World's Largest Drum
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[edit] History
In 1921, Purdue Marching Band Director Spotts Emrick commissioned the Leedy Manufacturing Company in Indianapolis, Indiana to produce a massive bass drum (cost: $800.00). Since its inception, it has become a lasting symbol of the marching band as well as the university. The drum can be seen at all home football games as well as parades, alumni rallies, the Indianapolis 500 Race, and many other special events.
Though the drum easily towers ten feet high on its carriage, the exact dimensions of the drum itself are a closely held secret known only to the crew members. Many of the original components, the carriage, axle, wheels, and wood shell of the drum are all intact and well preserved. The carriage is built upon a Ford Model T back axle and wheelbase. The rims are steel wire spoke rims common during the 1910s in the racing circuit.
The first drums sported heads made from mammoth steer hides imported from South America, but now Remo produces synthetic drum heads which are changed as needed. Over the years it has become a tradition for celebrities to sign drum heads and old heads filled with signatures are kept in the Bands Department. Among the many notables are astronauts Gus Grissom and Neil Armstrong, former President Harry Truman, country singer Kix Brooks and the famed Kodo Drummers of Japan.
The drum is handled by a crew of four silver-helmeted bandsmen, who are selected for their strength and agility, along with two beaters. They painstakingly rehearse every movement of the "Monster" drum to assure its being in the right place at the right time in accordance with the split-second timing necessary for the fast-paced shows presented by the "All-American" Band.
While the drum may have been the world's largest in overall size at the time it was constructed, other drums have claimed the title of world's largest, such as the University of Chicago drum,[1] the University of Texas Big Bertha (drum), and the Millennium Drum. Officially, the University dubs it the "Big Bass Drum" (BBD), rather than world's largest. However, no official comparative measurement has ever been made. In 1961, the University of Texas and Purdue University chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi pledged to bring their drums to the national convention in Wichita, Kansas; however, only Purdue turned up.
[edit] Beaters
The BBD has two beaters who work as a team to hit the drum. This is a list of the known previous beaters:
1985 - Ben Pfeffer, Al Golemo
1986 - Ben Pfeffer, Al Golemo
1987 - Ben Pfeffer, ?
1993 - Tim Maynard
1994 - Wayne Johnson, Vincent Edward Carter
1995 - Brian Quirk, James Beeler
1996 - Brian Quirk, Misty McIntyre
1997 - Brian Quirk, Brett Blumb (pictured above)
1998 - Andrew Bauer, Brent LaRoche
2003 - Michael Diaz, Tim Flora, Ben Stengel, Peter Zahrt
2004 - Ben Stengel, Peter Zahrt
2005 - Tim Flora, Peter Zahrt
2006 - Kevin Zakiewicz, Greg Flora, Cole Garrett, Eric Kennedy
2007 - Kevin Zakiewicz, Greg Flora, Cole Garrett, Eric Kennedy
[edit] Pushers
The BBD has four pushers working to quickly move and navigate the drum through the band and across the football field. This is a list of the known previous pushers:
1994 - Eric Stankiewicz, James O'Hagan, Tim Heistand, Bryan Warrick
1995 - James O'Hagan, Bryan Warrick, Tim Heistand, Aaron ?
1996 - James O'Hagan, Bryan Warrick, Brett Blumb, Kevin Smith
1997 - Bryan Warrick (pictured above, front)
1998 - Bryan Warrick
2003 - Laurie Davis, Michael Diaz, Tim Flora, Ben Stengel, Stephanie Vahle, Peter Zahrt
2004 - Matt Brown, Kevin Zakiewicz, Tim Flora, Peter Zahrt
2005 - Kevin Zakiewicz, Greg Flora, Linden Cotchen, Andrew Teich
2006 - Linden Cotchen, John Weinrich, Eric Kennedy, Cole Garrett, John Zarht, Peter Dinndorf, Greg Flora, Kevin Zakiewicz
[edit] Traditions
[edit] Spinning in the Block P
In 1907 the Purdue All-American Marching Band was the first marching band to break ranks and form a block letter on the field.[2] During the pregame show, the drum is positioned in the 'P' formed by the marching band and spins while the band plays 'Hail Purdue!'.
[edit] Indianapolis 500
Being part of the official band of the Indianapolis 500, the drum can be seen on the back of a pickup truck driven around the track.
[edit] Aerials
When Purdue scores the drum crew can occasionally be seen performing aerials in the Southeast endzone of Ross-Ade Stadium. This is accomplished by first removing the 'third' wheel, which acts as kick stand. Two crew members pull down of the back of the drum as two other members are lifted on the front bar of the carriage, while performing acrobatic stunts, such as spinning on the bar, horizontal holds, and one handed balancing.
[edit] Pushups
Drum crew members perform pushups each time the Purdue Boilermakers score a touchdown. The pushups correspond to the total Purdue score achieved. Seven, Ten, Seventeen, Etc. The pushup tradition was started by Eric Stankiewicz in 1994.
[edit] Signatures
The head was signed by President Truman in 1961. The inside of the drum is filled with names of previous drum crew members. Through two air expansion holes in the side of the drum, one can easily spot the names. Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn signed his name to the inside of the drum before a concert at Purdue University in 1995.
[edit] Training
Every fall during the week of camp. The potential crew is put through a series of physical and public relations tests to determine if they suit the characteristics needed to be on the crew. Physical tests include: 2 minutes of pushups, two minutes of sit ups. A 1.7 mile road course, 100 meter run and a 400 meter run. Each test has a perfect score that members are aiming for. A series of questions are ask to the crew to see how they would respond in certain situations because during a year many types of situations can occur ranging from talking with celebrities, rowdy fans, and senior citizens. Each takes a certain adaptation that a crew member needs to make. Questions also include history of and other important facts of the drum. Thursday of camp the crew scales the seats of Ross Ade stadium for one final run in the blistering sun of an Indiana August.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Purdue's Big Bass Drum makes long-awaited return to Chicago. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Norberg, John (1987). Hail Purdue. The "ALL-AMERICAN" Band Club, 29. ISBN 0-9617991-0-2.
[edit] External links
- Purdue All-American Marching Band
- Video featuring Purdue's World's Largest Drum
- History of the "Big Bass Drum"
