In my opinion, Rick is one of the best drummers in RI in one of the most popular bands Crushed Vel-vet. But this article is about his unique one-of-a-kind business called Headframez. A display frame for autographed drum heads. Easy to install a signed drumhead into this rockin’ frame. Ideal for music rooms, recording studios, man caves, collection rooms, restaurants and home décor. He is globally known and has reached thousands of customers around the world.
LA: You own Headframez. it’s a very unique business. You make display frames for autographed drum heads. Before we talk about your business tell me a little about Rick the drummer for Crushed Velvet. In my opinion you’re one of the best drummers in the state and in one of the most popular bands in RI. Tell me about you as a drummer, when you started, bands you’ve been in ‘til now.
RP: I started playing when I was 6 because my brother Dave was a drummer. So when he wasn’t around I’d go use his drum set, put the headphones on and start learning how to play The Beatles and The Monkeys. When I was 14 I started to play in bands. Before that it was just for fun. I joined my first band called “Zephyr” back in the 70s. Then I was in a band called “Inside Out” which was the first time I played the circuit. Then I auditioned for “The Electric Gypsies”. I was in that band from ‘91 to ’98. Then I was in “Backlash” from 2003 to 2006. They had a huge fan base. Then I start-ed “Crushed Velvet” in 2011. Here we are in 2024 and we are still together. My favorite drum-mers are Ringo Starr, Alex Van Halen, Morgan Rose and John Bonham. I’ve been playing drums for 56 years I’ve never taken a lesson… all self-taught.
LA: I’m sure you’ve had so many memorable experiences playing out over the years especially do-ing all the benefits you guys do. You even play on a float for the Bristol 4th of July Parade. Tell me about your most memorable gigs.
RP: They are all great. I find the family aspect of bands so important. “Backlash” was definitely one of those bands that I would never forget. When I was in “Backlash” I didn’t expect what was going to happen. A lot of girls are up front and a lot of girls started flashing. There were things that hap-pened now and again that were really funny. Seeing parts of the ceiling falling down while we were playing. The sound not being right and Joe kicking over a monitor. Another moment was when we were on the float in the 4th of July Parade and Steve was going to pass out because he didn’t eat and Joe said to him “Not now you’re not”. It’s a lot of fun playing in the parades and the concert series.
LA: Your company “Headframez”, how did you come up with this idea and how long have you been doing this?
RP: My wife Tammy’s brother Norm ended up working for Sevendust and Slayer. We got to meet these stars. I ended up getting drumheads signed. Starting a collection with signed heads and being a drummer I had spare rims hanging around. I wanted to display my drum heads. At the time I was putting a nail in the wall and hanging it up. Since I had spare drum parts I took my hot glue gun and glued the head into the frame. I did some research and nobody had anything close to a frame… everything was shadow boxes with no hoop around the head. So I came up with the design after finding out that nobody had them. It took me a little while to come up with a design that worked. I got a registered trademark and started marketing them in 2016. I sold 8 heads in two months. Since then I sold 1,258. I advertise on my website and I sell on eBay and Etsy as well. When my dad passed he left all kinds of tools for me that I could use to create them. I make the frames, ship them and send them instructions on how to install their drum heads. I’ve sold to a few celebrities and I sold to a lady in Florida who was doing a Devo exhibition. When I started there were 3000 listings on eBay for autograph drum heads for sale but there are no frames. By me making the frames, they complete the look of the autographed drumhead and they are so easy to install. So many people asked for custom colors and I spray paint them. I sell them around the world. I in-clude cleaning clothes and all frames have my logo on them. There’s a collectors market for auto-graphed drum heads. My sizes go from 6 inch to 18 inch in steel hoops, 14 inch to 26 inch and wooden hoops. My record sales were 34 in one month and I just do it this part time. If I went full production and listed them on Amazon I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
LA: Tell me about the process you go through from someone contacting you for an order to com-pletion
RP: They order what size they need for whatever drum head they have. I list different sizes, differ-ent finishes including chrome, black, nickel, brass and custom. It takes me about 40 minutes to complete the frame. I have to grind nuts that go around the bolts, cut the bolts, filling and making the wires and applying the stickers. I ship it out the next day.
LA: Slayer was your first head frame. I didn’t even know it was a thing. How do you get them to sign the drum head?
RP: In most cases people know the bands or someone who knows the band or they have a back-stage pass. I’ve noticed lately that at the merch booths, the bands are already signing drum heads to purchase. on eBay a lot of drummers sell their products including signed drum heads. Some of the heads I have are the actual drum heads used by the drummer. You just have to make sure they are legit when buying online.
LA: Do you have a favorite frame you ever did and what colors do you offer?
RP: One of my favorite bands growing up was Kiss. One client had a Kiss autographed drum head and it was a 24 inch that he wanted to have a silver sparkle. I do a lot of one-of-a-kind finishes. The finishes can be yellow, red, white, black and Chrome. Chrome and black are the most popular eve-rything else is custom. I’ve done drum heads for raffles, birthday parties and wedding gifts. Every-one at the party will sign the drum head. If someone orders for a party, you’d get the head, the marker and the frame as a kit.
LA: How is the competition in this field? I don’t know anyone else who does this
RP: I’m the only guy globally. I did the research before I started making them and they don’t exist other than shadow boxing. The first autographed drumhead wasn’t Slayer. It was a drummer from Journey. He was in Warren at a recording studio. The band I was in at the time, the recording stu-dio asked my guitar player if he could borrow his amp for Steve Smith from Journey. He was there doing a solo project. We went into the studio and met Steve and I signed something on the drum booth wall that said “If you all have North Drums… go home” signed Richie Rich. Steve liked my quote that I put on the wall and he signed a drumhead for me that said “To Richie Rich”. That was my first drum head.
LA: Your studio is in your basement. I’ve seen your studio and it rocks! The ceiling is covered with album covers, your band “Crushed Velvet” practices there and you also have collections. Tell me about your collections
RP: I have a massive guitar pick collection that I started in the 70s. I was front row for Kiss and I got a pocket full of picks that are worth about a $500 a piece. When I was younger I went to a lot of concerts. I’m a collector and I must have over 800 guitar picks in binders. My rarest guitar pick is Paul McCartney and Wings.
LA: Lastly when you’re not doing your full-time job with your painting company ,building frames and playing gigs with “Crush Velvet” what do you like to do for fun? What would be your favorite restaurant in RI?
RP: For me playing drums is fun. I like to go to concerts too. I’d say Portside in Bristol is my favorite restaurant and also Jack’s in Warren.
As I finished the interview, yup, he sold another Frame!
Email: sickrick@headframez.com
Website: headframez.com
Facebook: @headframez
