Rob's 1980's Simmons Kit (SDS-5 and SDS-7)

Met a guy on Facebook who lives very close to me and we got talking. I initially contacted him due to a collection of photos he had on his page, showing his hexagonal shaped Simmons drum kit... something I recall from pop music videos in the 80s - bands like Duran Duran, Genesis, Spandau Ballet, Van Halen, A Flock of Seagulls, Midnight Oil, Prince, Pink Floyd, Queen, Culture Club and Ultravox (to name a few...)

He has actually personally owned the kit since about 1984, which may be the reason it is still in such good condition. Often equipment can suffer a lack of maintenance when it is passed from owner to owner.

I had never seen a Simmons kit in person, so I asked if I could go and have a look, maybe do a little filming, maybe a little playing. He happily agreed, and we became friends. He came round to my place first to see my kit and have a bit of a pre-visit inspection and personality check (hahaha) to make sure I wasn't some oddball about to enter his family home. I guess I passed the test, because this weekend I visited his place and had a bash on a real 80's Simmons. His kit is actually 2 Simmons kits - the SDS-5 and SDS-7...

I plan to do some live filming of the kit, as he is considering reintroducing it into the live gig circuit. He has been using a PDP (Pacific Drums) acoustic kit for live applications, but I think my interest may have encouraged him toward using the Simmons. It's a very cool kit and would really be amazing and memorable live. Seems a shame to have a piece of pioneering musical technology in a spare room, when it could be under stage lights where it belongs. Not many of the earlier models about these days, and that makes it all the more awesome that it is still working great, and is in loving hands.

Another interesting thing about Rob's gear is his distinct lack of Crash cymbals. Instead, he has a variety of Chinas and ethnic hand cymbals (which sound like a variety of interesting Bells, Chimes and Chinas). He also has a large range of percussion instruments along the wall, mounted on a rack - anything from professionally made cowbells to random large bolts and record turntable platters, religious bells and chimes etc... quite an interesting and eccentric collection.

Thanks to Rob for showing me his very cool kit and collection of hittable items. I look forward to meeting you again in the near future. Thanks and hello to Rob's family for making me feel welcome during my visit.

And for the rest of you, I hope you enjoy the clip. I apologise in advance for my stutter - a speech impediment I have overcome for the most part but...surfaces when I haven't slept enough.

If you would like to contact Rob for any Simmons related correspondence, I'm sure he would be happy to chat to any people of similar interest.

  / rob.mayo.90