Thanks to David Levine for providing those two rare Grammy ads from Simmons Group Centre:
Dave Levine worked for Simmons Group Centre for several years as the Advertising / Promotional Director. He was responsible for many of the Ads they produced themselves for Modern Drummer Magazine, Musician Magazine, et al. I am looking forward to (hopefully) meet him at this year’s booth in Frankfurt
Thanks to Steve Watts who directed me to this long time forgotten topic… The driver of the Mitsubishi is Andy McLennan. The driver of the VW Golf (the last two pictures) is Charlie Morgan.
“(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1) ANDY McLENNAN BEGAN HIS INVOLVEMENT IN MOTORSPORT AS A MECHANIC IN THE BRABHAM FORMULA 1 RACING TEAM. AS A DRIVER, HE HAS BEEN CLASSIC SALOON CAR CHAMPION & HELD THE BRITISH RECORD FOR 24HOUR ENDURANCE DRIVING IN A PRODUCTION SALOON CAR. IN THE MID 80’s ANDY WAS CLASS B CHAMPION IN THE MONROE PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP’S.
ANDY’S STARION WAS SPONSORED BY SIMMONS SYNTHESISERS, THE MANUFACTURER THAT MADE THE WORLDS FIRST ELECTRONIC DRUM KIT. SIMMONS USERS INCLUDED CULTURE CLUB, THE POLICE, GENESIS, THE THOMPSON TWINS & MANY OTHERS.
ANDY HAD MANY IMPRESSIVE RESULTS INCLUDING SEVERAL OUTRIGHT VICTORY’S IN THE ROUNDS OF THE 84 85 UNIROYAL PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP. THIS IS TODAY’S EQUILEVLENT OF THE BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP. ANDY HAD MANY BATTLES WITH COLIN BLOWER BUT THEY REGULARLY CAME 1ST & SECOND OVERALL BEATING CARS AS CAPABLE AS 3 LITER OPEL MONZA GSE, ESCORT RS TURBO, TOYOTA SUPRA, ASTRA GTE. ROVER 3500 SDI”
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.stacey1
Source: Charlie Morgan ( drummer for Elton John & Kate Bush and a few others!)
Source: Charlie Morgan ( drummer for Elton John & Kate Bush and a few others!)
“
When I saw an “SDS7 cymbal pad” on Ebay last year, I thought it’s a fake. I haven’t seen any advertisement where a pad like this had been mentioned. But they really existed for a short period of time. Finally I found a brochure published by Simmons Group Center. One of the last mysteries is cleared up….
And this is what Glynn Thomas, former CEO of Simmons Group Center, USA, responded:
“…it was good to see that ad we produced for Modern Drummer magazine and featured our own version of a Simmons Cymbal. Sadly, Dave Simmons didn’t like us producing our own version of a Cymbal and vetoed it. So only a few prototypes were actually made, and then quietly dropped. The “rack” was our idea ( actually Dave Levine designed it with the cooperation of Ultimate Systems ) and was very very successful for Simmons Group Centre…”