TAMA Imperialstar Metallic Blue kit

The TAMA Imperialstar Metallic Blue drum kit (a.k.a the Light Blue kit) was Stewart Copeland's first TAMA kit. The drums have a metallic blue finish, fitted with 9-ply mahogany shells and TAMA Titan hardware.

This drum kit was purchased in 1976 while Stewart was still a member of Curved Air. Previously he played Ludwig Vistalite perspex drums, but later down the line with Curved Air he discovered TAMA drums and he hit it off immediately with them: "'I was one of the first to spot [TAMA drums as a company], luckily. It was when they first started making drums and I saw them in a shop and really liked them. I was playing with Curved Air at the time, so I rang TAMA up and asked if they'd send me a set. They didn't want money or anything - all they wanted was a picture of me playing them. I didn't actually have to play them, but once I did, that was it.'" He even remarked that his sound engineer with Curved Air pleaded with him to get rid of the Ludwig drums as the TAMA drums "automatically" sounded a lot better. He stuck with TAMA from then on as his main drum brand, especially as with their drums he could tune them really tight (for a fast response) and still retain a heavy, deep sound compared to other manufacturers.

The Light Blue kit was his main kit for recording work and live performances during The Police's early years from 1977 to 1979. He played this drum kit on the Outlandos D'Amour album and (possibly) Reggatta De Blanc, as well as early Klark Kent work (singles "Don't Care" and "Too Kool To Kalypso").

By June 1979, the kit was showing signs of wear and dirt, so it was retired after finishing the Outlandos D'Amour tour. It was replaced with the TAMA dark blue kit. In the 1980s, Stewart continued to use the Light Blue kit on his solo projects, such as The Rhythmatist and recording music for The Equalizer.

In 1990 this kit went in storage, and in 2017 was auctioned off from Stewart's collection with original stands & hardware, supplied with some cymbals to complement the kit. The 18" floor tom is missing: this ended up with one of Stewart's TAMA snare drums in the boot of a BMW Stewart sold to director Johnathan Moore (with whom he collaborated on stage operas), and Moore sold them in

Specifics
Stewart's TAMA Imperialstar Metallic Blue kit appears to be based around on the "MARS 9" outfit (no. 8909) in the 1975 TAMA Imperialstar Catalog, but with the 10" and 12" toms removed. Thus closer to the later "Mars 6S outfit" in the 1978 catalog. Details of which are included below, combined with information from the auction.

Drums:
 * 22" x 14" Bass Drum
 * 12" x 8" rack tom - incorrectly listed as 12" x 7" in auction
 * 13" x 9" rack tom - incorrectly listed as 13" x 8" in auction
 * 16" x 16" floor tom
 * 18" x 16" floor tom - missing from main kit in auction, but sold separately
 * 14" x 5" Snare drum, serial number 62500

Drum heads:
 * Remo Weather King
 * Remo C.S. on bass drum batter - specifically chosen for auction
 * Remo Ebony series Weatherking on bass drum resonant

Cymbals: (These were supplied alongside the original kit in auction)
 * 10" Paiste 2002 Splash, serial number 313565
 * 20" Paiste ‘Sound Creation’ Bell Ride, serial number 9261(or 7)84
 * 24" Paiste Rude Ride/Crash, serial number 122031
 * 18" Paiste Signature Series Fast Crash, serial number C6066359
 * 14" Paiste 2002 Top Sound Edge Hi-Hat, serial number 122039
 * 14" Paiste Rude Hi-Hat (bottom), serial number 122038

For full details see this image.