EYE CANDY Archives - Modern Drummer Magazine

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Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.

Rufus “Speedy” Jones’ Slingerland White Marine Pearl double bass kit

Rufus “Speedy” Jones earned his nickname while playing for the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Rufus was never an overly subtle player; he could always be counted on to light a fire under other players. Rufus used…

Modern Drummer
May 31, 2023

Art Blakey’s Gretsch 1960s Custom Moon Glow Flame kit

Art Blakey was an individualist in every way, including the look of his drum kit. The Gretsch kit shown here features a 14×20 bass drum, 8×12 and 9×13 rack toms, a 16×16 floor tom, and a 5×14 metal snare. The…

Modern Drummer
Apr 30, 2023

Bryan Hitt’s Ludwig Epic Series REO Speedwagon 2009 Tour Kit

The Ludwig Epic kit shown here was used by Brian Hitt on REO Speedwagon’s 2009 Common Ground Tour, and it also appeared in Ludwig drum ads. It’s a custom kit that starts with two 16×22 bass drums, to which additional…

Modern Drummer
Mar 31, 2023

Premier 1973 Alice Cooper Billion Dollar Babies tour kit

The kit shown here was created by Premier for Alice Cooper’s 1973 Billion Dollar Babies tour. According to a description posted on drummercafe.com in February of 2016, “This iconic mirror ball set consists of two 22” bass drums, three 16”…

Modern Drummer
Feb 28, 2023

Rogers 1960s Gold Louie Bellson and Sammy Davis Jr. Kit

This Rogers kit was originally owned and used by Louie Bellson in the 1960s. Noted drum historian and drum shop owner Steve Maxwell once owned the kit, and he provides the following description: the kit features two 14X24 bass drums,…

Modern Drummer
Jan 31, 2023

Tama’s Dream Theater Custom Logo kit

The kit shown here is from Dream Theater’s 2002-04 tour. It was created by Tama drums to meet Mike’s imaginative specifications and was dubbed “The Siamese Monster” because it essentially consists of two conjoined kits. The massive collection of drums…

Modern Drummer
Jan 1, 2023

Hal Blaine’s Ludwig and Blaemire 1960s and 70s Studio Kit

The unique studio kit that Hal Blaine designed (shown here) started with a Ludwig Super Classic blue sparkle bass drum and single-headed floor tom, along with a 6.5 X14 Supraphonic chrome snare drum (into which Hal etched his initials.) Then…

Modern Drummer
Oct 31, 2022

Ludwig Super Classic Silver Sparkle Kit

The kit shown here represents Joe Morello’s abiding sense of individuality. Where most of his jazz contemporaries in the 1950s and 60s played Gretsch drums, Joe opted to go with Ludwig- a brand more closely associated with Ringo Starr, Ginger…

Modern Drummer
Sep 30, 2022

Ginger Baker’s Drum Workshop Collector’s Series 2015 Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp Kit

In 2015 Ginger Baker took part in that year’s edition of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, where campers are mentored by legendary rock musicians- with whom they get to perform at the end of the camp. Citing the pain…

Modern Drummer
Aug 31, 2022

Tama Lars Ulrich Signature Kit

The kit shown here replicates the Limited Edition Lars Ulrich Signature configuration originally created by Tama Drums for Metallica’s 1992 tour. It includes two 16” X 24” bass drums; 10” X 10”, 11” X 12”, 13” X 14”, and 15”…

Modern Drummer
Jul 31, 2022

Joey Kramer’s Aerosmith Nine Lives tour kit

The Drum Workshop Collector’s Series kit shown here was created for Joey Kramer’s use on Aerosmith Nine Lives tour. The tour ran from May 1997 to July 1999, and included dates in North America, Canada, Japan, and 14 European countries.…

Modern Drummer
Jun 30, 2022

Todd Sucherman’s Pearl Masterworks series Styx touring kit

The kit shown here is a Pearl Masterworks series outfit that Todd Sucherman used with Styx over 10 years of touring. It features a stunning Bubinga wood finish- with bass drum heads to match. The bass drum heads that match…

Modern Drummer
May 31, 2022

Tommy Clufetos’ Black Sabbath Tour Kit

Black Sabbath’s tours always combined the heaviest of heavy metal sounds with the most outrageous spectacle possible. The kits created for Tommy Clufetos by Drum Workshop for those stores reflect that spectacular approach Although the finish of Tommy kits changed…

Modern Drummer
Apr 30, 2022

Sonor’s Steve Smith 30th Anniversary drumset

In 2007 Sonor drums created a limited-edition drumset to honor Steve Smith’s 30th anniversary as a Sonor artist. Steve has two such kits, one is stored in New Jersey for use on the East Coast, and one is stored at…

Modern Drummer
Mar 31, 2022