I love the interview with Andre and it's good to see that good people are still around Andre and after listening to your story I can I feel you were there you were there for her you were there for the whole group I grew up with you guys I was like 9 years old or probably 7 years old when you all started recording. And I wish that I could meet you guys so much because I didn't know that you had all that pool Andre. I used to look at that album all the time when I was like 9 years old playing sweet thing and listening to the whole album at 9 years old. I would look at you on the album I will look at all the members and I just was like wow I wonder if those guys sang the background because they sound like a girl 😅 I remember back in 74 I heard the first album my brother's neighbor used to play that whole album over and over and over and it's like man I just I love that first album too it was great I wish that you guys can make music great again🎉😂 I did not review my life until I turn like 50 in my 50s and and I look back and I didn't even know this went down with you guys I heard some rumors you know like when people go to your concert but I never knew this went down. Chaka s book through the fire. Back in 2003 that's what I found out and so when I'm hearing you now which is today I had 2024 I'm like wow it did go down I had to match what I read and and the same thing I read that's the same thing that you said I want to meet you I used to live in Minneapolis I love your stories are you still living in Minneapolis oh my God what a small world
I love his stories, but his narcissism is deep!!! He's done everything & knows everybody😊 Created or made many. He's a good producer. I believe much of what he says, but it's no secret the ones he's shading(Chaka,Natalie,etc) he's had major fallouts with. There are unflattering stories about Andre too. Good he's sharing his side. I wish him the best.
Andre, YES, you HAVE cured diseases!! One called depression, another called loneliness, another called self-esteem! You guys were a savior to kids like me!
I enjoyed this interview. I’m a Natalie and Chaka fan! A true 70’s baby and 80’s kid. So, I loved them. But it was great to hear from him. He’s lived a colorful life.
I got introduced to Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan during their self titled album. He is a grooving drummer and I love his playing! Thanks for sharing this interview!
Another awesome interview as usual Scott. I am so glad you allowed him to tell his story. This man has so much insight & knowledge about the music industry. He should make his own documentary about all the musicians he has worked with. I can not wait to watch part 3.
Andre Fischer played some of the funkiest grooves with Rufus. Just listen to those tom fills in the beginning of Sweet Thing. Who does that on a ballad? Yet it worked perfectly IMO. Rufus was never the same after Andre left the band. They had a few good songs but the full length albums really suffered without Andre. To me the top funk drummers of the 1970's are in no particular order 1) David Garibaldi - Tower Of Power 2) Fred White - Earth, Wind & Fire 3) Andre Fischer - Rufus 4) Gaylord Birch - Cold Blood 5) Walter Orange - Commodores 6) James Gadson - Bill Withers 7) James "Diamond" Williams - Ohio Players 8) Robbie McIntosh/ Steve Ferrone - Average White Brown 9) Bernard Purdie - Aretha Franklin 10) Clyde Subblefield / John “Jabo” Starks - James Brown To me these were the guys that set the bar for funk!
....LONGGGGGTIME NATALIE & CHAKA Fan here; If you follow their work(s), Andre's name is gonna pop up somewhere, so, It's interesting to FINALLY hear 'his' side(s) of the Story...SO..... (CONT.) ...I'm amazed at his clear, vivid recollections of his history within The Industry, but his "shade-throwing" makes me believe that his "history" may have been skewered, to fit his "Narrative" (God, I HATE using that word the way it's used these days!); Also, He has an arrogant chutzpah to his views, that tends to make me WANT to believe him, but not LIKE him, because of it..... "THEY came to ME, I was the one who fixed it, they couldn't focus without ME..." etc. etc., ...... The Host (Scott), further in the Interview, looked like he was OVER it, and let Andre 'name drop' to the GODS; It's telling that Andre did SO much in the Industry, yet, hasn't done much SINCE those days, with all ***THOSE PEOPLE*** , HE helped find, HE nurtured, HE focused, etc. .......
Andre, as a Rufis fan, I 'll never know the real rip between you Rufus and Chaka. Great interview we've never heard your side of the story. Always several sides/views...
Fischer has a tendency of low-key throwing certain people that he has [questionable] history with under the bus...e.g., Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole...i always get the impression he has "sour grapes" because he never really "made it big" in the industry -- in any capacity.
Smoking Room, Please Pardon Me, Live In Me and Heaven Bound are my fav. Don't know if you played on all of them but you were very fortunate to be exposed to music so young.
