Premier Percussion
British percussion brand known for drum kits, snare drums, orchestral instruments and marching percussion.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Premier Percussion, commonly known as Premier Drums, is a British percussion-instrument brand founded in London in 1922 by Albert Della Porta and George Smith. It began in a basement workshop in Soho, repairing and manufacturing drums for other businesses before developing its own branded products. The company expanded rapidly during the 1920s, moving to a larger South London factory in 1925 and building a broad catalogue that included drum kits, snare drums, timpani, xylophones, marching drums and accessories. Premier’s early business served dance bands, theatres, cinemas, military organizations and export customers. Its combination outfits were designed for the practical needs of performers, often combining bass drums, snares, tom-toms, cymbals and trap hardware in a single setup. The company became known for decorative finishes, chrome-plated fittings and distinctive console hardware. In 1937 it introduced Olympic as a more accessible line for students and budget-conscious players, establishing a tiered brand structure that continued in later decades. The Second World War interrupted normal production. Premier’s Park Royal factory was destroyed during the Blitz, and the company moved to Wigston near Leicester. During the war it contributed to industrial production by making components for radar and anti-tank equipment. After the war, Premier rebuilt its percussion business and applied manufacturing techniques developed during wartime production to drum hardware and die-moulded components. Under the later leadership of Albert Della Porta’s sons, Clifford and Raymond, the company developed a reputation for technical capability and international exports. It received the Queen’s Award to Industry for exports in 1966. During the 1950s and 1960s Premier became a prominent British drum maker. Its catalogue covered professional drum kits, orchestral instruments, military and marching products, school equipment and cymbals sold under names including Zyn, Super Zyn and 5 Star Super Zyn. Premier instruments were used by prominent drummers including Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell, Nick Mason and, in later periods, Matt Helders. These associations helped establish the brand among rock, pop, jazz and touring musicians. Premier was particularly associated with product experimentation. The 1970s Resonator series used a twin-shell design intended to improve projection and reduce the acoustic interference caused by conventional mounting hardware. The Projector series subsequently offered a simpler mid-range alternative for working musicians. In later decades the company introduced or revived ranges including Royale, Crown, APK, XPK and Signia, serving beginner, educational, semi-professional and professional segments. The Signia line, launched in 1992, used maple shells and construction details intended to enhance resonance and tonal clarity. The business experienced several ownership changes from the 1980s onward as competition from Asian manufacturers intensified and the global drum market changed. Gear4music acquired Premier in 2021. Under the new ownership, the brand was relaunched and introduced Centenary products in 2022 to mark its hundredth anniversary. Premier therefore combines a historic British manufacturing identity with a contemporary retail and international-distribution model. Its product heritage spans professional drum kits and snares as well as educational, marching, orchestral and general percussion instruments.
