Drummer Alfonso (Al) Adinolfi started Alternative Percussion/Boom Theory in an old granary in Kent, WA. In 1991, he received his first patent for his new digital drums that he called “Spacemuffins.”

Coming up with Spacemuffins took a lot of creativity and a large dose of venture capital. Adinolfi and his team developed a sound module based on the sensors used in electrocardiograms to convert vibrations into electrical impulses and then into sound. With the sound then baffled by layers of foam, Spacemuffins can be played like acoustic drum kits but can produce a large variety of different sounds well beyond those from drums alone. In addition, they are much easier on the hands and elbows, cutting back on repetitive stress injuries. Spacemuffins caught the attention of drummers in rock, techno-pop, and grunge bands and became very popular by word of mouth.

In this 1997 image, Al Adinolfi plays his handmade drums at AP BoomTheory.

Caption information source: “Another Seattle boom: Drum company fuses music, magic, medicine,” by Cynthia Rose, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 28, 1996, pages L1, L4.
Caption information source: “Kent man drums up $2 million,” by Carol Smith, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 1, 1997, pages B5, B9.
Caption information source: “Absolutely Seattle,” by Cynthia Rose, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 13, 1999, page M6.
Caption information source: Boomtheory website: http://www.boomtheory.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024