Help Alex replace STOLEN personal drum collection
Donation protected
On May 17th, 2021, my dear friend Alex Simpson’s entire personal drum collection was stolen from his storage unit in Denver, Colorado. While the majority of his life’s collection were rare and discontinued instruments that are frankly irreplaceable, I am asking for your help to raise funds (see details below) and keep an eye out for these stolen drums within your community.
Alex is one of the kindest, hardest working, and most valued members of the drumming community that I have ever met. Alex is the owner of Rupp’s Drums in Denver, CO, and was recently awarded “Top 100 Dealers: Best Community Retail Store” from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). He has dedicated his life to helping drummers find their perfect instrument and organizing the community through events and master classes. As if it were not tough enough keeping his business running through the unprecedented time of COVID, Alex has now lost his most prized personal possessions.
Alex is not a rich man. He is a musician and boot-strapping small business owner who really needs our help. Since these instruments were so rare and valuable, his insurance only covers a small fraction of the value of his loss. Read the full story below on how he acquired each of these unique instruments. He is working with the Denver Police Department and reaching out to everyone in our community and surrounding communities to keep an eye out for his instruments.
Please help us by spreading the word and contributing even a small $10 donation; your support means the world to all of us who know Alex and have benefited from his incredible contributions to the drumming community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read this.
HOW FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED
If we are successful in recovering all of his stolen gear, undamaged, all donations raised through this Go Fund Me will be donated to MusiCares, a non-profit organization which provides assistance for musicians in need. More information can be found HERE
If only part of his collection is recovered, the funds raised will be appropriately split between MusiCares and Alex.
Finally, if we are unable to recover Alex’s instruments, your contribution will help him replace his stolen items.
If you found you have accidentally bought any of Alex’s stolen gear, please know that the sentimental value of these instruments means the world to him, and if we are successful in raising enough money here, you will be compensated for returning the instrument(s) to Alex.
Alex is one of the kindest, hardest working, and most valued members of the drumming community that I have ever met. Alex is the owner of Rupp’s Drums in Denver, CO, and was recently awarded “Top 100 Dealers: Best Community Retail Store” from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). He has dedicated his life to helping drummers find their perfect instrument and organizing the community through events and master classes. As if it were not tough enough keeping his business running through the unprecedented time of COVID, Alex has now lost his most prized personal possessions.
Alex is not a rich man. He is a musician and boot-strapping small business owner who really needs our help. Since these instruments were so rare and valuable, his insurance only covers a small fraction of the value of his loss. Read the full story below on how he acquired each of these unique instruments. He is working with the Denver Police Department and reaching out to everyone in our community and surrounding communities to keep an eye out for his instruments.
Please help us by spreading the word and contributing even a small $10 donation; your support means the world to all of us who know Alex and have benefited from his incredible contributions to the drumming community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read this.
HOW FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED
If we are successful in recovering all of his stolen gear, undamaged, all donations raised through this Go Fund Me will be donated to MusiCares, a non-profit organization which provides assistance for musicians in need. More information can be found HERE
If only part of his collection is recovered, the funds raised will be appropriately split between MusiCares and Alex.
Finally, if we are unable to recover Alex’s instruments, your contribution will help him replace his stolen items.
If you found you have accidentally bought any of Alex’s stolen gear, please know that the sentimental value of these instruments means the world to him, and if we are successful in raising enough money here, you will be compensated for returning the instrument(s) to Alex.
Picture above: Alex Simpson hosting a drumming community event at Rupps Drums, Denver, CO.
LIST OF GEAR STOLEN and the story of each piece
Yamaha Club Custom Shell Bank - Swirl Orange
- 12", 13" toms, 14", 16", 18" floor toms
- 18", 20", 22", 24" bass drums
- 14" snare
A unicorn amongst unicorns. The Yamaha Club Custom series, designed by Steve Jordan and made from a unique wood called Kapur, has been highly sought after by collectors since it’s discontinuation in 2014. While all Club Custom drums are exceedingly rare, the Swirl Orange finish is by far the most elusive and the most valuable. I bought my first Swirl Orange shell pack (13, 16, 18, 24”) in 2015 and immediately made it my goal to assemble the world’s ONLY Swirl Orange Club Custom “Shell Bank”. For those wondering, a “shell bank” is accomplished when a drummer collects every size ever offered in a specific line and specific finish. Slowly but surely, over the course of the last 6 years I have obsessively sought out every individual size and took extraordinary measures to secure them. For example, I often found myself purchasing entire Swirl Orange kits just to find the one tom that I didn’t already own. I have also leaned on friends across the country to pickup drums from a craigslist ad in their area and ship them to me. Before the theft of my drum collection, I had amassed what I believe to have been the largest private collection of Swirl Orange drums in the world and I was only one size away from accomplishing my dream of a full shell bank. To say that I was proud of my Club Custom collection would be an understatement, as anyone who has ever obsessed over something knows all too well. They are truly irreplaceable and I already miss them dearly.
