Keith Moon’s Drumkits: 1965 Premier single-bass drum kit

1965 Premier single-bass drum kit details

Red Sparkle kit, delivered November 1965. Moon signed with Premier and began a permanent relationship with the firm.

Timeline

Likely first date used:

November 1965

Likely last date used:

30 May 1966 – Pop Gala Festival, Sincil Bank Football Ground, Lincoln, UK.

Specification

Drums:

Premier Red Sparkle kit (in birch)

1. One 22″ bass drum
2. One 16″ × 16″ floor tom
3. One 16″ × 20″ floor tom
4. Two 14″ × 8″ toms
5. 14″ × 5½″ Premier “2000” metal shell snare drum

Cymbals:

Unknown

1. 20″ ride
2. 18″ crash
3. 14″ hi-hats

Selected quote

All quotes and references are copyright their original owners and are included for reference only.

Melody Maker, 28 Aug. 1965

Drummer Keith hasn’t done all badly. He joined the group 10 months ago and has thundered his way through no less than three drum kits. Kit number one cost £150, number two £400, and his latest full regalia left little change out of £500. That makes £1,550 — on HP. Keith Has a phenomenal drumstick bill. He breaks about 4 pairs of sticks a night at £1 a pair — over £100 a month. A cymbal usually cracks every two weeks. So that’s £40 a month and he reckons on £10 worth of hi-hats going monthly. He cannot estimate how many skins he gets through because it varies. They cost 25s each.

December 1966 Beat Instrumental letter

A December 1966 Beat Instrumental magazine letter indicating the kit was delivered November 1965, not August/September, as previously thought.

Moon kit

Dear Sir,

How long has Keith Moon had his Premier kit and how many times has he had to replace it? How much does each new set cost?

D. Thomas, Birmingham

Answer:—Keith bought his first red glitter Premier kit last November. He has replaced many skins, pedals and cymbals but so far has never had to replace any drums. The kit originally cost around £200. But, since then, he’s added several drums to it.