Premier drums: a brief history

Premier is Britain's oldest surviving drum manufacturer. Founded in Birmingham in 1922, the company has been making percussion instruments for over a century and, at its peak, supplied drum kits to many of the biggest names in British music. Understanding Premier's history helps explain why vintage examples are so sought after today.

Birmingham, 1922

The company was established by Albert Della Porta and Fred Dell in Birmingham's industrial heartland. The city already had a strong tradition of metal and woodworking manufacture, and Premier took advantage of local craftsmanship to produce drums and percussion equipment for the dance band era. Early production was modest, focused on the growing demand for jazz percussion that accompanied the spread of American dance music across Britain.

Throughout the 1930s Premier consolidated its position as a leading domestic supplier, expanding the product range to include bass drums, snares, and accessories. The Second World War interrupted production as factory capacity was redirected to the war effort, but Premier emerged afterwards with renewed momentum and a growing reputation for quality.

The Royal Warrant and mid-century growth

Premier's post-war reputation was formalised when the company was granted a Royal Warrant — a mark of recognition as a supplier to the Royal Household. This was not merely ceremonial: it signalled that Premier had reached the highest tier of British manufacturing quality and gave the brand significant prestige in export markets.

Through the 1950s Premier introduced a series of innovations that kept the brand at the forefront of drum design. The development of distinctive wrap finishes — often in bold colours not typical of the era — gave Premier kits a visual identity that matched their sonic character. Hardware quality was high, with robust lugs and fittings that have proved remarkably durable; vintage Premier hardware from this period regularly survives in good working order today.

The 1960s and 1970s: peak years

Premier's cultural moment arrived with the British beat boom of the 1960s. Ringo Starr played a Premier kit in the early part of his career with The Beatles, and the brand's association with one of the world's most famous bands gave it enormous visibility. By the mid-1960s Premier was a standard choice for professional drummers across the UK.

The association most strongly identified with Premier is Keith Moon of The Who. Moon's explosive, unorthodox playing style — and the physical demands he placed on his equipment — made his choice of Premier kits a genuine endorsement of their robustness. He played oversized Premier setups at a time when large kits were unusual, and the visual spectacle of his performance became inseparable from the Premier name. The brand's position in British rock was cemented.

This era produced some of the most collectible Premier pieces on the market today. Kits and snares from the late 1960s and early 1970s carry distinctive badge plates that allow approximate dating (see our Premier serial number guide for details), and the shell quality from this period is generally regarded as the finest in the company's history.

Premier continued to perform strongly through the 1970s, with export sales across Europe and beyond. The product range expanded to include electronic drums as that market emerged, and the company maintained its position in professional touring markets.

Decline and change of ownership

The 1980s brought increasing competition from Japanese manufacturers — Tama, Pearl, Yamaha — whose consistent quality and competitive pricing challenged British production. Premier's market share fell through the decade, and the company went through a series of ownership changes that affected product quality and brand focus.

By the 1990s Premier had shifted significantly from its heritage positioning toward entry-level and mid-market products. While the brand name retained recognition, the association with professional-grade British craftsmanship had faded. Manufacturing was rationalised and some production moved away from Birmingham.

Modern Premier

Premier is still active today, producing drums under the same name. The company's contemporary range is aimed at beginner and intermediate players, and while the name carries heritage value the current product line occupies a different market position from the peak-era instruments.

For collectors and players interested in genuine vintage Premier pieces — particularly 1960s through early 1980s production — the secondary market is the only source. These instruments represent a distinct chapter in British manufacturing history, and the best examples combine authentic British tone with the durability that made Premier's reputation in the first place.