Music Off Topic: Lenexa Built Zickos Drums

Archie F. Swin · 11:23 AM

As a drummer of 30 years, my dream kit has always been acrylic drums. The most famous acrylics were the Ludwig Vistalites, famously featured in Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same"

Kansas City's Bill Zickos was the first to successfully build an acrylic (plexiglass) kit in 1959 and would begin to mass produce his Zickos Drums in the late '60s in a warehouse on West 85th street in Lenexa. In 1969, Zickos sold its first professional kit to Ron Bushy, the drummer with heavy-metal pioneers Iron Butterfly. By late 1970, Keith Moon was touring with a Zickos kit. As a result, many other manufacturers tried their hand at making acrylic shelled drums.
The craze didn't last long thanks to the petroleum crunch that, combined with management issues, would eventually put Zickos out of business by 1977.

Back in late January, I became aware of man in Norman, OK who was in ill health and needed money more than his vintage drums. So, I'm now the owner of a circa '73 Zickos clear kit. They are in amazing shape for their age.

02-07-2017, 06:29 AM	Topic Starter
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	Off Topic: Lenexa-Built Zickos Drums As a drummer of 30 years, my dream kit has always been acrylic drums. The most famous acrylics were the Ludwig Vistalites, famously featured in Led Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same" Kansas City's Bill Zickos was the first to successfully build an acrylic (plexiglass) kit in 1959 and would begin to mass produce his Zickos Drums in the late '60s in a warehouse on West 85th street in Lenexa. In 1969, Zickos sold its first professional kit to Ron Bushy, the drummer with heavy-metal pioneers Iron Butterfly. By late 1970, Keith Moon was touring with a Zickos kit. As a result, many other manufacturers tried their hand at making acrylic shelled drums. The craze didn't last long thanks to the petroleum crunch that, combined with management issues, would eventually put Zickos out of business by 1977. Back in late January, I became aware of man in Norman, OK who was in ill health and needed money more than his vintage drums. So, I'm now the owner of a circa '73 Zickos clear kit. They are in amazing shape for their age. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Archie F. Swin; 02-07-2017 at 11:23 AM..
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