Mark Lindamood — Drummer

On Christmas Day in 1967, I woke to find under the tree a set of Ludwig Deluxe Classic drums in champagne sparkle finish, a top of the line drum kit as good as any in the world. They were from Dad. For a 12-year kid in Gate City, Virginia, getting those drums as a first drum kit was like going from zero to 60 in three seconds. No stopping by way of poorly made Sears Silvertones or something used and beat up. These were the best, and they were brand-spankin' new. The thrill of that moment is why I still play drums today. I've gotten a lot of joy from it. Thanks, Dad.

Since Ludwigs were my first drum kit, I've become something of an expert on them and do a few restoration projects. The 1960's-era Jazz Festival snare is a favorite. I've brought three back from the grave to top-notch condition, with a couple of minor secrets added to improve them over their original design.

My tribute to Ringo and the boys. This is a restored and nicely detailed Ludwig kit from the early 1960's in the configuration used by Ringo Starr on the Ed Sullivan show in February 1964. Ringo's first Ludwigs were just like these — "just like" as in exactly like the kit (Ringo's second, I think) sent to the Ed Sullivan studio that day by Manny's Music in New York. With time and considerable effort, I've assembled all of the appropriate and correct hardware for the kit: the three flat-based stands, the drummer's throne, the hi-hat — all Ludwig, all correct. This kit could easly withstand the closest scrutiny by any local press after a big show by a top Beatle tribute band, which I hope to get into one day, since the original act is History. Weren't they fab?

The bass drum and tom-tom here are Ludwig Club Date models in their Sky Blue Pearl covering, both date-stamped October 16, 1967. The red sparkle Jazz Festival snare is a very nice sample a couple of years older. No use restoring them if they aren't going to be played, as these were one Sunday morning at Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Market. Those fancy boots belong to my friend Diana Quinn, custom made with the logo of our band Honky Tonk Confidential.