Yamaha 1999 Hipgig Kit - Mellow Yellow
- 10", 13" toms, 12" snare, 16" kick
- matching canister throne
- yamaha pedals
The only other drumset in my collection, the Yamaha Hipgig is also an exceedingly rare drumset, especially in the legendary “Mellow Yellow” lacquer. I got the opportunity to purchase this kit in 2020 just after the pandemic began and I reasoned that there would have to be something truly unique about the kit to justify spending so much money during such an uncertain time. Upon inspecting the drums in person, the serial numbers on the drums intrigued me and upon further research I discovered that this particular kit was created in January, 1999 - the very first month of the very first year that Yamaha offered this exquisite series. Having found this truly unique factor, I decided to add them to my growing “rare Yamaha drums” collection and was only able to play on them for less than a year before they were stolen from me.
Yamaha Recording Custom Toms - Mellow Yellow
- Mellow Yellow Lacquer
- 13" Tom & 15" Tom
In an effort to expand my collection of Yamaha rarities, I recently purchased these 13” and 15” recording Custom toms with the goal of one day finding enough of them to create an entire kit. Most drummers will surely know that the Yamaha Recording Custom series is one of the most popular, most recorded kits of all time. This fact makes them extremely expensive and a target for Yamaha collectors across the world. Again, I decided to pursue Mellow Yellow, hands down the most difficult color to find in this series. These 2 drums were just the beginning of another long pursuit and it’s gut-wrenching to have found two impossibly rare sizes (especially the 15” tom) only to have them taken away form me before I could really get started.
Yamaha Akira Jimbo Snare Drum - Signed by Akira Jimbo
- White w/wood Hoops
- Signed by Akira Jimbo on interior
The last piece in my collection of Yamaha rarities is an Akira jimbo signature snare drum, SIGNED on the inside by Akira Jimbo himself. Unlike the rest of my collection, I did not pursue this drum over years or go to extreme measures to buy it. A local customer here in Denver actually owned this drum and sold it to me very recently. These particular snare drums, while not terribly difficult to find online, do fetch a massively inflated price due to their popularity and this is the one snare I have ever seen in person that bears Akira Jimbo’s signature. I was able to take it home, clean it thoroughly, swap the heads and get it tuned up before it was stolen. I was never able to play it.
Ludwig 6.5x14" Black Beauty Snare Drum
- Imperial Lugs
- Smooth (non-hammered) shell
The Ludwig Black beauty is widely acknowledged as the ultimate “workhorse” snare drum. It’s a drum that every collector has had in their possession at one time or another and in that sense, it’s not particularly rare like the rest of my drums. However, this particular drum has been with me longer than any other drum in my collection and it has enormous sentimental value to me. I’ve recorded two albums with it, I’ve played dozens of gigs in Denver with it, it accompanied me on my move to NYC where I used it in a large variety of live situations and it has been the centerpiece of my own “sound” as a drummer for almost a decade. So many memories, stories and great times with this drum. Losing this one was a real punch in the gut.
DW Collector's 8x14" Snare Drum
- Cherry/Mahogany Shell
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Tangerine Burst over Candy Stripe Paduk Exotic
One of the newest additions to my collection, the story of this drum is almost too absurd to be believed. In short, I grew up playing miniature golf at “Adventure Golf” in Westminster, CO and I never imagined that my experience there would ever result in any kind of tangible benefit. However, when attending a dealer summit at the DW Drums factory in October 2019 I was asked if I would like to participate in their annual “Overly Competitive Mini-Golf Tournament” and I was told that the winner of the tournament could choose virtually any snare drum that DW could build as a prize. The competition seemed tailor made for me, an over competitive person (especially when it comes to games) and a seasoned veteran of the volcanos, windmills, alligators and pirate ships at Adventure Golf. Hours later I found myself on a putt-putt course with DW dealers from across the country, DW execs and one of my drumming heroes, Mike Johnston. I proceeded to win the tournament and was then able to choose any snare drum that the magicians at DW could create as my prize. In the end, I chose this drum. It’s a DW 8x14” Collectors Series Cherry/Mahogany shell with Black Nickle hardware and a Tangerine Burst lacquer over an exotic ‘Candy-Striped” Paduk veneer. My time at Adventure Golf paid off in a big way and I used to love showing the drum off to my friends and industry colleagues.
