Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1ErjLIloo
@ :24 and again at 1:08 check out the Coleman Saunders head kit. WOW!
Any idea how many of these were made? Anybody on the list holding one?

Ed skrev:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1ErjLIloo 
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1ErjLIloo>
> @ :24 and again at 1:08 check out the Coleman Saunders head kit. WOW!
> Any idea how many of these were made? Anybody on the list holding one?

One... and that was also used in "einstein a go-go" by Landscape:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZqUNEHYZgQ
(1:37 and forward...) Also includes the rare lyricon and one of two EDP 
Keytars in existence (Gimme!).

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop

The Complete Simmons Drum Book says that 10 had kits had been built. Richard Burgess is supposed to have at least one of them.

By the way: Baz Watts, former right hand of Dave Simmons once told me that when they took the photograph of the head kit on the back side of the SDSV catalogue, they set a paper bin on fire in order to create a smokey environment. So whenever you take a look at this picture: It is not a fog machine, it is a real fire!

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "Ed" <edrose1@...> wrote:

>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1ErjLIloo
> @ :24 and again at 1:08 check out the Coleman Saunders head kit. WOW!
> Any idea how many of these were made? Anybody on the list holding one?
>

superwolle70 skrev:
> The Complete Simmons Drum Book says that 10 had kits had been built. 
> Richard Burgess is supposed to have at least one of them.

My bad then... I thought that was ten custom kits. Not ten "heads".
Enjoy the video link though, if the rest is wrong. :)

> By the way: Baz Watts, former right hand of Dave Simmons once told me 
> that when they took the photograph of the head kit on the back side of 
> the SDSV catalogue, they set a paper bin on fire in order to create a 
> smokey environment. So whenever you take a look at this picture: It is 
> not a fog machine, it is a real fire!

Lovely! :D

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
>
> superwolle70 skrev:
> > The Complete Simmons Drum Book says that 10 had kits had been built. 
> > Richard Burgess is supposed to have at least one of them.
> 
> My bad then... I thought that was ten custom kits. Not ten "heads".
> Enjoy the video link though, if the rest is wrong. :)
> 
> > By the way: Baz Watts, former right hand of Dave Simmons once told me 
> > that when they took the photograph of the head kit on the back side of 
> > the SDSV catalogue, they set a paper bin on fire in order to create a 
> > smokey environment. So whenever you take a look at this picture: It is 
> > not a fog machine, it is a real fire!
> 
> Lovely! :D
> 
> -- 
> electronically yours, jesper
> 
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
> www.myspace.com/machinepop
>
My company SIMMONS USA sold the ONLY Head kit to come to the USA - to "Talking Heads" they were very fragile and did not travel well.

Regards
Glyn Thomas
Past president of Simmons US

Thanks for all the responses, gentlemen. It is much appreciated. And a response from Glyn Thomas = Awesome! Nice to see the President is still around to keep things straight.

As luck would have it, my copy of The Complete Simmons Drum Book arrived yesterday after I posted this and I surprised to find so much on the subject. Here's what the author, Bob Henrit, had to say...

'The shapes which epitomise the possibilities of Simmons customising have to be the ones which resembled 'human heads.' (They were actually made as a publicity stunt to sell more of the regular sets.) They were modeled in fibreglass by an artist friend of Dave's named Coleman Saunders and were evidently inspired by the Presidents' heads at Mount Rushmore. Two clay 'masters' were made from which a pair of rubber moulds were fashioned which ultimately went on to produce something like ten sets. They were available in red, blue and yellow upon which Dave Simmons did a great deal of airbrush work and fitted with cut-glass eyes. Evidently they all turned out to be slightly different. The top of the cranium was sliced through to fit the wood and 'riot shield' playing surfaces.
These of course, needed to be fitted as usual with aluminum edging strip which was no mean feat. (The shape of the human head is not particularly regular as I'm sure you're aware!) As I said, ten sets were manufactured and they were all eventually sold. I understand that one of them is in a night club in Paris, other than that Richard Burgess has several drums, as does Carl Palmer. (Presumably there must be a few collectors' items floating around elsewhere.)
Landscape were due to appear on 'Top of the Pops' with a set of these bizarre 'Rushmore' drums and the Simmons company were sure that interest in their hexagonal drums would be increased afterwards. Unfortunately the Musicians' Union decided to 'black' the show for one reason or another. So, it looked rather like the drums would never be see on on 'prime time' TV. Dave was justifiably unhappy about this and tactfully made his feelings known to the union organiser saying it was their biggest break and it would be a catastrophe if they missed out. At the eleventh hour the dispute was resolved and the show went ahead. History doesn't record whether this lone TV appearance made any real difference in the long term, but suffice it to say, all the 'cranium' sets were eventually sold.'

