Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich has treated pupils at a Tyneside primary school to a percussion masterclass. The 73-year-old visited Wallsend Jubilee Primary School in Wallsend, North Tyneside, on Thursday morning.
The musician, who was in the rock band for 16 years, was invited to the school on Mullen Road to deliver a percussion workshop. He met around 170 students and they were given the chance to play a percussion instrument alongside him.
Headteacher welcomes rock star
Headteacher David Harrison welcomed the rock star to the school. He said: "This is fantastic experience for our pupils, and one I hope they will remember and will inspire them for the rest of their lives."
Jeff replaced Pete Kircher in Status Quo in 1985 and spent 16 years recording and touring with the band. He also temporarily helped out Def Leppard as a backup drummer in the late 1980s.
Touring schools across the UK
Since leaving Status Quo, Jeff has toured schools across the UK giving a masterclass in drumming and percussion to inspire young people. He is currently visiting a small number of schools in the North East.
The workshop offers pupils a first-hand insight into the music industry and the opportunity to try out percussion instruments alongside the world famous drummer. They are taught about the early history of the drum and percussion right through to modern times.
Wallsend Jubilee Primary School said they were excited to be offered the opportunity and take it up.
