Buddy Rich shows you what it's like

Gone but definitely not forgotten, Buddy Rich was arguably the greatest drummer who ever lived. Here's proof of that.
He toys with Jerry Lewis...


...goes toe-to-toe with another great drummer, Ed Shaughnessy...


...and knocks Animal of The Muppets down and out.


On a more serious note, here he is performing his astounding "West Side Story" medley in the late 1960's; the vid's unfortunately split into two parts...


Here's "West Side Story" again, years later, with 65-year-old Rich still nailing it...


This is a solo taped a few years before before he died in 1987; his technique, speed and audience rapport are all still fiery...


What you might not have yet heard, though, are Rich's legendary, eye-opening, ear-splitting, brutally profane, totally hilarious rants as secretly recorded by members of his big band in the 1970's. Copies of these made their way around comedy circles for years, even inspiring a few George Costanza outbursts on 'Seinfeld.' Enjoy...


Temper flares aside, Rich was a unique and marvelous artist, one who deserves to be heard for generations to come, so I'm doing my bit here to ensure that. RIP Buddy.