Denny Carmassi's 1973 MONTROSE Flaming Ludwig Set

[@MrRlwiley]

I saw Denny Playing this kit with his awesome animal style in Feb of 1974 at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle when Montrose opened for Humble Pie. Awesome.

[@sandyhanson6082]

One of my all-time favorite records to drum to! Love Denny and that set!!

[@stevetolliver8599]

I saw him play it in 1974 at the Toledo sports arena. He was truly amazing. Thank you for this post. Have a great day

[@sticksbass]

1 of the greatest albums of all time.

[@rctubs3593]

After hearing the album I sold my 8 and 10 inch concert toms. Never looked back.

[@terencesingerline135]

As the youngest of 5 kids in the house I grew up with Montrose blasting thru the Speaker..Truly Rock n Roll Heaven for a 9 year old when that 1 st album came out..Denny was and is a powerhouse…Thank you for that great history lesson

[@DonnsDrumVaultOfficial]

I think we grew up in the same house.

[@birdtracs1863]

Very nice. Denny. One of my biggest inspirations coming up as a young drummer in the late 70’s.

[@dwightmcqueen5771]

Denny and Robert Sweet my favorite drummers

[@Lazarusb]

I saw Denny play this kit on several occasions... killer!

[@MP-ju4ol]

Todd Marvin, thank you for preserving such an iconic kit. It’s a legacy, an extension of Carmine Appice and John Henry Bonham but a unique piece of history all on its own. Love that BIG sound!!!

The best looking kit, the best sounding kit, Jack Douglas told me once how beautiful Denny Carmassi made his drums sound, always perfectly tuned. There isn't any other rock drummer who can play with the imagination for fills and grooves, and with the precision that Denny Carmassi can, he is the best hands down!

[@DS-lo3yr]

You need to get out more!

[@alstrange6055]

Steve Escobar His playing on the Coverdale Page album is incredible!👍🙂

[@jerrywoods4066]

Ian pace cozy powell

[@TRMillerBass]

Wow - thanks so much for this! I saw Denny Carmassi bet the crap out of this sat on Montrose's first tour. An unforgettable performance!

[@MrFchank]

One of my favorite kits and drummer!!

[@Motherloadrocks]

so bad ass,ludwigs kick ass

[@lfader]

Denny Carmassi drops the fucking Samsonite !!! 💥

[@itsyoboyconnor7135]

That kit looks amazing, probably my favorite kit.

[@GIGMUSIC-o6z]

Very cool video. Used to have The first two Montrose albums. This is an iconic drum set for sure

[@rctubs3593]

One of my biggest influences

[@jefferykubitz4510]

Denny Carmassi, one of my favorite drummers. I saw Montrose when Denny played this set and it did stand out. I've always wonder if he still had this set. I now see he doesn't, but it's still around and together. Thanks for sharing this.

[@totigerus]

I cant believe what great condition it's in!

[@jonsilence]

Monster drummer and legendary kit, so cool to see it here up close. The history as stated is a bit off though. Yes, it does appear to be Denny's original black Ludwig kit which was eventually flame-enhanced and used for the first three Montrose albums. Not sure what kit he played on the 4th and last Montrose album Jump On It (1976), but for the supporting tour he played a five or six piece canary yellow Gretsch kit with two rack toms, a change that was inspired by Denny's love of Tony Williams.

[@lfader]

The Montrose 1st LP is heavy AF !!! Massive drummer !!! 💪💥🌟

[@lfader]

Nice vid thx much !

[@marvinjoseph8093]

As is typical, the cowbell immediately comes loose! Hahaha...

[@markjohnson1020]

I’ll take it!

[@daveserrano2854]

Denny Carmassi never got the credit that was due. A powerful drummer in the John Bonham, Ginger Baker and Alex Van Halen mold. Underated for sure.

[@marvinjoseph8093]

Saw him playing this kit at Winterland in SF, with Montrose opening for Mott the Hoople and Joe Walsh (Sept. 1973). I'm pretty sure it was the flame kit. The next year I saw Montrose open for The Guess Who and Elvin Bishop in Sacramento, and I could swear he was using a dark blue or "smoke" Vistalite kit. After Sammy leaves I see them again a few times, and I believe this kit is back. Am I mixing anything up here?

[@jamesscarselletta3446]

I like Montrose and I always look at their concert videos. My favorite song of Montrose is "O Lucky Man" . For some odd reason the back cover looks as if Montrose is performing on the Mertz apartment building on I Love Lucy. I love the drums Denny played. Glad to know he is into sportscars. I have a question: Is Denny in another band? This is a neat video.

[@DonnsDrumVaultOfficial]

Glad you like it. Denny is a super enjoyable person. He is semi-retired and plays in some local bands in Oregon. Imagine showing up at a small town bar in rural Oregon and Denny is the drummer in the band!!

[@kevinb8527]

Dennys playing on that first Montrose record is phenomenal. Don, is this one on display up at the shop? I need to go up there again soon one day soon.

[@philsee9046]

Those same drums were purchased from Denny Carmassi in the mid-1980s when Carmassi played for the Seattle band Heart, by a great drummer for a band I played in called Phoenixx. Here they are in one of my tunes called Roller Coaster and we were filmed for a local news story about the 1986 American Music Awards. They then recorded the whole song for us. kzbin.info/www/bejne/noLZnWmBidSIp8U

[@paulconrad5168]

Super interesting, great video

[@demonicsweaters]

those toms sound fat af! Great video!

[@matthewpaluch777]

An OUTSTANDING sounding kit! Imho better sounding than Bonham!

[@moneybagshastings2247]

That drummer had the verse right but that intro for RtN was just blegh. It fell apart real fast and he obviously wasn't feeling it as much as he could ;P

[@Angry_Outlaw]

Yeah, but he got to play it on Denny's flaming Ludwig kit.