VIDEO: Status Quo drummer gives blistering solo at Fearnville Primary School

Jeff Rich, who played drums for rockers Status Quo from 1985 to 2000, visited Fearnville Primary School in Tyersal yesterday, where he gave a noisy assembly to pupils about music.

With a full drum kit assembled in the school hall, he taught children the difference between a hi-hat and a snare drum, and got the students to take part in a mass musical session where they played tambourines, maracas and bongos.

After leaving the band, Rich started visiting schools to give percussion lessons and inspire young people to get involved in music. Fearnville is one of a number of Yorkshire schools he is visiting over the course of the week.

During his assembly, he spoke to the school's Key Stage 2 pupils about how much hard work goes into becoming a professional musician, the make up of his impressive drum kit and different types of percussion instruments.

And at one point he wowed those in the assembly with a blistering drum solo lasting several minutes.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: "I must have been to about 6,500 schools over the years. I love it, it's great to get out inspiring kids.

"I love getting the children involved in music lessons. When I was younger music lessons were almost non-existent. And when we did learn about music it was classical.

"It is important you engage young people in the subject."

Talking about the large number of pupils who have taken part in his lessons, he said: "When I go to some schools I meet adults who saw me at an assembly when they were young, and they tell me how I inspired them."

During the assembly he said: "I used to practice for two hours every single day. I was very popular with my neighbours as you can imagine.

"I would say the best thing to do is play with other musicians. If you are playing in a band you learn much quicker."

After his drum solo he recalled his days with Quo, when he played some of the world's biggest venues, saying: "Imagine doing that for two hours in a venue much hotter than this.

"It's hard work, but it's fun. That's what music has to be, whether you're doing it for a hobby or professionally."

Lee Spink, a Year 6 teacher at the school, said: "Mr Rich approached us about doing this assembly and we thought it would be a good opportunity for our school and our children.

"The idea is to give the pupils a wider experience of music, and see things they don't normally get to see.

"It is also good to inspire them to succeed.

"I can't imagine there are many of them who know who Status Quo are, but I've never seen the children sit still for so long in an assembly."