h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's a military parade, stupid little men showing their power by banging loudly on defenseless instruments.

Nope.

It was a vain attempt to reclaim some respect for those who have the thankless task of Drumming in a band. Especially after the joke "Whaddya call someone who hangs around with musicians? - a drummer" began its circulation in 1965.

It's a little known fact that the song "The 12 Days of Xmas" was actually "The Eleven Days of Xmas" when in the 1960's an organisation of disgruntled drummers of popular beat-combo's and a selection of prog-rockers insisted on an extra verse being tagged onto the end to highlight the plight of the downtrodden Drummer.

Hence, the 12 Drummers Drumming are;

Ginger Baker
Nick Mason
James Henry Bonham
Keith Moon
The One Who Was In The Beatles Before Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Charlie "Solid-as-a-Rock" Watts
Phil Collins
Glen Frey
Roger Taylor
Mickey Dolenz
Roger Taylor (of Duran Duran - a later member).

They Shall Not Have Drummed In Vain.

Sorry... Not Glen Frey.

I meant Don Henley.

Possibly drummers refer to an old slang name for salesman, indicating the end of the festive season and the return to commercial activity.
Obviously with time this has lost its true meaning since now the opposite is true.

the only thing scary about a drum solo is that when it finishes, there is usually a bass solo

Thank Lud someone (you) pointed this out before it was too late! I hope everyone can see the importance of The Twelve now, and behave accordingly.