And, again, if anyone out there has one, post pictures!
Thanks.
Ed

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, "Ed" <edrose1@...> wrote:

>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1ErjLIloo
> @ :24 and again at 1:08 check out the Coleman Saunders head kit. WOW!
> Any idea how many of these were made? Anybody on the list holding one?
>

Ed skrev:
>  
> 
> Thanks for all the responses, gentlemen. It is much appreciated. And a 
> response from Glyn Thomas = Awesome! Nice to see the President is still 
> around to keep things straight.
> 
> As luck would have it, my copy of The Complete Simmons Drum Book arrived 
> yesterday after I posted this and I surprised to find so much on the 
> subject. Here's what the author, Bob Henrit, had to say...
---

It just proves I need to read my copy again. :) A good book and there 
isn't much else to get from Bob from those days BTW. His view is that he 
told all back then. I exchanged a few mails with him a while back. He 
now work with Traps drums (if I recall correct) but is friendly and nice 
chap.

BTW, I bet Wolfgang would kill (well, close to it anyway) for a 
"Rushmore set". :D

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop

I wouldn't since I am married and having my twins. Probably a good project to build my own head kit modelled by my kid's faces? The bassdrum might be a print of my butt (probably with two triggers for double bassdrum playing?)

At least I would like to see them in actuality and learn more about them. I assume they are pretty easy to copy

--- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:

>
> Ed skrev:
> >  
> > 
> > Thanks for all the responses, gentlemen. It is much appreciated. And a 
> > response from Glyn Thomas = Awesome! Nice to see the President is still 
> > around to keep things straight.
> > 
> > As luck would have it, my copy of The Complete Simmons Drum Book arrived 
> > yesterday after I posted this and I surprised to find so much on the 
> > subject. Here's what the author, Bob Henrit, had to say...
> ---
> 
> It just proves I need to read my copy again. :) A good book and there 
> isn't much else to get from Bob from those days BTW. His view is that he 
> told all back then. I exchanged a few mails with him a while back. He 
> now work with Traps drums (if I recall correct) but is friendly and nice 
> chap.
> 
> BTW, I bet Wolfgang would kill (well, close to it anyway) for a 
> "Rushmore set". :D
> 
> -- 
> electronically yours, jesper
> 
> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> www.electronic-obsession.se
> www.myspace.com/machinepop
>

OK, I admit, _I_ would kill for a set... almost. :)
I'd love to lay my hands on all the instruments in the Landscape video. 
The EDP keytar is a hot wanted piece for my EDP collection.

There was a white keytar too BTW, it ended up with the guitarist of Rod 
Steward's band. I bet it was thrown in the bin when they smashed some 
hotel room or so. :(

The lyricon would be nice too. I know they easily fail, but the original 
"Einstein a go-go"-lyricon wouldn't hurt either.

-- 
electronically yours, jesper - getting off-topic

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop



superwolle70 skrev:

>  
> 
> I wouldn't since I am married and having my twins. Probably a good 
> project to build my own head kit modelled by my kid's faces? The 
> bassdrum might be a print of my butt (probably with two triggers for 
> double bassdrum playing?)
> 
> At least I would like to see them in actuality and learn more about 
> them. I assume they are pretty easy to copy
> 
> --- In Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com 
> <mailto:Simmons_Drums%40yahoogroups.com>, jesper <jesper@...> wrote:
>  >
>  > Ed skrev:
>  > >
>  > >
>  > > Thanks for all the responses, gentlemen. It is much appreciated. And a
>  > > response from Glyn Thomas = Awesome! Nice to see the President is 
> still
>  > > around to keep things straight.
>  > >
>  > > As luck would have it, my copy of The Complete Simmons Drum Book 
> arrived
>  > > yesterday after I posted this and I surprised to find so much on the
>  > > subject. Here's what the author, Bob Henrit, had to say...
>  > ---
>  >
>  > It just proves I need to read my copy again. :) A good book and there
>  > isn't much else to get from Bob from those days BTW. His view is that he
>  > told all back then. I exchanged a few mails with him a while back. He
>  > now work with Traps drums (if I recall correct) but is friendly and nice
>  > chap.
>  >
>  > BTW, I bet Wolfgang would kill (well, close to it anyway) for a
>  > "Rushmore set". :D
>  >
>  > --
>  > electronically yours, jesper
>  >
>  > - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
>  > www.electronic-obsession.se
>  > www.myspace.com/machinepop