
Logline
A musician's journey finally unearths what fuels the sticks behind modern rock's most FEROCIOUS DRUMMERS.
Get a backstage pass into the untold stories of drumming legends through never-before-seen footage and interviews. From mayhem to triumphs, get an inside look at your favorite bands from the drummer's perspective.
Summary & Trailer
FEROCIOUS DRUMMERS is an original groundbreaking documentary about rock's greatest rhythmic rebels and contemporary percussive legends. Rediscovered 17 years after it was first produced, this documentary features exclusive interviews with dozens of A-list music legends, as they chronicle their unique and unprecedented journeys through artistry and rockstardom.
Told through the lens of Billy McCarthy, author, musician, and industry veteran, this film is a fierce, raw, and unadulterated odyssey into the lives and careers of the greatest drummers of our time.
THE MAN BEHIND THE STORY:
Executive producer Billy McCarthy
Billy McCarthy (aka Billy Dior) was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs. A self-taught musician and classical pianist, he is most notable as a rock drummer with the 80s band D’Molls and author of his self-published memoir, Beat Me 'Til I'm Famous, which chronicles his experience navigating the music industry.
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McCarthy is a seasoned veteran of the recording industry, and has worked with legendary record producers such as Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Frampton) and Kevin Beamish (Kenny Chesney, REO Speedwagon).
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He was the exclusive music producer for comedian Rodney Dangerfield's son, Brian Jessy.
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In 1983, McCarthy co-founded the LA band, Screamin Mimi's, which introduced Poison's smash hit single, "Talk Dirty To Me," to a live audience in 1984. McCarthy also drummed alongside guitarist Izzy Stradlin of Guns N Roses.

In 2007, McCarthy embarked on a journey to interview the most renowned drummers in classic rock, pop, metal, and jazz. Thus, FEROCIOUS DRUMMERS came to life. Now, more than 15 years later, this footage is ready to be shared with the world. McCarthy has appeared in local and national print media, including; VH1, MTV, Fox, NBC, ABC, WLUP, PBS, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Chicago Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, Chicago Reader, Red Eye and more.

Billy McCarthy

Max Weinberg & Marky Ramone

Bun E. Carlos
THE FEROCIOUS DRUMMERS
Here are just a few of the 30+ famous (and infamous) rock music legends featured in the film.

CHAD SMITH
Red Hot Chili Peppers

MARKY RAMONE
The Ramones

MAX WEINBERG
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

STEVEN ADLER
Guns N' Roses

LIBERTY DEVITTO
Billy Joel

QUESTLOVE
The Roots

BUN E. CARLOS
Cheap Trick

CARMINE APPICE
Rod Stewart, Vanilla Fudge

MATT CAMERON
Soundgarden, Pearl Jam

CARTER BEAUFORD
Dave Matthews Band

ANDREW HURLEY
Fallout Boy

JAMES KOTTAK
The Scorpions

ATHENA BASS
Femme Fatale

STEVE JORDAN
Rolling Stones, John Mayer

CHARLIE BENANTE
Anthrax

JERRY GASKILL
King's X

GLENN HUGHES
Deep Purple, Trapeze

HAL BLAINE
Most Recorded Drummer in History
GET A GLIMPSE
DIRECTOR & ADDITIONAL TEAM
James "Jim" Yukich is a television and film director who has directed variety/comedy specials, live concerts, music videos, talk shows, and movies. He formed Split Screen Inc., and then FYI, an independent Film/TV production company, directing 500+ music videos, concerts, commercials, and TV shows.
He's directed the theatrically released A Fare to Remember (1999), as well as Double Dragon (1994). He has created comedy specials for Dennis Miller, Paul Reiser, Garry Shandling, Bill Maher, Katt Williams, Chelsea Handler, Martin Lawrence, Bruce Willis, Mo'Nique, Don Novello, and Bob Einstein.
In 1990, he co-created the Billboard Music Awards for FOX TV, directing and producing the show for the first four years.
Yukich has also directed over 1500 episodes of the late night talk show Chelsea Lately (2007) and over 60 episodes of Entertainment Tonight (1981).
Jim has continued to edit & direct music specials. Featured artists he has worked with include Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Jeff Beck, Shawn Mendes, Def Leppard, Fall Out Boy, and more.
He has won 3 ACE Awards, and has been nominated for 15 MTV Awards. He has also won 2 Grammy Awards, but has been nominated for five.


MICHAEL POLLACK
Producer
Michael Pollack has held leadership positions for more than 35 years in the legal, financial, and entertainment industries. Michael is the founder and former President of a litigation support firm that is today part of an international group of companies. He has held directorship positions for more than a dozen financial institutions that are both private and publicly held. Specializing for decades in M&A and Turnaround Management, he has spearheaded tens of billions of dollars of financing in commercial real estate, business, and entertainment-related transactions. Michael has acted as a consultant and trusted advisor to entertainment industry leaders for nearly forty years on the finance, production, and distribution of feature films. Stage and screen projects in which Michael has played an integral role in financing and/or producing have grossed more than $3 billion at the box office.

JOE DI SALVO
Producer
For more than two decades, Joe Di Salvo has been an advisor, counselor, and trusted partner to many iconic brands that have transformed key segments of the retail marketplace. He is the founder and managing partner of Di Salvo Howard PLLC, a boutique law practice that primarily works with private equity backed small- and middle-market branded consumer products in a variety of categories, including food, beverage, supplements, and personal care. As managing partner of the firm, Joe works closely with investors, founders, management teams, and boards to accelerate growth and maximize enterprise value. Joe provides strategic, insightful, practical advice and guidance concerning the critical functions of his clients’ businesses, including corporate governance, finance, operations, marketing, sales, intellectual property, human resources, and dispute resolution. Current and former clients include KIND® Snacks, Drunk Elephant®, Sun Bum®, Perfect Snacks®, Pirate’s Booty®, Pretzel Crisps®, Bare Foods®, Spindrift®, Vega®, Lily’s®, Ancient Nutrition®, Daily Harvest®, Justin’s®, The Honey Pot Company®, Briogeo®, and babyganics®, among others. Joe also serves on the advisory boards for Red Pine Capital Partners, LLC and MedPower, LLC.
Prior to forming Di Salvo Howard, Joe was vice president and general counsel for Glaceau, Inc., maker of vitaminwater® and smartwater®, where he played an integral role in the development and execution of the company’s growth and exit strategy to the Coca-Cola Company in 2007 for $4.1b. Joe began his career as a trial attorney with the law firm of McCarter & English, LLP, where he was a founding member of the firm's New York Office.
For the past six years, Joe has served as an adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School of Business, where he teaches Professional Responsibility & Leadership. Joe is also the director and producer of the documentary film Bronx Socrates, which is presently in post production, and slated for worldwide distribution in 2025.

PETER WALDMAN
Executive Producer
As founder of Waldman Music & Entertainment, est. 2001, Peter Waldman has successfully employed his classical music education in teaching, performing, and composing. He has scored the music for 12+ films (including films starring Mark Ruffalo, Ed Asner, John Savage, and Robert Carradine). As a former concert violinist, he studied under Michael Davis, Raphael Druin, Dorothy Delay, and Yo-Yo Ma.
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Peter has performed with world-renown musical artists Seal, Jackson Brown, Steven Stills, and John Waite.