Drummer reacts to Buddy Rich's "INSANE" Drum Solo 

Dude is in his sixties, full suit on, and having a heart attack at the same time and gives one of the most outstanding drum solos in history. Incredible.

Buddy Rich was the Best man at my parents wedding. My father is listed in The Who’s Who in jazz. His name was Jackie Mills also a drummer :)

What's really scary is that he was doing all of that whilst having a heart attack. He had to go to the hospital straight after this show. You should also check out when Buddy Rich does a drum battle with Animal on the Muppet Show.

Roger Taylor (Queen) was asked who he thought the best drummer ever was. Without hesitation he replied "Buddy Rich".

Buddy Rich could kick the ASS out of ANY drummer that came after him. Absolute drum GOD!!

Buddy was one of John Bonham's drum heros..

Buddy was 65 when he did this show. Buddy had his own band eventually.

Everybody thinks they are a musician, until they actually see one.

In his 60s, in a tux, having a heart attack. For a real treat, his drum solo at The Hague is even crazier

His left hand wasn't human. It's what always impressed me most about him. His left hand single roll was faster than most drummer's two hand single rolls. Just sick!

During the middle of that performance, Buddy Rich was suffering a heart attack. He continued to play and after his set, he was taken to the hospital. He was the consummate professional.

Watch the drum off between Eddie Shaughnessy and Buddy Rich it will blow you away!

I saw Buddy live in 1981. He played a 20 minute drum solo and never touched a drum skin. He played the stands, the horns, the stage and the rims. Just awesome.

The GOAT!!.....hands down.....saw him in concert and my high school in 1974....UNREAL!

Buddy was THE GOAT, period. I was blessed to him live one time just a couple of years before this concert. He played in a room filled with 3000 jazz musicians, not just fans, but musicians. He had so much fun that he actually played an encore! Buddy NEVER played encores!! He was stunning as always. An absolute genius of percussion.

I was a drummer and while many are impressed with Buddy's speed I was always impressed with his accuracy. Look at his handwork under the hi-hat when he does the hi-hat work -- amazing control. If you want to sample what 2 legendary drummers listened to (Buddy Rich & Gene Krupa) from the early 1930s listen to both the studio band recording & live version of Chick Webb's drum solo on "Liza." Both are on RU-vid...no images but you can hear the mastery. He was a hunchback who had his traps specially manufactured for him. Remember that in his day they didn't have fancy drums like today but listen to the skill this giant had. There weren't many before him. He also discovered Ella Fitzgerald. It's great that you're open to listening to some vintage superb musicians. It all had to start somewhere. (Listen to the drums on the King Crimson track "21st Century Schizoid Man," from "In the Court of the Crimson King." That drummer is Mike Giles -- he probably started the whole progressive rock style since no one drummed like him in 1969). You don't have to review it -- just enjoy it privately.

Buddy Rich was the best drummer of all time There will never be a other drummer like Buddy again

So fast that even Animal from the Muppets couldn't keep up

The old timers know the secrets. Always seek them out.

The best are all behind us. The modern world does not produce this kind of talent anymore.

I had an unexpected encounter with Buddy in the 80's. I was delivering some AV equipment to a Manchester UK hotel. His tour bus was parked outside and as I was going in I held the door open for an elderly man and as he walked through he patted me on the head and said "thanks a lot kid, you're a gentleman". The doorman at the hotel said " Don't you know, that's Buddy Rich you were talking to?". Talk about ships that pass in the night! 😁

I played snare drum in the Palmetto High School band (State Champion Marching Band three years running). Our band director took the percussion section to see Buddy Rich for a drum clinic in Greenville, SC around 1970. Our first chair drummer, who played in a rock band, asked Rich if he could do rock drum solos. He did a one-handed solo that would be the envy of any rock and roll drummer. We also went to a clinic given by Gene Krupa who was also amazing.

Your favorite drummers, favorite drummer

Dude! He was 65 years old when he performed this masterpiece!

Whenever Buddy Rich was going to be on Johnny Carson we were allowed to stay up late to watch. Epic.

In my opinion Buddy Rich was and always will be the GOAT. Period, end of discussion.

Buddy Rich is the GOAT!

That's the guy every great drummer was aiming for. Perfection !!!!

Now you know why we kept telling you that you had to hear Buddy!

buddy rich is the standard for all drummer's. he had is own orchestra. l saw him in concert in 1977 l was in 7th grade went with my dad.

I saw Buddy Rich and his band live in the mid-1970's. This solo was in the tune "West Side Story Medley," one of the tunes that Rich regularly played in concert. At the concert I attended, he soloed for almost 20 MINUTES on that tune. He started playing professionally in the 1930's and was playing until shortly before his death in 1987. Probably the best jazz drummer who ever lived.

Met him...saw him play live...Best ever...

He was born in 1917, so he must have been in his mid to late 60s here. Another great classic drummer was Gene Krupa, I'll see if I can dig up some of his work

You can see the pain in his face from the heart attack he's having while he pulls off this amazing solo. In his youth he was even faster.

