You gotta feel sorry for drummers in rock bands. While the guitarists and singers get to run all over the stage, they’re just stuck in the back, sitting on their stool. Well, Canadian inventor Charlie Rose set out to change that. The result is Boingy Boingy – a drum set suspended in mid-air by car springs, that lurches around like a mechanical bull as it’s being played ... as can be seen in the video at the end of the article, it’s definitely entertaining.
Rose builds log homes in Sechelt, British Columbia, although he also plays drums in a local band – this band is just the latest, in fact, in a long line of drumming gigs.
Back in 2000, he decided he wanted to make drumming more dynamic. After building two failed bouncing-drum-kit prototypes, he sought the help of a group of custom motorcycle builders in Alberta. Ten months of brainstorming later, the Boingy Boingy was created. According to Rose, it cost him “4,000 dollars in beer and pizza, and an El Camino.”
He proceeded to perform on it throughout Western Canada, along with a trip down to the Grand Canyon. This month, he appeared on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s program Dragon’s Den, where he tried to interest a panel of business tycoons in funding the commercial development of his creation. Much as they appeared to enjoy watching him play, none of them were interested in backing it.
The base of the original Boingy Boingy consists of a steel frame with four corner posts. A saddle-equipped oil barrel is suspended horizontally between those posts by automotive suspension springs – two Camaro springs in front for sporty performance, and two Oldsmobile springs in the back for comfort. The drums and cymbals are mounted partially on the barrel and partially on the frame.
Charlie has also built a more organic-looking version known as the Parabola, that incorporates a pliable frame of steam-bent fir. He’ll build either version for interested parties, with prices starting at CAN$4,000. He can also be booked to perform on his own kits at events ... although for him, it’s not really about the money.
“I like the exercise aspect of the contraption” he told us. “It is an intense core workout, and adds a challenge to playing the drums ... It is fun and makes people happy.”
Source: Boingy Boingy
Serious note - it looks like a ton of fun! It's what you'd expect to get mixing motorcycle builders, drummers, beer, and pizza!