Text reading Death Guild Thunderdoom in a spooky movie typeface

Death Guild Thunderdome is accepting donations to maintain equipment!

Every donation helps.

Originally established in 1999 as a Theme Camp at Burning Man in the Nevada Black Rock Desert, Death Guild Thunderdome grew out of one of the longest running gothic night clubs (Death Guild) in San Francisco. DGTD was borne of motorcycle-riding security personnel from Bay Area goth clubs and was intended to “provide a place for some good music” at the Burning Man event, primarily as an alternative to the rave culture at the time. Taking its cue from the famous Mad Max series of post-apocalyptic films, Death Guild Thunderdome erects a geodesic dome as an arena for “fights” to take place, hangs bungees from the top with harnesses for participants to be strapped into, and provides foam boffer “weapons” to each “fighter.” Participants swing through the Dome, pummeling each other while the music blares and camp members provide a post-apocalyptic ambiance and theatrical experience. For over twenty years, Death Guild Thunderdome has attended Burning Man and has also become a feature of the Wasteland Weekend event in California’s Mojave Desert. Death Guild Thunderdome is occasionally hired to do exhibition fights at events that are into that kind of thing.

The members of Death Guild Thunderdome are a diverse crew with occupations varying from doctors to mechanics, filmmakers to scientists, dancers to tech-industry executives, visual and performance artists to nonprofit directors. We all come together to create a shared immersive experience through the Thunderdome and its associated performance art.

Although originally started in the San Francisco Bay Area, members now also hail from all over North America, with a growing E.U. and British contingent.

Photograph of the hand-painted Thunderdome Rules Sign on the side of a geodesic dome. In the background is flat playa with an art car, camps and mountains in the distance under a blue sky with small white clouds.

The Rules for participation in Death Guild Thunderdome are simple:

  • Bring your own opponent, we will not provide one for you.
  • Fights last as long as we say.
  • We are always right.
  • Don’t bitch.
  • And when the sign goes on, come line up to fight.

Pinned Blog Posts

  • Jul 9, 2026

    Thunderdon't At Burning Man in 2026

    An Update from Death Guild Thunderdome

    After 25 years on playa (and two years off), Death Guild Thunderdome will be taking a break from Burning Man this year. We will be at Wasteland Weekend 2026, and we look forward to returning to Burning Man in 2027. In the meantime, if you see one of us strolling aimlessly about the playa, please approach gently, with Bud Light and soothing words.

    We will miss you. But our aim is getting better.

    Read more
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