Did Buddy Rich underestimate rock drummers?

Buddy Rich, the legendary jazz drummer, was known to have a strong opinion about drumming and musicianship in general, and he occasionally commented on rock drummers, purportedly once saying: "If you don’t have ability, you wind up playing in a rock band." Some say his views reflected his background as a jazz purist and technical virtuoso, but they also came off sounding rather elitist.

In a way, it's not so different from those who consider the use of distortion and other effects in music "cheating." Yes, Rich criticized many rock drummers for their lack of technical skill and sophistication compared to jazz drummers. However, that didn't stop drummers like Led Zeppelin's John Bonham from admiring Buddy Rich.

Regarding John Bonham specifically, there’s no widely documented or direct quote where Buddy Rich praises or condemns Bonham, but he did express a general disdain for rock drumming's simplicity compared to jazz. (Perhaps I am mentioning Bonham partly because I once interviewed Jager Henry, the grandson of Bonham.)

Buddy valued speed, precision, and dynamic control, hallmarks of jazz drumming, and often dismissed rock drumming as overly loud and simplistic. That said, it's worth noting that Bonham’s drumming style, with its power and finesse, was highly respected by musicians across genres, even if Rich might not have appreciated it in the same way. "Moby Dick," has a memorable drum solo by John "Bonzo" Bonham, and he would do innovative things on the drums both in the studio and during live performances.

Was Buddy Rich too harsh on rock drumming?

Rich famously called rock drumming "a bunch of noise" and stated that many rock drummers lacked the technical skills typically needed to play jazz. Despite this, Bonham, Phil Collins, Neil Peart, and Ian Paice of Deep Purple are examples of rock drummers who openly admired Buddy Rich. They even performed in his honor during the Buddy Rich Memorial Concerts in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Quite simply, many rock musicians considered among the "greatest drummers of all time" looked past any contrast in styles, recognizing great musicianship in this other form.

To put it gently: Rich’s focus on technical mastery and jazz’s improvisational demands likely shaped his opinion of drummers like Bonham, who played more often with raw energy and groove, which Rich felt lacked technical complexity. However, this doesn't diminish the profound impact Bonham had on music or his skill in creating some of the most iconic drum parts in rock history.

Is "simplicity" always bad?

In one well-known anecdote, Rich dismissed The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, saying, Ringo is only "adequate" on the drums and nothing more. However, Starr's fans and fellow musicians often countered that his drumming served the music and was stylistically appropriate for The Beatles.

Actually, Paul McCartney did respond, saying "...This is like Buddy Rich saying Ringo couldn’t drum. Because, coming from Buddy Rich’s sensibility, Ringo can’t drum. But coming from our sensibility, Buddy Rich is a load of s***. But God bless him." It's also true that some people hated The Beatles simply because they were (and still are) so popular, with Beatlemania sometimes taking the spotlight away from other musicians.

So yes, from a certain perspective, maybe Buddy Rich was too judgmental, similar to those who mock Meg White of The White Stripes (who, if nothing else, demonstrated a lot of discipline in holding back and having a minimalist approach).

Though Buddy Rich’s views on rock drummers were often contentious, they were consistent with his personality — outspoken, passionate, and fiercely protective of jazz as an art form. His critiques are often taken as part of his larger-than-life persona rather than a comprehensive analysis of rock drumming’s value. It's possible he also felt defensive, in a way, as some regarded rock music as a threat to other forms (including jazz), which is mirrored in the pattern of rock fans who hated rap music. (Similarly, many dismiss avant-garde/experimental music, or eletronic music, etc.)

Here's what can be said: Rock drumming enthusiasts and musicians today continue to respect Buddy Rich for his technical genius while recognizing that his criticisms of rock were rooted in his commitment to jazz and its traditions, and probably a hefty amount of professional ego. Plus, let's face it: Not everyone appreciates jazz, either, so the criticisms can go both ways.