Customer Reviews

The Torment of Buddy Rich: A Biography

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There will always be drummers, but at times in the past decade they looked like an endangered species. We were once told that the microchip would replace the rock/pop drummer, as it lay down the grooves better, cheaper, faster.

That near catastrophe for drummers doesn't seem to have had much effect. If anything it's marked time for the end of the beginning because in 2001 there appear to be more great young drummers than ever. The haircuts have changed and there are no more household names. The Krupas, Blakeys, Bellsons have been replaced with Weckls, Wackermans, and Colaiutas. Quite familiar to a Chick Corea or Frank Zappa fan, but about as likely to appear on the current equivalent of the Johnny Carson show as the manager of your local Burger King.

Contemporary music courses at colleges all over the world are producing even more young drummers who can play anything. They might seem more clinical and spoon-fed than their forefathers, but at least they are drummers, not microchips.

So where does Buddy Rich come in? At the beginning of course. John Minahan illustrates this well in his book, The Torment of Buddy Rich. Buddy Rich really was playing on stage at the age of 18 months, a precocious child prodigy tapping out The Stars and Stripes Forever (`not actually forever, but for about four minutes', Buddy would quip on the BBC's Parkinson show over 50 years later). The drum kit as we know it was in its infancy then too. It consisted mostly of snare drum and a great big bass drum, maybe with some percussion shells and a cymbal precariously mounted atop.

It's a miracle that Buddy Rich survived a childhood stardom that took him all over the US and to Australia, then left him in retirement at the age of 14, just in time for the depressive 1930s. But to then go on and become a household name in the 1940s and retain that position right through almost to the next millennium, for playing an instrument that could have gone the way of the Teasmade and Peter Powell Stunt Kite is a remarkable feat that requires closer scrutiny.

In the disjointed chapters of this book the committed fan can be transported from 1970s tours to 1930s apartments, from Buddy blowing his top over a cab driver with no loose change to Buddy proudly looking on as his daughter sings. The opening pages instantly give an insight into what it was like spending time in the overpowering presence if Buddy Rich. For any fan it's a must-read. The author's abundant resource of accurately transcribed conversations makes you believe you are really there in the midst of the action.

For anyone that's not particularly a fan, and that's probably the majority, this book is not constructed, edited, or written well enough to do justice to this remarkable life. It nearly is, and any Buddy Rich fan who doesn't read it will be the poorer for missing out.

There are so many great Buddy Rich stories out there, like the one about the time his new Jaguar was totally stripped of its wheels, radio, trim, everything, while he was doing a Harlem gig. Buddy came out to check it in the interval and was heart broken. The 6'6 stage manager, infamous in Harlem, spread the word that it was Buddy Rich's car that had been turned over, and by the time the gig was finished it had been completely reassembled - even freshly polished.

I know. If you believe that story, you'll believe anything.

Urban myths aside, Buddy's playing needs to be looked at in perspective. It was unbelievable to be at a concert (I saw him loads of times in the UK from 1976 and on). Watching Fred Astaire dance, or Frank Sinatra sing must have been similar - you know it's not just a good band/singer/show you are watching, it's the only show in town, the real thing, anything else is an also-ran. Buddy Rich provided that feeling every time. When you were at a concert you could not conceive of there being any other drummers elsewhere in the world.

His remarkable life warrants an authoritative treatment that shows everyone what he was like and what he achieved. However, it's not surprising he hasn't been embraced as a potential subject by the literary world. I heard him in the early 1980s on Desert Island Disks, a BBC radio programme, when genteel Roy Plumley was the host. After picking seven recordings to take on the imaginary island the guest is asked to pick a book, in addition to the Bible and Shakespeare. Buddy came out with: `What's a book? I've never read a book in my life' and then went on to request `A Story of O', which is somewhat saucy, I believe.

In the real world there are many great drummers and the music world survives without Buddy Rich. That doesn't detract from his phenomenal talent, unbelievable career, and great showmanship. I feel that John Minahan's material has so much potential, but he was let down, maybe by the publisher, I don't know. There is so much of interest for the fan though, real personal information not just dumb stories like the ones I quoted above, that it's worth putting up with the lack of editing.

One day there'll be a great Buddy Rich book that will get a big push from a major publisher and be in Christmas stockings all over the world. It might even pave the way for the screenplay to Buddy Rich - the Movie. One final bizarre Buddy Rich story (there are so many): There has actually been a Buddy Rich movie on the cards for some years. Who is at the helm of this potential movie? Who owns the rights? Bob Dylan of course.

