More on the drum head auciton

From the Times Union:

Auction will keep the beat going
Autographed drumheads to help provide musical instruments to children displaced by hurricanes

By DANIELLE FURFARO, Staff writer
First published: Monday, November 21, 2005

ALTAMONT -- During a Jerry Garcia tribute concert in Los Angeles this fall, Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann had his son, Justin, walk around and persuade many of the famous musicians in attendance to autograph drumheads that he had designed.

Now, those drumheads, custom-made by Altamont-based DrumART, are the centerpiece of a talent-studded benefit auction to help young musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The auction is the brainchild of Jim Feck, DrumART owner and president.

"When Hurricane Katrina hit, there was a real outpouring in some of the music communities to get help for musicians," said Feck. "I started thinking that we have this unique product. What if we were to work with some of our famous clients, who would allow us to reproduce their custom heads and auction them off?"

Feck's company, which has been around for about three years, puts designs chosen by musicians on drumheads. For instance, DrumART has put a number of Kreutzmann's psychedelic designs on drumheads for him that he's used when playing with the Grateful Dead and other bands.
"We've gotten some not-so-famous people and some notable clients like the Dead," said Feck.
Feck managed to get 12 custom drumheads autographed by a variety of music luminaries, such as Trey Anastasio, Stewart Copeland of the Police and Adrian Young of No Doubt. Many members of the Grateful Dead also signed the heads bearing Kreutzmann's designs.

"There were a couple that we did just to support the auction," said Feck. "The rest were designs that the musicians had made."

The 12 drumheads will be auctioned separately on eBay.com from Dec. 1 through 10.
The proceeds will all be given to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which gives musical instruments to school-age children. Since September, the organization has suspended its regular, nationwide program to concentrate just on children who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.
"This isn't the first benefit that's been held for us, but it is certainly the most unique," said Felice Mancini, executive director of the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. "So far, we've raised about $50,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims. Hopefully, the funding will stay around for a while."
NAMM, the international music products association, has offered to match any money the auction raises.

Kreutzmann said he was happy to help out with the benefit.

"If you can help so easily, God, you have to do it," said the 59-year-old veteran drummer, who has also played with David Crosby, New Riders of the Purple Sage and his own Trichromes.
Danielle Furfaro can be reached at 454-5097 or by e-mail at dfurfaro@timesunion.com.