Neil Peart's Chromey drum kit: history and restoration

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Updated: 12/13/2020

This Slingerland kit was the first drum kit Neil played with Rush. He bought it with the advance from Mercury Records from Long & McQuade music store in Toronto in late July/early August 1974 . It was used to record:

• Fly By Night

• Caress of Steel

• 2112

• All the World's a Stage

It was also used used for the tours supporting these albums, as well as Rush. 

On December 10, 2020, Chromey was sold by Bonhams Auctions for US$500,312. There's no information about the new owner.

Contents

 

After Rush

The Restoration of Chromey

Photos of Restored Kit

Specifications

2020 Auction

After Rush

Neil gave away the kit as part of a Modern Drummer contest to Mark Feldman on July 20, 1987. Click the thumbnails below for a larger view of Neil's letter to Mark.

In August 2009, Neil Peart's first Slingerland kit sold on eBay for $25,100.00 to Dean Bobisud. Here are some photos of the kit before it was sold by Main Drag Music (click for a larger view):

The Restoration of Chromey

After purchasing Chromey, Dean Bobisud wanted to share the kit with Rush fans and the drumming community. To prepare for exhibiting the kit in public, Dean began a painstaking restoration with the help of restoration consultant Michael D.F. Lowe, technical advisor Paul Wells, and many others. Actual vintage replacement equipment was used to restore the kit back to its original playing condition as last used by Neil Peart.

Following Rush's example of philanthropy, Dean and Michael decided to use the kit to raise money for different charities. The restored kit, now christened "Chromey," debuted at PASIC in 2009 — its first public appearance in 32 years. This was followed by nine more appearances, including: a charity event for five-year-old Caden Mitchell, who was diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome; the Chicago Drum Show; Rushcon in Toronto, and Port Dalhousie, Ontario, at Lakeside Park, where Neil Peart grew up

Photos of restored kit (courtesy of Dean Bobisud)

Click each photo for a larger view.

Specifications

Specifications provided by Michael D.F. Lowe of NeilPearDrumsticks.com, restoration consultant.

* - Serial number only provided to show era of drum.
** - Original parts once owned by Mr. Neil Peart.

Over a period of time the original drum kit consisted of these parts below.

DRUMS

3-ply Shells of Maple, Poplar, and Mahogany
9x13 Tom Tom w/Chrome Wrap and W&A Diamond Plate Clip Mount - Serial No. 130677**
9x13 Tom Tom w/Chrome Wrap and Set-O-Matic Mount - Serial No. 131567**
10x14 Tom Tom w/Chrome Wrap and Set-O-Matic Mount - Serial No. 124573**
16x16 Floor Tom w/Chrome Wrap - Serial No. 128860**
(2) 14x22 Bass Drum w/Chrome Wrap - SL Serial No. 130697; SR Serial No. 131799**
5x14 Rogers Dynasonic Snare - Chrome Over Brass w/10 lugs - Serial No. 49123*
------------
5.5x6 Concert Tom w/Copper Wrap and Slingerland Clip Mount - Serial No. 162370**
5.5x8 Concert Tom w/Copper Wrap and Slingerland Clip Mount - Serial No. 159978**
6.5x10 Concert Tom w/Copper Wrap and Pearl Clip Mount - Serial No. 157594**
8x12 Concert Tom w/Copper Wrap and Pearl Clip Mount - Serial No. 157523**
--- Added before 25 June 1975, first time heard in rare audience recording. ---
------------
5.5x14 Slingerland Artist Snare w/Copper Wrap - 3-ply Shell w/8 lugs - Serial No. 170680*
(Purchased used in 1976 by Ian Grandy at a local Cosmo Music in Toronto, Canada for $60)
--- Added before 13 November 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---

CYMBALS

Avedis Zildjian 8" Splash Cymbal
Avedis Zildjian 13" New Beat Hi-Hat Cymbal Pair
Avedis Zildjian 16" Medium Crash Cymbal
Avedis Zildjian 18" Medium Crash Cymbal
Avedis Zildjian 20" Medium Crash Cymbal
Avedis Zildjian 22" Ping Ride Cymbal
------------
Avedis Zildjian 16" Medium Crash Cymbal
--- Added before 29 April 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
Avedis Zildjian 8" Splash Cymbal on SL bass hoop holder
--- Added before 28 May 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
Avedis Zildjian 18" Pang Cymbal
--- Added after 15 February 1977 and before 5 March 1977, as seen in dated photos. ---

