2011 Chicago Show date set
The 21st Annual Chicago Drum Show will be held May 21 and 22, 2011 at the usual venue, the Kane County Fairgrounds. 2010 Exhibitors will be given right of first refusal on the same spots they had in 2010.

GRETSCH PRESENCE AT ANNIVERSARY SHOW!

From top: Gretsch display, John Palmer assisting Fred with his presentation, Fred Gretsch and Hannah Ford. Post-show note from John Palmer:

LEEDY USA CUSTOM SHOP

Please visit www.maxwelldrums.com for complete news on this recent development! Fred Gretsch, who has owned Leedy since acquiring it along with Slingerland which he subsequently sold to Gibson, recently visited Steve Maxwell's shop in Chicago and their discussions led to an agreement that promises to reinvigorate the marque.

George Way Drum Company
Ronn Dunnett of Dunnett Classic Drums (www.dunnett.com) recently acquired the intellectual property rights to the George Way Drum Company. He has already introduced a number of remarkable products that any reasonable person would have to assume George Way would be very proud of. For more information, go to Ronn’s site or simply come to see him at the Chicago show. In Ronn’s words: “It's always a difficult decision to change anything from the original, but I have to think that the changes I have made are ones that George would approve of. I beefed up the beer tap throw off so the parts won't bend anymore, but kept the original look and feel. I'll be die casting the T bracket so it will be easier to attach and remove the snare wires and cords, much like the Trumsa throw off.” Note from Rob Cook: I recently acquired one of these new George Way drums. It immediately joined my trunk of assorted snare drums I use for backline rentals. The first gig out, it was selected by "Rocky" of "Rocky And The Rollers," the band that backs former Sha Na Na figure Bowzer. Rocky loved the drum; wanted to buy it but this one is not for sale!

SLINGERLAND NEWS

The saga continues... Slingerland is on the third head guy since opening in Conway, Arkansas. (The whole progression from where the first edition of "The Slingerland Book" leaves off can be viewed in a NSMD article at the Rebeats site; go to the home page, scroll down, and click on NSMD articles.) The Slingerland presence at the recent NAMM show was moved from a small booth in the drum area back to a corner of the Gibson booth which could be accessed only by Gibson dealers. While the company seems to languish in neglect, the interests of the owner appear to be focused elsewhere. A news flash in The Music Trades May 2007 issue announced that Gibson recently sponsored the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, an "extension of the successful Cartier International Polo Tournament held annually at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, England." Owner Henry Juszkiewicz was quoted as saying, "A great tradition, exciting entertainment, an enthusiastic crowd- music and polo have much in common." The Music Trades article reported that the "Gibson Guitar Best Playing Pony award " was presented by Her Royal Highness Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Rogers Update; Yamaha ownership!

In the wake of a $20 million judgement, Rogers owner Brook Mays music went out of business and the Rogers name "and intellectual properties" were purchased at bankruptcy auction by the Yamaha corporation in early August of 2006. Bill Crowden was hired by Yamaha to work on the Rogers line on a temporary consultancy basis.