Unless you've been living on the Planet Fogey listening to Old Fart FM, you'll know that Rock Band 2 is the latest instalment of the genre-defining, smash hit video game for wannabe rockers. You'll also know that real stars leave all that chord bashing business to posers and give it some wallop on the drums. Tubthumping in front of the telly? What's not to love?

But how do you create percussive pandemonium and perform all those follow-the-leader style fills and beats without demolishing your peripherals? Easy, you buy Drum Rocker, the officially licensed kit designed for use with Rock Band 2. Kaboom-chi!

Created by electronic drum legends Alesis, this high quality kit delivers the most realistic drumming experience this side of Tommy Lee's drum riser. Designed to take a real beating, the Drum Rocker makes rival game-friendly kits look flimsier than cheapo ice cream tubs.


While other drum controllers lock you down to a pre-moulded array of pads, Drum Rocker's professional aluminium rack lets you tilt, swivel, raise and lower its snare, tom and cymbal pads into any position. What's more, the all-metal kick pedal comes with velcro strips and retractable spikes, so it stays put even when you're Chad Smith-ing your way through some serious Chili Peppers' track.

Unlike most drummers you won't be competing with your neighbour's broomstick-on-the-wall routine because the Drum Rocker's velocity-sensitive pads feature an ultra-quiet playing surface. Housed in high-impact plastic each pad boasts incredibly natural rebound - and that's just as well because some of the tracks on Rock Band 2 are flam-tastically demanding.


If you're really serious about emulating your heroes, you can even add a third cymbal and additional pedal (available soon as optional accessories), so you can smash your way to sonic nirvana and dugaduga those bass drums in true rock fashion. And if you still can't master Judas Priest's Painkiller, at least you'll know your drum kit isn't to blame. Boom boom!