# Rock band on the moon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550 "2025-05-19T16:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/1 "2025-05-19T16:54:12Z")
Thinking about the recent thread about a horse on the moon, how about a rock band? I would think that guitar, bass, keys and wind intruments probably wouldn’t be too much trouble. But drums? Kick drum might be not too different, but gravity probably plays a large part in hitting snare and toms with the sticks, I’d guess? Any actual drummers care to speculate? (I’m just a lowly bass player)… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/2 "2025-05-19T16:58:28Z")
Playing concerts on the moon wasn’t a problem for Prism. But then again, they had a solar-powered laser beam guitar. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sSyYqD9v_wo/hqdefault.jpg "Prism - Spaceship Superstar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSyYqD9v_wo) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/3 "2025-05-19T17:03:16Z")
I am not a drummer but _perhaps_ you could use weighted drumsticks? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/4 "2025-05-19T17:03:57Z")
My first thought was, Keith Moon could do this. ---
**Author:** ![corudstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@corudstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corudstr)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/5 "2025-05-19T17:07:45Z")
It’s already been done. > **[First Band on the Moon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Band_on_the_Moon)** > > First Band on the Moon is the third studio album by the Cardigans. It features the international single "Lovefool". It was first released on 12 August 1996 and internationally on 6 September 1996. > The album was a major breakthrough for the band, both in their native Sweden and internationally. It is their best-selling album in the United States, having sold around 664,000 copies there as of September 2010. > AllMusic critic John Bush viewed First Band on the Moon as a return to the "mood and fe... ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/6 "2025-05-19T17:09:33Z")
Drum machine. It would also solve the issue of a bulky item like drums being economically shipped out of Earth’s gravity well. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/7 "2025-05-19T17:15:33Z")
Drums may be bulky but they aren’t really heavy for their size. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/8 "2025-05-19T17:16:07Z")
> [@corudstr](#): > > It’s already been done. By more than one band, I see… [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Z9tcCxpfL._SL1086_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Z9tcCxpfL._SL1086_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/9 "2025-05-19T17:25:36Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > But drums? Kick drum might be not too different, but gravity probably plays a large part in hitting snare and toms with the sticks, I’d guess? I’m not much of a drummer (I own a drum set and I can keep a beat but my drum skills are rather limited), but I don’t see where gravity really has that much of an effect on the sticks. You’re never letting the sticks free-fall. You’re always either hitting something with them or lifting them back up afterwards. Even if you are doing a drum roll you are just recoiling the stick against the drum head. You’re not using gravity for anything. I think the biggest issue is that when you push down on the kick drum pedal or the hi hat you’re going to push yourself up into the air. I think it’s an easily solved problem though. You just need a belt of some kind to keep you and the stool attached to the ground while you play. Now if you tried to get fancy and throw your drum sticks into the air and catch them again (a common trick among drummers), the extra hang time would be rather weird. A piano or keyboard might have a similar issue. If you push down hard enough on the keys you might push yourself up into the air. Electronic keyboards have a much lighter touch than a piano, but many electronic keyboards are also velocity sensitive so that they can play loud or quiet like a piano. Hitting those harder/faster to make the sound louder is going to require more force. Again, easily solvable with a belt or with something like a little bar to tuck your feet under to keep you on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/10 "2025-05-19T17:27:54Z")
They’d have to take giant steps of course, but otherwise it should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/11 "2025-05-19T17:29:17Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Drum machine. > It would also solve the issue of a bulky item like drums being economically shipped out of Earth’s gravity well. And the issue of having to have a drummer. Joking !! ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/12 "2025-05-19T17:30:28Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I think the biggest issue is that when you push down on the kick drum pedal or the hi hat you’re going to push yourself up into the air. The hi-hat might be an issue because the return stroke is powered by gravity. Would need to be solved either by springs, or just the drummer adapting to the different timing. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/13 "2025-05-19T17:31:24Z")
What are ticket prices for a concert on the moon I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/14 "2025-05-19T17:35:01Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > The hi-hat might be an issue because the return stroke is powered by gravity. Would need to be solved either by springs, or just the drummer adapting to the different timing. I didn’t think of that. My drum kit is electronic (so I don’t annoy the neighbors), which is another way to solve the hi hat issue. It’s just a foot pedal with a spring in it. An electronic drum kit also folds up so it’s nice and compact for shipping to the moon. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/15 "2025-05-19T18:43:17Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > What are ticket prices for a concert on the moon I wonder? Pretty steep, I imagine, but there’s lots of free parking. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/16 "2025-05-19T19:10:37Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > The hi-hat might be an issue because the return stroke is powered by gravity. Not any hi-hat I’ve ever seen. The foot holds the hi-hat closed. When the foot’s up, it’s opened by springs. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/17 "2025-05-19T19:32:37Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Not any hi-hat I’ve ever seen. The foot holds the hi-hat closed. When the > foot’s up, it’s opened by springs. Yeah I’m actually wrong about that. It’s been years since I was close to one. Hi-hats are already designed to work just fine in lunar gravity. I really can’t think of any obstacle to having a rock band on the moon. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/18 "2025-05-19T19:44:39Z")
But do we really need Rock Band on the moon? > _A rat done bit my sister Nell_ > W_ith Rock Band on the moon > Her face and arms began to swell_ > _And Rock Band’s on the moon_ > > _I can’t pay no doctor bills_ > _But Rock Band’s on the moon_ > _Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still_ > _While Rock Band’s on the moon_ > > _The man just upped my rent last night_ > _Cause Rock Band’s on the moon_ > _No hot water, no toilets, no lights_ > _But Rock Band’s on the moon_ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/19 "2025-05-19T20:08:24Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Now if you tried to get fancy and throw your drum sticks into the air and catch them again (a common trick among drummers), the extra hang time would be rather weird. It would look really cool, and any drummer who made it to the Moon would practice until they could do it perfectly! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550/20 "2025-05-19T20:25:29Z")
You might even be able to get enough hangtime that you could use more than two sticks, and juggle while playing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-band-on-the-moon/1018550.md?page=2)