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Buddy Rich Photos contributed by Fred Marcin

Fred sent the following text related to these photos:

These photographs were taken by me from the second row (an unbelievable vantage point to witness another RIDICULOUS performance!) in the auditorium of Bethesda Chevy Chase High in Maryland on Thursday evening January 24, 1980. This fourth photo is a composite constructed from two photos taken before the gig began. Consequently, it is a pretty nice close-up documentation of Buddy's drums of the time. Please note his "Swish Knocker" cymbal (LOUD mother'), given to him by drummer Mel Lewis, AND the infamous cheesy-sounding Synare electronic drum, which can be heard on the Ronnie Scotts live album of the same period. Also, note the tape on the underside of the ride cymbal.

I'm not sure, but I think this may be a rare opportunity for all of us BR fans to get quite such a good look at BR's kit at the time; I have not seen any other photos even remotely like this one yet. One could almost go around and sit down at those drums!

Needless to say, you have my never ending gratitude and permission to post these babies on your site!!! It's yet just another of the many offerings you'll be getting in our quest to "fill in the holes" as you so eloquently described it on the forum the other day.

Enjoy!
Fred

These are GREAT, Fred. Thank you! (Mike James)

Click any image below for the full-size version.

The master's kit

Side view, again taken prior to the gig getting underway. The excitement in the auditorium was freakin' palpable!

This is the composite photo (a left and right half) mentioned in Fred's text, above. Fred and I both did all we could, with a little help from PhotoShop, to clean this image up.

The beginning of the ass kicking gig! Steve Marcus, baby!! (tenor sax and soprano sax)

Calling up the next chart... Note the fabulous Wayne Pedzwatr and the trumpet players looking for the next chart. I love how Steve doesn't even bother and just sits there; he had his book completely memorized! This band with Wayne was absolutely KICK ASS. What a sound. Buddy must have loved every night with this line-up. That night was a definite "ON" night!

Second row, man... Jesus what a night it was!

Wayne Pedzwatr at the bass!

Buddy beginning to get in the zone for his solo... sticking patterns between the snare and the floor tom.

The intensity and complexity grows...

Really getting into it... remember everyone in the auditorium just watching this unbelievable crap going on in rapt awe! This solo was about 8 minutes.

I am particularly pleased to have captured this moment of brilliant and fast cross sticking between the tom and floor tom! Note the extension Buddy achieves all the way to the floor tom and how, despite this difficult move, his middle finger still plainly rests over his drum stick! How the did this genius do this ??

Just after the last note and Buddy begins his routine trip down to the front to speak to us, his wildly appreciative audience. At the moment this photo was taken the place was an uproarious din of sound....huge applause and hollering! Some dude's fist shaking in the air in celebration. I mean it was a ridiculous concert!

Here Buddy simply has to stand there and look over at Wayne Pedzwatr and wait for the din to finally begin to subside. And, of course, there was this unique and wonderful sense that would come over me when realizing I was this close to the master genius drummer himself!

Buddy turning around to introduce the band personnel. Nice sweater he's got on during a very cold January night in Maryland.

Here is the last photo of the night. Mike, do I need to tell you how hysterically funny his stand up comedy was here? I hope you enjoyed these pictures!