Buddy Rich drum solo 1974 Wolf Trap - West Side Story 

What age would you say Buddy Rich was when he was at his peak his talent stretches decades but there's got to be the one moment that even impressed himself. His moment

His left hand is absolutely insane.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There's Buddy Rich, and then there's everyone else. I swear he was from another planet. Neil Peart may have been "the professor on the drum kit", but Buddy Rich was "the mad scientist on the drum kit". Johnny Carson - a half-decent drummer in his own right - loved Buddy and had him on The Tonight Show as often as he could. As a kid growing up during the 1960s/1970s, my folks were gracious enough to allow me to stay up late on a school night to catch Buddy and one of his solos whenever he was scheduled to appear. I'll forever be grateful for that. 😄👍✌🇺🇸

His control was terrifying , what an absolute master

The apprentice takes the easy and makes it look difficult while the master takes the impossible and makes it look easy! Neil Peart on Buddy Rich

Perfect percussion. Perfect rhythm, tempo, control, scales. People don't understand how hard it is to play 1/2 notes with one foot, 1/8th with other. 1/4 notes with one hand and 128ths with other. Most people can't pat their head and rub their stomach. Absolute control

Hurts my neck to watch this! Badass solo.

Just shows you don't have to beat the living daylights out of a kit to get the best out of it. What a genius! Wish I'd had a chance to see him live.

you can see that years of dedication and very strict effort has given him the freedom of a child with the focus of a lazer. Breath taking

This is what today's drum solos lack. RHYTHMIC solo

When a simple drum kit meets incredible complex ability.

I was Buddy Rich’s agents secretary and was proud to set up his gigs. He was such a nice man, I miss him, I’m sure everyone who knew him misses him too. West Side Story was the greatest play on Broadway!

Buddy had an unlimited bag of ideas to pull from and he was able to connect those ideas with transitions that kept things flowing.

"It ain't bragging when you're the best." ~BR

BUDDY RICH is one of the greatest drummers of all time his drum solos are simply mind blowing and jaw dropping

When I was in the 8th grade and was at Disney Land the marching band that goes around the park someone in the band recognized him and they put their drums on the ground and he was Phenomenal I didn't know who he was at the time until I read a article about him in Guitar Magazine several years later.Truly once in a lifetime experience. Also the same night the Stray Cats played at Disney Land. A memory I will never forget. He is a Legendary Percussionist. I'm 55 now I will never forget that.

It doesn't matter how many drums you have in your kit, it's how you play the ones you've got.

The coolest dude behind a drum kit ever. Nobody and nothing compares to him

Pure musical / drumming genius. In my book, the undisputed king of the drums!

He makes it all look so easy, so effortless, so graceful. Never slips. Never kinks. Never fail to bring it back to a theme. Loved watching him on Carson. He was always in his own world.

Best exponent of drums ever, don’t let these RU-vid drum pilots tell you any different, they might give little lessons and show you things you can’t do yet but this guy does things they will never do. You know who you are?

Blows my mind what Buddy can do with 5 drums a hi hat, a ride and 2 crash cymbals! Amazing!!

I’ve been a drummer for about 75 years. I got to see Buddy in Indianapolis up close during the 1950’s. He was phenomenal.

Cat was cool as a cucumber. I don't think there was another that could come close to this cat. Complete 💯 entertainment.

How could anyone not give this a thumb up? I don't understand "player haters". Buddy Rich was the best of all time!

Dynamics, prowess, substance. A brew of unimaginable ingredients. Buddy’s dexterity, originality and skill remains unmatched. Thank you for sharing this solo. Like others have commented, Buddy is a master.

And the greatest talent will always make it look deceptively effortless and casual in their brilliant showmanship...

On the "Buddy Rich: Jazz Legend" DVD, there's an interview clip where Buddy says that a drum solo should be like a horn solo; it should have a beginning, a middle and an end. Here is that philosophy lived out right before our eyes.

Buddy Rich passed away in 1987 and still to this day nobody can play like him. he has to have over 1000 techniques he does that only a Genius like him could ever do in this lifetime. Long lives Buddy to this day. I sure do miss him and seeing him play at Disneyland..

I'm a Brit in my late 60s I saw Buddy on the London Palladium on tele when I was a kid, he was just magnificent, I was awestruck.

Wow! I have no idea what I just witnessed.....but it was awesome.

