoor tennis tournaments.
The sound requirements for the tennis were...one microphone for the umpire and one volume control for the PA.
At this time I was working at the ATA studio complex in Glebe...contracted for a number of albums one of which was the late, Andy Gibb's debut. Also Sydney was in the middle of one of those three weeks of constant solid rain.
This particular Saturday session, Andy was having trouble with a vocal, and we went into overtime. During the last break for coffee we came across a sad sullen Fred who asked me what was I doing after the session.
When I asked why?...he said he was booked for the night session out at the Hordern...then he stammers...'it...it...it's me and the Bluuddy Riiich Band'
Jeez!...I ran through the options with him...get help call Col...call Sydney Concert Sound Centre...call home...call anyone!! But he'd already done that...they were all either all uncontactable or busy...it was too late in the day and it was raining cats and dogs...Fred was extremely pale.
After agreeing this was a huge ATA scheduling screw-up and could turn into a major mishap, as I was going to the concert I offered to meet him there early and...get this...help him get things rolling...just the two of us?...stupid stupid!!
The constant rain was causing problems all over. Drummer Rich played Brisbane the night before and the band was booked to fly down early that Sat. afternoon...but Mascot airport was closed so often, the airline schedules were non existent.
From about 1600h, various members of his 14 pce. outfit were dribbling into Sydney in ones and twos...whenever anyone could get on a southbound plane, but by 1800h out at the Hordern, it looked like a major cancellation for sure.
Undaunted, we pressed on with our mic. setup.
By 1900h. the place was rapidly filling up and with the stage curtains closed, using Rich's concert stage plan, we'd set up the drum riser, the drum mics. and most of the the brass and reeds.
Here the fun starts...scheduled on first was the smaller Motor Club combo who came back stage wanting to rearrange some of the mics. Their two sound guys stumbled around and re-arranged all of our setup, the mics. cables, stage foldback, everything...it was a shambles. This was going to be distinctly tricky.
We managed to buzz out about 10 mics. for them...back to the console which was at the rear of the Pavilion.
By 1930h, the place was jam packed with eager fans, the MC introed the Motor Club Band and their vocalist Kerrie Biddel...and they played their one hour set to enthusiastic applause...into the interval.
Then Rich's Sound Guy, Fred and I scrambled backstage to reset the mics. and sort out the tangles. Neil Diamond who was to open in Sydney, was backstage that night, and he stepped right in to help.
By about 2100h. most of Rich's outfit had arrived, and I recall Rich coming backstage to tune the drums and brief everyone...he raises both arms and announces loudly.
'Now everyone listen up...just take it easy...get out Opus One, East of the Sun...'
then stops short at the mess of cables, but his SG quickly reassures him and we press on.
Around 2130h, about 20 mics. were ready...just as the last trombone player sauntered in, the MC introed the band...they came on to thunderous applause...got set...then roared into their opening number.
They were something else, miraculous labyrinths of harmony, layer after layer...but with no sound rehearsal whatsoever, the thing just wasn't balanced all that well.
Every second chorus or so, one or two of the audience would spin around and glare back in our direction...Errol Buddle, John Sangster, Don Burrows,...the cream of the country's musos.
I drove the desk with SG prompting me...gradually we managed to claw together a good balance, and with the excitement rising...the band played on into the night.
Their finale is a West Side Story medley with Rich unleashing his famous drum pyrotechnics just before the big finish. The band arrives at that moment and into this extended solo. I'm at the console...Fred is to my right handling the sound reinforcement...and sitting right behind him, is the Rich SG.
Nearing the conclusion master showman Rich slows the pace of his solo...as he soft-pedals it with superb work around the rim of the snare drum...genius at work.
At this point, dopey Fred decides to himself that the sound reinforcement isn't loud enough, and right at the crucial second he whacks up the master volume!
There's instant deafening, bloodcurdling feedback...OUUUUUU!!...It jerks Rich, his boys, us and the entire Hordern Pavilion bolt upright, and Rich, without missing a beat yells out '2
3 4!'...and the band leap into their big finish.
Pandemonium erupts, wild eyed SG lurches forward, grabs Fred by the neck and starts to throttle him...Fred's glasses jump off...I dive over to try and get him off Fred, and the entire back row of the now frenzied audience begin climbing over their seats to get at the three of us!
As if on cue, the rain starts thundering down on the big tin roof...the racket competing with the wild applause, cheering, shouting, threats and panic.
It's the only time I was really worried about being seriously injured, while on the job...I thought of just bolting.
Monday mornings Herald was uncharacteristically kind, and reported that Rich wasn't appearing that night without a complete sound check...and for a couple of years after that, I couldn't listen to anything from West Side Story...without going into this nervous twitch. |
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