Vic Firth Celebrates 50th at PASIC

With so many big names in the percussion industry in the same town at the same time, the drumming community seized the opportunity to throw a gala honoring the 50th anniversary of Vic Firth’s drumstick manufacturing company. The evening featured speeches from the likes of Remo Belli and Craigie Zildjian, followed by an incredible parade of percussionists, who took turns honoring Vic Firth by sitting in with the house trio.

Remo Belli, Firth’s longtime friend and industry associate – who also shares the unique bond that must come from being the founder of an eponymous percussion company – congratulated Firth on the momentous occasion. “Vittorio,” Belli declared, using the Italian form of the name Vic, “I’m really very proud of you, and I love you madly.”

Craigie Zildjian, CEO of the Avedis Zildjian Company, which acquired Vic Firth’s drumstick company in 2011, told a brief history of Firth’s musical endeavors, from being handed his first cornet at age four to joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra at age 21, and starting to make his own drumsticks some 12 years later. “Vic Firth drumsticks set the standard for professional drummers. Fifty years later, this little business that started in the garage and around the kitchen table is the largest drumstick manufacturer in the world, and the leading brand.”

After some good-natured remarks from Vic Firth himself – “This may be the 50th anniversary, but it feels like the 75th!” – he introduced some of his handpicked favorite players, telling anecdotes about how he first met each of them. Accompanying pianist Steve Allee and bassist Jeremy Allen, and sitting in for house drummer Steve Houghton (quite an accomplished player himself), were such luminaries as Stanton Moore, Ndugu Chancler, Peter Erskine, and Dave Weckl.