BACKBEATS A History of Rock and Roll in Fifteen Drummers

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. Yang's narration of these renowned drummers' profiles is steady and rhythmic--but could have benefitted from a bit more swing. D.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]