2025 Board of Directors, Band Officers
President/BOD: Kit Johnson
Pipe Major/BOD: Phil Hohenlohe
Pipe Sergeant/BOD: Jon Moritz
Drum Sergeant: Kit Johnson 
Drum Corporal: Marsha Fendler
Drum Major/Quartermaster: Mark Cadwallader
secretary: Kit Johnson
Treasurer: Phil Hohenlohe
BOD: Beth Foster
BOD: Eric Fendler

We have several active non-playing members
​who help with our band operations:



History

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The Pipes and Drums of the Black Devils, Inc. (PDBD) is a 501(c)3 bagpipe and drum band based in Helena, Montana. It was organized in September, 2013 exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. PDBD supports our community by performing in parades and public ceremonies, many of which honor veterans, peace officers, firefighters and other public servants. PDBD is the successor to the Shining Thistle Pipe Band, an unincorporated association that existed in Helena from 1998 until its dissolution in 2013.

We are very proud to be the official pipe band of the First Special Service Force (FSSF). To be associated with these WWII heroes who formed and trained in Helena is a tremendous honor. We wear the official tartan of the FSSF. We also wear their signature V-42 Stiletto. In September of 2012 we traveled with the remaining members of the FSSF and many of their friends and family to Washington, DC for their 66th Reunion. While there we performed at Arlington Cemetery, the Canadian Embassy and the WWII Monument in honor of the veterans. Many thanks to the Helena community for supporting us in this great endeavor! 

The band has performed at many events over the years since originally forming in 1998; some recurring and some one-time events. Below is a list of the events we have participated in over  the years, which help comprise our history and identity as a band.
  • Honoring the heroes of 9/11 on September 11th since 2001 at the Patriot Day Memorial Tribute.
  •  Performing for the reunions and anniversaries of the First Special Service Force (FSSF), also known as the "Devil's Brigade"
  •  Marching in the Ancient Order of Hibernian's St. Patrick's Day parades
  •  Performing for the Irish flag raising at the Capitol Rotunda on St. Patrick's Day
  • Honoring veterans in the East Helena VFW parades & the Ft. Harrison and American Legion services at Memorial Park on Memorial and Veteran's Day        
  •  Marching in the July 4th parades in Ennis and Lincoln
  • Marching and performing in the Townsend Fall Fest Parade and Fair every October, rain or shine!
  •  Supporting the Race for the Cure, Relay for Life and NAMI Walk with our music
  •  Performing at numerous elementary schools and throughout the Helena valley as well as Helena High School
  •  Organizing and participating in the 2006 FSSF Memorial Tattoo at Fort Harrison   
  •  Dedication of the Thomas Francis Meagher statue in Fort Benton in 2009
  • Sending off the MT Army National Guard Soldiers and Welcoming them Home from deployment in the Middle East
  • Military Unit Support (National Guard, Reserve, and Active)
  • Montana Missing in Action Project
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George Foster III, Mark Earnhardt, Les Owen and Beth Foster at the debut of the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" performance of "Frederick's Black Devils" march written in commemoration of the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the First Special Service Force, 04 February 2015. Taken in the ballroom of the Sheraton Pentagon, Washington D.C.