Malcolm Cope’s 1970s Silver Sparkle Slingerland Drum Kit Used With Quartz From 1976-1984

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This incredible kit belonged to my good friend Malcolm Cope, drummer of Quartz. It’s a 1970s Slingerland Silver Sparkle kit, originally purchased new in 1976 from Drumland in Birmingham, England.

When Tony Iommi produced Quartz’s debut album in 1976–77, he wasn’t satisfied with the sound of Malcolm’s original kit, he wanted a tone closer to Bill Ward’s signature sound. After experimenting with different drum kits, including Malcolm’s original Fibes kit, this Slingerland set delivered exactly what Tony was after. It was chosen for the sessions and used throughout the entire debut album.

Following the recording, Malcolm added two smaller toms to the setup for touring. This kit went on to be used on all Quartz albums and tours until Malcolm retired it in 1984. During this period, Quartz supported on tour Black Sabbath, Rush, Gillan, and UFO.

The kit is also prominently featured on the cover of the band’s live album, Live Quartz. Included are a photo of Malcolm with the kit and a black-and-white photo of Quartz performing at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1978, when they opened for Black Sabbath.