December 20, 2012 9:51

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason saves his old drum shop

Mason steps in to fund the shop where he bought his first kit

Photo: PA Photos

Pink Floyd's Nick Mason has stepped in to stop the shop where he bought his first drumkit from closing.

Mason provided necessary funding for Foote's in London to stop it from going out of business.

"I was very disappointed when I heard that Foote's was going to close because it is one of my great memories of being a young, budding drummer was going to the original shop in Denman Street and buying my very first kit for £7.50," he told ITV news.

Speaking about the significance of the shop – which opened in Soho in 1920, he added: "The thing about a drum shop… it's the place where information gets passed around. You hear about new things, if you need a drum lesson, the best place to go is probably a drum shop and ask them for advice. There's a drum culture that is centered on drum shops."

However, Mason said he won't have a significant involvement in the day-to-day running of the shop. "I think I will try not to be too hands on. I doubt I'll be much help really… I don't think I'm going to be behind the counter on a regular basis."

Foote's will now re-open in a new location at 41 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London.

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