History
Premier Percussion was established in October 1922 in London’s West End by Albert Della Porta and George Smith. The founders initially operated from a basement workshop on Berwick Street in Soho, where they repaired drums and manufactured instruments for other firms. Albert’s brother Fred later joined the business, taking responsibility for sales and administration. By 1925 the company had introduced products under the Premier name and moved to a larger factory in Silex Street, South London. During the 1920s and 1930s Premier expanded beyond repair work into a complete percussion catalogue. Its products served dance bands, theatres, cinemas, military organizations and export markets. Early combination outfits brought together bass drums, snare drums, tom-toms, cymbals and trap hardware for performers who needed a compact, versatile setup. The company also manufactured timpani, xylophones, marching drums and other orchestral or band instruments. Chrome plating, decorative finishes and console-style hardware became visible elements of the brand’s identity. In 1937 Premier introduced Olympic as a lower-priced alternative for students, schools and less affluent players. The Second World War caused a major disruption. Premier’s Park Royal factory was destroyed in the Blitz, and production was moved to Wigston near Leicester. The company participated in wartime manufacturing, producing components associated with radar and anti-tank equipment. After the war it rebuilt its percussion operation at Wigston and transferred industrial knowledge from wartime work into drum hardware, die-moulded parts and other manufacturing processes. The post-war period was a major growth phase. Premier standardized the naming and configuration of its drum outfits, with catalogue models such as Outfit No. 21, No. 25 and No. 50. The Outfit 54 became a notable four-piece configuration, commonly combining a bass drum, two toms and a Super Ace snare. Premier also developed recognizable hardware such as flush-braced long lugs and supplied drumheads and cymbals under the Zyn family of names. Its products were sold to professional musicians, schools, marching bands, military organizations and orchestral users. In the 1950s and 1960s Premier strengthened its international reputation. The company exported widely and received the Queen’s Award to Industry for exports in 1966. Its instruments appeared with prominent performers including Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Mitch Mitchell and Nick Mason. The association with leading British and international rock musicians gave Premier increased visibility at a time when drum kits were becoming central to popular music performance. The 1970s brought further technical experimentation. Premier’s Resonator drums used an inner shell suspended within an outer shell, leaving an air gap and keeping the inner surface relatively free from attached hardware. The concept was associated with Staffordshire builder Alan Gilby and drummer Kenny Clare, and Premier developed production versions including the Kenny Clare Resonator snare. A black-lacquered Black Shadow variant later became a sought-after example of the series. The Projector range provided a more straightforward mid-market option, using birch shells and conventional construction for gigging and semi-professional players. During the 1980s and 1990s Premier expanded and adjusted its range in response to changing consumer expectations and growing competition from Asian manufacturers. Royale and Crown followed the Olympic positioning for beginner and intermediate players, while APK and XPK served schools, students and semi-professional drummers. In 1992 Premier introduced Signia, a premium maple line with undersized shells, reinforcement rings and high-quality finishes designed to support resonance, sustain and projection. From the 1980s onward the company passed through several ownership changes as the percussion market became more international and production economics changed. The Premier name continued to be used across professional, intermediate, educational, marching and orchestral products. Gear4music acquired the brand in 2021. Premier was relaunched under the new ownership in 2022, when Centenary products were introduced to commemorate the company’s hundredth anniversary. The modern brand therefore retains a strong British historical identity while operating within a larger international musical-instrument retail group.
- 2022
Centenary relaunch
[1]Premier relaunches and introduces Centenary products marking one hundred years of the brand.
- 2021
Acquisition by Gear4music
[1]The United Kingdom-based musical-instrument retailer Gear4music acquires Premier.
- 1992
Signia series launched
[1]Premier introduces a premium maple drum line using undersized shells and reinforced construction.
- 1970
Resonator series developed
[1]Premier brings its twin-shell Resonator construction to production, emphasizing projection and reduced hardware interference.
- 1966
Queen’s Award to Industry for exports
[1]Premier receives recognition for its export performance during its post-war international expansion.
- 1947
Flush-braced long lug introduced
[1]Premier adopts a distinctive long-lug hardware design that becomes an important feature of its post-war drums.
- 1940
Factory destroyed during the Blitz
[1]The Park Royal factory is destroyed during the Second World War, prompting relocation to Wigston near Leicester.
- 1937
Olympic line introduced
[1]Premier launches Olympic as a more affordable drum range for students, schools and budget-conscious players.
- 1925
First Premier-branded products and factory expansion
[1]The company introduces products under its own name and moves to a larger South London factory.
- 1922
Premier is founded in London
[1]Albert Della Porta and George Smith establish the business in Soho, initially repairing and manufacturing drums for other companies.
Products and positioning
Professional and heritage-oriented percussion brand spanning high-end, intermediate, educational, marching and orchestral instruments.
Drum kits · 1922
Early Combination Outfits
Premier’s early drum kits were combination outfits intended for dance halls, theatres, cinemas and other performance settings. They typically combined a bass drum with traps, a snare, tom-toms, cymbals and console or rack hardware. These products helped the company move from contract manufacturing into branded drum-kit production during the 1920s and 1930s.
