Graham's Classic Stix

OK -I don't know much about art - but I hit on the idea of framing classic drum sticks (certainly not controversial enough to win the Turner Prize) - mainly the signature series offered by Pro Mark, Vater and Vic Firth. I have taken some close ups of the said sticks below....

These sticks were framed for me by Frog, 43 Regent Street, Runcorn, WA7 1LJ - 01928 500188 - tell them I sent you! Frog say they will frame just about anything....their shop window is awash with framed CD's and vinyl! Click on the cool smiley below to e-mail them or ring the number above - they will be delighted to hear from you...

To quote Nigel Tufnell out of Spinal Tap  "it can never be played.... don't touch it - don't even look at it..." Here you can see me with my signature Neil Peart sticks and my signature Buddy Rich sticks (the white ones).....

That collection just keeps on growing - from top: Igor Cavelera (Seplatura), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Buddy Rich (Big band jazz) and Neil Peart (Rush).....

...after the addition of Travis Barker (Blink 182) and Ringo Starr (Beatles).....

... fast forward to April 2004 and the wall is getting a little crowded.....

"....what does G12 do, Tommy?"  Sticks for all occasions: the in-use sticks collection...."...cool, what does G13 do?"

Close up of the famous Neil Peart Signature Sticks - standard Pro Mark 747's -  but these are made of Japanese Oak - a very tough stick... to my mind, these sticks are the equivalent of Excalibur.....

Buddy Rich - a very early drumming legend and the fave drummer of the aforementioned Neil Peart, white sticks - nicely weighted.... great looking sticks....

Chad Smith Vater Sticks - nice understated looks - I use Stewart Copeland model sticks on the Roland - these Chads are seriously chunky sticks - well worth a look. Vater come up with great names rather than just number codes for their sticks - the Steve White model (below) is called the Hitmaker and the biggest stick they do is called the Nightstick (looks like a nuclear sub!)......

You would expect the drummer for Seplatura to pack serious sticks - these look like they have been carved from a telegraph pole....

These are actually the longest sticks in the collection - obviously they are derived from jazz sticks that are traditionally built with a longer reach than you might expect than for a drummer who sometimes gets an unfair hearing about his skill or perceived lack thereof......

Travis Barker of Blink 182 is well known for his hard hitting - these huge Zildjian Sticks are not the biggest available but still quite chunky - Zildjian, normally associated with great cymbals, have been making sticks for years - in my teenage years I had a red pair that turned my palms red and made it look like I had endured serious injury for my art.....

Steve Gadd's unique black, barrel tipped sticks - Gadd is the drummer behind that very difficult beat on 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon. I hung back on the idea of getting Steve Gadd sticks for a while - I worried about how I would get them to show up and match with the rest of the collection - Frog came up with the idea of white spray paint on the background - thank you, guys.

Phil's sticks are the shortest in my collection - in fact they are very short sticks. If you look at the way that Phil sets up his drums (the famous Gretsch concert tom kit as used with Genesis) I suppose a shorter stick suits him.

The famous Hot-Pink-Sticks. These are not really endorsed by anyone - but I am aware that Sarah Maloney of Motley Crue uses a hot pink pair of Sonor sticks. I got these via e-bay from a firm in Phoenix who also do sticks of many colours.

I got a pair of Stewart Copeland sticks free with the Roland TD6 back in August 2002, and I was so impressed with them I didn't buy the company. I instead bought another pair and framed them - it was cheaper.

The Headhunter Sticks - Dan Badonis Signature model (see the gallery set five to see who he is) - sent to me by Dan himself - these are great sticks - it seems a shame to keep them behind the glass.....

The Dave Weckl signature sticks - similar to the Steve Gadd sticks but in a less tasteful wood stain....

The Dave Weckl Evolution Sticks, a much more tasteful stain......

The limited edition Neil Peart sticks released to coincide with the band's 30th anniversary Stalker tour - how could I not own a pair of these sticks? These sticks, apart from the Rush logo, are of the same build as the existing Neil Sticks - 747's, Japanese Oak.

Nice understated Vater Steve White sticks - The Hitmaker. Perfect for the Modfather's drummer.

A lot of people will think that having my own range of sticks is a bit narcissistic... well it is and I don't care. Thanks , Dan.

Very colourful and stylish Trilock Gurtu sticks by Zildjian.

Also by Zildjian, Cindy Blackman sticks - she of the big hair and occasional occupier of the Lenny Kravitz drum seat.....

These are Thomas Lang sticks - and the meatiest sticks that I own. When you see Thomas play (as I have) you wonder just why he needs such telegraph poles with his nice sensitive style.....

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