(updated) Premier purchases R.G. Hardie and associated brands

In a strange twist to an increasingly complicated story, Premier Percussion of England has purchased R.G. Hardie & Co. and its associated brands and product lines after the Hardie company declared bankruptcy.

While Premier is the market leader in pipe band drums, the company has no known experience manufacturing Highland pipes. In a news release, the company stated that it will attempt to become a “one-stop-shop” for pipe band equipment, and will retain the Hardie, Henderson, and Airtight Seasoning brands.

The original news release from Premier Percussion made mention of Jim Kilpatrick, 15 times World Solo Drumming Champion and leading-drummer of the World Champion House of Edgar Pipe Band. Later in the day, Premier issued a revision to the release that deleted mention of Kilpatrick.

Following that, Kilpatrick made a statement to Piper & Drummer Online: “I would like the pipe band world know that I had nothing to do with Premier’s decision to buy R.G. Hardie, Peter Henderson and any related brand names in the recent acquisition. It was news to me just like it was news to everybody else. I would like to disassociate myself with any dealings to do with Paul or Brian McComish, who were the past owners of The Band Room, R.G. Hardie, Peter Henderson, etc.

“My present involvement with Premier Percussion includes doing consultancy work on the design of pipe band and marching products and I am also an endorsee for their pipe band range of drums. I have no input on general decisions and company procedures.”

Terms of the deal were not revealed, and whether outstanding debts will be settled is not known either. It was not disclosed whether Paul and Brian McComish, previous owners of the company, will be employed by Premier.

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