SKF NOTE: Here’s the back story on this tape from my Freddie Gruber interview circa 1982.

This excerpt is, for me, a great life lesson: Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. When Freddie first mentioned a drum instruction video project he and Buddy Rich were talking about I was incredibly excited. Their project was not to be a “How to Play Like Buddy Rich” or any other drummer. No, their project was how to play drums “naturally,” so that “ambitious drummers” could be themselves and enjoy playing music.

I decided to leave this excerpt intact. The horsing around, the silence while Freddie thought carefully about how to say what he was going to say.

I had forgotten this conversation was taped, but there were many times since 1982 I thought back to this day, very sad this project — as far as I know — never came to pass.