Raspbernie Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 "I left music in 1977," explains Jim Bonfanti, "and in doing so, decided to sell my drums. They were a chrome Ludwig set that I had custom ordered piece by piece. It was not a catalog set—it was a custom set that I put together myself. I had owned other Ludwig sets. In fact, I used a different Ludwig drum set on each album. This was the set that I used on Side 3. I loved those drums. I loved the way they sounded. I loved everything about them. It killed me to sell those drums, but I had to. So I sold them. "I didn't own another drum set until 1992, when I bought a used set out of the newspaper want ads. After playing on them a little bit my interest in music started coming back. I kept it harnessed because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but in 1994, I played with Wally Bryson at the Rock Hall when they placed the last steel beam in the structure. "Playing at the Rock Hall really got me interested in playing again. It was fun and the first time I had performed in front of some people in a long time. Then what really got me going was a show I played at the Odeon in Cleveland with Wally, Dave Smalley and Scott McCarl. It was after that show that I started thinking about how much I'd like to get my Ludwigs back—just to have them. "They were my favorite kit and I thought that I should have them back. So, I contacted Ralph Vitale, the same person who helped me sell them. He tracked down the guy I sold the drums to: Sandy Loparo. Amazingly, Sandy still had the drums. So, Ralph and I drove down to Sandy's house where I had every intention of buying the drums back. We went down into his basement where the drums were kept. The snare drum was missing but all of the rest of the kit was intact. Due to heavy touring, they were a bit beat up and looked kind of sad. "I started to talk to Sandy about buying them and he said, 'You know what, Jim? You have a lot of sentimental value with these drums. You can just have them.' "I was speechless for a moment. Obviously I took him up on it and brought the drums home. It was amazing to have them back. Because they looked so sad I decided to refurbish them. I initially tried to refinish them in the same chrome covering that they originally had. But the chrome covers didn't properly attach to the drums, so I needed to send them back. "I ended up choosing a marine white pearl covering. I had a set in the '60s like that, and always liked that color. So I decided to go with that and I'm glad I did. It's a timeless color, while the chrome definitely dates back to the '0s." —Raspberries: TONIGHT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 So nice to see the backbone of the band represented here with his drums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Great picture and story Bernie and Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Great story!Jim Bonfanti exudes total class. It would be cool if he posted here some..-------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim From Wisconsin Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Great pictures - I love them side by side like that! I hope to see Jim beating the heck out of his kit in '09! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 What, no Monday morning drooling for Jim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted December 8, 2008 Author Share Posted December 8, 2008 But Jim was the "foxiest!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Don't you just love a happy ending? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 All the members of The James Harem are currently standing with me at my computer, viewing the picture. And it's unanimous, they say Jim is hot!!! (I'm forgiving their insubordination just this one time).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamacote Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 .......just listen to the magnificant drumming on "side 3" and you can't help but love jim bonfanti!.....(and his ludwigs!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Raspbernie said: But Jim was the "foxiest!" Well unless Barb stuffed the ballot box, Jim out "drool-eed" Eric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Great story...Great Drummer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HT from Mo Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Wow! What a great story Bernie and Jim! Does Jim still play for fun when the Berries aren't playing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny S. Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I grew up and went to High School with Ralph Vitale. We had "rival" bands then.We hooked up in 1980 to put together an all original band, but it never materialized.Also, Sandy was my neighbor.I remember when he bought Jim's kit.Such a small world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Eric certainly has star quality...The Raspberries were and are a band with four stars...when they're playing, I don't see one guy and three sideman...I see four rock and rollers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny S. Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 LONG STORY! "Ralphie"was/is a great drummer...VERY similar style to Jim.(Jim was a very big influence)He had a set of Ludwigs(Blue Vistalites).Funny because a couple times(recently) I had the honor of playing with Jim, it was like playing with Ralph all over again. Way to go Jim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Russell Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 My wife is a HUGE fan of Jim's. In the 'berries heyday, she collected his pictures from the teen magazines and made a "Jim Collage" for her bedroom wall! She loves that he is her "friend" on Myspace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Danny is Ralph related to Joe Vitale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 I never got to see Raspberries live until '05 in NYC. While all the boys played well....it was Jim that absolutely blew me away.Jim has such a unique, chunky sound!John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Ummmm...let me just say re: monday morning drooling - I love Barb Bonfanti. She is just so much fun and great to talk with. So I HOPE she will understand when i say that her husband is definitely hot. Then and now.and Hollies, you hit it on the head: Jim is a total class act. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECatw Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Love the side by side pictures. Jim still looks great behind those drums! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Jim ROCKS!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbB Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Annie, why would I not understand? After all, I've ALWAYS thought he was hot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecstasy Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Spoken like an adoring wife! Good for you, Barb! You've got something special going! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnniekNY Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Yes, Barb, I know you've always KNOWN he's hot and I know you are a very secure, happily married woman. That's why I made sure you knew the motive behind my compliments was PURE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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