20 Things You Didn’t Know About Whiplash

Near the movie’s beginning, Andrew is seen listening to Birdland by legendary jazz drummer Buddy Rich. On the surface this seemed like a neat little bit of character building, but keen jazz fans in the audience probably saw the added layer that the album suggested.

Rich was known for his firebrand temper (even feuding with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dusty Springfield) and this short fuse saw him insult his bandmates when their musical craft was perceived to be below what he expected.

The jazz legend’s persona is not far removed from Terence Fletcher’s own explosive portrayal and it is clear that the album’s presence served as a harbinger of what the young drummer was to experience.