Neil Peart

[Jason Dorn]

The legend he has probably been the second most influential rock drummer of all time behind John Bonham. I love everything about his playing his consistancy is second to none every note is played as intended the stick is the same height from the head the attacking angle the same. A machine he flows seamlessly through odd time and complicated multi time patterns. I noticed very early on long before I thought of becoming a drummer that there was something special about his playing he really took the progressive styling to a whole new level. I hear a Billy Cobham influence in his playing but where Billy had a little bit of slop (not a slam it was because he was pushing the boundrys and believed in preserving the integrity of the live performance) Neil strived to nail every part exactly the same every time. I have so much to thank this man for he has filled me with joy listening to his playing. He made me want to become a drummer I have only been playing 5 yrs but have been airdrumming since I can remember because of him. Also he has been an inspiration to me in life to continue drumming with the passion he has after the horrible tragedies in his life ( he lost his wife and daughter in the same year) drives me to overcome any obstacles in my life. Alot of people would say he is busy and doesnt play in the pocket but if you listen closley you will notice that he has a great ability to use space and not crowd the beat at all the appropriate moments. Imo the whole drumming world is a better place because of him.

http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Neil_Peart.html

[tylernator]

Couldnt of said it any better jason...Neil Peart is AMAZING!!!! He plays every single thing EXACTLY like the songs, And thats one thing i love about him. I think that shows true musicianship when you can play a song over and over again the same as the recording. His drum solos are also amazing too! I got the Rush live in Reo, and that solo is breath taking(especially when he gets on the electronic drum set). Rush is known for awesome guitar riffs, and crazy singing...but most of ALL, Neil Pearts Drumming!!!

[NUTHA JASON]

i have his work in progress dvd and he is such a down to earth nice guy. he has good advice but he seems so different from what i expected. how could the frowning drumming machine with the vicious fills and chops of rush be a gentleman and a scholar?

j

[G-money]

i have his work in progress dvd and he is such a down to earth nice guy. he has good advice but he seems so different from what i expected. how could the frowning drumming machine with the vicious fills and chops of rush be a gentleman and a scholar?

j

I have the DVD as well. The man is VERY intellegent. I started to read his book "Ghost Rider", which i believe was written because of the tragedy of his wife and daughter, but had to leave the book store. Great drummer, but further more a Great man! I am a better drummer because of him.

Ps. Does anyone know what happened to his wife and daughter?

[Bonham to the moon]

He plays every single thing EXACTLY like the songs, And thats one thing i love about him

thats why i dislike him, its like why would you want to go to a concert and listen to the SAME thing you would hear on the CD, i dunno, its kinda boring.

[Colin]

That's part of Peart's playing. You can't just go to a concert and expect the band to improvise and change every song on their set. Sometimes it's good just to hear what you're hearing on the CD. You get a sense of familiarity with it. For example, a certain fill or something small like a triplet in a ride pattern. Neil Peart is a perfectionist in his playing. You can't dislike him just because he chooses and remembers to play every exact note on a CD. It's irrational. Not every drummer has to change what they're playing, for a concert.

[Bonham to the moon]

well i think that i can choose what i like and dislike about just about everything thank you very much. And im not saying that you have to change everythig about every song. But when i pay 60 dollars to go see a concert, i want a little more than what i got back in my cd player. Not saying that the CD isnt good, but hell i could just put a CD on, close my eyes and pretend i was there if its going to be the exact same. Led Zeppelin, Santana,Floyd, The Who, and a ton of other bands will go out on like 10 minute jam sessions, and sometimes even more on some songs. You really hear what a band can really do, their not restricted to a 40 Minute double sided record. I dunno, just my opinion.

[DogBreath]

I've been a fan of opera my whole life. One of my favorites is The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). I’ve listened to it so many times over the years on tape that I know almost every note by heart. One year for my birthday, my girlfriend bought tickets for us to see The Marriage of Figaro at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is Los Angeles. We were young, and not rich, and we were probably the only couple there who didn't drive up in a luxury car. The place was beautiful, and the seats were great. The lights dimmed, the music started, and I was transported.



The opening scene takes place in the bedroom that will be shared by Figaro and Sussana after their wedding. Figaro is on his knees measuring the space that will be occupied by the nuptial bed. He calls out the numbers "Cinque... dieci.... venti... trenta!" exactly as I had heard them hundreds of times before, and I felt a thrill seeing the expression on his face while the familiar words were called out.



On and on the evening went, all the words exactly as I knew they would be, but now living things; all of the notes perfectly played by the orchestra. When the curtain fell for the last time the crowd was on its feet. This classic piece of musical theater had been executed faultlessly by a group of talented artists who realized that perfection is sometimes best expressed through perfect reproduction.



When I saw Rush in concert many years ago, the songs were performed with amazing precision. I was astounded at how closely the music matched the memories I had of all of times I had listened to the albums and heard the singles on the radio. Many bands riff and vamp. Many bands actually suck live and only achieve greatness through digital manipulation and post-production editing. Lightening, it is said, cannot strike the same place twice. Rush can strike home, with laser-like accuracy, over and over. Not all art is made better through riffing and improv. Some art is perfect just the way it is. I am thankful that Neil Peart has the ability to play my thoughts and memories just the way they are in my mind and heart.

[NUTHA JASON]

i am glad that both types of band exsist. it is as impressive to me when a band can perfectly reproduce their cd as rewrite them for a show. one day i will be lucky enough to see rush live (i hope).

j

[Jason Dorn]

The time changes in the Rush music and the odd patterns make it very hard to improvise in this music. There are also numerous sequences and animations incorporated into a Rush show that would make it impossible to improvise. I also must admit that some times it is fun to hear a band improvise but I've heard several bootlegs by some of the bands mentioned that IMO were not very impressive. I've never seen a Rush show (which I've done 13 times) or heard a live recording bootleg or otherwise by rush that wasnt amazing. See IMO the problem with improvising is that it can lead to Doodleing which IMO isnt really that awesome. The Song Remains the Same is a good example of a show that demonstrates Improv at a very high level. BTTM it certainly is your right not to like a drummer for this reason but IMO your missing out on some great music and drumming because of this. Nutha I strongly suggest you see Rush the next time they are around the last 4 times I've seen them they have played 3 plus hours of very high intensity music. See thats what amazes me so much about them theyre 50 plus years old and they jamm the donkey off for over 3 hours as much as I love a band like Tool which I really do the live show was only about an hour and a half.

[Bonham to the moon]

Dont get me wrong i do have mad respect for Peart, hes a very talented Drummer. I'm just not into RUSH, mainly because of Geddy Lee

[LiquidSoul546]

thats why i dislike him, its like why would you want to go to a concert and listen to the SAME thing you would hear on the CD, i dunno, its kinda boring.
to me that just shows his intellect with music. to play every note like how you recorded it so long ago. 2112 ?? insane haha. to me improve is always welcome in my book, but i think sometimes it's the lazy way out haha. cause your band could be groovin like you wrote it, then space out at play something totally different. but then again, when it fits it fits and i'm down with it.
peace

[jamsjr44]

Well being RUSH's Self proclaimed number one fan having seem them 23 times and counting. Neil Peart is I think the most influential drummer instead of Bonham, only because there isn't a drummer who hasn't air drummed to YYZ or the opening to Spirit Of Radio...LOL And once they broke on the scene everyone wanted to be Neil Peart. I read that the first time he was in Modern Drummer. Not to say Bonham wasn't influential because he was, but when you hear of Led Zeppelin you think of Jimy Page and Robert Plant first. But when you hear of RUSH, Neils is the first name you think about.

I have everything they have ever done on CD, VIDEO, DVD including all of their solo projects (Alex's CD, Geddy's CD and Neil's Burning for Buddy Rich CD).

I have always felt that this is the best trio in rock music. And what makes them stand out is their precision to carry out the tunes like they were written in the studio or live. They do improvise sometimes and do things different in some songs, so whoever said they didn't clearly hasn't watched them enough. Limelight is my absolute favorite Rush tune and if they ever changed it to sound different in concert I would be dissapointed.

I'm a huge Living Colour fan and William Calhoun fan, but the first time I saw them live, they overplayed so much it kind of got boring because their individual playing abilities seemed to be the focus, instead of their songs.

