Russell has Cissy Strutted himself away from here. Another legend gone. :-X
https://theworldobits.com/2023/10/01/russell-batiste-obituary-death-funky-meters-drummer-has-died/
Far too young.
RIP to a legend.
Dude was pure fire on drums. The 90's version of the Funky Meters when Art was still healthy was the tightest band I have ever seen in my life. Some of my greatest nights of music in life were that band.
One night at the end of a PBS show, Russell hucked this drumstick directly at my head. I caught it and have held onto it for a long long time. You can see how hard he pounded those drums!
(https://i.imgur.com/zixln5h.jpg)
Dagabbit :'(
Another quick story about him... We were seeing Funky Meters at the ACL-Live Moody Theater and we were side stage with a great view of Russell as he was in the corner that night. His stool broke mid-song with his ass falling straight to the floor. Obviously, he lost the ability to play with his feet and he had to use his left hand to help himself back up... but his right hand never missed a single snare hit. I've never seen anything like it. It was as if his right hand was just completely independent of the rest of him. It just kept time right in the center of that snare drum. I can still picture George and Art just laughing their asses off at him!
Quote from: PIE-GUY on October 02, 2023, 08:53:34 AMAnother quick story about him... We were seeing Funky Meters at the ACL-Live Moody Theater and we were side stage with a great view of Russell as he was in the corner that night. His stool broke mid-song with his ass falling straight to the floor. Obviously, he lost the ability to play with his feet and he had to use his left hand to help himself back up... but his right hand never missed a single snare hit. I've never seen anything like it. It was as if his right hand was just completely independent of the rest of him. It just kept time right in the center of that snare drum. I can still picture George and Art just laughing their asses off at him!
That is such a tribute, goddamn.
quite the story!
Another tough loss. RIP
Quote from: sls.stormyrider on October 03, 2023, 10:51:18 AMquite the story!
Another tough loss. RIP
QFT. One of my all time favourite drummers.