Ludwig 5x14" 70s Acrolite Snare Drum
- Missing Internal Muffler
As long as I’ve collected drums I’ve wanted to own a Ludwig Acrolite. These aluminum drums are EVERYWHERE so I knew it wouldn't be hard to find one but I wanted to wait until the right one came along. Less than a month ago it finally happened. Every time I see a vintage Ludwig Acrolite I tighten the wires, give the head a few cranks and tap it with my finger to see if the drum “speaks” to me as a player or not. I’ve tapped on dozens of different vintage Acrolites over my many years at the store but it wasn't until I heard this one that I made the decision to buy one for myself. It whispered “take me with you” and I bought it on the spot.
Paiste 602 Modern Essential Cymbals
- 18" crash, 20" crash, 15" hats
- 22" ride, 8" splash, 10" splash
Working at a drum store, let alone owning a drum store, has a way of making one largely impervious to the marketing efforts of different drum brands. You’re around so much incredible gear every day that you develop such strong tastes and opinions that it can be difficult for a new product to catch you off guard. However, as soon as I finished watching the very first Paiste promo video for their new 602 Modern Essential Series (designed by the legendary Vinnie Colaiuta) I was hooked. I hadn’t even heard them in person yet but something told me that I had to buy them. When they finally arrived, I immediately fell in love and never looked back. Over the last 6 years I have amassed a large set of these exquisite cymbals (8” & 10” splashes, 16”, 18” & 20” crashes and a 22” ride) and they’ve accompanied me to every gig and recording session since. They helped me to further lock-in my own unique sound as a drummer and I don’t know if I’ll ever have such a strong connection to my cymbals again.
Paiste 2002 Cup Chimes
- Set of 7 sizes with stand
As a long-time Gavin Harrison junkie, I’ve always wanted to take his unique cup-chimes for a spin. I was fortunate enough to have a few real life encounters with these remarkable instruments when Gavin was in town for drum clinics and concerts over the last 9 years, but Zildjian has never brought them to market and I knew I would likely never own a set for myself. Luckily, Paiste has been making cup chimes in their 2002 series for many years and while they are not an exact replica of the unique sound of Gavin’s chimes, they do provide a similar, more dissonant flavor that I was eager to experiment with. I ordered the full 7pc set of 2002 Cu Chimes only months ago and was never able to set them up on a kit before they were stolen.
Hammeraxe 18" Boomywang
Another “unicorn” collector’s piece, the “Boomywang” by Hammeraxe Cymbals has been on my must-find list for many years. Hammeraxe was a small company that specialized in extremely unique cymbals that tended to be paper thin which helped produce the most extraordinary and unusual sounds. The Boomywang is a thin 18” gong that is so thin it barely takes more than a whisper to activate and start hearing new sounds. I finally found this elusive cymbal only weeks ago, after years of searching, and I never got the chance to play it on a drumset before the robbery.
Yamaha Hardware
A Yamaha fan through and through, I was adamant about using their top-of the-line hardware to compliment my drum collection. I lost 5 brand new boom stands, 2 snare stands, 1 hi-hat stand, 2 boom arms and 1 pedal in this burglary.
