Jeff Rich
Encyclopedia
Jeff Rich also known as "Worzel" (born 8 June 1953, Hackney
, London
) is an English
rock
drummer
, best known as a former drummer for the English rock band, Status Quo. He attended school in Hackney at Upton House Comprehensive, and whilst there he appeared in the opera
, Tosca
at the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
.
He helped out Def Leppard
in August 1986 and played alongside Rick Allen
who had lost his left arm in a car accident in December 1984. However, during Def Leppard's warm-up mini tour of Ireland
, Rich accidentally missed a gig
, and the rest of the band
realised Allen could drum alone.
Rich played with Stretch
, Judie Tzuke
and the Climax Blues Band
prior to joining Status Quo, where in late 1985 he replaced Pete Kircher
on drum
s. In April 2000, Rich announced his intention to leave Status Quo after 15 years in the group, as he was tired of touring and wanted to spend more time with his family. He was replaced on drums by Matt Letley
.
During his time with Status Quo, Rich used Paiste
cymbals and Premier drums, with a 22" Tama bass drum. Up until the Under the Influence
tour in 1999, Rich had his cymbals free floating from a steel frame, which fans noted as making him look like he was 'drumming in a cage'.
After leaving Status Quo, he began touring schools across the UK
giving school children lessons on percussion, which he continues to do today. Rich also is drumming for 'Stealer', a tribute band
to Free
.
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, best known as a former drummer for the English rock band, Status Quo. He attended school in Hackney at Upton House Comprehensive, and whilst there he appeared in the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, Tosca
Tosca
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900...
at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
.
He helped out Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
in August 1986 and played alongside Rick Allen
Rick Allen (drummer)
Richard John Cyril "Rick" Allen is the drummer for the English hard rock band Def Leppard. He is famous for overcoming the complete amputation of his left arm and continuing to play with the band, which subsequently went on to its greatest popular success worldwide...
who had lost his left arm in a car accident in December 1984. However, during Def Leppard's warm-up mini tour of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, Rich accidentally missed a gig
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, and the rest of the band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
realised Allen could drum alone.
Rich played with Stretch
Stretch (band)
Stretch were a 1970s British rock band that grew from the collaboration between Elmer Gantry and Kirby . Gantry was previously the frontman of Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera...
, Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke is an English singer/songwriter. She is most well known for her 1979 hit "Stay With Me Till Dawn", which reached no.16 on the UK Singles Chart.-Early life:...
and the Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax...
prior to joining Status Quo, where in late 1985 he replaced Pete Kircher
Pete Kircher
Peter Derek Kircher , is a retired English rock/pop drummer.He played between 1982 to 1985 in the rock band Status Quo...
on drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s. In April 2000, Rich announced his intention to leave Status Quo after 15 years in the group, as he was tired of touring and wanted to spend more time with his family. He was replaced on drums by Matt Letley
Matt Letley
Matt Letley is the drummer in the English rock band, Status Quo.- Career :Letley's first recording were with his brother Mark's progressive rock band Sindelfingen when he was only 12; a live track including him was added to a CD reissue of their rare LP entitled 'Odgipig...
.
During his time with Status Quo, Rich used Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
cymbals and Premier drums, with a 22" Tama bass drum. Up until the Under the Influence
Under the Influence (Status Quo album)
Under the Influence is the twenty-third studio album by English rock band Status Quo, released in 1999.-Track listing:# "Twenty Wild Horses" 5:00# "Under the Influence" 4:03# "Round and Round" 3:25...
tour in 1999, Rich had his cymbals free floating from a steel frame, which fans noted as making him look like he was 'drumming in a cage'.
After leaving Status Quo, he began touring schools across the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
giving school children lessons on percussion, which he continues to do today. Rich also is drumming for 'Stealer', a tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
to Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
.