“Let There Be Drums!” is directed by filmmaker Justin Kreutzmann, son of legendary Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. The documentary’s goal is to explore the nature of what makes a drummer. Are they born this way or does that happen later in life? Is the driving force to create rhythm inherited and innate or is it a learned desire? You know, small, easily answered questions.
“Let There Be Drums!” will feature the last filmed interview Foo Fighter’s drummer Taylor Hawkins. Hawkins suddenly passed away in March of 2022.
Justin Kreutzmann explores these ideas by talking to many world-renowned drummers about their motivations and experiences. A clip featured in the trailer has Hawkins saying the “second I sat on the drums, it was like a bolt of lightning went through my body and I’ll never forget that day.” “Let There Be Drums!” will also have interviews with Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart (The Grateful Dead), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ringo Starr (The Beatles), Stewart Copeland (Police), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses), Adrian Young (No Doubt), Tré Cool (Green Day), and Jay Lane (Primus).
In addition to these first-hand interviews, producers have also gathered a collection of rare footage of several other influential drummers. Some of this footage includes outtakes of Keith Moon from the 1979 documentary about The Who, “The Kids Are Alright.” As well as footage of Led Zeppelin’s late drummer John Bonham talking about fatherhood and being a musician. Bonham’s son, Jason Bonham, often takes over playing the drums with the band’s surviving members.
All of this past and present footage combined will hopefully provide a more holistic viewpoint on what drives drummers. “Let There Be Drums!” is produced by Greenwich Entertainment and set for a theatrical and TVOD/EST release on October 28th via Prime Video and Apple TV+. This will be followed by a physical release on November 1st. You can check out the trailer below:
