Afleveringen
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Claus Hessler is an internationally acclaimed German drummer, author, and educator widely recognized as a foremost authority on drum technique and history. He is especially renowned for preserving and expanding complex coordination styles and historical rudimental methodologies.
Technical Expertise
Moeller Technique: Regarded as a legitimate successor to his mentor Jim Chapin, Hessler is a premier authority on teaching the fluid, forearm-driven Moeller method in its purest form
Open-Handed Playing: He is a global pioneer of this style, where drummers play the hi-hat with the left hand and the snare with the right (for right-handed kits), avoiding crossing their arms to increase ergonomic comfort and expand creative options.
Rudimental Frameworks: He specializes in combining traditional European rudiments (like Basel drumming) with modern drum set orchestration.
Hessler has written several highly acclaimed books that have earned award nominations from major industry publications like Modern Drummer and DRUM! magazine
Open-Handed Playing Vol. 1 & 2 (co-authored with legendary educator Dom Famularo)
Daily Drumset Workout
Drumming Kairos
Collapsed Rudiments (Completing and expanding upon structural concepts initially conceptualized by Jim Chapin)
Huge thanks to Claus for giving up his time so generously to do this interview.
Claus is performing masterclasses on July 4th in Rotherham Yorkshire for Bobs Drum School, please checkout Bobs Drum School on Social Media for More Information.
July 5th finds Claus Performing 2 masterclasses in Denbigh North Wales, please contact me for further details if you are interested [email protected] -
Joining me today is the legendary Mikkey Dee.
Mikkey Dee is a legendary Swedish heavy metal drummer best known for his long tenure with Motörhead and his current role in the Scorpions. Renowned for his extreme speed, precision, and hard-hitting style, he is widely considered one of the most influential drummers in rock and metal history.
Lex Legion: In 2026, Mikkey Dee reunited with the classic 1988 King Diamond line-up, alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue, to form a new side-project called Lex Legion. They released their debut single "Sleep Eternally"
in May 2026 He tracked drums as part of a temporary metal supergroupâalongside Phil Anselmo, Kirk Hammett, and Billy Sheehanâfor a reworked version of "Fast As A Shark" on Accept's 50th-anniversary album.
Motörhead (1992â2015): Dee joined the iconic British band in 1992, replacing Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. He remained a core member alongside Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Campbell for over two decades, recording 12 studio albums including Bastards, Inferno, and their final record, Bad Magic. The band officially dissolved following Lemmy's death in late 2015.
Scorpions (2016âPresent): In September 2016, Dee was announced as the permanent replacement for James Kottak in the Scorpions. He featured on their 2022 studio release, Rock Believer
Huge thanks to Mikkey for giving up his time to chat with me, we had such a great chat, incorporating Mikkeys new band Lex Legion as well as Motorhead and The Scorpions of course!
please checkout lex Legions website - www.lexlegionofficial.com the new album is released on Friday June 12th 2026
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Episode 187 - Bobby Elliott
Bobby Elliott is an iconic English rock drummer best known as the powerhouse driving force behind the classic pop/rock band The Hollies. Widely considered one of the finest and most influential drummers of the British Invasion era, he has remained a continuous member of the band since joining them in 1963.
* Jazz Beginnings: Growing up in Burnley, Lancashire, Elliott discovered jazz at a young age. He initially emulated big-band legends like Gene Krupa and Chico Hamilton by practicing on makeshift biscuit tins and Cadbury's chocolate boxes with paintbrush handles.
* Signature Sound: Renowned for his exceptional timing, dynamic tom-tom rolls, and precise fills, his drumming style provided a fiercely energetic yet sophisticated foundation for The Hollies' famous three-part vocal harmonies. * Peer Recognition: He famously won the 1965 Beat Instrumental Drummer Pollârelegating Keith Moon to third place. Renowned players like Cozy Powell, Ian Paice, and Max Weinberg have cited him as a major influence.
* Hit Machine: Alongside guitarist Tony Hicks, Elliott anchored the band through decades of massive hits, including "Bus Stop", "Just One Look", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)", and "The Air That I Breathe". * Wings Invitation: In 1973, Paul McCartney personally invited Elliott to join his band, Wings. Elliott turned the offer down because his loyalty and "heart" belonged entirely to The Hollies.
* Hall of Fame: He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. However, he and Hicks skipped the ceremony in New York because they refused to cancel a pre-booked gig at the London Palladium.
* In late 2020, Elliott published his official autobiography, titled It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story, which offers a firsthand look into his six decades on the road and inside iconic studios like Abbey Road
Huge thanks to Bobby for taking the time to chat with me about his incredible career, what a truly wonderful gentleman.
Equally huge thanks to another legend of the British drumming scene and a good friend of the podcast Bob Henrit for introducing Bobby to me.
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Percussion Discussion Podcast Episode 186 - Rufus Tiger Taylor
Rufus Tiger Taylor is a prominent English rock drummer, best known as a permanent member of the British rock band The Darkness. He is the son of legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor.
The Darkness: Rufus joined the British hard rock group in May 2015, He has since recorded on several of their albums, including Pinewood Smile and Easter Is Cancelled, and continues to tour with them globally.
Queen + Adam Lambert: He served as a touring percussionist and drummer for Queen + Adam Lambert from 2011 to 2015. During live shows, he famously engaged in "drum battles" with his father on stage.
Foo Fighters Connection: Rufus had a close bond with the late Taylor Hawkins, who described him as a "little brother". Following Hawkins' death in 2022, Rufus performed at the tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles.
I was very honoured to grab a very rare podcast interview with Rufus, what an absolute pleasure to spend 45 minutes with him, we talked about everything from We Will Rock You and Queen through to Jeff Beck, The Darkness and of course Rufusâ friendship with the late great Taylor Hawkins.
i know you are going to enjoy this conversation - please feel free to share it with your fiends.
Rufus, Thanks so much for giving up your time so generously. -
Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso American jazz and rock drummer celebrated for her powerful, explosive style and technical versatility. Originally known for her deep roots in jazz fusion and a long tenure as the drummer for Lenny Kravitz (notably appearing in the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" video), she has been the regular touring drummer for Santana since 2016. She is married to guitar legend Carlos Santana, who proposed to her on stage during a concert in July 2010.
Musical Career and Influence Blackman Santana's career spans over four decades, beginning as a street performer in New York City in the 1980s.
Jazz Foundations: Heavily influenced by Tony Williams, she has released numerous jazz albums as a bandleader, including the critically acclaimed Another Lifetime (2010).
Collaborations: She has performed and recorded with a diverse range of artists, such as Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, and Joe Henderson.
Lenny Kravitz Era: She spent roughly 18 years touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz between 1992 and 2015.
Current Projects: She continues to release solo material, such as the 17-track album Give the Drummer Some (2020), which showcases her skills as both a drummer and vocalist.
Huge Thanks to Cindy for gicing me some time from her crazy schedule, i really appreciate it!
Equally huge thanks must go to friend of the podcast and legendary Free/Bad Company Drummer Simon Kirke for putting us in touch, Simon i am eternally grateful for all you do to help.
www.cindyblackmansantana.com
www.santana.com
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Joining me today is Chris Allan
Chris is a prominent UK-based rock and metal session drummer known for his high-energy style and extensive touring experience. He is currently the drummer for Ronnie Romero, Marco Mendoza and performs in the popular theatre show The Story of Guitar Heroes.
Career Highlights
* Ronnie Romero Band: Currently touring and recording with the acclaimed rock vocalist, including work on the album Backbone.
* Marco Mendoza:
* The Story of Guitar Heroes: Performs extensively in UK theatres, showcasing drumming styles that have shaped rock history.
* Malefice: Spent four years (2010â2014) as the drummer for this Metal Blade Records outfit, touring with heavyweights like Anthrax, Testament, and Arch Enemy.
* Session Work: Has recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and contributed drums to TV broadcasts including Radio 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
* Tributes: A lifelong fan of Cozy Powell, Chris performed a tribute solo at Powell's memorial plaque unveiling in 2016 also performing at the last Cozy Powell Birthday Bash
Equipment and Endorsements
Chris is an official artist for several major industry brands, often featuring them in his studio and live setups:
* Cymbals: Paiste Artist, frequently using the 2002 and Formula 602 series.
* Drums: Pearl Drums.
* Drumheads & Sticks: Endorsed by Remo and Vic Firth.
www.chrisallandrums.com
Huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to do this interview. -
Bob Henrit is a prominent English rock drummer best known for his long-term memberships in the bands Argent and The Kinks
* Early Years: He first gained attention in the 1960s with The Roulettes, who served as the backing band for singer Adam Faith.
* Argent (1969â1976): As a founding member, he played on hits like "Hold Your Head Up" and remained with the group until they disbanded.
* The Kinks (1984â1996): Henrit replaced original drummer Mick Avory and performed with the band until their split in the mid-90s.
* Session Work: He has a prolific session history, contributing to tracks such as Unit 4 + 2's "Concrete and Clay" and working with artists like Roger Daltrey and Dave Davies.
* Author & Historian: In 2013, he published his autobiography, Banging On, and has written extensively for music publications like International Musician.
* Business: He owned Henrit's Drum Store in London, a famous hub frequented by legendary drummers including Ringo Starr and Keith Moon.
* Recent Years: Henrit has been open about his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, discussing how he manages the condition while staying active in the music community.
Bob is without doubt one of my favourite people and a fabulous drummer, he has so many remarkable stories to share and is always happy to do so! if you are lucky enough to see Bob at a drum show or event go and have a chat with him, you wonât regret it! Thanks for your time Bob!
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Joining me for this episode is Vicky O'Neon.
Vicky O'Neon is an award-winning session drummer, percussionist, and educator originally from Finland and currently based in the UK. She is widely recognised for her high-energy performances and her extensive work as the touring drummer and percussionist for American pop star Anastacia.
* Collaborations: Vicky has worked with legendary artists such as Brian May (Queen), Hans Zimmer, Nile Rodgers, and Clean Bandit.
* TV Appearances: She is a member of the house band for the American TV show Name That Tune.
* Technology Integration: A specialist in Ableton Live, she often incorporates electronic loops and hybrid drumming setups into her live sets and masterclasses. Education
* Academic Background: She graduated with a BMus (Hons) in Popular Music Performance from BIMM London (formerly Tech Music School), where she received the "Top Overall Drummer Award".
* Social Impact: Vicky is a co-founder of the non-profits Girls Rock London and Rock Donna, which aim to empower girls and gender non-conforming individuals through music education.
* Online Content: She created the educational YouTube series Drumming Through The Decades, exploring the history of female-identifying drummers.
Huge thanks to Vicky for finding time in her busy schedule to chat.
www.vickyoneon.com
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Episode 181 - -Brandon Toews
Brandon is a professional drummer, author, and educator best known as the Content Director and on-camera host for Drumeo, the world's leading online drum education platform. Drumeo Host & Producer: Since 2014, he has produced and hosted popular series like "Hears For The First Time" and "Genius Of," where he analyzes the styles of legendary drummers.
Author: He is the author of The Drummerâs Toolbox and co-author of The Best Beginner Drum Book.
Educator: Beyond digital content, he is a seasoned educator who has taught thousands of students through Drumeo and private lessons.
Performer: He performs internationally, including a 2025 appearance at the UK Drum Show. Education: He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University.
Influences: His playing style is influenced by a diverse range of drummers, from classic rock legends like Neil Peart to modern técnicos like Matt Garstka and Larnell Lewis.
Gear Endorsements: He is an official artist for Gretsch Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Vater Percussion, and Evans Drumheads.
Huge thanks to Brandon for giving up his lunch hour at Drumeo to chat to me! much appreciated.
www.drumeo.com
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Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 180 - Derek Roddy
Derek Roddy is a world-renowned American drummer and multi-instrumentalist, widely celebrated for his pioneering role in extreme metal drumming. Known by the nickname "One Take" for his legendary ability to record complex tracks in a single attempt, he is a primary authority on speed and precision in the death metal community.
Hate Eternal & Nile: Roddy gained international fame as the powerhouse behind Hate Eternal and has performed or recorded with other titan acts like Nile, Malevolent Creation, and Today Is the Day.
Serpents Rise: In 2007, he founded this instrumental extreme metal project to explore obscure sounds and complex percussion without the constraints of traditional metal vocals.
Anthrax - Derek finds himself standing in for Charlie Benante on the dates that he couldnât make due to be on tour with Pantera.
Dream Theater Audition: In 2010, he was one of seven elite drummers chosen to audition for the vacancy left by Mike Portnoy.
He continues to be prolific, currently performing with bands such as Isotropy, Imperishable, and The Deboning Method.
A prolific clinician and educator, Roddy has produced definitive resources for modern drummers:
* Blast Beats Evolved: A comprehensive instructional DVD focusing on the mechanics of blast beats and conditioning for speed.
* Playing With Your Drums: An enlightening programme that addresses ergonomics, gear setup, and positioning for all drumming styles.
* Technique Innovations: He is famous for his specific double bass technique and "finger-on-top" snare muting technique to enhance sound clarity during fast -
Joining me today is Bob Knight.
Bob Knight is a prolific London-based session drummer, musical director, and "fixer" who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music scene for over two decades.
Bob Knight - Session Drummer.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music's jazz performance course, Knight is widely recognized for his versatility across live performances, studio recordings, and television shows. His extensive list of high-profile collaborations includes:
Pop & Soul: CeeLo Green, Jason Derulo, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rita Ora.
Rock & Folk: The Pogues, James Taylor, and Nik Kershaw.
Jazz & Standards: Alison Moyet and Rumer.
Musical Directing and "Fixing" In addition to playing drums, Knight is the founder and director of BEK Music, a agency that supplies musicians for major recording projects, tours, and TV/radio promotions. He often serves as a Musical Director (MD) and a "fixer"âa person responsible for sourcing and managing the right musicians for specific high-level gigs.
Huge thanks to Bob for giving us a fascinating insight to his crazy busy career (at least a part of it, we can talk about his role as "fixer" next time.)
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Joining me today is Ross Garfield AKA The Drum Doctor!
Drum Doctors LLC , owned by Ross Garfield (aka "The Drum Doctor"), is a premier drum service and rental company in the Los Angeles area known for providing expert tuning and vintage drum rentals for countless platinum-selling albums and major artists.
Known for their expertise in achieving specific, high-quality drum sounds, Ross Garfield and his team have worked with artists like Metallica, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Michael Jackson.
Join Ross and myself for a very rare podcast appearance where Ross tells us all about his amazing career so far from his humble beginnings through to working with the late great Jeff Porcaro throught to supplying the now legendary snare drum The bell brass drum nicknamed " The Terminator" that has been heard on so many legendary recordings including Nirvanas classic album Nevermind and also tells us how he supplied set up and tuned the Gretsch set to Metallica to record the iconic Black album featuring the single Enter Sandman.
huge thanks to Ross for this incredible conversation.
please checkout the Drum Doctors Website www.drumdoctors.com
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Joining me today is producer Tom Werman.
Tom Werman boasts an incredible career as record producer in the late 70's to the 90's he has been responsible for producing such legendary albums as
Cat Scratch Fever - Ted Nugent
Treasure - Cheap Trick
Molly Hatchett - Flirtin' With Disaster Dream
Police - Cheap Trick
Blue Oyster Cult - Mirrors
Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
Motley Crue - Theatre Of Pain
Motley Crue - Girls Girls Girls
Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
Dokken - Tooth and Nail
Poison - Open up and say ahh!
So Tom is more than qualified to talk about some of the incredible drummers he has produced over the years including Tommy Lee, Rikki Rockett, Bun.E . Carlos and many more. Join us as Tom share his fascinating insights in plus many many more!to his incredible career. This is totally different to any conversation i have had before, and do you know what......? i loved it!
Huge thanks to Tom for giving up his time so generously and please check out his most excellent book - Turn It Up, My Time Making Hit Records In The Glory Days Of Rock Music!
www.tomwerman.com
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Joining me today is Matt Brooks.
Drummer and Musical Director Matt Brooks already has a CV full of household names such as Nicole Scherzinger, Meghan Trainor, Raleigh Ritchie, Conor Maynard, Jason Derulo and many more....
However for almost 9 years now Matt has been providing the groove for the sensational artist Raye, this year has been the biggest so far for Raye and her huge band after the smash hit Where is my husband? took thw world by storm!
Matt kindly managed to find some time to talk to me amidst a punishing schedule of transatlantic flights almost every week to appear on the biggest talk shows in the US whilst trying to record a new album.
Matt is a very nice guy and a monster drummer, i really hope you enjoy our chat about his career so far and his very hectic schedule!!
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Joining me today is David Greenie Green.
Greenie is a British Drummer with a very healthy CV already boasting such names as Sam Fender, Reef, Vant, Ricky Wrwick, Little Comet, Andy Taylor (From Duran Duran ) and most recently he has made up half of the rhythm section for the legendary Adam Ant alongside his rhythmic partner in crime Jola Drums.
Join Greenie and myself as we talk about his career and journey into becomig a professional drummer and of course he gives us a great insight into playing for the 80's icon Adam Ant.
Greenie, thanks so much for giving up your time so generously! what a pleasure.
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Joining me today is Ed "Roddy" Richardson
. Ed is a graduate of The Royal Academy Of Music, he has already had an incredible career, equally at home as adrummer for TV and Film Sessions, Orchestras, West End Shows and with amazing artists such as Taylor Swift, RAYE, Noel Gallagher, Van Morrisson, John Wilson, Pixie Lott, Mica Paris, Clare Teal, Gregory Porter, Seal and many more.
Late last year following the late great former Squeeze & Jools Holland drummer Gilson Lavis' retirement from playing, Ed got the nod to join The Jools Holland Orchestra with a glowing endorsment from Gilson himself. Ed tells us all about this prestigious gig from getting the call to touring with the band and of course performing at the event synonymous with New Years Eve, the annual Hootenany!
To cap off an incredible year Ed signed with Slingerland Drums and performed a quite phenomenal debut clinic at the UK Drum Show in October 25 Huge tanks to Ed for this hugely interesting chat!
