ST. LOUIS, July 8, 2010 – Legendary drummer Mike Mesey, a former member of both Chuck Berry’s band and Midwestern classic rockers Head East, has played everywhere from Busch Stadium in St. Louis to a Super Bowl concert in Miami to the Space Center in Pasadena, Calif. He’s toured with such bands as Sammy Hagar, ZZ Top, Boston, Styx and many more from Vegas to Atlantic City and every major biker event across the nation; yet Mesey considers his latest achievement – the construction of a gigantic, custom drum set from real chopper parts – his greatest.
“I’ve been wanting to build this chopper drum set for more than 20 years,” Mesey says. “My idea has evolved to date.” Mesey took his vision to Mark Siddle of St. Peters, Mo.-based Cutting Edge Cycles, a specialist in custom motorcycle projects, who helped bring his dream to life.
“We had never built a chopper as a drum set before,” says Siddle. “But we’re always doing fabrication for motorcycles so this was a fun project. We just made up the rear section, got the parts together and built our own frame.”
“We measured everything so it would be designed just for me, from the custom handlebars that hold the symbols to the frame and seat made specifically for the way I sit at my drums,” says Mesey.
The drum kit’s chopper front end is more than 10 feet (most are 4-6 at the longest), with the first ever chopper handlebar symbol mount featuring titanium Zildjian symbols. The custom frame features a 14-inch wide rear fender, 11-inch wide tire, big bear custom wheels and a custom-fit leather seat. Coming off the rear end are two six foot tail pipes designed to shoot out fog and/or flames. The drums themselves feature custom painted black flames over orange and red explosions (designed by Alex Brown), with the band’s name, American Greed, emblazoned over the front of the bass drums (by Greg Martin of Graphic Pros).
“This is just the beginning of this thing,” says Mesey. “I’m going to keep adding to it as I have more ideas.”
Mesey has been approached by fellow musicians including Brett Michaels at recent gigs with interest in the kit, but as for now, the chopper drum set is his alone.
Mesey and his band American Greed are currently working on a tour in support of their debut album, Livin’ the Dream. For more information on Mesey’s one-of-a-kind chopper drum kit and American Greed, visit www.americangreedrocks.com