Let There Be Drums

"Let There Be Drums" is a 1961 instrumental composed by American drummer Sandy Nelson and guitarist Richard Podolor, who later became a renowned record producer. The piece is a guitar and drums duet and is an early example of surf music. It was released as a Sandy Nelson single on Imperial Records and was a charted hit, reaching No.7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] and No.9 on the U.S. Cash Box charts (weeks of 2 December and 16 December 1961).[3] Nelson's "Let There Be Drums" was an Australian No.1 single for a week (week of 20 January 1962)[4] and peaked at No.3 on the U.K. singles chart during the weeks of 4–10 January and 18–24 January 1962,[5] becoming the 50th best-selling single in the U.K. during the calendar year 1962.[6]

The Incredible Bongo Band's rendition of this instrumental was the theme music for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling telecasts on the former ATV in Maritime Canada between the 1970s and the 1980s.

Queen + Paul Rodgers played this song on their 2005-06 Tours as Roger Taylor's drum solo spot and a recording appears on the 2005 live album and DVD Return of the Champions.