Bio information: I was born a small child. Bang boom crash!!
Rich Berends, world class, technical percussionist, transfixes audiences with transformational solos and melodic percussion. Berends has performed with artists like Fish (Marillion), Chris Caffrey (Trans-Siberian Orchestra), and Jermaine Paul (2012 winner of The Voice). Rich has shared the stage with artists such as Rush, Jon Wetton, and Joe Satriani, and performed at festivals such as the Planet Pul Festival, Netherlands.
Early training under Nat Conway (Baltimore and National Symphony Orchestras) established Rich’s percussion foundations and master level reading. Following the family’s move to central New Jersey, he resumed instruction with Tony DeNicola (Harry James Orchestra), learning technical prowess through study of the pioneers before him, improvisation, and communication through music…playing colors, emotion, etc. The complex African percussion of Cream’s Ginger Baker changed Rich’s style to incorporate big rhythm and musical leadership through the drums. Then, Carl Palmer’s work with Emerson Lake and Palmer influenced Berends’ growth into fusion, progressive rock, and his massive kit show philosophy. Third, you can hear the influence of
Formation of Tank with brothers, Bill and David, and Kip Lemming (Riot), resulted in strong power trios that demanded attention. Max’s Kansas City, NYC, was the first national room Rich played at 16.
Mastermind was developed by Bill and Rich to become a long-term project for the Berends men. Phil Antolino, Mickey Simmonds, and others joined Mastermind to play at venues like the Tweeter Center, the Bottom Line, and The Paradise Theater in the northeast. In addition, Mastermind’s tour of North America as opener for Derek ‘Fish’ Dick lead them throughout the United states and Canada playing national rooms like the Odeon (Cleveland), Park West (Chicago), Bluebird Theater (Denver), Fenix (Seattle), and Slim’s (San Francisco).
As an international touring performer, Rich played concert halls On Air West and Eggman, Tokyo, and Messe Hall, Sapporo, Japan, while sharing the stage with Ars Nova of Japan. In ’97, the group offered sets at the Europe’s Planet Pul Festival, Netherlands, plus Wheatsheaf, Classic Rock Society, and The Orange in London, and Jugendhaus in Germany.
Rich Berends added other experiences playing in viking-rock, swing and brass big bands, and recently, joined Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra, 18-time Grammy award winner in the Polka genre. With the Sturr Band, Rich tours with Chris Caffrey (TSO), and the Sturr Orchestra’s first-class musicians like Ron Oswanski (Maynard Furgeson, Blood, Sweat and Tears), and has backed Jermain Paul (The Voice), The Four Aces, The Duprees, Andy Cooney (The Irish Tenors), and Molly B.
With the release of their first cd, Rich Berends joins Calla Bere and The Attitude, the powerful modern blues rock band based in New Hope, PA. Calla’s vocals, compared to Janis Joplin, Kevin Rovner’s guitar, inspired by Greg Allman and Eric Clapton, and Berends driving percussion have combined forces in their new release, Good Day on CD , featuring Mike “Kidd Funkadelic” Hampton (Parliament Funkadelics) available for purchase on CDBABY.
Played with:
- Fish of Marillion
- Chris Caffrey (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
- Jermaine Paul (2012 winner of The Voice)
Played with (cont.)
- Bobby Lane (Al Di Meola’s technical instructor)
- Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra
- Mickey Simmonds (Mike Oldfield, Camel, Fish, Renaissance)
- The Four Aces
- Mike Hampton (Parliament Funkadelics)
- And more
Shared the Stage:
- Rush
- Jon Wetton
- Joe Satriani
- Symphony X
- The Alarm
- Modern English
- Gong
- Ars Nova
- Transatlantic
- And more
Festival performer:
- Planet Pul Festival, De Pul, Uden, Netherlands
- Progday, Storybrook Farm, Chapel Hill, NC
- Progscape, Stephens Hall, Towson, MD
- Nearfest, Foy Hall, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
- Further Fest, NJ
- Powermad 1998, MD
- Florida Funfest, Florida, NY
- Strawberry Festival, Plant City, Florida
- Wurstfest, New Braunfels, Texas
- Goth Stock, Webster Theatre, Hartford, CT
- Bethlehem Musicfest, Bethlehem, PA
- Fem Godz Fest, Dingbatz, Clifton, NJ
- Bethlehem Steel Stacks Octoberfest, Bethlehem, PA
- Allentown Music, Allentown, PA
- And more
Stadiums/Arenas:
- De Pul, Uden, Netherlands
- Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ
- Steel Stacks Wells Fargo Festplatz, Bethlehem, PA
- Steel Stacks Festhalle, Bethlehem, PA
- Allentown Fairgrounds, Allentown, PA
- Wursthalle, New Braunfels, TX
- And more
Notable Clubs/Halls
- Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ
- Empire Rock Club, Philadelphia, PA
- Ardmore Café, Ardmore, PA
- 23 East, Philadelphia, PA
- Middle East Club, Philadelphia, PA
- Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
- Theater of the Living Arts, Philadelphia PA
- Sidebar, NYC, NY
- Orion Studios, Baltimore, MD
- the Bottom Line, NYC, NY
- Rock’n’Roll Café, NYC, NY
- The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
- The Strand, Providence, RI
- The Galaxy, Somerdale, NJ
- Grape Street Pub, Manayunk, PA
- The Grape Room, Manayunk, PA
- The Satellite, Cookstown, NJ
- Middle East, Cambridge, MA,
- The Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA
- Phantasmagoria, Wheaton, MD
- Upstairs at Nick’s, Philadelphia, PA
- Graffiti, Pittsburgh, PA
- The Bayou, Washington, DC
- the Tralf, Buffalo, NY
- Odeon, Cleveland, OH
- Elbo Room, Chicago, IL
- Ludlow’s, Columbus OH
- Shank Hall, Milwaukee, WI
- Park West, Chicago, IL
- Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
- Starfish Room, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Fenix, Seattle, WA
- Slim’s, San Francisco, CA
- Club Kaos, Freemont, CA
- Wheatsheaf, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
- Classic Rock Society, Rotherdam, UK
- The Royal Strand, London, UK
- The Orange, London, UK
- Jugendhaus, Leonberg-Hofingen, Germany
- On Air West, Tokyo, Japan
- Eggman, Tokyo, Japan
- Messe Hall, Sapporo, Japan
- Yes…and more
