I get asked about the first recording of the set. Honestly, I don’t remember; it could have been on “Philadelphia Freedom” because I hear a weird, fat snare drum. Then, again, I hear the cracking toms on the single “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”, so, it could have been there.

There are feelings I sometimes get about people and things. I never knew what to make of this, but the first time I got this feeling was while I was talking with Nigel in his first plant visit. Later, I learned this gift would come in handy in scouting drummers for endorsement. One time it even saved my life. I asked Nigel who he was with, and he politely said Elton John. I said, “I have a feeling about this, I think you guys are going to do well". He thanked me for all my help, and added he hoped that I was right. As he walked away, I thought, who in the hell is going to buy a record from a person named Elton John? Sure glad I wasn't an A&R guy.

The first time I saw Buddy Rich was December 23, 1969, at a place called George's Show lounge which was about 2 miles north of Slingerland and is now a pizza place. The night we went to see the band, Donny and I had to play a concert at school but as soon as that was over we were in the car and on our way.

We pulled into the lot and I saw the band bus. When we entered the club, it was small and crowded with tables pulled tight. They put about 3 tables together and I was sitting with Armand Zildjian, Morey and Jan Lishon owners of Franks Drum Shop, Leonard Feather from Downbeat magazine, and a few others from Slingerland. I think Remo Belli was there too that night. It was like a Hollywood night for me. My folks never had money for anything like this. For a seventeen-year-old kid this was the big time. As I turned to the right looking around the room, Tom Osborne nudged me and said "Hey Pic (a nickname the boys gave me) there's B". Sure enough, it was Buddy Rich. I saw the guy on TV 3 or 4 times but this was Buddy live and 10 feet from me. He was a lot smaller then I thought. He wore a pink dress shirt, navy sports coat and gray slacks. He chatted with Armand and Don Sr. Laughing, and joking around. Suddenly he turned to the band and they snapped to attention. It was like an army.

They introduced Buddy and they were off and running with Rotten Kid. I could not believe it. He didn't seem real. The band didn't either. Rick Stepton and Mike Price were in the band and the stuff he played through West Side Story was nothing I ever saw or heard him do ever again. He played for his friends that night at the front table.

Buddy had an amazing aura. Even when listening to you there was a sincere intensity about him. He was a star; a nice man and a genius. The most amazing story I experienced with him took place at the Randhurst Ice Arena. I with the help of 4 people brought 2 full sets of drums to him. I also brought extra snare drums. Buddy was a snare drum fanatic. It had to be right. I could never figure out what he wanted. Just when I thought, I had him figured out and happy he'd change course. I told Don senior that one day after he left Slingerland and Don just said, "Join the club". I asked Buddy if he would give a snare drum try as I just had it built and was experimenting with a new idea.