Backbeats
A History of Rock and Roll in Fifteen Drummers
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Backbeats
Narrated by:
Eric Yang
Buy Now for £12.99
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Narrated by:
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Eric Yang
About this listen
Rock and roll thrives on rhythm, but the drummers who drive that pulse often stay in the shadows. In Backbeats, acclaimed music historian John Lingan brings these unsung heroes into the spotlight, delivering a fascinating journey through six decades of rock history.
Lingan’s deep research and vivid storytelling explores the lives of fifteen pathbreaking drummers and their fellow timekeepers—men and women who together laid down the beat of an era. From Bernard Purdie’s legendary work with Aretha Franklin to Dave Grohl’s funk- and punk-indebted swing for Nirvana, these drummers redefined what was possible in pop music. Iconic figures like Ringo Starr, whose inventive style transformed the Beatles, and Charlie Watts, the steady backbone of the Rolling Stones, take center stage. But Lingan doesn’t stop there—he also shines a light on groundbreaking, underappreciated talents like Maureen Tucker of The Velvet Underground, whose minimalist beats rewrote the rulebook, and Sam Lay, a pivotal figure in rock’s evolution from the blues.
Packed with insider stories and exclusive interviews—from Robert Plant’s reflections on Led Zeppelin’s legendary sessions to superstar recording engineer Steve Albini’s behind-the-scenes accounts—Backbeats offers an eye-opening glimpse into some of rock’s most unforgettable moments, including the seismic shift of Dylan going electric at Newport, James Brown’s explosive creation of funk in the late sixties, and the birth of LA thrash metal in the early eighties.
More than just a tribute to an unrecognized group of virtuosos, this book is a love letter to the art of drumming itself. Backbeats shows how these remarkable artists not only kept the beat but drove rock and roll forward. It’s a must-read for any music lover, offering a fresh and thrilling perspective on a story we only thought we knew.
Critic reviews
"Eric Yang takes a straightforward and unembellished approach with his narration of this celebration of rock ‘n’ roll’s most influential drummers. Many of the musicians profiled are household names—Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Dave Grohl, for example—but the best sections feature underappreciated geniuses like The Velvet Underground’s Maureen Tucker, who shunned cymbals and played an upturned bass drum with her hands. Author Lingan is clearly a drum nerd, and his research is deep, but he avoids jargon and writes with a clear style that will appeal to any music lover."
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