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Keith Moon’s Drumkits: Miscellaneous Notes
Miscellaneous notes about Keith Moon’s drumkits and accessories. Please note, endorsements and signature series can now be found in the new Keith Moon’s Endorsements and Signature Series page.
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Additional notes
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Keith favoured Ludwig Supraphonic 400 snares although he had a soft spot for Gretsch chrome-over-brass snares. Keith’s favourite Gretsch wood shell snare was the “Gretsch DRB Special.”
Roadie Mick ‘Doc’ Double:
“I had about six — they were quite a rare bird even in those days. We used to have several set up around the back on stands.”
- Early on, Keith would tape and rope his kit together and nail it to the stage floor to withstand the abuse.
- The kits, including the double tom holders, had steel structural supports and were clamped to the floor to withstand the abuse.
- The hi-hats, when used on the stage, were usually set at half-open.
- The third floor tom — set up on Keith’s left — was usually used for for setlists, drumsticks, drinks and towels.
Sticks
Update: Christie’s auctions Keith’s drumsticks
Click to view larger version. Keith’s AJAX E drumsticks, for auction at Christie’s. © Christie’s.
On 5 May, 2004, as part of its Pop Memorabilia sale in South Kensington, Christie’s auction house sold three of Keith’s AJAX E drumsticks, as used in concert at the Cirkus-Teatern, Gothenburg, Sweden, 3 May, 1967. The sticks realised £960. They were estimated at £800-£1,200. (In 2004, Christie’s auction of a portion of Keith’s silver Premier kit realised £120,000 [approximately $215,772], a world auction record for a set of drums, according to Christie’s International.)
Christie’s description:
Lot 178
Three wooden drumsticks stamped in blue AJAX E, used by Keith Moon during a concert at the Cirkus-Teatern, Gothenburg, Sweden, 3 May, 1967, one stick signed in red felt pen Keith, all — 16in. (40.7cm.) long; accompanied by two colour snap-shots [printed later] of Moon performing on stage taken during the Gothenburg concert, both — 3½ x 3½ in. (9x9cm.); a ticket stub for the concert; and a note from the fan who obtained the drumsticks confirming the provenance.
In the accompanying note, the fan who attended the concert where these drumsticks were obtained comments … Keith was as usual working like a mad-man and the drumsticks were flying all over the stage and audience … the day after the show he signed one of them.
Information and photo © Christie’s.
For further information, see christies.com/LotFinder/search/LOTDETAIL.ASP?sid=&intObjectID=4480789.
Click to view larger version. Keith’s Premier “C” size sticks, courtesy rockstarsguitars.com.
- Moon used light sticks with matched grip, plus some unusual grips at times, and the mallet end often. — Kenney Jones
- At some point Keith used Premier C drumsticks.
Drumheads
Keith used Premier Everplay Extra drumheads. Made by Premier in their factory since 1957. They were only made with a smooth white finish, almost transparent. They were one-ply heads and made of plastic.
Click to view larger version. Keith’s tom drumhead, a Premier Everplay Plus, which is a deluxe head introduced in 1973. Courtesy rockstarsguitars.com.
Click to view larger version (85k). Premier Everplay Extra flyer. Courtesy Martin Forsbom and Tam Rankin at vintprem.moonfruit .com.
Click to view larger version (27k). Premier Everplay Extra flyer. Courtesy Martin Forsbom and Tam Rankin at vintprem.moonfruit .com.
Click to view larger version. Premier Everplay Extra ad. Courtesy Martin Forsbom.
Cymbals
News (14 June 2011): Christie’s auctioned this cymbal as part of its Popular Culture: Rock and Pop Memorabilia sale, held on 14 June 2011. The item is currently owned by Brad Rodgers of whocollection.com. Realised: £2,375 ($3,855).
The Who / Keith Moon
A Paiste cymbal formerly owned by Keith Moon — diameter 14in. (36cm.); accompanied by a copy of a letter concerning provenance.
£800–1,000 (US$1,200–1,500; €900–1,100)
Provenance
From the collection of Brad and Diana Rodgers of www.whocollection.com
According to the letter the cymbal was given to the current owner by Mr A G Harrison (Bill), who in his capacity as Road Manager for the Who was given this cymbal, amongst other items, by Keith Moon.
Realised: £2,375 ($3,855)
For more information, see christies.com.
Click to view larger version. Keith’s Paiste 24″ 2002 crash cymbal, serial no. 730377, courtesy rockstarsguitars.com.
Moon mainly used Paiste cymbals, but was known to occasionally use Zildjian. He first used Paiste in the late ’60s. The issue was not the brand of the cymbals, but the durability. If a certain cymbal broke, a thicker one was bought.
He is known to have used Paiste Formula 602 crash cymbal, which is mainly used in jazz.
Kick pedal
Click to view larger version. Keith’s Ludwig bass drum pedal wooden beater, courtesy rockstarsguitars.com.
His favourite pedal was the Premier 250.
Ca. 1966, Sweden, upended bass drums from Premier kit, with 250S pedal, left, and 250 pedal, right.
Drum construction wood
Premier drums from that period were either three-ply birch or three-ply mahogany, both had beechwood reinforcing hoops (or glue rings.)
Birch was used up until about 1970, then they used mahogany up until about the mid-’70s, and after that they went back to birch.
Birch is a lightish-coloured wood while mahogany is a dark, reddish brown so it is quite easy to tell them apart.
The first black set and the white and gold set are mahogany. The mahogany used was expensive African mahogany, not the Philippines stuff that cheap drums are made out of these days.
- Ludwig kits: ?
- Red glitter kits: Birch
- Pictures of Lily kit: Birch
- Silver kit: ?
- Black kit: Mahogany
- Gold kit: Mahogany
- White kit: Mahogany
- 1978 Metal chrome kit: Birch
- 1978 single bass drum kit: Birch
Claves
Click to view larger version. Keith’s stage-used claves, courtesy rockstarsguitars.com.
As heard on stage versions Magic Bus, Keith’s stage-used claves.
Resources and Information
Contributors:
Many thanks to the following, who have made this page possible:
- Martin Forsbom (forsbom@gmail.com)
- Brad Rodgers at whocollection.com.
- Huw Owens (huw.owens@ntlworld.com)
Additional information:
- Brad Rodgers at whocollection.com.
- David Brewis at Rock Stars Guitars, for pictures of Moon’s drumsticks, timbales, claves and drumheads.
- Tam Rankin at vintprem.moonfruit.com for information on vintage Premier drums.
Bibliography:
- Drums & Drumming magazine, October/November 1989.
- Modern Drummer, September 2003.
- Moon, the Life and Death of a Rock Legend, by Tony Fletcher. 1999.
Manufacturers’ sites
- Premier Drums: premier-percussion.com
- Ludwig Drums: ludwig-drums.com
- Paiste Cymbals: paiste.com
- Zildjian Cymbals: zildjian.com
- Slingerland Drums: slingerland.com (now owned by Gibson)
- Vistalites Drums: vistalites.com
- Zickos Drums: zickosdrums.com