Description:

Trixon Floor Tom with original skin on top. (Phil Seamen) late 1950s/early 60s. Last remaining piece of the 'Seaman' drum kit. Legendary Drummer who even taught the great Ginger Baker. Phil Seamen English jazz and rock drummer, born 28 August 28 1926 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, died 13 October 1972 in London, England (aged 46). One of Britain's best bebop drummers, he later played a pivotal role in Joe Harriott's free quintet. Resident drummer at Ronnie Scott's between 1964 and 1968. Played with virtually every major British jazz figure, including Tubby Hayes, Kenny Baker, Stan Tracey, Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey, Harold McNair, Don Rendell, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, Tony Coe, Tony Lee, and George Chisholm. In his later years he also played with blues and rock units led by Alexis Korner and Ginger Baker. Up for sale is the original Phil Seamen Floor Tom with original top skin still intact. Alas the decal of Trixon has been lost on the drum but is an original. The bottom skin has been replaced. Following is the vendors story in his own words of how he came to own this drum. English jazz and rock drummer, born 28 August 28 1926 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, died 13 October 1972 in London, England (aged 46). One of Britain's best bebop drummers, he later played a pivotal role in Joe Harriott's free quintet. Resident drummer at Ronnie Scott's between 1964 and 1968. Played with virtually every major British jazz figure, including Tubby Hayes, Kenny Baker, Stan Tracey, Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey, Harold McNair, Don Rendell, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, Tony Coe, Tony Lee, and George Chisholm. In his later years he also played with blues and rock units led by Alexis Korner and Ginger Baker. Year 1973. I was 9 years old. My mum used to go to a local prize bingo at Burton on Trent Working Men's Club every Tuesday evening. I used to go with her most weeks. I diverse a little, from an early age (4-5) I loved watching people play drums (Top of the Pops etc). I used to put cushions on the floor, find a couple of pencils as sticks and off i'd go. I used to tap out rhythm's on absolutely anything, it used to drive my parents crazy. At the age of 9, my parents bought me an old drum kit. The manufacturer was 'President'. It consisted of Bass Drum, Tom Tom (on the bass), Snare drum, Hi-hat and 1 cymbal on the Bass drum, all pig skin drum heads. It didn't have a floor tom. Anyway, going forward again to 1973. Burton working mens club, Tuesday evening, as usual I went with mum to the bingo. We sat at a table. There was lady who had started to go a few months previous. She seemed a bit of a loner and seemed to always find a table to sit on her own. This particular week, there were no spare tables. She came and sat with me and mum. There wasn't much conversation between us until she saw me doing my usual 'tapping rhythms on the table'. This sparked conversation. She told us her son played drums. At this point we still had no clue who she was, just a lovely old lady. I told her i had a drum kit at home. She asked if I had a floor tom tom. As i mentioned earlier, the kit hadn't got a floor tom. She said 'I have one you can have if you'd like it?' Of course, I said yes. My dad went to pick the tom tom up from Outwoods Street where she lived and brought it home on the cross bar of his bike. It was a Trixon tom. It was in a hard tom case with labels on which had 'Oslo, Frankfurt', two of the cities the drum had been. We were still none the wiser to who this drum belonged and who the lady was. The following Tuesday, i went to bingo with mum again. The old lady came and sat with us again. She took this brown crumpled up paper bag out of her shopping bag and gave it to me. Inside were 2 small chinese cymbals (about 8 inch i think they were). She said 'You can have these too if you can use them, but if not I'd like to keep them as they have a sentimental value'. I couldn't take them. They were obviously precious to her. Later that evening, a chap called Dave Farmer who organised the bingo each week came up to me and mum and said 'Do you know who that lady is? It's Mrs Seamen. Phil Seamens mum'. My mum was amazed, me at that stage not so much, as i was 9 years old and hadn't really heard much about him. We were told her Son, Phil had died in London(1972). This drum was part of a Trixon kit he toured with, and as drummers do, over time he had another kit. This kit was set up at his home for him to practice on.  Over the next few years, i have to say the floor tom was a welcome addition to my President Kit. I played percussion with Stan Schofield's Accordion Band hence the orange labels of mine on the tom case. In 1975 after my grandfather died, i was bought a brand new kit. My president kit was sold on, but i kept Phil's drum as i'd promised Mrs Seamen i would. It sat in the spare room of my parents house for years.  Over time, and doing some research into who Phil was, the importance of the tom started to sink in a little. Recently, i was made aware of a book launch of a biography on Phil's life written by a local chap called Peter Dawn from Woodville. I was asked if I could take the drum along to the launch for people to see. I took it. The response was amazing. People were touching the drum head, kissing their hand then touching it. Some were getting quite emotional.  I can't explain how much this got to me. The penny dropped further of just how famous and important Phil actually was. It almost brought me to tears. Whilst at the launch I met another guy 'Arthur Roe' who also knew Mrs Seamen. We shared a few stories. There was one which was indentical. Phil's mum had almost begged both of our mums, not to allow us to go to London to play. This was where her beloved Phil had died of drug related illness. He also told me Mrs Seamen was so heart broken and angry that the thing which Phil loved doing the most, in her mind had led to his death', she threw the rest of his kit in the back of the weekly dust cart collections apart from it's floor tom. I also found out Phil's dad 'Joe' died the following year, in 1973 of cancer. Today, I realise just how hard it must have been for Mrs Seamen to part with the drum but It feels like it was meant to be that it came to me. She'd lost both her husband and son very close together. It kinda explained why she was so quiet at the bingo. Mrs Seamen passed away in 1981. My parents have now both passed away and i feel it's time to sell Phil's tom tom onto someone else who will enjoy it, owning a piece of Jazz music history. Thank you Mrs Seamen and Phil for allowing me to own and play your drum. It's been a privilege. Photocopy and an email can be sent of pictures of Phil playing this actual drum. English jazz and rock drummer, born 28 August 28 1926 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, died 13 October 1972 in London, England (aged 46). One of Britain's best bebop drummers, he later played a pivotal role in Joe Harriott's free quintet. Resident drummer at Ronnie Scott's between 1964 and 1968. Played with virtually every major British jazz figure, including Tubby Hayes, Kenny Baker, Stan Tracey, Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey, Harold McNair, Don Rendell, Victor Feldman, Dizzy Reece, Tony Coe, Tony Lee, and George Chisholm. In his later years he also played with blues and rock units led by Alexis Korner and Ginger Baker.

Realised Price: £250

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