That's the pinnacle of drumming, right there. Little did we know in 1969 that it would never get get any better. Two drumming titans, at the peak of their power. Awesome and humbling at the same time. Legends that will never be eclipsed!
@Domenic V. They were just riffing and jamming, not playing a specific piece of music. Loosen up, Rich and Bellson were two of the finest drummers on the planet.
@@domenicv7962Both got impressive speed, and they did bring a lot of noise. Overall they got impressive skills. This is the first time I even heard Louis Bellson and Buddy Rich takes the stage. And you been drumming since 1959. You a legend. Got to respect the OG😊
It was not a Slingerland. It was a Fibes. His White Marine Pearl Fibes drums was his favorite snare he ever had. He played on it even through many endorsment changes. The owner of Slingerland even ask him one time to play a Slingerland snare, Buddy replied "I will when you make a drum as good as this one." Slingerland even put a slungerland badge on his fibes drum at one point so ppl would think he is playing all Slingerland.
They weren't....for the most part they were trying to out do each other,....playing the same stuff as they usually do....just with more intensity.....give me Krupa any day over these two noise makers !!!
@@domenicv7962 They were playing off of each other and building on it, while staying in context with the rhythm of the tune. Professionals don't have to compete with each other. And afterwards, each did pay the other a compliment. These two, Krupa, and several other pros were equally as great, all in different ways.
Sheer darned genius! Phew! Only the real Tonight show could feature something like this!! Johnny was and is the greatest late night showman in history. Thanks Johnny, RIP
Well, they're both great drummers and the truth is Louie totally held his own trading fills with Buddy and BR himself knew he was on the stage with an actual equal. Two great drummers, may they both rest in peace.
"Nobody could play better than Buddy Rich. If you could play up to him, fine, but nobody could play any better." Louie Bellson. I saw Louie, Buddy and Roy Burns in concert and they all blew my mind. Buddy was king in my view.
I think Buddy got the title as top dog simply because he had the balls to literally proclaim himself as the best then pull off insane performances as backup for that claim.
@@margerykirner5604 Louie also used Gretsch and Buddy also used Ludwig. No matter what drums they played, they always sounded great. I've owned all the brands over the last 5 decades, and I've settled on Gretsch. I'm not saying they're better drums, just that they are my personal favorite (sort of like choosing chocolate over vanilla or strawberry ice cream.
Two unbridled horses running wild and we get to enjoy it. Louis and Buddy were unbelievable with the speed and power just throwing bombs at each other. Anyone who thinks this was just noise wasn't paying attention to what either was actually playing. Brilliant!
Buddy was on The Tonight Show a number of times during his career. He and Carson were really good friends. Carson being a drummer hobbyist didn't hurt.
@@michaelgawel5823 Most definitely. That show had it's share of good drummers, including Marvin "Smitty" Smith when Kevin Eubanks was Jay Leno's band leader.
What is amazing is that these guys are impeccably dressed and playing with this intensity.......A++. on two levels....and smiling and interacting with each other.....
Louie Bellson played with our high school band for a charity event and I got his autograph on a piece of sheet music. It kills me that I don’t know where it’s at.
In 1956 I saw Buddy in person in Miami Beach with his quartet, I think it was. His four or eight bar fills were delicious. You can hear them on the album Buddy Rich in Miami. In the 60s I saw Louis Bellson at the Metropole in mid-town Manhattan. I sat at the bar, a few feet from the two bass drums. What a guy!
And he played my favorite kit...Rogers! Still have the receipt for the kit I bought in '67. Remember sitting, spell bound, watching them on this night. Traditional grip, in suit, tie, impressive.
@@petegregory517 Louie was one Of the greatest for sure. Rogers are my favorite drums too. You’re blessed to have bought yours new in 1967 (my birth year). I have an early 70’s Rogers and it’s the finest kit I’ve ever owned. I’m so happy to see the return of the brand. Enjoy your kit!
@@jons3808 Buddy man since ???…late 50’s?-because my real initials are “BR”. Not the only reason, of course, his left hand just mesmerized me, I always used traditional grip. I copied his logo to my drum head with a magic marker. It was not the scribbling of a 15 yr old, I gotta admit, it was a good job because in those days I was a perfectionist, took me years to get past it. Drove my mom crazy.
