Wipe Out! The Beat Behind Surf Rock Drumming: A Technical and Historical Exploration of Drumming

Wipe Out! The Beat Behind Surf Rock Drumming, by Sean J. Kennedy, is the first comprehensive study of surf rock drumming as a serious rhythmic tradition. Moving beyond novelty and nostalgia, the book traces surf drumming's roots through jazz, early rock & roll, Afro-Cuban influence, and mid-century studio practice-revealing how groove, feel, and time shaped one of the most influential sounds in American popular music.Written by drummer, educator, and music historian Sean J. Kennedy, Wipe Out! blends historical research, musical analysis, transcriptions, and curated listening to illuminate how surf drumming developed-and why its rhythmic ideas continue to matter today.What's InsideA historical overview of surf rock drumming and its cultural contextExploration of rhythmic lineage from jazz to early rock & rollNotated musical examples illustrating key grooves and approachesCurated listening lists and multimedia resourcesPedagogical insight for drummers, educators, and students