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No Beethoven: An Autobiography & Chronicle of Weather Report
No Beethoven chronicles the life and times of drummer Peter Erskine, with the legendary band Weather Report being the nexus to this first-hand account. Erskine was in the midst of the modern American jazz music scene as it underwent its most dynamic change. Peter Erskine is a musician of his times with incredibly rich stories to tell in this autobiography. Including never-before published photographs.
No Beethoven includes chapters dedicated to Weather Report and the musicians Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter, plus the bands Steps Ahead, Steely Dan, and artists such as Elvin Jones, Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Diana Krall, Steve Gadd, producer Manfred Eicher, composers John Williams and Mark-Anthony Turnage, et al. The book provides a revealing look at the creative process involved in performing music on-stage and in the recording studio, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how the musical instrument industry operates. This is a book for all musicians and fans of music. As famed drummer and Rush founder Neil Peart writes: No Beethoven is among the best musical autobiographies I have read. Peter's story is absorbing and compelling, full of well-drawn characters and incidents both humorous and serious. It flows with the same ease and naturalness as his drumming, and under that good-humored gloss, it conveys the same profundity of experience and ideas. This book should be read not only by every drummer, but by every musician. Even dedicated amateurs of music will find it entertaining and worthwhile.
No Beethoven includes chapters dedicated to Weather Report and the musicians Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter, plus the bands Steps Ahead, Steely Dan, and artists such as Elvin Jones, Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Diana Krall, Steve Gadd, producer Manfred Eicher, composers John Williams and Mark-Anthony Turnage, et al. The book provides a revealing look at the creative process involved in performing music on-stage and in the recording studio, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how the musical instrument industry operates. This is a book for all musicians and fans of music. As famed drummer and Rush founder Neil Peart writes: No Beethoven is among the best musical autobiographies I have read. Peter's story is absorbing and compelling, full of well-drawn characters and incidents both humorous and serious. It flows with the same ease and naturalness as his drumming, and under that good-humored gloss, it conveys the same profundity of experience and ideas. This book should be read not only by every drummer, but by every musician. Even dedicated amateurs of music will find it entertaining and worthwhile.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2013
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61 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 6, 2021
Breezy, soulful, packed with dishy anecdotes and genuine musical wisdom. Some forgivable cliches pop up.
July 31, 2014
This is primarily a biography by drummer Peter Erskine and is only very partially a "Chronicle of Weather Report" as given in the subtitle. Erskine's performances and recordings with Weather Report between 1978 to 1982 are certainly covered but that is a relatively small portion of the book. It is also a very small portion of Erskine's musical life but as Weather Report was probably the group with widest commercial success (esp. the years with bassist Jaco Pastorius which mostly overlapped with Erskine's) the reason for the highlighting is understandable.
Otherwise you will certainly learn an enormous amount about the wide variety of projects that Erskine has worked on during his 50-year or so career. Often you don't hear about the jingle and session* work that professional musicians do behind the scenes but Erskine is happy to talk about all of it. This is very low on stories that paint musicians in any kind of bad light. Presumably some enemies and rivals exist in the professional drum world but you won't hear about that here. Also, as opposed to those rock/jazz musician biographies that usually take a drugs & debauchery angle as their selling point, this collection of tales of musical encounters and anecdotes was almost completely free of that. So it was quite a complete pleasure to read and I found out about a lot of interesting music and musicians that I had never heard of previously.
*Biggest surprise to me was that Seth MacFarlane (of Family Guy, Ted, etc.) recorded a jazz crooner/big band album (with Peter Erskine on drums of course) in 2011 called "Music is Better that Words", and yes, he's a pretty great singer in the Frank Sinatra style.
p.s. The title "No Beethoven" is a quote from Weather Report keyboardist Joe Zawinul in one of his less profane moments when he simply said "I ain't afraid of no Beethoven."
Otherwise you will certainly learn an enormous amount about the wide variety of projects that Erskine has worked on during his 50-year or so career. Often you don't hear about the jingle and session* work that professional musicians do behind the scenes but Erskine is happy to talk about all of it. This is very low on stories that paint musicians in any kind of bad light. Presumably some enemies and rivals exist in the professional drum world but you won't hear about that here. Also, as opposed to those rock/jazz musician biographies that usually take a drugs & debauchery angle as their selling point, this collection of tales of musical encounters and anecdotes was almost completely free of that. So it was quite a complete pleasure to read and I found out about a lot of interesting music and musicians that I had never heard of previously.
*Biggest surprise to me was that Seth MacFarlane (of Family Guy, Ted, etc.) recorded a jazz crooner/big band album (with Peter Erskine on drums of course) in 2011 called "Music is Better that Words", and yes, he's a pretty great singer in the Frank Sinatra style.
p.s. The title "No Beethoven" is a quote from Weather Report keyboardist Joe Zawinul in one of his less profane moments when he simply said "I ain't afraid of no Beethoven."
December 13, 2015
Slightly misleading title as most of the book isn't really focused on Weather Report, that band being only a small part of Erskine's career in terms of years and discography. I bought the book for the Jaco bits and those anecdotes, along with the Zawinul stories are the best parts of this autobio. Along the way I learned I had more Peter Erskine in my collection than I realized (for example, Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now; Steely Dan's Live In America), which is unsurprising as he's played on more than 600 recordings. If you're not a drummer or haven't heard some of the music he's referring to, those parts can be tedious, but they also may inspire you to seek out some music you haven't heard before. A fun read overall.
