Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 18 October 2021

FORMER Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich ‘rocked’ up to a primary school next to Hinckley town centre last Tuesday (12 October).

Jeff Rich, who drummed with the world-famous rock band for a total of 15 years, paid a visit to St. Mary’s Primary School, based on Station Road, where he held a drumming workshop session for students.

He played an ‘exciting’ routine and finished the afternoon off by arranging a rock concert for the children where they were able to play percussion instruments with him.

Both staff and students were surprised that a well-known rocker had made his way into town.

Rachel Ayres, Headteacher at St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School, stated that the experience ‘enriched’ the music curriculum and had ignited the children’s love of music which had ‘been lacked’ during the pandemic.

She said: “The children of St Mary’s were treated to a drumming workshop led by Jeff Rich, who has drummed for Staus Quo and Def Leppard.

“The music curriculum was brought to life with drumming demonstrations enabling them to see how drums have developed through the ages.

“Jeff performed an excellent routine before finishing the afternoon with all children performing in their very own rock concert, playing alongside Jeff with a variety of percussion instruments.

“The experience enriched our music curriculum and ignited the children’s love of music which has been lacking during the pandemic.”

Another member of staff, who wished to remain unnamed, managed to spark up a conversation with Rich and snap a selfie with him.

They described him as a ‘fab’ and ‘genuinely nice’ person, and added that he was ‘happy to chat’ with others whilst at the school.

The self-proclaimed ‘drummer extraordinaire’ has performed in recent years on a smaller scale with lesser-known blues rock trio, Triple J.

At the height of his career working with Status Quo, Rich didn’t just drum – he had also lent the group a helping hand in writing and song arrangement on many of their songs and albums.

He regularly attends schools across the United Kingdom where he holds drum and percussion workshops.

Jeff was unavailable for comment at the time of publication, but in his biography on Twitter, he has explained: “I love inspiring young people with my workshops.”