Music Off Topic: Lenexa Built Zickos Drums - Page 2

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.

eDave · 02-07-2017, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

That's the bass player.

Every band wants the best. They just don't want to pay them.

scho63 · 02-07-2017, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It's a fake but yes, Sheryl Crow is a very good bass player.

She's actually a very good all around musician playing drums, guitar, bass and keys.

she can also play an accordian

Demonpenz · 02-08-2017, 12:48 AM

Thanks to Obama I didn't get a tax refund this year (off to D.C. in 1..2...3..4.....2...2....3...4.....3....2...3...4...4...2...3...4

Archie F. Swin · 02-08-2017, 06:49 AM

WTF is going on in here?

Stewie · 02-08-2017, 02:18 PM

Bill Zickos was my first drum instructor. He had a big presence at the Corinth Square Music Shop in Prairie Village, KS. What a great guy and we were lucky to have him for a mentor/instructor. I took lessons from him until I was about 12 when he was in the midst of building the Zickos drum brand. I moved on to Richard Bragg, who was a Zickos protege and another great instructor.

If you read the sad story about Zickos drums it will open your eyes. Ludwig stole the acrylic drum idea from Zickos and admitted it. Zickos didn't have the money to defend the patent and Ludwig knew it... Zickos drums went away.

02-07-2017, 06:29 AM
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..
Posts: 11,800

02-08-2017, 12:48 AM	#18
Demonpenz Woman should only make babies Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $2972136	Thanks to Obama I didn't get a tax refund this year (off to D.C. in 1..2...3..4.....2...2....3...4.....3....2...3...4...4...2...3...4 __________________
Posts: 54,298

02-08-2017, 06:49 AM	#19
Archie F. Swin This is the way Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Casino cash: $9975673	WTF is going on in here? __________________ "No Two People Will Do It The Same, You got It Down...When You Appear to Be In Pain!"
Posts: 11,800

02-08-2017, 02:18 PM	#20
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1649901	Bill Zickos was my first drum instructor. He had a big presence at the Corinth Square Music Shop in Prairie Village, KS. What a great guy and we were lucky to have him for a mentor/instructor. I took lessons from him until I was about 12 when he was in the midst of building the Zickos drum brand. I moved on to Richard Bragg, who was a Zickos protege and another great instructor. If you read the sad story about Zickos drums it will open your eyes. Ludwig stole the acrylic drum idea from Zickos and admitted it. Zickos didn't have the money to defend the patent and Ludwig knew it... Zickos drums went away.
Posts: 13,629