Congratulations to the winners of Modern Drummer’s The Great Modern Drummer Sweeps we announced in December.

Mark Bucher of New York won a 5-piece Dixon Outlaw drumset in Blue Burst Sparkle, model OL-522E-BLBS and percussion instruments by Toca, Sabian, and drum hardware from Gibraltar.

Laura Storjohann of West Virginian won the Dixon DS-0613-RWD Rosewood Snare, cymbals by Sabian, and drum hardware from Gibraltar.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Kaden Gower wins Lou’s kit

In conjunction with Lou Mars’s amazing attempt to break the World’s Record for Marathon Drumming was a fund raising effort for Little Kids Rock. Dixon Drums donated a Demon Series Kit with their new 2010 Urban Camo finish as a prize. The winner of the Dixon Demon Drum Set Give-away is Chrissy Gower of Chico CA. She has given the kit to her son Kayden who watched much of the coverage of Lou’s attempt to beat the record. Obviously Lou has inspired the soon to be drummer. When they met after the event, Kayden started waving his hands in the air frantically as if he were playing the drums. Chrissy was kind enough to send us these photos showing her son’s response to the prize. 

Here is is doing a Tommy lee pose.

Lou Mars Facts:

• Hours played: 108.5 (4.5 days)
• Place in the records for longest marathon drumming: 2nd
• Broken drumsticks given away by Lou to children: 36
• Volunteers: 120
• UStream.tv views: 47,872
• Number of positive comments and e-mails received: +1,000
• Amount of money made for Little Kids Rock: $700.00
• Impact made on everyone involved: Unmeasurable

From January 14th to January 18th, 2010, Lou Mars attempted to break the Guinness Book of Word Records for Marathon Drumming in Chico, California. The event has changed the lives of many of the participants, volunteers and spectators alike. Lou’s endurance has become and inspiration to people all over the world. Both the visitors to NorCal Strength and Conditioning and viewers on the Ustream channel could not help but be compelled to support Lou. Workplace computer monitors all over the Chico as well as the Seattle Police Department where tuned into Lou during the event. The Mark & Brain syndicated radio show streamed the audio from the event live for two days.

Some terms from Guinness on Marathon Drumming Record:

• Lou could not be touched while drumming
• He could accumulate 5 min breaks every hour

Lou’s attempt to break the World Record for Marathon Drumming was a catalyst for change in Lou’s life, as he realized he would like to bring awareness to cancer and it’s connection to diet and exercise. Lou was inspired by his late friend Richard McKinley who recently passed away from cancer. Lou’s uncle is also currently suffering from cancer. He would also like kids to step up from Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games to real instruments.

Lou played on both his Dixon Outlaw drum set he won in our “Drum Your Way to Hollywood” contest as well as an Urban Camo Demon drum kit which was given away to a lucky donor with the proceeds went to help Little Kids Rock. It was reported that Lou’s drum equipment failed. This was untrue. The Dixon drum sets held strong, however, Lou’s hard hitting did vibrate three lug nuts from the bottom of one snare, and one bass drum nut completely unscrewed itself over the 4.5 day duration. The snares on the back-up snare drum were also vibrated loose. Over-all the gear held through a ferocious beating. With that said 30 sticks were cracked or broken and one pair of aluminum sticks bent during the process.

Brian Peterson and Lou Mars will be making of a mini documentary regarding the event. The documentary will explore the story in depth and the secondary stories that occurred during the process. The team will have a party on Friday the 29th which will also be livestreamed.

Key players:

• Husband and Wife team Robb Wolf and Nikki Violetti, strength & conditioning coaches, owners of NorCal Strength and Conditioning (Facebook) They kept Lou eating, hydrating, monitored Lou’s electrolyte levels.
• Tory Zellick with In Touch Body Works (Facebook), training up to the day of the event as well as physical therapist during the event.

(more…)

Jim Stanek debuts the the new Dixon Outlaw in Obsidian Black finish at this years Winter NAMM 2010.