Please reach me at dawndestephenson@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Not at all. Purple Rain is the result of trial and error, planning, saving and buying piece by piece. I started the journey with Roman Cotone (RCI Starlite International) in 2010 and it has evolved ever since.
Purple Rain is MY dream. It is MY passion. I built this kit to Inspire others to dream, to aspire to pursue and accomplish their goals. I was once a little boy with a dream. I was able to make this come true with a lot of planning, resources and the right connections. I could not do this alone. I have so many to thank that assisted in making this possible.
Purple Rain would cost more than a Tesla Model S. If I had to rebuild at todays prices it would be over six figures.
Purple Rain is an RCI Startlite all acrylic shell in purple smoke embellished in Drum Workshop Gold Hardware.
Purple Rain gets played. Yes, I gig it. I also will take it and set it up for friends that want to use it for a gig. In reality though, Purple Rain is a players kit. However, with that being said, it usually travels as a minimal setup. It all depends on the gig.
I have a few different samples. The most recent being my good friend Doug McGrew giving it a test run at the 2022 Tacoma, WA Guitar and Drum Show.
At this moment in time I am not playing in an active band. I have played in many bands throughout my life. Right now I am more focused on my family. Someday I hope to join a band again.
I certainly do. I have enjoyed playing the drums for close to 50 years. Playing has slowed down for me in 2019 after the loss of my right leg below the knee. It is not the same. However, I give it my best shot.
It all depends on the cymbals. For a traditional finish I will use Bar Keepers Friend. For a Brilliant or more of a "polished" finish I use Groove Juice. Nothing to fancy, just old fashioned elbow grease!
Absolutely!!! Purple Rain is made to be played. I built it to inspire other like YOU.
Purple Rain lives in the Seattle, WA area (Tacoma, WA to be exact.) Smaller footprints of Purple Rain have made it to many clinics that have been hosted in the area. It made its debut in its entirety at the Tacoma, Washington 2022 Guitar & Drum Festival.
I have been totally Blessed to share Purple Rain with the likes of Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean). Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), Alan White (Yes), Tony TC Coleman (BB King), Doug McGrew (Geoff Tate), Jeff Mills (Nite Wave), Chase Culp (The Crying Spell / Point One) Eddie Mendoza (The Aury Moore Band) and many more...
I am a proud endorsee of RCI Starlite Drums and the Drum Wallet. I have been approached by other manufactures to be an endorsee of their products. However, I love the brands that I play. With or without their partnership I would continue to purchase and play their products.
Setup time will vary. If setting up the kit in its entirety and moving it from rehearsal space to the gig the setup time is about 2.5 hours. That is also with about 3 to 4 roadies helping.
Yes, It is a custom boutique kit. Much of the rack has been cut, bent as well as the cymbal arms, doobie bars, snare stands and miscellaneous Drum Workshop hardware. A little fun fact: There is not a manufacture that will build a 72in curved bar. I see drum manufactures will make a 42-44in curved bar for the drum rack. Drum Workshop makes a 72in straight bar. I was able to take a few 72" bars to a local metal shop and they were able to put a cure in them so I could use them on Purple Rain. It took close to a month to locate someone to do the job. It was not cheap. You will notice a "wider stance" on Purple Rain in the photos from the 2022 Tacoma Guitar & Drum Festival.
The Cymbals on Purple Rain are all Zildjian. I am currently using a mixture of mostly K Custom Hybrids, K Custom Darks, Oriental Effects and one lonely 6" A custom splash. :)
YES! You can hit all four bass drums on Purple Rain. I have extended pedal bars that allow the bass drums to be played. I am using four DW 9000 series double pedals (Three right and one left) and four single DW 9000 to access various percussion on the lower left side of the kit.
I love to have the ability to have multiple sounds. Do I need it an use it all? Sometimes. Most of the time No. However, when I bring the kit to a charity event it is meant to inspire. Again, this is MY Dream. :)
Let's just say I have a counselor. They encourage me to be Happy and follow my passions.
I have been working in the tech industry for 25 years. I currently work as a Senior Network Security Engineer. I work on a team of Federal Engineers that support products manufactured by a company I enjoy working for. They take care of me and I am able to afford this passion.
I enjoy Shure products. I have a Shure Beta 52 in the main kick mounted on a Kelly SHU. I am going to also install a Shure Beta 91A in the kick as well. All drums on Purple Rain were drilled to use the Randy May Miking System.
Purple Rain spans 15 feel wide and ten feet deep. When transporting Purple Rain to a gig I use a uhaul. The drums and cymbals travel in cases and I can break the rack down into five sides and I use ratchet straps to hold them to the inside walls.
That is a Port & Davies BC2. It accepts an XLR microphone input (from inside my main kick drum) and then sends electrical current to my custom made Port & Davies tractor style drum throne. So, each time it kick the bass drum pedal it shakes my seat. I never thought I would utilize this piece of gear as I do now. After losing my right leg below the knee the electrical impulses trick my brain into thinking I actually have a real right leg. For a moment I feel real. :)
The drum heads on Purple Rain are all made by Remo. I believe the late great John Bonham had it right when he used the CS Batter on his drums. So, that is what I use. CS batter on the tops of all tom with an Ebony Resonate underneath. The Kicks have Power Stroke 3 black Dot and the two larger 28" kicks have a Power Stroke 4 clear heads on them. Snares are Studio X on the batter and Ambassador snares on the bottoms.
Also, I use no muffling on any of the drums other than felt strips on the batter/resonate sides of the kick drum. With that being said it is different in the studio.
It depends on the gig. I really enjoy the Vic Firth Signature models. Particularly the Peter Erskine SD1 (Wood Tip), The Steve Gadd (Wood Tip), and the Dave Weckl (Wood Tip.)