The Beast
Mickey's drums tell stories...
Around the time director Francis Ford Coppola was making the film Apocalypse Now, he went to see a Grateful Dead concert at Winterland and was especially taken with “Drums > Space”. After the show, he approached Mickey Hart and said, “I want my movie to sound like that.” Mickey and Ramrod followed his request into the studio and built the three large drums to score the film – “The Beast” was born.
Once finished with the recording sessions, the large suspended drums known as The Beast became an iconic part of Grateful Dead’s “Drums” segment, as well as Mickey’s personal music projects. Eventually, the back riser was built in order to support the ever growing and expanding Rhythm Devils featuring The Beast.
This particular exhibited collection was last seen on the back riser at the Grateful Dead’s 60th Anniversary Golden Gate Park shows in 2025.
The three large table drums here were originally custom creations by Remo for Hidden Wings, a nonprofit supporting individuals with autism through rhythmic expression. Later, at Mickey’s art studio, these drums were puddled with paint and vibrated by the Beam under blacklight. They next journeyed out to Mammoth Mountain to echo the heartbeats of Olympic athletes during the filming of Rhythm Masters and Mountains of the Moon. Eventually, they returned back to the Bay, landing in Golden Gate Park with Dead and Co amongst the colorful palatte of Mickey’s extended percussive back riser to vibrate the entire field at the final show during Drums > Space.
