Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Drumming legend Freddie Gruber dies at the age of 84
UPDATE - 10/13@11:03AM: Here's an obituary for Freddie written by Neil Peart that was posted to the Hudson Music website yesterday.
... As a man, Freddie Gruber was loved and appreciated during his lifetime, and as a teacher, he was respected and revered - not least because he had guided so many of his students into finding their own voices on the drums.
All of those musicians will continue to pass along that fundamental and immortal language of human life, to listeners and to younger drummers, and thus Freddie's place in that divine continuum will continue to resonate forever.
He will be missed, but he is not gone.
-Neil Peart
----- snip -----
Legendary jazz drummer and drum teacher Freddie Gruber passed away yesterday at the age of 84. In addition to being an accomplished jazz drummer, Freddie was a highly respected and successful drum teacher. He counted drumming greats such as Neil Peart, Steve Smith and Dave Weckl among his students. Last year Zildjian presented Freddie with a lifetime achievement award at the NAMM show. Neil Peart became a pupil of Gruber back in 1994 after being referred to him by fellow drummer and Gruber student Steve Smith while producing the first Buddy Rich tribute album. Gruber was responsible for much of Neil's reinvention of his drumming style in the mid-90s. Here's a scene from the Rush documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage where Neil and Freddie are interviewed together:
Comments
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Here is a photo of Carrie Nuttall and Freddie Gruber.
link
@32: "I was speaking with another Rush fan about this matter and they fully agreed with me."
Oh, well you win, then. That's the most ironclad argument I've ever seen......
I can't believe that Neil is sitting there in these videos with Freddie, with all his 58 yrs of pure wisdom, and bewitched by this mish mosh of pure drivel, what others see as 'common sense.' I think Neil is just sheepishly awed that Freddie was Buddy's roommate at one time, and is being blinded and driven by pure association, something he ironically abhors in fans of his own music! (he used to anyways, not sure now)
I know Neil went through agony with the loss of his family, but he's given into this drumming spiritual mumbo jumbo that he's apparently redirected to help soothe a wound that heals slowly.
Please Neil, stop letting this guide your genius.
I'll repeat GENIUS!!
Let's hope he *tries* to go back to playing the way he did now that there's no one *kind of* looking over his shoulder (not meant to be literal), pre-1994, when his drumming was perfect for Rush. (NO JAZZY influences, no circles above the drums, no playing on top of the head or whatever, pretty please with sugar on top,
You're not a jazz drummer, and you never will be or you would have been one. I'm trying to be as honest and nice as I can. Also trying to be as constructive to the writing of new Rush music for that perfect Rush fan, *fingers crossed*
steve k, very nice comment that you wrote. I agree with you on the traits that are disappearing, in todays world. What about the lawn chairs inside Freddie's bachelor pad? I thought that part was funny in the book.
RIP Freddie (Yoda of Drums)
link
One of the highlights of Neil's "Ghostrider" book was his detailed description of Freddie's "Bachelor Pad" in California. The dishes he never used, the coldcuts in the fridge, the music magazines stren all over the place etc...My Dad is a very healthy and active 80 years, and that generation of people (both men & women) have such a unique story to tell from that era and they are slowly leaving us. Like most people from that era, he seemed like a straight-shooter, a unique personality. Traits that we are desperately missing in today's world. Thoughts to his family & friends.
#24 - snowdog2113, you are correct, because of the Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage quality of the video with Freddie and Neil and the way it was uploaded that is posted, I would have preferred the DrumChannel one with the two together, at that moment to use.
It's very distracting when you hear a cat meowing in the background while the bit is being filmed with the camera aimed at the television.
#23 - ron2112, I'm aware of the copyright issues with videos uploaded on YouTube. However I stand my ground and say that a better quality version could have been uploaded.
I was speaking with another Rush fan about this matter and they fully agreed with me.
Here's a biography/interview on Freddie Gruber from 2004.
link
RIP Freddie!
Your influence on Neil was profound and as a fellow drummer, I thank you for your role in NP's continued greatness....
O tiozinho era gente fina.
Fica na boa, Yoda of Drums.
Cris, form Brazil.
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