[Dixielandjazz] Buddy Rich, Mr Nice Guy,

[Stephen G Barbone]

Eupher Dude waits for someone to say how nice Buddy Rich was etc.  OK,  
here it is. <grin>

This from Terry Gibb's book. (Gibbs joined the Rich Band as a young  
player)

"There were two sides to Buddy Rich. He could be nice and he could be  
an asshole. . .He was real nice to me."

And for a personal remembrance about Buddy Rich by drummer Art Verdi,  
go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQZti3U2-A

I agree with Verdi. Rich gets a lot of bad press because of those  
tapes. And I don't think those tapes make him a bad guy. They are only  
one tiny snippet of the man who was obviously pissed off about the  
band's performance that night. The band screwed up and Rich felt  
betrayed. Simple as that.

Yes, he had a big ego, but then, I think if you want to run with the  
big dogs, you better learn how to piss in the tall grass. Rich's  
biggest fault might have been was that he was naive about all the  
druggies in his bands. Some say he had more druggies in his bands than  
Woody Herman (the previous record holder) had in his. (our bass player  
claims this and he played for 6 months in Rich bands)  Rich didn't  
realize that one of the reasons they were often screwing up is because  
they were spaced out. He thought they were just lazy and not paying  
attention.

Also see below from a 90th birthday tribute to Buddy Rich:

Sept 30, 2007: BR, 90 years. I'm just SO glad I got to know you a  
little bit and I am forever deeply grateful for your encouraging words  
to a young drummer!!
And to all of you saying Buddy was a SOB and everything you really  
know about him is what you heard on "the bus tapes"! You're entitled  
to an opinion when you can play like he did, when you have the  
experience he had. I knew him - he was the kindest guy I ever met in  
my life. He could tell how much I loved music, the way he played it,  
and he liked me for that! Today, being a big band leader myself, I can  
understand the frustration when my name's on the billboard and people  
in my band can't play their parts... And that's being said from my  
humble level. Think about it! //Roger


Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband