A Rolling Stone Best Music Book of the Year, this is an electrifying, superb (The Atlantic), and entirely fresh (Rolling Stone) journey through the history of rock and roll, told through the lives of fifteen iconic drummers and their percussion rivalsfrom John Bonham and Charlie Watts to Ringo Starr and Questlove.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. From Bernard Purdies legendary work with Aretha Franklin to Dave Grohls 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 doesnt stop therehe also shines a light on groundbreaking, underappreciated talents like Maureen Tucker of The Velvet Underground, whose minimalist beats rewrote the rule book, and Sam Lay, a pivotal figure in rocks evolution from the blues. Packed with insider stories and exclusive interviewsfrom Robert Plants reflections on Led Zeppelins legendary sessions to superstar recording engineer Steve Albinis behind-the-scenes accountsBackbeats offers a fresh perspective on some of rocks most unforgettable moments. More than just a tribute to an unrecognized group of virtuosos, this book is a love letter to the art of drumming itself.