Hands down the absolute BEST EVER.

i love my mental music and their drummers but this guy wipes the floor with all of them

What this teaches young drummers is the importance of 'dynamics'. No use hammering away for 10 minutes like a jackhammer - you'll simply shell-shock your audience. Lots of light and shade. Drumming is as much about what you don't play as what you play.

Best drummer of all time.

I saw Buddy live several times.I have seen dozens of solos on You Tube.I have never seen anything to compare with this solo.What a freak of nature he was,his like never to be seen again.

It sometimes seems he's in a pure meditative state as he plays.

This is fantastic I don't care what anyone say's but Budy Rich is simply the leader at the for front for me and mostly for me was because of the Johny Carson Show, Just fantastic. O and by the way how com we don't get entertainment like that anymore.

I used to test Buddy Richs drumsticks for density and composition. I'm proud to say he never complained about the sticks we supplied. 😊

I have never seen any drummer do single stroke rolls the way Rich did them. Pure artistry.

The Man Who Made Veteran Drummers Weep Like Children!!! 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

Wow, incredible what a legend !!!!

This is absolutely gorgeous 😍!!!

An amazing drummer with incredible stick dexterity. I am jealous of his ability to hit the snare with that much conviction, speed and feel. Best drummer ever ? Not going to open that can of worms. Let's just say I believe him to be one of the greats.

The master 🙌🏽

The best drummer of all the Times A genuis of drumming !

I had a Buddy Rich encounter. I stood at the cymbal for a whole show as New watched me almost touching his cymbal you see at Griffent's Obsurbatory during a free concert in 1969.

What a beast!!! Simply the greatest drum solo of all time!

What an awesome talent Buddy Rich was. Imagine how many future drummers were inspired by his performances! ❤

Man, Buddy was great! He did so much with just a standard kit. Loved his solos.

Don't care what anyone says. There isn't a single drummer alive that could pull this off. And I've seen every single death metal drummer there is. There will never be another Buddy. Not even close.

There will never be another Buddy Rich 🙏👌💕

Even Buddy's band mates are staring on in awe of his talent, and you know they've watched/heard him play and practice countless times.

The band had flawless timing on their cue. Astounding.

I was always told nothing in life was perfect but, here we are..... 🔥

Buddy Rich continues to be the yardstick by which ALL other drummers are measured. I doubt whether this will ever change. He remains the greatest of all time.

Very few drummers can tell a musical story in a drum solo the way Buddy did. Amazing!

Music is a pure gift, listen and watch close!!! Michael...

Simply the greatest drummer I have ever witnessed. And I've seen a bunch.

As a drummer, love to see the old high and simple cymbal set up, very charming and characteristic of that time in the drumming world

Simply the greatest drummer of all time. R.I.P. Buddy Rich.

I believe he was the best drummer ever, freaking awesome

great video. first heard rich in 1955 on one of my dad's 78 rpms Tommy Dorsey , "Not so quiet please!". That was the start of buying every single record featuring Rich. Met him for the first time in Atlanta at a music shop in downtown. He was doing a gig at the Top of the Stairs and had just switched to Rogers drums. He was doing a promo for Rogers and there were about 150 guys crowded into the store. He answered questions and was very likeable in his demeanor. someone asked if he practiced every day, he grinned and sat down at a kit and blew us all away for 30 minutes of the greatest drumming I've ever heard or seen. Buddy Rich is the greatest.

This felt like somebody telling me a story and immediately grab my full attention 😳...

Saw him in the 80s. He was so brilliant.

I must have been just 14 years old in 1974 with my very first set of premier drums. I remember my teacher Collin Young and I going to the bottom line at 16 to see Buddy Rich. HE LIT MY FIRE STILL TODAY.

Seen him twice his percussion skills are extraordinary as well as speed I’ve never seen anyone move hands so quick his body stays still rip buddy you were the best

The speed and perfection of movement on those fills is insane. Crossing over like that is incredibly difficult.

This man was a fucking monster! Respect!

Wow, I saw him live one time in Texas, he is pretty amazing, and gives it his all, for every performance! Doesn’t get any better than this!

This is the best Buddy Rich drum solo on YT. Drums are the most beautiful instrument on the planet!

1976 Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA club Uncle Sam's - When a sophomore in high school I bought a ticket to watch Buddy Rich play & loved it.

Buddy and Billy Colbham were perhaps to of the fastest drummers ever!

RIP Buddy Rich. I grew up enjoying his drumming. 🥁

I’d watch him play drums as long as he kept playing 😂

You're the greatest Buddy!