I met both of them when I was a kid drummer and they were both super cool about giving a kid an autograph. Louie insisted I meet Pete Christlieb, the tonight show saxophonist, and get his autograph as well. He told me about the Zildgian 21" rock ride cymbal and that was the cymbal I bought the next day. One of Johnny's prized possessions was one of Buddy,s kits. Oh and Louie also insisted I meet his wife, Pearl Bailey. Great memories of two legends.
1:15 am couldn't sleep. Just looked at this drum battle. Let me just say when anyone can actually play an instrument, that's actually REAL TALENT! Rich and Bellson dropped some serious DRUMMING SKILLS!
Man oh man Oh man!!! I wish TV was like this today!!! Send me back to this date! Buddy and Louie were as tight as can be! The best, period!! Thanks for posting this!
I had the pleasure of meeting Louie Bellson at the Keith Purvis drum shop in Burien Washington when he did a drum clinic. Keith and Louie were very close friends. This was back in 1993 I do believe, Louie shook my hand, had a very strong grip, and was a very humble, nice man.
I saw Buddy Rich at a small theater in my hometown town, early 70s...and yup he was a Baddass on the kit, also thought Gene Krupa was pretty dam good as well.
I like Buddy Rich. I’m sure I’ll probably catch hell for this, but I’ve always seen him as more of a snare drum/floor tom player, whereas most really talented drummers like him use the entire kit.
Seriously? Obviously, you haven't watched enough videos of them using matched grip. There was nothing they couldn't do. Watch Joe Morello using both grips, plus hands and fingers on "Take Five".
@@boomerguy9935 I went to Berklee College of music in Boston we met Joe Morello & Buddy Rich. He said that over 99% of the time he always use traditional grip and recommended it. As did Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones and all the best drummers in the game.. P.S. The original recording of Take Five was recorded in the studio using traditional grip--- no fingers
@@garrison7888 You misunderstand me. I I'm not saying that match grip is better than cross grip/traditional grip (I use it 95% of the time). I'm simply saying that these guys and many other top drummers are capable of using match grip and do it equally as well as they do the cross grip. Like you, I prefer cross grip, but it's nice to be flexible. I can't imagine doing a rumba without including the cross grip on the tom. I'm aware of the studio recording of "Take Five" and that he also did not use a crash cymbal on it (See the Memphis Drum video with the original "Take Five Cymbal"). But in some of his other live videos, he does an amazing job of using sticks with both grips, both sides of his hands and his fingers, and even has to pull his bass drum back from creeping away during his solo without literally, "missing a beat". We are on the same page. I just thought that you were saying the match grip should never be used. I feel that a good drummer can use all grips when necessary. Buddy, Gene and Joe all did an amazing job with the match grip. I would love to have the skill of Joe's left hand, but I will never be that good.
Two of the greatest but what I like about Krupa is he wasn't all speed. He was melodic in his drumming and didn't feel the need to play super fast. Sometimes less is more.
I still have the jazz fest program signed when Louie came back to his hometown area back in 95. My father took me to the show. Had no idea he and my dad were classmates in school. Got to meet him down at the stage before the event.
Buddy, as always, was playing the more hip things but Louie really held his own here. Two all time greats having fun and showing each other total respect.
These guys are the reason rock drummers don't impress me very much! Two masters of Time & Space! Did louis drop a stick? No matter, he just rolls those twin bass drums! lol The guy IS human after all! That was fantastic! Thanks for posting! Absolutely Fabulous!
It was always great when Carson would bring some of the best jazz drummers on stage. Carson could play drums and was taking lessons from Buddy Rich. RIP all three.
Two Monsters of Our Time Buddy on Slingerland and Louis on Rogers To Hear These Two Cats Live is Another Dimension The Sound of Those Great Drum Companies Wow
Sincerely. Thank you for posting this. Previously the only copy on RU-vid, though I am grateful for it, wasn’t very good. Feel free to post. Every one of her buddies appearances. Drummers will be grateful for it forever.
Saw this when I was a boy and took up drums. Later the harmonica and I sing. These guys were out of this world. Corky Lang of Mountain had that athletic ability. Go Steelers!
Two geniuses. They both had incredible control. Buddy had just switched to Slingerland from Rogers which he played for a good part of the 1960’s. I’m so happy you unearthed this Kinescope. Would you do a video sometime on where you folks found missing Tonight Shows/segments? I think it would be interesting. Thanks.
I like this presentation ! It reminds me of, on CD, or cassette tape--Buddy Rich vs Max Roach, which I've listened to before, quite frequently, in the past.