March 18, 2025
And then
Peter Erskine joined Weather Report as their drummer for 1979's Mr Gone, and stayed with them for four years which many view as that stimulating band's finest hour. This period forms the central focus of his memoir - in particular his relationship with Joe Zawinul, the irascible, creative leader of the band. In an illuminating anecdote, this begins with Zawinul asking Erskine what music he was listening to during their first flight to Japan, and responding with a robust, magisterial dismissal when Erskine told him. Later on, after Erskine describes playing on Joni Mitchell's Mingus album, he reveals that she'd wanted Weather Report to back her on the subsequent tour (documented on the great Shadows and Light set), only for Zawinul to scotch the idea with the immortal comment "We ain't no f*****g LA Express" (an unflattering reference to her backing band on her earlier Miles Of Aisles tour).
The book is packed with such anecdotes and insights from Erskine's life and playing career with Weather Report, Mitchell (he also played on her orchestral albums Both Sides Now), and other luminaries such as Steely Dan (he drummed on their 1993 tour, partly documented on their Alive In America), Steps Ahead, Diana Krall, Kenny Wheeler (for example, on his interesting Music For Large And Small Ensembles), Elvis Costello (on North) and many others. For a fan of this music such as I, it's all fascinating stuff, and Erskine comes across as a gracious, grounded individual who takes care to acknowledge the contributions and skills of his colleagues, teachers and students, and only rarely allows any personal criticisms of individuals to slip out. A pleasant, entertaining read, which is strongly recommended.
Originally reviewed 24 November 2014
Peter Erskine joined Weather Report as their drummer for 1979's Mr Gone, and stayed with them for four years which many view as that stimulating band's finest hour. This period forms the central focus of his memoir - in particular his relationship with Joe Zawinul, the irascible, creative leader of the band. In an illuminating anecdote, this begins with Zawinul asking Erskine what music he was listening to during their first flight to Japan, and responding with a robust, magisterial dismissal when Erskine told him. Later on, after Erskine describes playing on Joni Mitchell's Mingus album, he reveals that she'd wanted Weather Report to back her on the subsequent tour (documented on the great Shadows and Light set), only for Zawinul to scotch the idea with the immortal comment "We ain't no f*****g LA Express" (an unflattering reference to her backing band on her earlier Miles Of Aisles tour).
The book is packed with such anecdotes and insights from Erskine's life and playing career with Weather Report, Mitchell (he also played on her orchestral albums Both Sides Now), and other luminaries such as Steely Dan (he drummed on their 1993 tour, partly documented on their Alive In America), Steps Ahead, Diana Krall, Kenny Wheeler (for example, on his interesting Music For Large And Small Ensembles), Elvis Costello (on North) and many others. For a fan of this music such as I, it's all fascinating stuff, and Erskine comes across as a gracious, grounded individual who takes care to acknowledge the contributions and skills of his colleagues, teachers and students, and only rarely allows any personal criticisms of individuals to slip out. A pleasant, entertaining read, which is strongly recommended.
Originally reviewed 24 November 2014
Want to read
January 23, 2024No Beethoven chronicles the life and times of drummer Peter Erskine, with the legendary band Weather Report being the nexus to this first-hand account. Erskine was in the midst of the modern American jazz music scene as it underwent its most dynamic change. Peter Erskine is a musician of his times with incredibly rich stories to tell in this autobiography. Including never-before published photographs. No Beethoven includes chapters dedicated to Weather Report and the musicians Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorius, and Wayne Shorter, plus the bands Steps Ahead, Steely Dan, and artists such as Elvin Jones, Joni Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, Diana Krall, Steve Gadd, producer Manfred Eicher, composers John Williams, and Mark-Anthony Turnage, et al. The book provides a revealing look at the creative process involved in performing music on-stage and in the recording studio, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how the musical instrument industry operates. This is a book for all musicians and fans of music. As famed drummer and Rush founder Neil Peart writes: No Beethoven is among the best musical autobiographies I have read. Peter's story is absorbing and compelling, full of well-drawn characters and incidents both humorous and serious. It flows with the same ease and naturalness as his drumming, and under that good-humored gloss, it conveys the same profundity of experience and ideas. This book should be read not only by every drummer, but by every musician. Even amateurs of music performance will find it entertaining and worthwhile.
May 13, 2024
Enjoyed every bit of this. Music history from a master surrounded by legends.
Read
May 10, 2015Great Read!
If your a drummer a musician or a lover of music you will enjoy Peter's stories of life on the road with one of the world's most amazing musicians. He also has much to say about his many projects and life experiences. All very positive and enlightening. What a life! What a contribution to the world of music. A man of true passion and it shows in his playing. One of the few living teachers and masters of the art of percussion. Also great insights into all the greats he has shared the stage and studio with. Good ink!!
If your a drummer a musician or a lover of music you will enjoy Peter's stories of life on the road with one of the world's most amazing musicians. He also has much to say about his many projects and life experiences. All very positive and enlightening. What a life! What a contribution to the world of music. A man of true passion and it shows in his playing. One of the few living teachers and masters of the art of percussion. Also great insights into all the greats he has shared the stage and studio with. Good ink!!
August 10, 2014
Every musician and every jazz or serious music lover should read this fabulous and insightful book by a great musician
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews