HOLES ARE IMPORTANT

Or, why Ringo was so great

Even before I wanted to play drums, I used to love to watch Gene Krupa. I loved the “Gene Krupa Story” with Sal Mineo. Krupa made drums a central piece of the band, highlighting Bennie Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” with his pounding tom-toms. He and Buddy Rich played numerous “drum battles.” I never cared for Rich. Krupa played for the audience, to show what drums could do in a song. Rich played for himself, trying to impress everyone with his technique. No question, Rich was probably one of the fastest drummers ever. But souless. Absolutely souless.