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Keith Moon’s Drumkits: 1973–1974 – Premier double tom row kits

Ca. 1973, black kit with deeper low rack toms.

3 Oct. 1973, on “Top of the Pops” broadcast.

Gold/Black kit setup: 1973–1974
Click to view larger version: Premier/Selmer ad, ca. 1973.

Premier/Selmer ad, ca. 1973.

Black-coloured kit used beginning October 1973, to December 1973. Gold-coloured kit used beginning late December 1973 through 1974, including Charlton, 18 May 1974, and New York dates, June 1974. These kits featured an outer row of single-headed (concert) tom-toms.

Note: Gold-coloured kit used with single-row of toms (without concert toms) for 1974 filming of the Tommy motion picture and Stardust, the second of two films starring David Essex and featured Keith in his role as J.D. Clover.

Timeline

Black kit

First use:
May/June 1973 – Ramport Studios, Battersea, London, UK (recording of Quadrophenia).
Confirmed first stage date used:
28 Oct. 1973 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK (first Quadrophenia tour date).
Last (likely) stage date used:
6 Dec. 1973 – Capital Center, Landover, Maryland, USA.

Gold kit

First (likely) stage date used:
18 Dec. 1973 – Sundown Theatre, Edmonton, London.
Confirmed last stage date used:
14 June 1974 – Madison Square Garden, New York.

Specification

Estimate:

Likely with Gretsch fittings, Rogers Swiv-O-Matics tom holders.

Included metal plates inside and custom “iron cross” metal plates on the exteriors of the bass drums for added strength.

Drums:

Premier Custom Built (mahogany)

  1. Two 22 × 14 bass drums
  2. 18 × 16 floor tom
  3. 16 × 16 floor tom
  4. 16 × 16 single-headed (concert) tom-tom
  5. 15 × 12 single-headed (concert) tom-tom
  6. 14 × 10 single-headed (concert) tom-tom
  7. 13 × 9 single-headed (concert) tom-tom
  8. 14″ × 8 ″ mounted tom
  9. 14″ × 8 ″ mounted tom
  10. 14″ × 8 ″ mounted tom
  11. 14 × 6½ or 5½ snare
  12. timpani

Finish

  • Black, same as previous kit.
  • Gold: A standard Premier finish called “Polychromatic Gold.”

Hardware:

  • Premier LokFast, including Premier LokFast 318 twin tom-tom stands for concert toms
  • Rogers Swiv-O-Matic 48-2600 dual tom-holders

Cymbals:

Likely Paiste 2002 series

  1. 20 rides
  2. 18 crash
  3. 20 crash
  4. 14 hi-hats
  5. two symphonic gongs (1×30, 1×36)

Stands:

Premier LokFast 314 stands with boom fitments.

Whereabouts

Black kit:
Unknown
Gold kit:
The “main” setup (two bass drums, three mounted toms, two floor toms and a snare drum) is on display at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. It was previously on display at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California.

Black kit

Ca. May/June 1973, Ramport Studios, recording Quadrophenia on black-coloured kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. May/June 1973, Ramport Studios, Battersea, London, recording Quadrophenia on black-coloured Premier kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1973, black-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1973, black-coloured kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

1973

Ca. 1973, rehearsals.

1973

Ca. 1973, rehearsals.

Ca. 1973, black-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms. Note headphones for click-track foldback.

Ca. 1973, black-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms. Note headphones for click-track foldback.

3 Oct. 1973, On “Top of the Pops” broadcast.

3 Oct. 1973, on “Top of the Pops” broadcast.

3 Oct. 1973, On “Top of the Pops” broadcast.

3 Oct. 1973, on “Top of the Pops” broadcast.

1973

October/November 1973.

Ca. 1973, view of rear of kit.

Ca. 1973, view of rear of kit.

Ca. 1973.

Ca. 1973

Ca. 1973.

Ca. 1973

Click to view larger version. 6 Dec. 1973, view of kit being “disassembled.”

Click to view larger version. 6 Dec., 1973, Capital Center in Largo, Maryland, view of kit being “disassembled.” From the Odds & Sods LP poster.

Ca. 1973.

Ca. 1973

The Kids Are Alright poster: This guitar has seconds to live.

The Kids Are Alright poster (courtesy thewho.org): “This guitar has seconds to live.” Taken at the Newcastle Odeon show on 7 November 1973, with Keith on the black kit.

Gold kit

December 1973, Edmonton Sundown.

December 1973, Edmonton Sundown, possible first use of the gold kit.

Ca. 1974, showing dual gongs.

Ca. 1974, showing dual gongs.

24 Feb., 1974, Lyon, France.

24 Feb., 1974, Lyon, with gold kit.

Gold-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1974, gold-coloured kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Gold-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1974, gold-coloured kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Click to view larger version. 10 Feb., 1974, Paris, stage-right view view of gold kit.

Click to view larger version. 10 Feb., 1974, Paris, stage-right view view of gold kit. Photo courtesy “A French Fan

Ca. 1974.

Ca. 1974

Ca. 1974, Charlton, with gold-colored kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1974, Charlton, with gold-coloured kit featuring outer row of single-headed (concert) toms.

Ca. 1974, Charlton, with roadie hammering down bass drum.

Ca. 1974, Charlton, with roadie hammering down bass drum.
 

Ca. 1974, filming the Tommy movie, the gold Premier kit, with no rack toms.

Ca. 1974, filming the Tommy movie, the gold-coloured Premier kit, with no rack toms.

Museum displays

The portion of the gold-coloured Premier kit used for the filming of the Tommy movie has been displayed first at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California, and currently at the Grammy Museum, in Los Angeles.

The “main” setup (2 bass drums, 3 mounted toms, 2 floor toms and a snaredrum) is on display at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California. Courtesy Martin Forsbom.

The “main” setup (2 bass drums, 3 mounted toms, 2 floor toms and a snare drum) is on display at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California. Courtesy Martin Forsbom.

Click to view larger version. The “main” setup (2 bass drums, 3 mounted toms, 2 floor toms and a snaredrum), as well as a floor tom from the Pictures of Lily kit, is on display at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California. Courtesy whocollection.com.

Click to view larger version. The “main” setup (2 bass drums, 3 mounted toms, 2 floor toms and a snare drum), as well as a floor tom from the Pictures of Lily kit, is on display at the Guitar Center at the Rock Walk Museum, in Hollywood, California. Courtesy whocollection.com.

Photo gallery of the gold Premier kit, on display at Grammy Museum, Los Angeles

This kit was relocated from the Rock Walk Museum to the Grammy Museum, in Los Angeles, in 2010 or 2011. Click to view larger versions. Tremendous thanks to Lee Harrington.

New: See detailed analysis of the Grammy Museum display of the Gold kit, by Stuart Ritchie.

Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 1 (side)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 2 (cymbal)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 3 (side)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 4 (tom)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 5 (front)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 6 (mount)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 7 (mount)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 8 (mount)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 9 (stands)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 10 (floor toms)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 11 (snare)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 12 (stand)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 13 (snare stand)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 14 (mount)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 15 (mount)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 16 (front)
Click to view larger version. Gold Premier kit on display at Grammy Museum, courtesy Lee Harrington. Photo 17 (plaque)

New: See detailed analysis of the Grammy Museum display of the Gold kit, by Stuart Ritchie.

Resources and Information

Contributors:

Many thanks to the following, who have made this page possible:

Additional information:

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

This page last updated 24 September, 2014