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Paiste artist Russell Gilbrook took the time off while touring Europe and visited the Paiste factory with two of his band mates of the legendary UK Rock group "URIAH HEEP" (with such well known anthems like "Stealin", "Lady in black", "Gypsy", "Free me", "Easy Livin" and many, more). The two band mates that came along for the trip out here were no others than founding member and lead guitarist Mick Box and lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, as well as Russell's Drum Tech Peter Weber. That is something very special when even non-drummers come out and want to see how we make our cymbals.



We must say that the weather could not have been better for this, especially as we had some leisure time between the factory tour and sound check at the nearby Open Air festival. With all of us starving after checking the cymbal production, cymbal testing and hearing, we had the privilege of being invited to the home of the Paiste family and enjoyed a fantastic meal together.

Russell told us about the audition he took for Uriah Heep (literally, being the last drummer coming in, after the band's being quite disappointed of the latent lack of quality of the previously auditioning drummers), he was just ripping and the guys obviously did not loose a second thought and whole-heartedly welcomed Russ for his new adventure with this legendary Rock formation. Russ proved that he was right choice by not just providing the right groove and attitude, but also his songwriting and arrangement contribution on the new great album "Wake the sleeper" (the title pretty much says it all...).

Mick Box and Bernie Shaw (who actually filled in for David Byron about 20 years ago!) did not hold back and told their views and experiences they had in the music biz after so many years being active. Plus, they were also very interested in how we make cymbals and stated that they now will have a total new approach to cymbals and hearing them as a fully complex sounding instrument and not just something that a drummer can bash on every four bars.

More stories were swapped..., the time flew by and we had to go back to the festival ground for the band to get themselves prepared for the show. Later on, we from Paiste witnessed a truly genuine and high quality rock show with a drummer that is obviously a little younger than the rest of the band, but played like an old pro. The band did not at all sound or look like old dinosaurs (a term that's often been used for classic rock groups), but they were full of high energy and great sounding and served some solid rock music with quality guitars and vocals, power and harmonics!

Well done boys and thanks for a truly memorable day as well as for a great show. We truly enjoyed it. You are always welcome!

View Russell's Cymbal Set-up & more images!