This is a Gem. I love Chaka and I admire the talent of Andre Fisher. Thank you for the upload. Eta: And thank you André. I didn’t like Mary’s version of Sweet Thing either. (I do love Mary though, lol)
So true! "Nobody's harder on me, than me, how could they be? Nobody's harder on you than you" *(Joni Mitchell (Moon At The Window)(one of Chaka idols)!! Think Phyllis Hyman, self -destructive. Chaka almost did herself in many times! Sooooo glad she didn't succeed!
Sounds like he put the whole band together all by himself. So glad his crystal ball told him to put stinky Chaka in the band I wonder why his crystal ball didnt make him a mega star like her???? Even with all the peeps he went to school with, Toured with and was somehow associated with. He stated he was a record executive, who did he discover and produce on Chaka's level?? He kept talking about the original members were so professional and so talented and how mediocre Kevin Murphy was, yet Kevin remained with Rufus to go on to become extremely successful as well as historical band. No doubt there is some truth to his story, but he seems to have selective memory. I have been following this group since 1972 and I am 61 now, I have never heard of some of this nonsense
Chaka Khan said he assaulted her years ago 🧐 and he was not a good husband to my favorite female singer Natalie Cole 😳 I just wanted to hear want he had to say about my girl 🧐 he can kick rocks 🤐
I wished he would've erased Mary's version of Sweet Thing. Her version is DISRESPECTFUL 😆 He is keeping it real about Chaka. She kept it real about him for decades. He is entitled to have his opinion.
I love the interview with Andre and it's good to see that good people are still around Andre and after listening to your story I can I feel you were there you were there for her you were there for the whole group I grew up with you guys I was like 9 years old or probably 7 years old when you all started recording. And I wish that I could meet you guys so much because I didn't know that you had all that pool Andre. I used to look at that album all the time when I was like 9 years old playing sweet thing and listening to the whole album at 9 years old. I would look at you on the album I will look at all the members and I just was like wow I wonder if those guys sang the background because they sound like a girl 😅 I remember back in 74 I heard the first album my brother's neighbor used to play that whole album over and over and over and it's like man I just I love that first album too it was great I wish that you guys can make music great again🎉😂 I did not review my life until I turn like 50 in my 50s and and I look back and I didn't even know this went down with you guys I heard some rumors you know like when people go to your concert but I never knew this went down. Chaka s book through the fire. Back in 2003 that's what I found out and so when I'm hearing you now which is today I had 2024 I'm like wow it did go down I had to match what I read and and the same thing I read that's the same thing that you said I want to meet you I used to live in Minneapolis I love your stories are you still living in Minneapolis oh my God what a small world
..thank you Andre for this interview 🙂
Great interview! Enjoyed listening to the stories of Andre...
This is very interesting. Good to hear his side of things. Thanks for sharing.
I love his stories, but his narcissism is deep!!! He's done everything & knows everybody😊 Created or made many. He's a good producer. I believe much of what he says, but it's no secret the ones he's shading(Chaka,Natalie,etc) he's had major fallouts with. There are unflattering stories about Andre too. Good he's sharing his side. I wish him the best.
Andre, YES, you HAVE cured diseases!! One called depression, another called loneliness, another called self-esteem! You guys were a savior to kids like me!
I enjoyed this interview. I’m a Natalie and Chaka fan! A true 70’s baby and 80’s kid. So, I loved them. But it was great to hear from him. He’s lived a colorful life.
I got introduced to Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan during their self titled album. He is a grooving drummer and I love his playing! Thanks for sharing this interview!
He's a great storyteller. It's good when you lived in the era you're telling.
...Andre, loving your background portrait....Ailey, I'm a now retired dancer who trained in Ailey school!. Much respect to Alvin Ailey!
Another awesome interview as usual Scott. I am so glad you allowed him to tell his story. This man has so much insight & knowledge about the music industry. He should make his own documentary about all the musicians he has worked with. I can not wait to watch part 3.
One thing's certain, Andre Fischer is brutally honest. Kinda like that about him.
Scott another happening interview,always great to hear stories on Chaka Khan and Natalie Cole musically,respect
Andre Fischer played some of the funkiest grooves with Rufus. Just listen to those tom fills in the beginning of Sweet Thing. Who does that on a ballad? Yet it worked perfectly IMO. Rufus was never the same after Andre left the band. They had a few good songs but the full length albums really suffered without Andre.
To me the top funk drummers of the 1970's are in no particular order
1) David Garibaldi - Tower Of Power
2) Fred White - Earth, Wind & Fire
3) Andre Fischer - Rufus
4) Gaylord Birch - Cold Blood
5) Walter Orange - Commodores
6) James Gadson - Bill Withers
7) James "Diamond" Williams - Ohio Players
8) Robbie McIntosh/ Steve Ferrone - Average White Brown
9) Bernard Purdie - Aretha Franklin
10) Clyde Subblefield / John “Jabo” Starks - James Brown
To me these were the guys that set the bar for funk!
