July 1972
They were beating the living daylights out of the ‘big drums’. Dusk had now turned to blackness. Brenda knew there was no chance this tribal thunder would let up any time soon. It was set to continue well into the night. The narrow street she stood on only served to amplify the sound.
She breathed in the acrid smell of burning tyres. Rival gangs of young lads had gathered at opposite ends. Tension spliced the air.
This is a snippet from my book, Soldier Doll, where I talk about Lambeg drums. The huge drums (it took two men to hoist one up and strap it to the drummer’s chest) have traditionally been associated with the Protestant marching season. Here their booming sound is a backdrop to a riot scene set in 70s Belfast.
Fast forward to the 80s. Kate Bush is on a visit to the region and commissions a Lambeg for herself. She has it painted with white fluffy clouds and names it The Cloudbuster. You can hear its rhythmic thunderous beat in Running Up That Hill, a song made popular again last year when it was featured in the Netflix series #StrangerThings
I’ve listened to that track so many times and never made the link. But then, why would I? Sometimes life really is stranger than fiction.