Michael Miley of Rival Sons on Why AC/DC Is Blues, & the DNA of Heavy Rock Drumming

AC/DC isn't hard rock. According to Rival Sons drummer Michael Miley, it's blues — pure, physical, groove-driven blues. In this clip from The Sonic Road, Michael breaks down the essential DNA of heavy rock drumming, tracing a direct line from the R&B feel of John Bonham to the tribal thunder of Ginger Baker to the deceptively simple pocket of Phil Rudd — and explains exactly how those heroes shaped his own playing. 🎸 Full episode out now → https://linktr.ee/thesonicroad ───────────────────────────── IN THIS CLIP: ───────────────────────────── ✦ Why AC/DC is fundamentally blues music — built on a simple, physical groove rather than complexity ✦ The R&B feel of John Bonham and how it became the backbone of heavy rock ✦ The tribal, primal energy of Ginger Baker and why it still resonates with modern drummers ✦ The deceptively simple power of Phil Rudd — and why playing simply is the hardest thing to master ✦ Michael's philosophy on influence and imitation: "Rip off your heroes, but you'll always be you" ───────────────────────────── FIND MICHAEL MILEY & RIVAL SONS ───────────────────────────── 📷 Follow Michael on Instagram: @mileyondrumz 🎸 Rival Sons: rivalsons.com ───────────────────────────── ABOUT THE SONIC ROAD PODCAST ───────────────────────────── The Sonic Road is your destination for deep conversations with the musicians, producers, engineers, and creatives behind rock and metal's greatest records. New episodes every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode → https://linktr.ee/thesonicroad