The lost art of bass drum head design. Bring back 70′s, 80′s and hell, might as well bring back the 20′s.

So about a year or so ago I had the pleasure of being able to buy a few drum heads from Joey Kramer’s collection. After I purchased them, I became obsessed with buying drum heads.

It occurred to me what a lost art form this in fact was.

When you think about it, it’s really one of the first forms of music marketing. A logo or design that sits on the bass drum acts like a billboard for the band. Something to recognize and identify with the band. Something that can also be used in printed materials, press releases, posters and merchandising.

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone, music fanatic or not that couldn’t identify The Beatles logo that sat on Ringo’s drum head.

The evolution of the art of the bass drum head dates back to the early days of the 20′s and 30′s jazz, and blues bands as well as college and high school marching bands. Clubs and organizations also emblazoned their names and designs on their marching drums to parade throughout the cities and towns they lived in.

Before the classic Beatles logo we all know, here’s a photo of Ringo with another kit. Check out the bass drum.

This was Ringo’s Premier kit used when he first joined The Beatles and at the end of his tenure with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

Above are perhaps some of the greatest drummers in the world of rock with their classic kits. Ginger, Keith and Bonzo.

All have their own distinctive drum kits and unique bass drum designs.

The drummers of the 80′s metal bands were clearly influenced by their drum heroes and decided like their music, would pushed the boundaries of drum design.

My “Use Your Illusion” Tour drum head signed by Matt Sorum is the ultimate in 80′s skull and death design.

Here’s Matt with my latest purchase. A signed drum head from the last GNR tour.

 

Then again, sometimes a drum head doesn’t need a fancy design or logo. Sometimes just a nice sentiment does the trick.

Or even this….

Greetings From Asbury Park. Actually Boston. Some rare Bruce Springsteen memorabilia.

I love “The Boss.”
Just recently saw his show in Boston, 4th stop I believe on The Wrecking Ball Tour.
Backstage passes and all.
The show, 2 1/2 hours long.
The experience was amazing.

The first time I saw Bruce was back in 1975, the “Born To Run” tour.
He played the old Music Hall in Boston.
Another 3 plus hour show.
After that, I was hooked.
Seen dozens and dozens of shows since then.
This was one of the finest.
Bruce has still got it.

I began collecting Bruce memorabilia when I began collecting Stones stuff.
There’s not a ton of stuff out there, I’m excluding records and t-shirts.
But there are a handful of super rare promo items worth checking out.

Here’s a few from my collection.

This is one of my more favorite pieces.
Called or referred to as the “Clouds” poster.
The headline is the now infamous quote by Jon Landau who eventually became Bruce’s manager.

“I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”
Poster is circa 1974.

This record store display probably dates earlier, maybe 1972-73 right after he signed his record deal with Columbia.

The photo feels very “Asbury Park,” “E Street Shuffle,” like.
So I’m guessing this was pretty damn early, maybe even the very first promotional display.

This is one of my all time favorite.
The rare double-sided hanging mobile from 1975 promoting the release of Bruce’s landmark album
“Born to Run.”
A die-cut Bruce stands tall with his trusty Fender, black Converse sneakers hanging off the end.

This is a large record store standee or counter card for the release of
“Darkness on the Edge of Town.”

Bruce’s promo team at Columbia Records also produced some pretty cool jackets and shirts.

I love the promo baseball shirt for “Glory Days” off the “Born in the USA” album.

Is there anyone alive out there selling rare Bruce stuff??????

I’m interested.

“Welcome To My Jungle.” Some rare Guns N’ Roses memorabilia.

I’ve been fortunate in my years in advertising to have met some pretty cool people.

Like say, Slash for instance.
I’ve always been a HUGE Guns N’ Roses and Slash fan.
Their critically acclaimed debut album “Appetite for Destruction” is still one of my top five favorite rock albums.
Most if not all critics agree it set the bar for heavy metal rock in the 80′s.

I just finished up a TV campaign for the L.A. Zoo promoting a new exhibit called The Lair in which Slash and the venerable wise cracking octogenarian, Betty White starred.
We shot 5 different TV spots over the course of a day at the zoo.
They were both a joy to work with.

And Slash is the real deal.
The rock icon you would expect him to be.
But down to earth and soft spoken.
A true gentleman.

I was completely beside myself.

I happened to have a few rare GNR items in my collection, one I brought along to the TV shoot to have Slash sign for me.
An original ticket and flyer, circa 80′s, from one of their gigs at the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood.
The band’s stomping ground and where they played several of their most memorable performances.

Here are a few pictures from the shoot, as well as some other rare items from my collection.