PERCUSSION

Ludwig 4" Gold Tone Cowbell Model #129
LP Standard Agogo Bells
LP Black Beauty Cowbell
Gon Bops Agogo Tri Bells
LP Rock/Bongo Cowbell
Wind Chimes with about 5 bars
Cluster Chimes with about 10-12 bars
3-piece Temple Bells - vertically strung
--- Added between August 1974 and June 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
Spectrasound Mark Tree w/35 Brass Bars Chimes
--- Added after 26 October 1976 and before 11 December 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
LP Bell Tree w/28 Brass Bells
--- Added after 15 February 1977 and before 5 March 1977, as seen in dated photos. ---

HARDWARE

(2) Ludwig Speed King w/Square Beater
Ludwig Consolette Tom Tom Holder w/3" rod and tongue - mounted on stage left bass
Slingerland Set-O-Matic Double Tom Tom Holder - mounted on stage right bass
Slingerland Dynamo Hi-Hat Stand
Slingerland Rocket Snare Drum Stand
(3) Pearl Single Braced Heavy Duty Cymbal Stand
Premier Lokfast Flush Base Cymbal Stand - holds Cowbells and 8" Splash (Before June 1975)
Ludwig Hoop Mount Cymbal Holder w/Ludwig Top Rod and Tilter - mounted on stage right bass drum
Ludwig Sta-Set Drum Key
Ludwig Seat Case
Pro-Mark Rock 747 Drumsticks
Rogers Stick Tray Assembly #48-1280
White Custom Floorboard w/Turnbuckles - lost by Air Canada on 16 January 1975
------------
Blue Custom Floorboard w/Turnbuckles
Slingerland Extra Sturdy Double Tom Floor Stand w/Set-O-Matic Double Clip Mount Tom Holder
Premier Lokfast Flush Base Cymbal Stand split into two parts
(Base tube and tripod used with Pearl upper rods and double tom holder for 10" and 12" Concert Toms)
(2) Pearl Tom Tom Clip Mount (Replacing Slingerland mounts on 10" and 12" concert toms)
Pearl Single Braced Heavy Duty Cymbal Stand split into two parts
(Base tube and tripod used with Premier upper rods for cowbells and 8" Splash cymbal)
--- Added before 25 June 1975, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
Leather 3-pocket Drumstick Bag**
--- Added in early 1975, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
Ludwig Hoop Mount Cymbal Holder w/Premier Top Rod and Tilter - mounted on stage right bass drum
(Ludwig Hoop Mount Cymbal Holder w/Ludwig Top Rod and Tilter - now mounted on stage left bass drum)
--- Added before 28 May 1976, as seen in dated photos. ---
------------
(2) Pearl Single Braced Heavy Duty Cymbal Stand - for 18" Pang cymbal and Bell Tree.
--- Added after 15 February 1977 and before 5 March 1977, as seen in dated photos. ---

HEADS

Evans All Weather Heavy Duty Rock Chrome Heads - 13"(2), 14", 16", 22"(2 bass front 1974)
Evans All Weather Heavy Duty Rock Blue Resonant Heads - 13"(2), 14", 16", 22"(2 bass front 1975)
Remo CS Black Dots - 14", 22" (2 bass rear)
Remo Ambassador Snare-side Head - 14"
------------
Ludwig Weathermaster CH-Batter Silver Dot Heads - 6", 8", 10", 12"
(Used on the Copper Concert Toms after their addition to the kit in Spring of 1975)
------------

Bass Heads Artwork

The artwork on the bass heads from Fall 1974 to Fall 1975 was on 22" Evans Rock Chrome heads with the first album RUSH logo in black.

In Fall 1975, with the start of the Caress Of Steel Tour, the kit can be seen with clear 22" Evans Rock Blue resonant heads with the Caress Of Steel RUSH logo lettered in chrome mylar along with black lettered names on chrome rectangles, "neil" on the stage right bass and "peart" on the stage left bass.

In June 1976 during the 2112 Tour, the bass heads were removed for recording a series of live shows at Massey Hall in Toronto, Canada.

These recordings were later released on the album, All The World's A Stage. Before the heads were reinstalled, the interior of each head was spray painted blue, as seen here today. The tearing in the right bass drum head was caused by a small nick from a razor when cutting microphone holes in the heads. It was reinforced with duct tape in an effort to prevent its spread across the surface. As you can see it didn't last long but did manage to hold up for about 9-10 months until February - March 1977. Dean and the restoration team removed the heads to preserve them from any further damage.

