Life in Double Time: Confessions of an American Drummer

by Mike Lankford

Presents a portrait of the musical life from Lankford's first garage band in high school to the road band that took him on the adventure of his life.

Genres: Music

256 pages, Paperback

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!