Buddy has amazing control he used the edge of his snare as a cool down only for a pick me up. Amazing

Absolutely amazing. He was and remains the best!

The look at 1:29 tells you all about Buddy's ego...the rest, before and after, demonstrates the incredible skill. I want my legends to know they are skilled, and to push themselves to the limit.

Simply the greatest drummer that ever lived... We're not worthy....

Rudiments done on an EPIC and CREATIVE level most drummers will never be able to fathom... myself included..😮

count basie once stated in an interview about buddy that the only time his band showed up on time for rehearsals was whenever buddy subbed for sonny payne, he also said some of his men came early just to watch buddy warm up, something they never did for sonny.

The Greatest Drummer in the World ! End of Story !

One thing I've noticed is that he really seems to be having fun and is really enjoying what he's doing

Wouldn’t it be great to still hear drum solos in today’s “pop” music ??

The way it's mic'ed here, and his toms, etc. I think this is the best his kit ever sounded. So nice!

The absolute ruler of the drum world. Master Buddy Rich!

One of his most tasty solo's I've heard...

Sitting on the peak still. Best of all. Only one. All the greatest drummers are behind and below him.

I've seen many of his solos over the past 40 some odd years, but this might be the best one I have ever seen. His playing is always great, but this solo built in a way I never saw him do before. It is a rare post. Thanks for putting it up.

Love You Buddy I’m a good friend of your step Brother down here in the Springfield Mo. Area and originally from up in Michigan where you were raised… Miss You Bigtime, You were always my favorite and the resin I play too

No fancy words here. The guy was a straight up baddass on the trap set! Ive played drums since 1985, and still play in a band today, alot of musicians in my local area consider me one of the best around. I always say "no way! Not untill i can sling sticks like Buddy Rich!"

Incredible ,he wasn't a drummer he was a force of nature

One of the most deliberate solos you’ll ever hear on ANY instrument. Almost four mins before he touched a cymbal. Captivating beyond measure.

As a drummer myself since I was 9 years old, (1965), I would always try to catch any show that aired Buddy Rich. On April 3rd, 1987, I would remember exactly where I was. At the time, I was an OTR/48 Tractor Trailer driver and I pulled into a truck stop just outside of Scranton, PA about 11:30 PM the night before. I woke up the next morning and went into the truck stop for a coffee. As I was leaving, I was standing in line to pay the check and spotted the morning paper's front page: "Buddy Rich dead at 69". It said he had died on April 2nd, (the day before). I picked up the paper and read some of it when the register clerk had to call out for my attention because I was holding up the line. I stepped up to the register and handed her the money for the check. She said something like, "...and how're you doin' this morning?". I looked at her and held up the paper's front page and said, "I'm afraid my morning just got started on the wrong foot..." It was a sad day for me. I have only remembered exactly where I was and what I was doing when three icons in my life died. One was Buddy Rich, another was John Lennon, and the third was Steve Erwin, (the "Crocodile hunter"). These three people influenced my life and all 3 died far too soon. I know that Buddy Rich had a rather 'blunt personality' and I think he blinded himself from many very good drummers in rock & roll. He was especially harsh toward country western drummers. Yes, he was a great 'big-band' & 'jazz' drummer but I think he kept the range of his music appreciation isolated to a narrow span. I believe that was his biggest weakness. There are many incredible drummers out there and it's impossible to say who the "best" is, (or was) just as it's impossible to say who the best guitarist, keyboardist, or even the "Best song" ever written was. That's because it's all under the heading of "ART". Many people may like a particular painting, photograph, statue, or song, but there isn't a single piece of ART for which "EVERYONE" thinks is great. For me, Buddy Rich was the greatest drummer for his time and for his specific music genre and I felt a loss when I read about his death that morning in April, 1987. FWIW

It's like when a snake move all slowly then strikes. What a legend.

Buddy is one of the best drummers ever, hands down!!!

WOW! Yet another Buddy clip to blow my mind! Those hands.....the technique.....feel.......seems so easy for him! Reminds me that, as good as guys are today......and the greats of the past......Buddy Rich will forever be THE drummer! And I have seen in clinic Jojo Mayer, Dave Weckl, Benny Greb and Gavin Harrison - and those guys were UNREAL! But - Buddy......well....enough said!

This was like a conversation between a small group of people. Different tones and inflections. All telling a story. There is drama and suspense and action! Dynamics!

Most people don't know who buddy was but all drummers should aspire to this display of excellence,discipline, and accuracy.