If you're a Buddy fan, you will, of course, read this book.
Minahan traveled and hung with Buddy during the 70's and 80's, taking notes and recording conversations with Buddy and those who were close to him during this time.
It seems like a book never materialized--even after Buddy's death in the late 80's--but Minahan finally decided in 2000 to take what he had and publish it anyway.
The book is uneven. It occasionally strays into areas that really have little to do with the subject--like the description of a day at Hugh Hefner's Chicago mansion (Buddy behaved with civility).
Nevertheless, the intense conversations with Buddy and the highly personal interviews with Marie Rich, Stanley Kay, and others who were close to him are intriguing and emotionally moving.
Minahan also avoids the gushing effusiveness toward his subject that marred Mel Torme's otherwise excellent Rich biography.
The book has been criticized for its focus on Buddy's "torment," but Minahan gives more-than-adequate support for his thesis. Buddy Rich was an incredibly complex person--a tortured genius who could exhibit the crudest vitriol and then turn around and be the most sensitive, loving person imaginable.
This book, in spite of its shortcomings, made me love Buddy even more. I really miss him.

Terrific book about an exceptional talent! Don't know what the other reviewer is complaining about. I paid full price and don't regret it. (That's about eighteen bucks, with shipping.)
If you like Buddy's kind of music, you'll appreciate the book. In addition: you get plenty of insight into the man, what for me, was an added bonus: Buddy's devotion to friends and good-hearted nature (ie: the passage with Johnny Carson, Count Bassie, et al). Granted, he wasn't always the easiest guy to get along with, but what matters most is that he had a good heart, loved music and those who had the same love and dedication for it as he did. Reading the book made me want to take the albums out and play them, etc.

While I'm at it here, have wanted to express for years now how impressed I was with his daughter Cathy's version of the Sonny Bono tune entitled THE BEAT GOES ON. She does a terririfc cover of it on Buddy's Big Swing Face album recorded years ago. Cathy was only 12 and 1/2, mind you, at the time, and showed great promise in my opinion, and have wondered why she never pursued a singing career, etc.

There is so much more I could say about this book, but it would take too long. You get a good glimpse into what life must have been like for Buddy and his family in this country during the 30's and 40's, etc., (through various interviews with family members), what it was like for him as a gifted kid at age 3 to be traveling the world as "Traps the Drum Wonder," all that.

The only thing that bothered me (and this is a relatively minor objection, if you can even call it that) is the awful photo of Buddy Rich used for the cover, as someone else mentioned as well. I mean, couldn't they have found something more flattering? I think the legendary Buddy Rich deserves better.

All in all: nice job, Mr. Minahan. Thank you.

If you are a drummer, and you are not a huge Buddy Rich Fan, I feel sorry for you. I would suggest Mel Torme’s book and THEN this one. Good Luck!

I finished this book in the first day that it was delivered, and plan on reading it a few times more. Up front I must tell you, as a fan of Buddy Rich, I am biased from the get go. I met him when I was 13, and after informing him that I was a drummer, I was treated to a giant smile and an encouraging handshake and autograph. This man was truthful, and honest, as this book well depicts.

Anyone that knows anything about drums and drumming knows who Buddy Rich was Anyone that doesn’t know who Buddy Rich was is uniformed, and thus incapable of ever knowing what drums and drumming can be. I feel sorry for them, if they exist. Therefore I honestly feel that someone needs to include a test on the facts about Buddy Rich before the let you even buy a drum set. A trip to the music store should go like this, “Who was Buddy Rich?” “ the world’s greatest drummer”, “ Ok, what kind of sticks do you want?” I am a life long fan of Buddy Rich; I am also a professional drummer. I work fulltime, 6 nights a week and I tour on average of 8 months out of a year. To put it in a nutshell, as a musician, I look to the musicians from Buddy’s era and times, because I cannot find such mastery of music in the present. This book contains information that made me close it, sit in wonderment, then dive back in as few books ever do for me. I enjoyed every part, front to back. I have tried to find the greats of our times and have found no one that comes close. This book is a Godsend to any Buddy Rich fan; anyone who is not a fan of Buddy Rich should not bother with it. I found it fascinating to read the actual conversations, stories and even more in depth truth about Buddy Rich’s life than Mel Torme’s book “Traps..”. I am not allowed to give you the best examples, but Please do yourself the favor of buying this one if you consider yourself a fan in any way, you will enjoy it.

Mel Torme’s book is broad and inclusive, but this book, the Torment… is much more focused on getting to know who buddy rich really was, not so much as a friend, but more of a close observer It was awesome to feel as if I where sitting at the table while Buddy talked about other musicians ect... The book also contains an interview with drummer Carl Palmer when he was 24 years old.

This book contains eyewitness, first person accounts of Buddy Rich in 1974, and perhaps the most impressive detail about Rich’s childhood I have ever read about. The interview with his father brought tears to my eyes, and a new understanding of the unimaginable life Buddy led. I can’t tell you the impressive parts, if you want to know then buy the book.

