Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

I personally have no interest in Simmons legacy or even drumming for 
that matter, just offering my expertise with trademarks. I came about 
this forum under unusual circumstance. A couple months ago I 
purchased a drum set for my girlfriend's son for his birthday. Her 
son is 12 and knows nothing about drumming, other than he wanted some 
drums for his birthday. I went to my local Guitar Center wanting to 
purchase a nice electronic Roland kit, but the sales guy kept 
steering me away from a $1200 set to this $600 starter set. He was so 
freaking convincing and said I could return them if I didn't like 
them. I brought them home and they seemed ok to us. Then I started 
looking for information on this "Simmons" drum set on the internet 
and could not find a thing (other than this forum). To my dismay the 
forum was all about these 25 year old octagonal drums, which meant I 
really could not find a single thing on the internet about these 
drums. A week or so later I saw a post on the forum about the Guitar 
Center drums and I've been watching for info ever since. They have 
really turned out to be a great set of drums for a young kid (who may 
decide he doesn't like drums next year), plus they are fun for me to 
pretend I'm a drummer, but as far as pro gear goes, better look 
elsewhere. I'm a guitarist and pretty heavy into home recording 
technology, so Roland has always been my preference. I grew up in the 
80s so I remember the drums and I can appreciate people who are into 
nostalgia. Us guitar players get to salivate over all the vintage 
stuff out there, might as well allow the drummers to do it also. I'm 
with you that fighting Guitar Center is going to get you nowhere, 
best make the best of the situation and create a group of people who 
keep the original Simmons spirit alive. My two cents.  -dave