Pearl Drums developed a custom bass drum pedal called “The Hammer” for The Ghost Inside drummer Andrew Tkaczyk, who lost his right leg in a devastating 2015 tour bus accident. The device lets him play without a prosthetic and represents one of the most remarkable stories of resilience in modern heavy music. Watch the full story now.
On November 19, 2015, The Ghost Inside’s tour bus collided head-on with a tractor-trailer outside El Paso, Texas. Drummer Andrew Tkaczyk suffered severe injuries in the crash, including the loss of his right leg above the knee. Rather than step away from the kit, Tkaczyk was determined to find a way back to the stage.
The solution came from an idea by his father, Larry Tkaczyk. Playing with a traditional prosthetic leg proved clunky and introduced noticeable latency, affecting his performance. Working with Andrew, his father, and Pearl’s engineers, the three developed The Hammer, a thigh-operated bass drum pedal unlike anything in standard production.
Instead of being foot-operated, The Hammer uses a raised lever that rests under Andrew’s right thigh. By lifting and striking his limb directly against the lever, he activates a specialized bar-and-driveshaft system that triggers the bass drum beater. The result is a significantly more natural and nimble playing experience with reduced fatigue compared to a prosthetic. While “The Hammer” itself isn’t a brand-new invention, it is currently being highlighted as part of a new campaign celebrating Pearl’s 80th anniversary and their commitment to accessibility. The device is a custom, one-off build and is not available for retail purchase.
Andrew used The Hammer for The Ghost Inside’s triumphant 2019 comeback show at The Shrine in Los Angeles, one of the most emotional returns to the stage in heavy music history. It stands as a powerful statement that the desire to play music has no limits.
As of April 2026, The Ghost Inside is very active, recently confirming that they have begun writing new material following their 2024 album, Searching for Solace.