The legend! We can all argue about the best rock drummer, but all-time drummers? Buddy is it!

Carl Palmer had open heart surgery last April and was on the road playing in July and keeps going to this day!!!!!❤️✌🏼

Far and away the best drummer ever

4:20 😯. He is absolutely inhuman. THE absolute god of drumming. A left hand that will never have an equal.

Everybody's favourite drummer's favourite drummer was Neil Peart , Neil Peart's favourite drummer was Buddy Rich

King of the snare drum. Impeccable stick control.

Keep in mind later in life he had severe heart issues and a brain tumor, but still played.

HE IS BUDDY RICH,,,,THATS HOW!

I'm not sure if this is the performance where he had a heart attack mid way and didn't miss a beat. Amazing talent. 😊

Buddy Rich's hand speed was inhuman, other-worldly.

Amazing. Buddy was a hero to a number of drummers including Ian Paice of Deep Purple Check out "the Mule" drum solo by Ian

There’s the real deal!! Had the fortune of seeing him up close in a high school gym near my parents house 35-40 years ago, no wig. Tight band. He had no song order. Each song had an individual intro drum riff. Once he started playing it they had about 10 seconds to figure out the riff, scramble for the sheet music and begin!!!! AWESOME talent!! Had been playing since about as high to the bass drum! Google the picks!! Keep going! See the movie clip where he plays while Eleanor Powell tap dances!!

I got to see him live in the late 70's. He was amazing.

Amazing performance! Buddy was experiencing a heart attack, during this, yet he still played on!

When I was in high school in the 1970s, all the drummers I knew had buddy rich as the ultimate drummer. Neil Peart said it many times. He was not the easiest drummer to work with but OMG. The other drummer often mentioned was Ed Shaunesy who played Johnny Carson

I saw Buddy Rich at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London in 1979. It is still a concert that sits in my memory as one of the greatest I have ever seen. Rich was the drummer for The Tommy Dorsey Band during WW2 and there are some great recordings of him at that time with Frank Sinatra. The greatest drum solo I've seen him do was recorded by the BBC in 1969 at a venue called The Talk of the Town . It is his West Side Story Medley and it is staggeringly brilliant. You can find it on RU-vid

If you want to go OLD school, check out Gene Krupa and don't forget Graham Lear from Santana's Moonflower album. He nailed the Soul Sacrifice solo.

All of Buddy's solos are worth watching, even studying, from the earliest to the last.

Even as a man in his 60's and 70's, he was still better than any contemporary drummers. He was a total master----the best in history.

Oh my goodness. Just reading all your comments about his heart attack. This is a miracle and it’s a privilege to see it.

Our greatest musicians are in jazz. It's just the truth. You'll never see another Buddy Rich.

“I’m Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle” Beastie Boys. Sabotage. The man was the goat.

hard to imagine that buddy was 65 years old in this video. jeezus what stamina and dexterity. one of THE greatest

My idol in the late 70’s GOAT

I am old enough and lucky enough that he came to my city in the mid 70s and performed this very piece. Yes, he is the king in my opinion.

He was one of my Favorite Students, so glad he made it.

I met him back stage after the concert in Oslo in 1976/77. He signed all my LP covers.

I saw Buddy and his band in Toronto at the Royal York's Imperial Room in 1970. A thrilling experience! I was nineteen. My favorite recording was Rich playing Love for Sale in 1965.

And that old dude was playing in a tuxedo, a goat . He was my dads favorite drummer and it is easy to see why.

I saw Buddy at a club in Upstate New York back in 1978 (I was 16 and got into the club using my cousins drivers license - this is important to the story). An older couple got up and started dancing and Buddy stops and told them "This is a concert. The American Legion hall is down the street." I shout out "Play Brainwashed." and Buddy responds "Shut up kid. I don't do requests." He pauses, squints his eyes and says "How did you get in here kid? You look like your balls haven't dropped yet." The crowd starts laughing. Being insulted by Buddy Rich was the biggest honor of my young life.

Best drummer of all time

Simply the best there ever was and will ever be. I had the pleasure of seeing him live 3 times in the 70's. His speed, control and agility has never been matched to this day. There's a bevy of close seconds but none compare to this man. Oh, he's probably in his late 50's here and wearing a suit and tie to boot. 😳

When you are gifted and you work at it and love it, you get this❤

Saw him live 2 times. Worlds best.

I do believe that Neil Peart loved Buddy, as he included a clip of him in his own solo... Excellent choice, man!

Buddy Rich Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival

I'm 63, and as a kid if I saw that Buddy would be on Johnny Carson, I'd stay up late EVERY Time to see him. I love Bonham and others, but I think He's the GOAT, bar none.

Hehe, one of those times I get to thoroughly enjoy a reaction and your comments after as a musician and fully love it. And I've always liked the reactions and commented but this is one of those that's right up your alley and you ramp up the musician relation to it, which is the way I listen to and identify with anything everything all the time. That was really fun. I think I caught him switching out of trad grip a few times, but mostly he stayed there, but man he's just mind-blowing. So many drummers idolize him.