Additional Gear
Roc N Soc Manual Spindle Throne (Black)
DW 9000 Double Pedals
DW 9000 Single Pedal
Slobeat Percussion Hardware Bag filled w/Accessories
Ahead Armour Ogio Sled (38")
Ahead Armour Cases
- 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 18, 20, 22, 24"
Zildjian Cymbal Bag
LIST OF GEAR STOLEN and the story of each piece
Yamaha Club Custom Shell Bank - Swirl Orange
- 12", 13" toms, 14", 16", 18" floor toms
- 18", 20", 22", 24" bass drums
- 14" snare
A unicorn amongst unicorns. The Yamaha Club Custom series, designed by Steve Jordan and made from a unique wood called Kapur, has been highly sought after by collectors since it’s discontinuation in 2014. While all Club Custom drums are exceedingly rare, the Swirl Orange finish is by far the most elusive and the most valuable. I bought my first Swirl Orange shell pack (13, 16, 18, 24”) in 2015 and immediately made it my goal to assemble the world’s ONLY Swirl Orange Club Custom “Shell Bank”. For those wondering, a “shell bank” is accomplished when a drummer collects every size ever offered in a specific line and specific finish. Slowly but surely, over the course of the last 6 years I have obsessively sought out every individual size and took extraordinary measures to secure them. For example, I often found myself purchasing entire Swirl Orange kits just to find the one tom that I didn’t already own. I have also leaned on friends across the country to pickup drums from a craigslist ad in their area and ship them to me. Before the theft of my drum collection, I had amassed what I believe to have been the largest private collection of Swirl Orange drums in the world and I was only one size away from accomplishing my dream of a full shell bank. To say that I was proud of my Club Custom collection would be an understatement, as anyone who has ever obsessed over something knows all too well. They are truly irreplaceable and I already miss them dearly.
Yamaha 1999 Hipgig Kit - Mellow Yellow
- 10", 13" toms, 12" snare, 16" kick
- matching canister throne
- yamaha pedals
The only other drumset in my collection, the Yamaha Hipgig is also an exceedingly rare drumset, especially in the legendary “Mellow Yellow” lacquer. I got the opportunity to purchase this kit in 2020 just after the pandemic began and I reasoned that there would have to be something truly unique about the kit to justify spending so much money during such an uncertain time. Upon inspecting the drums in person, the serial numbers on the drums intrigued me and upon further research I discovered that this particular kit was created in January, 1999 - the very first month of the very first year that Yamaha offered this exquisite series. Having found this truly unique factor, I decided to add them to my growing “rare Yamaha drums” collection and was only able to play on them for less than a year before they were stolen from me.
Yamaha Recording Custom Toms - Mellow Yellow
- Mellow Yellow Lacquer
- 13" Tom & 15" Tom
In an effort to expand my collection of Yamaha rarities, I recently purchased these 13” and 15” recording Custom toms with the goal of one day finding enough of them to create an entire kit. Most drummers will surely know that the Yamaha Recording Custom series is one of the most popular, most recorded kits of all time. This fact makes them extremely expensive and a target for Yamaha collectors across the world. Again, I decided to pursue Mellow Yellow, hands down the most difficult color to find in this series. These 2 drums were just the beginning of another long pursuit and it’s gut-wrenching to have found two impossibly rare sizes (especially the 15” tom) only to have them taken away form me before I could really get started.
Yamaha Akira Jimbo Snare Drum - Signed by Akira Jimbo
- White w/wood Hoops
- Signed by Akira Jimbo on interior
The last piece in my collection of Yamaha rarities is an Akira jimbo signature snare drum, SIGNED on the inside by Akira Jimbo himself. Unlike the rest of my collection, I did not pursue this drum over years or go to extreme measures to buy it. A local customer here in Denver actually owned this drum and sold it to me very recently. These particular snare drums, while not terribly difficult to find online, do fetch a massively inflated price due to their popularity and this is the one snare I have ever seen in person that bears Akira Jimbo’s signature. I was able to take it home, clean it thoroughly, swap the heads and get it tuned up before it was stolen. I was never able to play it.
Ludwig 6.5x14" Black Beauty Snare Drum
- Imperial Lugs
- Smooth (non-hammered) shell
The Ludwig Black beauty is widely acknowledged as the ultimate “workhorse” snare drum. It’s a drum that every collector has had in their possession at one time or another and in that sense, it’s not particularly rare like the rest of my drums. However, this particular drum has been with me longer than any other drum in my collection and it has enormous sentimental value to me. I’ve recorded two albums with it, I’ve played dozens of gigs in Denver with it, it accompanied me on my move to NYC where I used it in a large variety of live situations and it has been the centerpiece of my own “sound” as a drummer for almost a decade. So many memories, stories and great times with this drum. Losing this one was a real punch in the gut.
