How a Japanese noise band turned 77 drummers into a rhythmic, spiritual experience
In short: Formed in 1986, the Osaka-based band Boredoms evolved from chaotic, abrasive noise rock into a meditative, tribal force. Their ambitious Boadrum performances, featuring dozens of synchronized drummers, transformed the band from underground provocateurs into architects of expansive, repetitive soundscapes that blur the line between concert and ritualistic art.
Boredoms emerged from the ashes of Hanatarash, an infamous performance art act known for on-stage destruction and a reckless disregard for audience safety. Led by Yamantaka Eye, the band’s early years were defined by harsh, dissonant punk and no wave thrashings. Critics often dismissed this period as nihilistic and pointlessly abrasive, yet the band’s sheer strangeness cultivated a dedicated following in the musical underground. By the late 1990s, however, the group underwent a radical sonic transformation. Albums like 1998’s Super æ and 1999’s Vision Creation Newsun abandoned atonal noise in favor of sweeping electronica, psychedelic jams, and complex, tribal drumming patterns that drew comparisons to 1970s krautrock and the music of Can.
This shift toward primal, expansive soundscapes culminated in the Boadrum series, a sequence of large-scale percussion performances that became the band's signature. The concept began in 2007 with 77 Boadrum in Brooklyn, where 77 drummers played at 7:07pm on July 7. Eye, who found spiritual significance in the number 77 after climbing the Temple of the Sun in Palenque, expanded the idea in subsequent years. The 2008 event, 88 Boadrum, featured 88 drummers playing for 88 minutes at the La Brea Tar Pits, while 2011’s 111Boadrum involved 111 performers, including 100 cymbal players. These events were not merely concerts but highly structured, repetitive rhythmic experiences.
The band’s technical approach has remained as experimental as their philosophy. In recent years, they have integrated motion sensors to trigger ambient drone soundscapes and utilized custom instruments like the seven-necked 'Sevener' guitar. Whether performing with 14 guitarists or coordinating dozens of percussionists, the group continues to push the boundaries of live music. By evolving from the chaotic destruction of their origins to the highly disciplined, meditative complexity of their Boadrum performances, Boredoms have solidified their status as a unique force in avant-garde music, consistently challenging listeners to find beauty within intense, repetitive sound.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Boredoms
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