WAS it an earthquake? Was it Concord? No — it was pupils at Kelly College drumming up a storm with Status Quo sticks- man Jeff Rich.

The legendary rock band's drummer dropped in to deliver a blistering hour-and-a-half of drum history, demonstration and percussive participation. Judging by the enthusiastic response from the youngsters, lessons don't come much better — or louder — than this.

Bedazzled by drums from an early age, Jeff was blessed with understanding parents and tolerant neighbours. Every night he practiced for two hours after school.

His skills have brought him fame and fortune as a member of the Status Quo line-up for the past 14 years. But Jeff warned anyone hoping to pursue music professionally to have another career to fall back on.

'It's hard work but it's fun — and that's what music has to be whether it's as a profession or a hobby,' he said.

'Stay at school and get all your qualifications behind you. I was lucky. A lot of musicians are out of work more than in work.'

In the course of rocking all over the world 'the Quo' have experienced some unusual concert phenomenas. Recently they played to 12,000 people inside a tent in Berlin.

'Half way through it started raining, inside. The heat from the crowd was going up, condensing — and coming down as rain!' said Jeff.

'When you play for Status Quo you have to be fit. On tour you are playing for two hours, five nights in a row under hot lights. If I wasn't fit I would start slowing down.'

Jeff demonstrated a rich variety of drums — including the fascinating African Talking Drum with its variable tone.

'In places where there are no postal service, no telephone the drum is used for communication. It was the "bush telegraph" — in Africa there are more drum languages than there are spoken languages,' he said.

Then came a demonstration of percussive pyrotechnics on his special £6,000 kit, complete with gold-plated fittings.

The roof of Big School was nearly blown away when he was joined by the 120 pupils from the college's first and second year and Junior School pupils playing everything from tambourines to maracas.

'If I see they are inspired that gives me a lot of pleasure. In life you only get out what you put in,' said Jeff.