DW Collector's 8x14" Snare Drum
- Cherry/Mahogany Shell
- Black Nickel Hardware
- Tangerine Burst over Candy Stripe Paduk Exotic
One of the newest additions to my collection, the story of this drum is almost too absurd to be believed. In short, I grew up playing miniature golf at “Adventure Golf” in Westminster, CO and I never imagined that my experience there would ever result in any kind of tangible benefit. However, when attending a dealer summit at the DW Drums factory in October 2019 I was asked if I would like to participate in their annual “Overly Competitive Mini-Golf Tournament” and I was told that the winner of the tournament could choose virtually any snare drum that DW could build as a prize. The competition seemed tailor made for me, an over competitive person (especially when it comes to games) and a seasoned veteran of the volcanos, windmills, alligators and pirate ships at Adventure Golf. Hours later I found myself on a putt-putt course with DW dealers from across the country, DW execs and one of my drumming heroes, Mike Johnston. I proceeded to win the tournament and was then able to choose any snare drum that the magicians at DW could create as my prize. In the end, I chose this drum. It’s a DW 8x14” Collectors Series Cherry/Mahogany shell with Black Nickle hardware and a Tangerine Burst lacquer over an exotic ‘Candy-Striped” Paduk veneer. My time at Adventure Golf paid off in a big way and I used to love showing the drum off to my friends and industry colleagues.
Ludwig 5x14" 70s Acrolite Snare Drum
- Missing Internal Muffler
As long as I’ve collected drums I’ve wanted to own a Ludwig Acrolite. These aluminum drums are EVERYWHERE so I knew it wouldn't be hard to find one but I wanted to wait until the right one came along. Less than a month ago it finally happened. Every time I see a vintage Ludwig Acrolite I tighten the wires, give the head a few cranks and tap it with my finger to see if the drum “speaks” to me as a player or not. I’ve tapped on dozens of different vintage Acrolites over my many years at the store but it wasn't until I heard this one that I made the decision to buy one for myself. It whispered “take me with you” and I bought it on the spot.
Paiste 602 Modern Essential Cymbals
- 18" crash, 20" crash, 15" hats
- 22" ride, 8" splash, 10" splash
Working at a drum store, let alone owning a drum store, has a way of making one largely impervious to the marketing efforts of different drum brands. You’re around so much incredible gear every day that you develop such strong tastes and opinions that it can be difficult for a new product to catch you off guard. However, as soon as I finished watching the very first Paiste promo video for their new 602 Modern Essential Series (designed by the legendary Vinnie Colaiuta) I was hooked. I hadn’t even heard them in person yet but something told me that I had to buy them. When they finally arrived, I immediately fell in love and never looked back. Over the last 6 years I have amassed a large set of these exquisite cymbals (8” & 10” splashes, 16”, 18” & 20” crashes and a 22” ride) and they’ve accompanied me to every gig and recording session since. They helped me to further lock-in my own unique sound as a drummer and I don’t know if I’ll ever have such a strong connection to my cymbals again.
Paiste 2002 Cup Chimes
- Set of 7 sizes with stand
As a long-time Gavin Harrison junkie, I’ve always wanted to take his unique cup-chimes for a spin. I was fortunate enough to have a few real life encounters with these remarkable instruments when Gavin was in town for drum clinics and concerts over the last 9 years, but Zildjian has never brought them to market and I knew I would likely never own a set for myself. Luckily, Paiste has been making cup chimes in their 2002 series for many years and while they are not an exact replica of the unique sound of Gavin’s chimes, they do provide a similar, more dissonant flavor that I was eager to experiment with. I ordered the full 7pc set of 2002 Cu Chimes only months ago and was never able to set them up on a kit before they were stolen.
Hammeraxe 18" Boomywang
Another “unicorn” collector’s piece, the “Boomywang” by Hammeraxe Cymbals has been on my must-find list for many years. Hammeraxe was a small company that specialized in extremely unique cymbals that tended to be paper thin which helped produce the most extraordinary and unusual sounds. The Boomywang is a thin 18” gong that is so thin it barely takes more than a whisper to activate and start hearing new sounds. I finally found this elusive cymbal only weeks ago, after years of searching, and I never got the chance to play it on a drumset before the robbery.
Yamaha Hardware
A Yamaha fan through and through, I was adamant about using their top-of the-line hardware to compliment my drum collection. I lost 5 brand new boom stands, 2 snare stands, 1 hi-hat stand, 2 boom arms and 1 pedal in this burglary.
Additional Gear
Roc N Soc Manual Spindle Throne (Black)
DW 9000 Double Pedals
DW 9000 Single Pedal
Slobeat Percussion Hardware Bag filled w/Accessories
Ahead Armour Ogio Sled (38")
Ahead Armour Cases
- 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 18, 20, 22, 24"
Zildjian Cymbal Bag
Organizer and beneficiary
Samuel Welch
Organizer
Denver, CO
Alexander Simpson
Beneficiary
