In a bizarre twist that’s already becoming legendary in Twenty One Pilots lore, a superfan’s brazen attempt to snag a piece of drum equipment has sparked what might be the most peculiar game of musical chairs in recent memory.
Picture this: A young woman, cool as a cucumber, casually strolling out of Manchester’s AO Arena with one of Josh Dun’s custom drums tucked under her arm. When questioned, she didn’t break stride — just dropped the kind of matter-of-fact response that leaves security guards doing double-takes. “I’m taking it,” she declared, as if discussing her morning coffee order.
The drum in question wasn’t just any old percussion piece. We’re talking about a specially crafted SJC Custom piece, complete with distinctive acrylic shells adorned with artwork from the band’s latest album, “Clancy.” (Anyone who’s caught Dun’s YouTube deep-dives knows how passionate he gets about his gear — especially those transparent beauties.)
What followed could’ve been lifted straight from a crime caper, minus the smooth jazz soundtrack. The Twenty One Pilots faithful transformed into an impromptu detective agency, tracking the purloined percussion to a nearby hotel. Some fans even staged an all-night vigil outside — dedication that would make even the most seasoned groupie raise an eyebrow.
“I’ve had no sleep because we were keeping an eye out at the hotel,” posted one bleary-eyed fan. Somewhere, a security guard who spent the night in their car is probably still catching up on rest.
The AO Arena quickly jumped into damage control mode. Their spokesperson — probably suppressing an eye-roll — explained that the drum disappeared during one of those high-energy moments when the band was performing on the arena floor. Talk about taking audience participation to a whole new level.
The fandom’s reaction? Let’s just say embarrassment doesn’t begin to cover it. “This is so utterly embarrassing for the fandom,” one mortified fan posted. “After all these shows people have been so respectful of their equipment till now.” (Nothing like a rogue drum thief to shake up the community’s reputation.)
But here’s where it gets properly weird — apparently, the perpetrator kept insisting “Josh said to keep it!” Which, let’s be real, sounds about as likely as Taylor Swift showing up at your local open mic night. Though given the increasingly wild meet-and-greet stories making rounds in 2025, maybe anything’s possible these days?
The happy ending arrived when the touring team posted their triumphant recovery photo. “We have the drum!!!!!” they announced, probably while hugging the recovered instrument like a long-lost friend. The excessive exclamation points? Totally justified in this case.
As Twenty One Pilots continues their Clancy World Tour — with all drums accounted for and presumably under lock and key — this peculiar incident serves as a reminder that sometimes the line between superfan enthusiasm and… well, temporary insanity… is thinner than a drumhead.
Mind you, given the skyrocketing prices of concert memorabilia these days, perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised when fans try to snag their own souvenirs. Though maybe next time, stick to the t-shirt stand?
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