Great list!
....LONGGGGGTIME NATALIE & CHAKA Fan here; If you follow their work(s), Andre's name is gonna pop up somewhere, so, It's interesting to FINALLY hear 'his' side(s) of the Story...SO..... (CONT.)
...I'm amazed at his clear, vivid recollections of his history within The Industry, but his "shade-throwing" makes me believe that his "history" may have been skewered, to fit his "Narrative" (God, I HATE using that word the way it's used these days!); Also, He has an arrogant chutzpah to his views, that tends to make me WANT to believe him, but not LIKE him, because of it..... "THEY came to ME, I was the one who fixed it, they couldn't focus without ME..." etc. etc., ......
The Host (Scott), further in the Interview, looked like he was OVER it, and let Andre 'name drop' to the GODS; It's telling that Andre did SO much in the Industry, yet, hasn't done much SINCE those days, with all ***THOSE PEOPLE*** , HE helped find, HE nurtured, HE focused, etc. .......
Wow
Some things should kept quiet 🤫
Unbelievable
I Love Chaka Khan 💗
My favorite Singer next to Aretha Franklin ♥️
I was a huge Rufus fan. Ask Rufus changed my life and I thought it was as good as Songs In the Key of Life or Labelle Chameleon
Andre, as a Rufis fan, I 'll never know the real rip between you Rufus and Chaka. Great interview we've never heard your side of the story. Always several sides/views...
Fischer has a tendency of low-key throwing certain people that he has [questionable] history with under the bus...e.g., Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole...i always get the impression he has "sour grapes" because he never really "made it big" in the industry -- in any capacity.
He's throwing all kinds of shade here. Interesting to hear from the black sheep of the group...
Yes
I agree with you 💯
WHY HASN'T RUFUS BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME????!!!
Smoking Room, Please Pardon Me, Live In Me and Heaven Bound are my fav. Don't know if you played on all of them but you were very fortunate to be exposed to music so young.
This is a Gem. I love Chaka and I admire the talent of Andre Fisher. Thank you for the upload.
Eta: And thank you André. I didn’t like Mary’s version of Sweet Thing either. (I do love Mary though, lol)
I would love to hear some of Natalie's unreleased material
Me Tooooo !!!!!!
I discorvered André with the french singer Michel jonasz on tour ...amazing then with rufus !
Tic tic Boom!
So true! "Nobody's harder on me, than me, how could they be? Nobody's harder on you than you" *(Joni Mitchell (Moon At The Window)(one of Chaka idols)!! Think Phyllis Hyman, self -destructive. Chaka almost did herself in many times! Sooooo glad she didn't succeed!
Would it be fair to compare Rufus and Chaka Khan to Mother's Finest ?
It is to me. Which do you prefer?
💯👍🏾💯
@E Capers way more successful
No that Chick want to be Chaka Khan and Chaka clone only!!
It's not a good comparison.
Ron Stockard is from my hometown he is very low key Decatur, Illinois
...one more thing, Andre, are you realated to Clair Fischer?
I read some of the comments blow. i like Andre. but boy he let Chaka have it. was that all necessary? i heard they had there downs.
And she is letting him have it, with 10 grammies and selling over 75 million records worldwide.
39:57 a 'sinus' problem... shady
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Sounds like he put the whole band together all by himself. So glad his crystal ball told him to put stinky Chaka in the band
I wonder why his crystal ball didnt make him a mega star like her???? Even with all the peeps he went to school with,
Toured with and was somehow associated with. He stated he was a record executive, who did he discover and produce on Chaka's level?? He kept talking about the original members were so professional and so talented and how mediocre Kevin Murphy was, yet Kevin remained with Rufus to go on to become extremely successful as well as historical band. No doubt there is some truth to his story, but he seems to have selective memory. I have been following this group since 1972 and I am 61 now, I have never heard of some of this nonsense
I agree with you wholeheartedly. He sounds like a very bitter has been. 50 years later he has a story to tell…. miss me with the bs Andre.
he is telling his side.don't mean it's not true....
Chaka Khan said he assaulted her years ago 🧐 and he was not a good husband to my favorite female singer Natalie Cole 😳 I just wanted to hear want he had to say about my girl 🧐 he can kick rocks 🤐
He was married to Ms Natalie? He did assault her and her husband
I wished he would've erased Mary's version of Sweet Thing. Her version is DISRESPECTFUL 😆
He is keeping it real about Chaka. She kept it real about him for decades. He is entitled to have his opinion.