Life in Double Time: Confessions of an American Drummer

by Mike Lankford

Anyone who has ever had a set of drumsor tapped out a beat on a tablehas fantasized about joining a band and going on tour. This gritty and hilarious memoir by drummer Mike Lankford takes readers on a wild ride, from the raucous garage band of his teenage years to the bright lights and slick sounds of his professional but small-time road band. Playing some serious blues and rock'n'roll and pushing the broken-down van in between, Mike Lankford shows us the unglamorous side of the music businessand takes us places we never thought we'd go.

Genres: Music

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Stevefk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this was something special. The best book written by a musician about a life in music that I've read. Clearly a born writer. His road stories are great, written sharp and clear, free of pretention and yet often reaching poetics, especially when describing music as it turns into magic. I read this back in 2002 and loved it, and it held up just as well in 2019. I wish there were more books centering around music that came anywhere near as fine as this one.

[BD · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic journey with a young soul into music

This book moves, travels, grows, & welcomes your time and attention. No conceit, duplicity, or false revelations…a young man sensitizing himself by hitting the road and playing his drums at the next roadside dive/bar/whatever.

[Rahul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A witty, beat-poet style account of the joy and pitfalls of being a drummer in the American Midwest. Like the guy you just met at a late-night bar was mentoring you.

[TCPils · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lankford gives us a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of life on the road as a professional drummer. Starting out as a teenage wannabe he follows his dream until it becomes a reality and finds out it's not all that he expected. Of course we can't hear the music but he sure tells some good stories. An entertaining and informative book with some very interesting characters.

[milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

i learned that all drummers go through the same things when they're up and coming. life on the road is not easy.

[Mauricio · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice tale of americana and music.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. A peek behind the music scene.

[Julie Nord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written--I second all the other reviews. And I urge people to read it!