The Pandemonium Drums

The Pandemonium Drummers used four types of drums:

• Plastic Bucket:
  A small paint bucket, played with normal drum sticks.
• Metal Bucket:
  The metal bucket had a few nut bolts on the sides to imitate the sound of a snare drum. It was played with hot-rod-style green plastic brushes on the side of the bucket.
• Bass Bin 1:
  A wide and short approx. 60 litre waste bin, played with normal drum sticks topped with blackened tennis balls.
• Bass Bin 2:
  See image, a full 80 litre waste bin, again played with blackened tennis ball sticks. The tennis balls were screwed onto the sticks - early versions broke very easily, the final versions were fortunately very robust.

A six-point contact harness was used to make the drums mobile. The Bass Bin 2 type was probably the most difficult to march with, as it was quite painful on the knees unless waddling with the legs tilted outwards.

Share this:

ABOUTPandemonium Drummers

The Pandemonium Drummers were originally put together by London 2012 Ceremonies for the Pandemonium segment of Danny Boyle's spectacular Olympic Opening Ceremony. Following the Ceremony, the volunteer drummers kept on performing at a variety of events.

Based on their extensive training, they performed at other Opening Ceremonies, including the UEFA Champions League Final 2013, the FA Cup Final 2014, and the Heineken Cup Final 2014, and at a variety of large and small festivals as well as sports and community events. The Pandemonium Drummers are a returning act in London's major parades, including the London New Years' Day Parade, St Patrick's Day Parade, and the Lord Mayor's Show, and they coined Cheer Drumming, supporting runners at major sports events across the capital and beyond. The Pandemonium Drummers have supported the Special Olympics, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and a wide range of other charities.

The Pandemonium Drummers are a constituted association with charitable aims, and are working on a non-profit basis as volunteers.

[ More about the Pandemonium Drummers ]