Hello,
I was having a discussion with my VP of sales, (me III ) as well as my VP of promotions (me III ) about what an awesome summer WFL III Drums had and thought why not share it with all my friends at Not So Modern Drummer. Since fall has arrived and we have a slight lull in the action I have had a chance to sit back and review my calendar and it is quite impressive if I do say so myself.!! Things started off in April at the Connecticut Vintage drum show which Rick Smith and staff just do an amazing job putting together. Helping me man the WFL III Drums booth my lovely , very patient lady Jeanne as well as long time friend and drummer Jim Paidas a music industry attorney and branding / licensing specialist working with me on east coast sales. One very full day of clinics, mini jam sessions and exhibits. We had a sale going on in conjunction with our very good friend Shane, Portsmouth Percussion our area dealer. It worked well as we were next to each other booth wise and if either had an interested party we get them in my booth for pictures with the Dad and Ringo back drop, sign some posters and then point out buy a drum NOW and not only get the show special but get a picture with me III autographing your drum . Worked well. Then I met a fellow, very polite very professional checking out my drums and turns out he is drum tech for Charlie Watts, Don McAuley...!!! We hit it off and I stated I have been to a few Stones shows but never met Charlie. He said don't tell anyone but we are cranking up for a tour NOW.!! Soturns out he mentions this to Charlie who invites us to Columbus Ohio show and asks if I have time to talk jazz guys with him....I saythink I can fit that in!!!
After the very successful CT show we have Rob Cooks Chicago Vintage drum show which is always a blast and very busy. This year Rob pulled out all the stops as it was his 25th show and he had a fantastic line up of clinicians, master classes and extended it to 3 days !! Great time, at the same time a little sad as it was last time at that venue as he has out grown the space and next year moving to a larger space to allow more exhibitors. So a few weeks after Rob's show Jeanne and I load up the WFL III mobile and head to Columbus a day before the Stones show and do a day at Columbus Pro Percussion with Jim Rupp and his staff. What a great shop. I hung out and met customers talked drums sold a few WFL III snares, and had a very nice day. I go way back with Jim and helped host many clinics at his store during my Ludwig days one of which was the AJ Pero / Alan White clinic which was just an amazing line up to have on the same stage. Next day we go tothe Stones sound check, nothing like seeing the view of 59,000 seats from the drummers throne...!!! Don had meticulously overhauled 3 60's Speed Kings to go with Charlies well seasoned Gretsch kit. Then we get to meet the man and had a very nice talk and even a few pictures with him. What a show 2 hours and 15 minutes and the band never stopped and the sound for an out door gig was just amazing. I never heard such clarity at that volume level in, or out side. So that was the start of WFL III Drums "summer vacation" and it just kept going all summer.....just a few were YES....Toto....Van Halen....Led Zep II....Australian Pink Floyd....Rush...Vanilla Fudge....Nazareth....Santana....Jackson Browne....Ghalib Ghallob....and a host of others at all the suburban summer fests going on. I was a moving convention booth at all.!! Had my trunk stocked with posters, pictures and drums and always finagled my way back stage and had drum techs, drummers, producers, sound men, out to my trunk showing my wares....at one point even a police officer approaches my truck with about 4 drummers around and says," is this a drug deal ???" I say, "no officer it's a DRUM deal" ...he says, "no kidding my son's a drummer", "here ya go give him a poster." !!!HA HA....
So the topper of this amazing summer was mid October I was allowed back stage to present Ringo with his WFL III # 1 out of the factory. The drum was actually completed Sept 2014 but not in time for his Chicago show so Ihad been trying to connect with him. Finally I got the green light for his Milwaukee show and Jeanne and I were invited to his dressing room for the honor and he could not have been nicer. I finally realized one of my biggest dreams to have my picture giving Ringo a snare drum just like my Father did in the mid 60's when he presented Ringo with his gold plated Ludwig as a thank you for playing Ludwig ...what an honor and emotional event for me. I will never forget it......Thank you Ringo.!!.
Stay tuned for more adventures of B III.....Keep on ROLLING along...
Bill Ludwig III