Marching and military percussion · 1922
Military and Regimental Drums
Premier produced rope-tension and rod-tension side drums, tenor drums and bass drums for regimental, military, school and cadet bands. These instruments emphasized durability and visual presentation, often incorporating traditional construction, painted crests or other ceremonial decoration.
Entry-level drum kits · 1937
Olympic
Olympic was introduced as Premier’s lower-cost range. Early models shared aspects of Premier construction but used simpler hardware and finishes. Production continued after the war and the name was later revived for Asian-made entry-level kits aimed at students and schools.
Professional drum kits and snares · 1970
Resonator
The Resonator series used a twin-shell design in which a thin inner shell was suspended inside an outer shell. Premier designed the arrangement to create a resonant air chamber and reduce the damping effect of attached hardware. The series became associated with professional players during the 1970s and 1980s.
Intermediate drum kits · 1978
Projector
Projector was positioned below the Resonator range for working musicians and semi-professional players. Its birch shells, conventional reinforcement rings and straightforward hardware emphasized reliable projection and durability for live use.
Beginner and intermediate drum kits · 1982
Royale and Crown
Royale and Crown were introduced as accessible successors to the Olympic range. Royale targeted beginners and schools, while Crown offered somewhat upgraded components and finishes for players progressing toward intermediate use.
Student and semi-professional drum kits · 1985
APK and XPK
APK and XPK were developed for the mass market during the mid-1980s. XPK sat above APK and used a higher-grade birch outer ply. Both ranges offered multiple configurations and finishes and helped retain Premier’s presence in schools, practice rooms and recording environments.
Professional drum kits · 1992
Signia
Signia was Premier’s first full maple drum line. Its thin shells, undersized diameters, beech reinforcement rings and scarf-jointed construction were intended to produce clarity, resonance and sustain. The range was finished with premium lacquers or wood veneers and targeted touring and session musicians.
Heritage drum products · 2022
Centenary
The Centenary range was introduced following Premier’s relaunch under Gear4music. It commemorates the brand’s hundred-year history and connects contemporary products with Premier’s heritage as a British drum manufacturer.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Premier Centenary relaunch
United Kingdom · International markets
Premier used its hundredth anniversary to relaunch the brand and introduce Centenary products built around its historical identity.
Outcome. The campaign positioned Premier for continued commercial activity after its acquisition by Gear4music.
Brand decisions
2021
Sell the Premier brand to Gear4musicM&ABackground
Premier had undergone ownership changes and operated in an increasingly international, competitive musical-instrument market.
Action taken
Gear4music acquired Premier and assumed ownership of the brand.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by a relaunch and the introduction of Centenary products in 2022.
1970
Adopt twin-shell Resonator constructionProduct launchBackground
Premier pursued technical differentiation in professional drums during a period of strong interest in projection, resonance and touring performance.
Action taken
The company licensed and developed a twin-shell construction associated with Alan Gilby and Kenny Clare.
Aftermath
Resonator became one of Premier’s most distinctive historical professional ranges and influenced the brand’s reputation for experimentation.
1937
Introduce Olympic as a value-oriented lineProduct launchBackground
Premier served professional, military and orchestral users but also faced demand from students, schools and lower-budget players.
Action taken
The company launched Olympic as a more affordable alternative to its main Premier-branded drums.
Aftermath
Olympic became a recurring entry-level name within the Premier product family and was later revived for Asian-made student kits.
Recent events
- 2022
Premier relaunches with Centenary products[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Premier marked its centenary with a brand relaunch and new product ranges commemorating its hundred-year history.
- 2021
Gear4music acquires Premier[1]
M&A
Gear4music acquired the historic British percussion brand and took responsibility for its subsequent commercial development.
Sources1 sources
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