![]() ![]() The original head was of course a “Ludwig Weather Master” and can be identified by the logo bearing the same name, at the bottom of the head. Each head sported a logo that was a little different from the others. Ringo used seven different front bass drum heads from 1963 to 1967. The British community got their first viewing of the new drum kit and logo during the Saturday, June 29, television program. The first time Ringo used his new kit in public, he was at the recording of “EasyBeat”, at the Playhouse, on June 23, 1963. Ringo took possession of the new Ludwig kit and new logo on June 17, 1963. He brought out a piece of paper, drew a drumhead and then sketched out the famous “The Beatles” drum logo. Arbiter thought that a large Beatles logo could be printed across the drumhead, but room could also be left for Ringo’s requested Ludwig logo. Arbiter, who realized the marketing potential and wanted to save the sale, quickly came up with a compromise. Brian Epstein, The Beatles’ manager, quickly countered that the band was called “The Beatles” and that the bands name should be displayed on the drumhead. At that time Ludwig did not put logos on its drumheads. Ringo insisted that a large Ludwig logo be printed across the bass drum head. When he learned that it was only available on Ludwig Drums, the deal was sealed. Ringo fell in love with the new Black Oyster Pearl drum finish. Ringo was familiar with the drums because he had played a Ludwig kit owned by Tony Mansfield (drummer for the Dakotas). Dave Martin, a salesman at Music City, talked up the Ludwig Drums to Ringo. The owner of Music City, Ivor Arbiter, had just been granted exclusive rights to distribute U.S. Sometime in early 1963, Ringo planned to replace his Premier kit, so he went to Music City, a large music store on Salisbury Street in London, to order a new Premier kit. This was one of many of the logo designs to come. The banner also provided some muffling for the drum. The logo was printed on a cloth banner that was stretched across the drumhead and was held in place by the drums rim. It is a script type font with a “B” that has beetle-like antenna and a tiny “THE” above it. Terry Tex O’Hara, a Liverpool artist, designed the actual logo. ![]() The logo that appeared on Ringo’s Premier drum kit was based on Paul’s doodles. Sometime between September 4, 1962, and February 17, 1963, Ringo’s name was replaced by a Beatles logo. Many of the early recordings were made with this kit. When Ringo was asked to join The Beatles, he still had the Premier kit. On the front bass drum head was the “Premier” logo and “Ringo Starr” just below it. While playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes in Hamburg, Germany, in 1960, Ringo purchased a set of Premier drums. The appeal may have been that it looked similar to a Ludwig kit that he had seen. ![]() In the summer of 1958 Ringo borrowed £46 from his grandfather, went to Frank Hessy’s Music store, and bought an Ajax single headed kit. Ringo’s drum kit was old and it was time to step up to something a bit newer. He played and practiced with a lot of the groups in Liverpool. Later he would play with Rory Storm, which is where Ringo’s career really got started. He would play dances with Eddie Miles and some other groups. He was an Engineer at the factory by day, and at night he played drums. They started playing all the freebies that they could get, such as weddings and clubs. All of the guys in the group worked at the same factory and played for their fellow workmen in a cellar during lunch. In February 1957, Ringo started playing in a band. Up until this time, Ringo had been playing biscuit tins and pieces of firewood. In fact his first drum kit was a used set that was purchased for him as a Christmas gift. Amazingly, not much has been written about Ringo’s drums. The Ludwig drums and the Beatles logo became the centerpiece of the Beatles stage set from mid 1963 through August of 1966. It is believed that Ringo may still have this original Ludwig kit. ![]() Certainly no other drum kit is as well known. The Black Oyster Pearl, Ludwig Super Classic drum set that bears the name of the most famous band in our history, The Beatles. They are the world’s most famous percussion instrument. ![]()
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