 

2020 Auction

On December 12, Chromey was sold by Bonhams Auctions for US $500,312.00. The following text was included on the auction site:

NEIL PEART'S CHROME SLINGERLAND DRUM KIT USED WITH RUSH FROM 1974-1977.

Slingerland Drum Kit including 2 22-inch Bass Drums with chrome wrap including original head; blue resonant heads each with large silver Rush logo and "Neil" on one and "Peart" on the other (originals and additional replicas); 2 13-inch Tom Toms with chrome wrap; 14-inch Tom Tom with chrome wrap and with original head SIGNED by Peart, latter 3 Toms with Set-O-Matic mount; 16-inch Floor Tom with chrome wrap; Set of 4 Concert Toms with copper wrap in 6, 8, 10 & 12-inch. All with 3-ply shells of maple, poplar and mahogany. Kit extended with generally period-correct replacements: 14-inch Slingerland Artist Snare with copper wrap; 2 Zildjian 8-inch Splash Cymbals; Zildjian 13-inch New Beat Hi-Hat Cymbal pair; 2 Zildjian 16-inch Medium Crash Cymbals; Zildjian 18-inch Medium Crash Cymbal; Zildjian 20-inch Medium Crash Cymbal; Zildjian 18-inch pang cymbal; Zildjian 22-inch Ping Ride Cymbal; Ludwig 4-inch Gold Tone Cowbell, model #129; LP Standard Agogo Bells; LP Black Beauty Cowbell; Pearl Tri Bells; LP Rock/Bongo Cowbell; Spectrasound Mark Tree with 35 brass bar Chimes; LP Bell Tree with 28 brass bells; 5-piece Temple Blocks; 2 Ludwig Speed king bass drum pedals; Ludwig Seat Case; Rogers Stick Tray Assembly and with all associated hardware.

Provenance: Purchased by Neil Peart in late July/early August 1974 from Long & McQuade, Toronto; placed in storage in 1977; One of three drum kit's donated by Neil Peart for Modern Drummer Magazine's "Neil Peart Drumset Giveaway" introduced in the March 1987 issue. This set awarded to New York drummer Mark Feldman in the October 1987 issue and with a Letter Signed ("Neil Peart"), 2 pp, Toronto, July 20, 1987, informing Feldman that he was a contest winner and commenting on his submission; sold by Feldman to the present owner.
Exhibited: Rhythm Discovery Center, Indianapolis.

Although Rush had formed as early as 1968 and had even released its eponymous debut album, it wasn't until original drummer John Rutsey left and Neil Peart stepped in that the band's flame was truly ignited. It went from a blues and hard rock band whose first album was considered derivative of Led Zeppelin to a platinum-selling progressive rock powerhouse. Neil Peart not only provided the basis for more complex song structures with his masterful drumming, but by taking over as a lyricist, he freed bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson from a duty they had never wanted so that they could focus on bringing the collective musicianship to another level.

Peart reportedly arrived at his July 1974 audition with Rush in a battered car, wearing shorts and transporting his drum kit in trash cans. Lee and Peart hit it off instantly, although it took Lifeson a bit longer to warm to warm to the drummer. Still, they eventually agreed to invite Peart into the band on July 29 of that year, two weeks before the group's first US tour. Peart purchased a silver Slingerland drum kit from local music store Long & McQuade that he used on his first show with the band, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann's Earth Band at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on August 14, 1974. He played this kit on the breakthrough Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, and 2112, considered among the greatest progressive rock albums of all time. Probably the highest profile live appearance of the kit was the 3-night performance at Toronto's Massey hall when the band's first live album All the World's a Stage was recorded. Peart was introduced at those shows as "the Professor on the drum kit" and his extended drum solo on "Working Man," played on the Slingerland kit, is legendary among fans.

All the World's a Stage marked the end of Rush's first chapter and Peart's Slingerland drum kit was soon afterward retired. Rush had gone from Led Zeppelin wannabes to a US Top-40 charting band with a distinctive sound poised to win fans the world over. The Slingerland kit had been on the road for 5 consecutive US and Canadian tours and was seen by thousands of fans from 1974 through 1977. Neil retired the kit at that time and placed it in storage where it sat until it was brought out a decade later as a prize in Modern Drummer's "Neil Peart Drumset Giveaway.

2020 Auction Gallery

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