Buddy Rich Quotations

So, to come In with a set routine it's something I've never believed in. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

To have everything written for you... It's not really creating. That's why I think symphony drummers are so limited. They 're limited to exactly what was played a hundred years before them by a thousand other drummers.

I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this is what is lacking, definitely lacking in music today.

Almost everything I've done, I've done through my own creativity. I don't think I ever had to listen to anyone else to learn how to play drums. I wish I could say that for about ten thousand other drummers.

They're simply following what was laid down in front and they play the same thing. So, there's no great challenge In being a classical drummer.

Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.

I think it's a fallacy that the harder you practice the better you get.

But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play.

If he's a true symphony artist, he knows better than that because he knows that the only truly creative musician is the jazz musician.

But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own Interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that's written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom.

So, practice, particularly after you've attained a job, any kind of job, like playing with a four piece band, that's... an opportunity to develop.

I can't sit down long enough to absorb any kind of learning.

But primarily, the drummer's supposed to sit back there and swing the band.

I mean, I think I liked every band I ever played in because each band was different, each band had a different concept, and each band leader was different... different personalities and musical tastes.

I think at one time every drummer wanted to play like Krupa or wanted to win a Gene Krupa drum contest. This is the big inspiration for drummers and naturally it has to be the same way for me.

I play a percussion instrument, not a musical saw; it needs no amplification. Where it's needed, they put a microphone in front of the bass drum. But, I don't think it's necessary to play that way every night.

But, when you have to resort to turntables, trick lights, flashing lights, fire and all that, you're actually saying, I need this because what I do is not all that together.

I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way.

And, well of course, Count Basie, and I think all of the black bands of the late thirties and early forties, bands with real players. They had an influence on everybody, not just drummers.

I can think of a lot better things to do with my hands than to cut them up on the rim of a drum.

Well, I never really practiced because I never had the opportunity to practice.

It takes us about four or five days to get an album out.

There were so many individual styles thirty or forty years ago.

And, you know, I think the original recording of Ravel's Bolero, probably whoever played percussion on that, will never have It played better than that.

You either swing a band or don't swing a band and that's what's lacking today.. There aren't any guys who get back there and play with any kind of guts.

If you have any requests. keep them to yourselves. we don't play requests!

If you can play, you can play anything. I don't like classifications.

If you think you stink, you probably do.

Almost everything I've done, I've done through my own creativity.

I never believed in a set routine. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

To have everything written for you It's not really creating. That's why I think symphony drummers are so limited. They 're limited to exactly what was played a hundred years before them by a thousand other drummers.

There are only two types of music.good and bad.

No, I don't like recording. It's a bore.

As far as music school goes, I walked through Berkelee one time.

Average band with a great drummer sounds great, great band with an average drummer sounds average.

A great musician is just a thief who doesn't get caught

You only get better by playing.

But I've played with so many varied bands with varied musical tastes, that I feel qualified to have my own musical tastes at this point in my life.

As far as music school goes. I walked through Berkeley one time to visit with some people I know.

I have other things that I have to do - practice my martial arts, take care of my cars. I don't put too much emphasis on practice anyhow.