“I didn’t know it was on, but there it was – the drum skin we’d printed for Kasabian on Later... with Jools Holland,” he said. “It was catching the eye of the cameraman, which I found hilarious; tens of thousands of pounds spent on lights and the guy’s zooming in on the drum skin!”

What did the job entail?

The company had printed the skin for the English rock band to use at Glastonbury and on their current tour, which runs until mid December. Brooklyn printed six skins: two for the band’s kits in Europe and the US, and four spares. The skins are bright pink and emblazoned with the title of Kasabian’s latest album: 48:13.

How was it produced?

The job was printed on the company’s new Mimaki CJV30-160 printer-cutter on adhesive wrapping vinyl. It was then applied to the transparent drum skin. “It’s done in exactly the same manner as vehicle wrapping,” said Brooks, who has printed drum graphics for local bands before, but never anyone as well known as Kasabian. “But you can’t use a heat gun because the drum skin is plastic.”

David Dowell, owner of drum shop DD Drums and the contact who commissioned Brooks, added that some skins are decorated by printing direct onto the original drum skin. Some think this leads to a better sounding instrument, but this isn’t an issue where the drum will be used for such huge gigs as Kasabian’s. 

What challenges were overcome?

“The only challenge was the colour - they were very critical about that being bright and glowing,” said Brooks. “That was just trial and error and applying as much ink to the vinyl as I possibly could.”

What was the feedback?

“The set designer’s brief was that the pink on the drum had to match the album cover and the stage backdrop. Brooklyn managed it first time – it looks excellent,” said DD Drums’ Dowell.