SKF NOTE: Fred Below is arguably the father of Chicago electric blues drumming. Any one who wants to know how to play drums in a Blues band needs to listen thoroughly to Fred Below.

This July 9, 1982 interview was published in Modern Drummer‘s September 9, 1983 issue as, “Fred Below: Magic Maker.”

In this excerpt, I ask Below if he works on the spiritual side of his life. I’ve long believed musicians play what we are; that what we are is an inner or spiritual matter. And most of my MD interviews include at least one question on the spiritual side of life.

I recorded this interview at my MD desk in NJ using a suction cup mic on a telephone land line connected to a small audio cassette recorder. Below was on a land line in his Chicago home.

Part A of this full interview, plus several excerpts from the full interview, are on my YouTube channel.