Blue Thunder pumps up Seahawks faithful

When the Seahawks moved into CenturyLink Field in 2002, they wanted to do something to fire up the fans.

Sure, they could have done another marching band, but that’s so passe. They went with something bolder; a big, booming drum line that’s become synonymous with the Seahawks.

“A drum line was decided because of the powerful entity that it can be with rhythm and music and everything, how it ties into your heart beat and rhythm is so much a part of our lives anyway,” said Keith Rousu, the director of Blue Thunder.

He’s right out of central casting for drummers; burly arms befitting a life-long metal drummer, a rocking goatee stretching down to his chest. But he also boasts a resume that includes stints in the University of Washington marching band and as a cheerleader for the Huskies and Sonics.

The group has always been surprisingly diverse. Over 30 members include everyone from school teachers to business people. They range from 21-55 this year, Rousu said.

“At one point, we had a woman who was 60 years old, and she was fantastic,” he said.

Several hundred percussionists audition for Blue Thunder each spring, ultimately chosen by Keith and several of his cohorts. The squad begins rehearsing in earnest soon after, learning several dozen different “songs” or cadences, and working out choreography to go with each.

“We rehearse on the weekend for four hours, starting in April, and then all the way through football season,” he said.

It’s far more complex than it seems on first blush.

While the group is made up of bass and snare drums along with a line of cymbal players, there are actually eight different sized bass drums alone.

“It creates different melodies and they’re all eight different individuals playing one part. Think of it like a bass player in a rock band who’s playing all different kind of strings,” Rousu said.

Game day is a long one. They arrive three and 1/2 hours before kickoff, warming up on the field before performing inside and outside Touchdown City at the CenturyLink Field Events Center. They then march down Occidental Ave., the members splitting off to different bars before reassembling and heading into the stadium.

They play from the Toyota Fan Deck above the south end zone during the game, before sending fans off on the plaza at the bottom of the stairs outside the north end of the stadium.

“It’s long, it’s tiring, but once the game starts &#8212 get that home field advantage and get those 12s loud and proud all day long &#8212 that keeps us going,” he said.

And sometimes they’re rewarded with guest appearances by some of the music world’s top drummers from bands like Yes, Heart, Tower of Power. One of Keith’s highlights was Pearl Jam and Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron sitting in with the group. He even arranged a version of the group’s “Jesus Christ Pose” for the performances.

Cameron was thrilled and told the other group members, and he’s hoping one day, they’ll actually be able to perform together.

They’re all part-time employees, but the job comes with plenty of perks – like playing at three Super Bowls over the last decade.

Keith says even cooler was the chance to play at a school for deaf students in New York during Super Bowl week before beating the Broncos.

They couldn’t hear the group, but they could feel it.

“It makes you feel good, you know,” he said.

But Keith admits it doesn’t always feel good, especially in a cold, driving rain.

“Sometimes I have to put on my best Yogi Berra and tell everybody, ‘Hey, our team is playing in it, we’ve got to go play in it too,’ he said. “And most people rise to the occasion.

There are plenty of occasions. Blue Thunder makes about 180 appearances a year at everything from parades to charity fundraisers. It can be challenging at times to juggle the group, work and life, but it’s worth it.

“You know we love what we do, we love to play the drums, we love to support the Hawks and just put a smile on people’s faces,” he said.