Todd Sucherman on Steve Smith's 1980 Oak Phonics at West Coast Drum Shop/Donn Bennett's Drum Vault

I was eleven years old when I saw Steve Smith play live for the first time. It was September 1st, 1980 at the Rosemont Horizon just outside of Chicago and it was truly a life changing event. A “big bang” for me. The kit he used on that tour was the Oak veneered Sonor Phonics and these drums were documented on the Journey “Captured” live album from that tour, as well as (with additional toms) the Journey records “Escape” and “Frontiers.” They were used on the first few Vital Information records among other releases as well. These drums have been residing with Donn Bennett stored at the West Coast Drum Shop in Bellevue, Washington. Steve, Donn and Chase Culp from West Coast allowed me to use these drums at my recent masterclass there earlier in the week. To play them was truly a thrill. All the drumming, all the music I studied that Steve played on these drums—I can’t even describe the feeling. Thanks to Steve, Donn and Chase for a unique thrill…for I was once the excited eleven year old in the 27th row getting my mind blown and now 44 years later I was able to play those same drums. Incredible!

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