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Joining me today is Emanuel Harrold, Educator, entrepreneur, producer, master drummer, two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Harrold continues to raise the bar with collaborations and touring with the likes of Damon Alburn, Gregory Porter, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, De La Soul and Roy Hargrove.
When you think of four words, Emanuel Harrold name comes to mind: Fashion, community, music and love. Emanuels music legacy stands three generations. If you enjoy artists such as Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Max Roach, Miles Davis, Gospel, Classical, Jazz, Electro and any music that moves you, Harrold likes it too. Born into the artistry of music by way of St. Louis, MO, USA, Harrold is a multiple Grammy-nominated and winning musician. Emanuel's father being a pastor whilst growing up, the appetite for singing and playing instruments grew. There were many musical outlets, those being his grandfather's Memorial Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps, church gatherings and family reunions. Harrold did not seriously pursue his current instrument until after high school. In St. Louis, Emanuel was involved with Off-Broadway musicals with The Black Repertory Theater, traditional jazz and local gospel scenes.
Harrold is a self-taught musician and inspired by many great people on his musical journey to date. He has performed or recorded in no specific order with: Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper, Ronnie Mathews, Keyon Harrold, Damon Auburn, John Hicks, James Spaulding, Shedrick Mitchell, Marcus Strickland, Stevie Wonder, Kidz in The Hall, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Ben La Uncle Soul, Gregory Porter, Ambrose Akinmusire, Revive The Live Big Band, Jonathan Batiste, Keyon Harrold, Laura Mvula, and too many other great amazing musicians to name in this short bio.
I truly Love Emanuels, stylish, dynamic and subtle drumming and im very grateful that he was kind enough to give up an hour from his busy schedule.
www.emanuelharrold.com
Huge thanks to The UK Drum Show for sponsoring this episode
www.theukdrumshow.com 2026 drum show dates - October 24th & 25th 2026 ACC Liverpool
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Joining me today is Hannes Van Dahl.
Since 2013 Hannes has been the powerhouse drummer with Swedish Power metal band Sabaton.
Join us as we chat about his career so far from his beginnings through to joining the mighty Sabaton in 2013. we talk about the upcoming new album being released on October 17th, his love for Metallica, epecially the Ride the Lightning album, the difficulty of finding left footed double bass drum pedal of decent quality in the early days and Hannes speaks of his excitement about getting his new drum set up and running!
Thanks so much to Hannes for finding the time out of his crazy schedule to fit this in!
they are on tour in the UK this December - Dont miss them.
December 4th 02 Arena - London
December 5th Co-op Live - Manchester
December 6th Motorpoint Arena - Nottingham
Check out the bands website too - www.sabaton.net
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Joining me today is Bruce Becker,
Spanning more than four decades as an educator, Master Teacher Bruce Becker has been bringing forward unique concepts in developing âThe Flowâ! Drawing from his more than thirty-year association with drumming guru Freddie Gruber, Bruce is carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical bodyâs interaction with the drum set.
Through the years Top Drummers like David Garibaldi, Tris Imboden, Mark Schulman, Daniel Glass, Glen Sobel, Tim Carman and many more have sought his guidance.
Bruce Becker co-led the David Becker Tribune for 35 years recording 10 CDs. He has performed/recorded with Ron Carter, Mike Stern, Russell Ferrante, Barbara Dennerlein, John Abercrombie, producer Ken Caillat, Frank Gambale and many others.
Bruce is performing some very exclusive masterclasses in the UK between September 27th and October 3rd. 2025 if you are in the South and would like to attend a masterclass,
the great news is, there are tickets still available for one of the events at Planet Drum in London on October 3rd = here is the link for event https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bruce-becker-the-ultimate-guide-to-technique-tickets-1426104339469
Huge thanks to Bruce for sharing his story, knowledge and insights with us!
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Joining me today is Nashville based powerhouse Rich Redmond.
Rich is an award winning touring and recording drummer based in Nashville & Los Angeles, he either played/recorded or performed with the likes of Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Ludacris, Bryan Adams, Kelly Clarkson, Joe Perry and Garth Brooks to name but a few!
He was voted country drummer of the year by Modern Drummer Magazine in 2010, 2016, 2017 & 2018, and has 30 No 1 hits under his belt. Rich doesnt rest on his laurels in his downtime though, he is a motivatonal speaker, and author an actor and a fellow Podcaster with the hugely succsseful Rich Redmond Show.
Huge thanks to Rich for somehow finding the time in his crazy schedule to talk to me!
please check out his website www.richredmond.com
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