645

Lot #645: WHO, THE - Bass Drumhead and Wrap Artwork For Keith Moon's Pictures of Lily Premier Protot

Currency:GBP Category:Memorabilia / Music Memorabilia Start Price:3,000.00 GBP Estimated At:6,000.00 - 12,000.00 GBP
Lot #645: WHO, THE - Bass Drumhead and Wrap Artwork For Keith Moon's Pictures of Lily Premier Protot
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Day 1 and 2 of the auction will be held live with in-person bidding on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th November 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN.

Please note in-person bidding is not available on Days 3 and 4 (Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November), bids can be placed online or via telephone or written absentee form.
WHO, THE - Bass Drumhead and Wrap Artwork For Keith Moon's Pictures of Lily Premier Prototype Drum Kit

A bass drumhead and wrap artwork used on the prototype of Keith Moon's iconic Pictures Of Lily drum kit, the first to feature personalised custom graphics. In 1967, Moon asked the promotions manager of UK manufacturer The Premier Drum Company, Phil Franklin, to create a unique drum kit incorporating pop art designs.

Franklin asked creative director Jeff Hurst to "knock one up" - a quote from Premier's in-house publication Talking Drums - referring to creating a prototype kit for the most famous and controversial drummer at the time. It is believed that at least three final kits were made.

These items were originally obtained by Mark Ellen, the drummer for British band Vanity Fare, from an ex-employee from the Premier factory. Ellen purchased these items for his daughter Holly as The Who were her favourite band. The hand-painted 22" bass drumhead is decorated with a pop-art 3D "The Who" logo and the Premier brand name. The brightly coloured plastic wrap is split into three panels; "The Who" logo with a miniature of Moon's face; a risque& #769 image of Lily (British socialite and actress Lillie Langtry); and the text "Keith Moon Patent British Exploding Drummer".

The drumhead's paint has begun to peel and crack, notably in the middle, likely from when Moon played it during the testing stages. The wrap's protective top plastic layer has begun peeling and exhibits light scratching. The lot is accompanied by a copy of A Tribute to Keith Moon (There Is No Substitute) by Ian Snowball, two handwritten letters of authenticity from Holly Ellen, and an array of images and setlists relating to her late father's time in Vanity Fare. Dimensions (drumhead): 52.5 cm x 52.5 cm x 2 cm (20 3/4" x 20 3/4" x 3/4"); (wrap) 37.5 cm x 66.5 cm (14 3/4" x 26 1/4")

Additional Information:



An image of Moon and Hurst selecting the final artwork for the "lily" motifs for the wraps features on page 130 of A Tribute to Keith Moon (There Is No Substitute) by Ian Snowball. This image was originally published in the August 1967 issue of Go magazine.







Mark Ellen was best known as the drummer with the 1960s and 70s band Vanity Fair for 44 years before retiring in 2015. During his career, he was also a successful restorer and dealer of vintage drums, selling them to an array of clients worldwide. Some of his patrons included Ginger Baker and Keith Moon's godson, Zak Starkey, current drummer for The Who. Ellen sadly passed away in February 2021.

Estimate: GBP 6000 - 12000 M

Bidding for this lot will end on Friday, November 10th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, November 9th, Saturday, November 11th or Sunday, November 12th.