Drum History

Do you know what the Speed King Squeak is? Think John Bonham... In 1937, the Speed King changed the world of drumming by being the most innovative pedal of the time. 81 years later, Vincent of Polyphonic Drums is keeping the legacy alive by restoring Speed King's and making them play like new. He shares the whole story of the pedal with us in this episode - from the journey through world war 2 thr...

Jim has a deep family history that revolves around Slingerland drums dating back to when Slingerland was a guitar company. His great uncles and father were long time employees of the company running the woodshop, and Jim worked there in his high school years during the night shifts. Did you know "The Ludwig Boys" used to go through the dumpsters at Slingerland to try and figure out what they were...

"Stencil drums" were Japanese copies of major drum manufacturers like Slingerland and Rogers that were created in the 50's to the 80's. They feature some of the most unique finishes that you can find and have become a unique category of affordable collectors drums. They have a somewhat mysterious history, but fortunately Marc Patch has written a book documenting the history of MIJ (Made In Japan)...

For a moment in time, it was ILLEGAL to use more than 10% of metal per drum for drum making in America! The result is a fascinating collection of beautiful drums that feature wooden lugs, hoops, pedals, and hardware...most famously Slingerlands "Rolling Bomber." Find out the reasoning behind this quirk in our nation's Drum History, as we discuss this and much more with war-era drums expert, Joe Me...

What was it like to be a Trap Drummer in the silent movie era as talking pictures take over - making the job obsolete? Listen as Kelli and I discuss this topic - and how a great percussion genre became extinct. Trap Drummers were percussionists who performed alongside silent films and performances before the advent of "Talkies" (talking pictures). Using a wide array of instruments and devices (con...