This book is nicely detailed, and although it’s not complete because it ends in 74, it is a hell of a lot closer to telling Rich’s story accurately than anything on the internet. The only thing bad about this book is the crappy cover; I can’t believe they published it with such a low quality front cover. I am going to cover my copy with a good picture of the world’s greatest drummer, Mr. Buddy Rich. Like many others, I cherish his memory, and still mourn the world's loss. I'm glad I bought this one.

John Minahan has written a beautiful accounting of his experiences with the world's greatest drummer. In The Torment of Buddy Rich: A Biography, the reader is treated to a conversation of anecdotes as the author recounts his visits with Buddy. Mr. Minahan's stories are often personal in nature and revelatory! Imagine having a friend who got to spend time with BR and you're sitting across from said friend at a coffee shop while he tells you the intimate (sorry folks - non-sexual in nature) details about his time with Buddy. It is a very easy and interesting read. We get to observe Buddy back stage just before a performance, in those final moments before he explodes upon the audience with all of that energy. We are privy to some "out of the public eye" moments between BR and JC (no not the saviour dude....Johnny Carson!). It's kind of cool to hear (read) how they are with each other when they aren't in front of the cameras. We get to meet Buddy's dad and hear his stories from the vaudeville days. Buddy's sisters and brother even show up for a while and give us some stories of growing up with BR before he came to be TWGD! The book is written in such a way as to put the reader right at the breakfast table at the Playboy mansion or poolside as he and Buddy Rich sun on the hotel rooftop before an evening's performance. But don't let all this breezy light talk mislead you. It is in these relaxed settings that some of the most surprising revelations about the man get unearthed. Admiration and affection for Buddy shine through in Mr. Minahan's writing. Although the author does not allow his feelings to excuse him from asking the more difficult questions as in his conversation with Buddy's father about Buddy's childhood educational shortchange, they may have affected the extent to which such uncomfortable topics would be pursued. I suppose that such subjects were touched upon at all should be commended. The only real beef I have with this book is the title. I did not get that Buddy Rich lived a tormented life by reading this book. There is no question that being who he was carried its' own burdens in as much that being the world's best at anything has its' inherent pressures. As far as I can surmise from reading this book, Buddy Rich handled those pressures with style and grace. He seemed to understand the blessings that were bestowed upon him and his family, and enjoyed the people in his life (especially his fellow musicians) with verve. I just don't agree with the use of such words as "tormented" and "tragic" to sell more copies. Still, you will enjoy going along with the author as he meets and spends time with Buddy and his friends and family. By the time I had closed the back cover of the book, I felt I had grown in my appreciation of the man and his talents and the character those talents had fostered!

Even though i didnt give the book 5 stars i still thought it was very informative. The only thing i didnt like was that i thought the author rambled a bit and had some stories which didnt really directly involve Buddy.I found myself kind of skipping over those passages, but by and large i would definatly recommend this book. I now am convinced that the Buddy Rich movie being made will be very interesting with loads of stories that will interest the public. Enjoy the book, i read it in one day!

The choice of this author to take his unedited preliminary notes started for a contemplated book project and publish them as a finished product is unfortunate.

To suggest this apparently random collection of third-party unverified information has anything to do with a supposed "Torment" of Buddy Rich is silly.

Whatever this document may be, it is not a completed work of any kind and certainly would never be published by any other than this author's vanity press.

For those of us blessed to take unconstrained joy from the life and music Buddy Rich poured, these dregs must be tasted. But for those sane in this life, stay away.

WEO

I read the book written by Mel Torme and must say this book is a lot of words for nothing. I skipped page after page as the author talked about himself. It's boring folks, buy Mel's book instead, it's great. I saw no torment in this book at all.
A Buddy fan.

If you are - like I am - a drummer and dedicatedly interested in Mr Rich's personality, you might enjoy this professionally written book. But don't expect any nuts and bolts-talk or anything really relevant about his incredible playing abilities.

Books about musicians can never tell the story that the musician tells through music, especially in Jazz. I enjoyed the book, even though it's a bit rough around the edges, but I always enjoy books about Jazz masters. Worlds Greatest Drummer? Buddy was a great one but not the greatest. Just listen to a recording from the late 1950's, Rich vs. Roach, where Max Roach just blows him away head to head. That said, I love Buddy's work. His solo on The Monster with the JATP group is amazing. Buddy was a Real Character and one of the most popular guests ever on the old Carson Tonight Show.
I went to a concert with his big band of the late 'Seventies at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. It was a two show gig and Buddy found out the Guthrie had somehow managed to sell tickets to only one show. What does Buddy do? He invited the crowd to stay on, had an intermission and then played a completely different second set! I could swear the band never knew what tune he was going to call next. That was one of the most disciplined big bands I have ever heard. Maybe not the Worlds Greatest Drummer but for sure one of the Worlds Greatest Shows.