Loved your reaction. Had the fortunate experience of seeing Buddy Rich perform at The Monterrey Jazz Festival in 1972. He did a drum duel with Elvin Jones if I'm not mistaken. Awesome to watch and hear those guys. There's a video on RU-vid of a young Buddy from 1942 in the movie "Ship Ahoy" where he drums while the dancer Eleanor Powell tap dances and does acrobatics, along with Bert Lahr and Red Skelton singing the song "Tallulah". Very entertaining scene.

THE GOAT Nobody’s better, your favorite drummers favorite drummer.

There's a lot of really great rock drummers but I don't think there was anybody ever better than buddy rich.

Watch the Buddy Rich tribute concert but especially in the end you have 3 absolutely incredible drummers going at one time.Vinnie Calluata, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, you will be blown away!

I used to love seeing Buddy Rich on late night TV.

Just followed your reactions to Glen Miller, Joni Mitchell and Buddy Rich in a row and absolutely loved the diversity and musicality.

Buddy was 65??? when he played this. It would be exhausting for a man half that age. The best ever, hands down- no pun intended.

Buddy was touring 9 months per year in his sixties. I saw one gig in a smallish town. He got a standing ovation. Wherever he toured I reckon he got a standing ovation.

Karen Carpenter has a nice solo video also. Not comparing the two ; just another superb talent. One of the best Drummer/ vocalists to ever perform. Cheers !!

Amazing!!!! Fantastic drummer. Another great drummer back in the day was Gene Krupa. My dad, Gerald "Jerry" Harrison, (monster jazz player), was the pianist with the Gene Krupa Trio... Late '50s.

DAMN! Best cymbal solo ever!!🔥

And he’s wearing a tux! I saw Buddy live once. Also got to see Louie Bellson live. He was great also. Played part of his solo with wooden spoon. Like the kind you would cook with. I feel kinda lucky. I mean I’ve seen Sinatra and I’ve seen Eminem live. That’s a crazy range.

Nobody does one hand rolls like Buddy...Buddy's work with big bands is his greatest works.

Buddy Rich had his own band. It was a big band type. I grew up listening to him and Gene Krupa who is also an excellent drummer.

What a great performance! I think he may have been working with a ring on his finger in some of the high hat work. Incredible!

I saw him live with a jazz band back in the late 60s and he tore it up . Best drummer I have seen ever. Its good you go back and look at the legends and maybe you will learn something from them. Staying with contemporaries or one genre will stifle your growth musically. My son in law did drum line too and is an excellent drummer. He has done heavy rock Zydeco jazz and other genres.

All drummers today try to emulate drummers who've had a lot to learn from this. Yet so many years later, Buddy is still lightning fast and highly regarded.

I saw him right around this time, and I remember this number - medley of songs from West Side Story. My band director took the whole jazz band to see them. It was an amazing experience. And he hit so HARD.

I needed a breather just watching him

You should read his Biography called Traps the Boy Wonder written by his close friend jazz vocalist Mel Torme. In it Mel tells the story of Buddy's life. Buddy parents were vaudeville performers and took Buddy on the road with them. When Buddy was eighteen months old he was sitting on the stage while his parents were rehearsing. The drummer in the band gave Buddy a pair of sticks to amuse himself and Buddy tapped in time with the band. They decided to make him part of the act. Decades later in the 1950's Buddy was interviewed by Modern Drummer magazine and was asked how often he practiced. He answered "Practice? What for? If I've something in my head and I can't get it in 20 minutes, what difference is 3 hours or 3 days gonna make?' They say he never played any song exactly the same way twice. In the 70's he was asked if there were any young, up and coming drummers he liked and he said "Yeah I like that kid from Chicago. Danny what's his name" That was Danny Seraphine he was talking about. If you want a stellar example of Danny's work listen to "Make Me Smile" on Chicago's debut album. When it comes to drumming, next to Buddy, lets face it, we're all playing waffle ball.

Of all the drummers I've heard in my life, Buddy Rich is the greatest. He comes from the big band era of the 1940's. He can turn a drum kit into a one piece orchestra.

That was pretty astounding.

On the Verve label in the 1950s there is a recording of a drum battle between Rich and Krupa

Great to see you show this video…being a Drummer yourself. I got to see him when I was young…he was an interesting cat for sure!

Some traditional jazz drummers to check are obviously Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and Max Roach to start. For more modern jazz fusion drummers check out Billy Cobham, Alphonse Mouzon and Steve Gadd. Shout out to Marco Minneman in The Aristocrats for something from this millennia. Check out The Aristocrats live at Frankfort. Cheers.

This was who Neil Peart looked up to. The master.

Saw buddy Nottingham 1971 absolute legend...

There was Buddy, and then there’s everybody else, forever. That’s all there is to it. (And wait til you hear what he does backing the band!)