All Photos By Gail
If you can make it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art before the October 1st, 2019 closing date of its attendance record-setting exhibit, Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll you will find that it is so much more than just a collection of famous guitars. For me, the Oh, Wow factor is summed up in the true work of art that is Keith Moon’s Pictures of Lily Drumkit circa 1967. Jesus god, look at this beautiful thing. Just look at it.
Inspired by the song of the same title, Pictures of Lily is nine-piece Premier kit — comprised of a snare, two bass (or kick) drums (which are reproductions of the originals), three floor toms and three 14’x8″ mounted rack toms, with two Paiste cymbals, which appear to be one ride and one crash — with custom artwork.
Floor Toms Artwork Detail
Keith Moon received this drum set at the beginning of The Who’s 1967 U.S. Tour and used it extensively for the performances that followed. The artwork features nude photos of Lily Langtry, the subject of the single “Pictures of Lily.” The psychedelic design incorporates a Union Jack and the text “Keith Moon Patent British Exploding Drummer,” a reference to Moon’s tendency to pack his drums with shells and flash powder in order to detonate them onstage.
Kick Drum Reproduction, Detail
The two original bass drums are lost, possibly destroyed by Moon’s pyrotechnics.
Rack Tom, Detail
Photographed as Part of Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock and Roll, on Exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum Art in NYC Through October 1st, 2019.
YES.
OK, some minor errors here. The kit pictured here consists of: three 14”x8” mounted toms, two 22”x14” bass drums in the incorrect-era mirror chrome wrap finish, the original Lily’s kit had matching artwork on the bass drums. The floor toms in the exhibit are: two ‘extra deep’ 16”x18”’s and one 16”x15” (which he only used as a stick and drink tray, notice it’s graphics are unique and only on this drum).
Thanks so much, Jason, for your comment! I have made a couple of corrections. — G