# Who was the first rock drummer with a huge drum kit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 14, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225 "2016-04-14T22:52:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/21 "2016-04-15T19:24:44Z")
Here is Keith Moon’s kit in 1968. [Pretty large](https://www.google.com/search?q=keith+moon+at+woodstock&safe=active&biw=1503&bih=761&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=7txOSwtk9wBd8M%253A%253BOfFtV1AjVYBQBM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.examiner.com%25252Fslideshow%25252Fkeith-moon-biopic-is-the-works&source=iu&pf=m&fir=7txOSwtk9wBd8M%253A%252COfFtV1AjVYBQBM%252C_&usg=__Pq2oDcW8kX75u3wRmvrFwdVnBt0%3D&dpr=1.1&ved=0ahUKEwiw1N_CrpHMAhUKnpQKHVB0B4wQyjcIJw&ei=DT8RV_CZD4q80gTQ6J3gCA#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=keith+moon+on+smothers+brothers&imgrc=Z9F6qAGdI2Q-gM%3A). Double bass, snare and 6 toms. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/22 "2016-04-15T22:44:31Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Missed the edit window. > > Just did some Googling. Here’s an article on the start of double-bass drumming. > > [http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/double-bass-legends-a-short-history/P1/](http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/double-bass-legends-a-short-history/P1/) As I clicked on that, I said out loud “better see Louis Bellson”, and, luckily for the legitimacy of the article, it did. Mind you, the OP stipulated “rock” drummers, so… To slightly hijack, the _current_ most ridiculously gigantic set of drums belong to Terry Bozzio. I saw him play on it at a clinic a couple years back…bonkers. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CroX237dzfY/maxresdefault.jpg "Terry Bozzio Drum Solo Performance - pat's changes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CroX237dzfY) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/23 "2016-04-15T22:46:27Z")
In the early days of the Who Moon did not use hi hats on stage. He may have used them in the studio. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/24 "2016-04-16T00:15:21Z")
The first double bass set I ever saw was played by Paul Whaley, from Blue Cheer. They were a power trio that didn’t last all that long and were mostly known for their set up: 3 Marshall stacks on each side of the double bass drum set. This was considered to be a bit on the extreme side _FOR THAT TIME_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/25 "2016-04-16T00:58:34Z")
[quote=“Eddie The Horrible, post:22, topic:752225”] As I clicked on that, I said out loud “better see Louis Bellson”, and, luckily for the legitimacy of the article, it did. Mind you, the OP stipulated “rock” drummers, so… To slightly hijack, the _current_ most ridiculously gigantic set of drums belong to Terry Bozzio. I saw him play on it at a clinic a couple years back…bonkers. [/QUOTE] Yeah, since Peart started using his effects board his setup has shrunk a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/26 "2016-04-16T01:51:10Z")
Here’s a rare photo of The Who from circa 1966/67 that shows Moon with a double bass and several toms. I’m thinking Moon is going to be hard to beat as far as the first guy to do this. [http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/10/23/article-2221820-15A2FDB8000005DC-549\_634x427.jpg](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/10/23/article-2221820-15A2FDB8000005DC-549_634x427.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/27 "2016-04-19T22:02:59Z")
One reason Townshend wanted a really big amp was due to Moon’s loud kit. He got Marshall to build a cabinet with 8 speakers but they figured out it was too big/heavy. So Marshall cut it in half and that was the start of the double stack for amps. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225/28 "2016-04-20T02:47:03Z")
> [@Lowdown](#): > > Missed the edit window. > > Just did some Googling. Here’s an article on the start of double-bass drumming. > > [http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/double-bass-legends-a-short-history/P1/](http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/double-bass-legends-a-short-history/P1/) That was brief but excellent; thank you for finding it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-rock-drummer-with-a-huge-drum-kit/752225.md?page=1)