Rising star music historian and drummer John Lingan takes you on an electrifying journey through the history of rock and roll, told through the lives of fifteen iconic drummers—from 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: A History of Rock and Roll in Fifteen Drummers, 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 drummers who didn’t just keep time—they shaped the sound of rock and roll. From John Bonham’s thunderous power with Led Zeppelin to Questlove’s genre-defying grooves with The Roots, these drummers redefined what was possible in 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 electrifying 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, this book is a love letter to the art of drumming itself, revealing how these artists not only kept the beat but drove rock and roll forward. Backbeats is a must-listen for any music lover, offering a fresh and thrilling perspective on the story of rock through the eyes—and sticks—of the drummers who made it all possible.