Neil may not be the most impressive visually technically sound drummer as far as a Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman or even Mike Portnoy, BUT all of them were heavily influenced by his perfection in his craft and his dedication to his instrument. The man went so far to change his playing style by studying with Freddy Gruber and his kit set-up to make himself better, how many of us would rededicate ourselves to re-learning how to play the drums after playing them the same way for years? Not many...

Whoever said he was boring, really does not have an appreciation for his drumming technique in my humble opinion.

Neil Peart will go down as the most recognizable drummer around for all musicians not just drummers. We all know the drummers but the hearing public and other musicians know who Neil Peart is. My two best budds have no idea who Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd or Dennis Chamber are, but ask them to name any drummer they would say Neil Peart and I love when others say that guy from Rush...LOL They may not know his name but they know who he is, that my friends is influence.!!

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

[Stu_Strib]

I find Rush's music to be pretentious, tedious and annoying.

ex.

"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice"

Are they serious? What horrible lyrics under the pretense of genius. Cutesy word play should be left to popular country music.

Thank god they at least have something interesting in Neil Peart on drums though.

If I sound like a disgrunted Rush fan, that's because I am. Everything up to about 1985 was so good, and its all been horrifying since.

[Jason Dorn]

I could agree with that somewhat Stu when Signals came out I stopped listening to Rush for awhile. IMO they had become soft and commercial so Iron Maiden became my favorite band for years. But I found after a decade I went back and discovered that I liked quite a few of the songs but not the whole albums. That was untill I heard Test for Echo and Vapor Trails. Test for Echo is a wonderful album in which Peart plays with a finess and grace that I hadnt heard in his drumming before not better but different which was refreshing. Vapor Trails was a whole new story possibly the heaviest Rush music ever and strangley some of the most groove oriented at the same time. If you havent listened to these albums ever or in awhile I suggest that you do I think you will be suprised they are both great albums and very different for Rush.

[jamsjr44]

Stu-Strib, so your saying from Power Windows which was released in 1985 and beyond has been horrifying? Just a suggestion I would really listen again. I wasn't totally thrilled with Roll the Bones CD, but it grew on me. As far as every other album within that time frame I think has been great Presto is an awesome album because it was the first time they went back to playing stripped down and not alot of sythesizers. I haven't got a chance to pick up their new album Feedback yet but I will.

As far as lyrics you should really read alot of them because Neil Peart writes incredible lyrics. All of their songs are truly about something. Most bands today lyrics are very weak in comparision.

And every band changes with the time, that's just the way it is. Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Living Colour ( whose last album was just awful!) all of them sound nothing like they did when they first came out if Led Zeppelin was still around their sound would have changed as well. And all of those bands I mentioned above have produced crap music since the late 90's or 00's. Even my latest favorite bands like Tool since 1993 and Sevendust since 1997 have changed the way they sound. Rush has produced 18 albums not including lives ones ( 29 in all) and still have a tremendous following. They didn't suffer the death that most hair bands did who are now only playing 500 seat venues because no one really wants to see them anymore. The TRUE Rush faithful has and will always remain. Come back to the dark side STU!!!...LOL

PS
What still amazes me the most is they did not replace members since Neil took over for John Rustey after their very first album, and that is dedication to each other and shows the true strength of a band survivng and changing with the times.

[kazzman]

I'm a huge fan of Peart's. He's been my main influence in my drumming.I can honestly say that without him, I probably wouldn't be drumming today.

[Stu_Strib]

Hey Jams- seems we are at it again ;-)

Grace Under Pressure was the last album of theirs I enjoyed. I keep waiting with bated breath. They really "jumped the shark" with that Aimee Mann tune.

Actually, the albums I am most disappointed with are Roll the Bones, Test for Echo and Vapor Trails.

I agree it is truly amazing that they have been together all this time, and I love the Rush Live in Rio DVD, because it has all the good tunes.

I guess, for me, they went away from their initial sound with these three albums, and I don't feel they really could pull it off. These records sound so out of place with current music, whereas up to 1985 or so, the music is timeless.

Summertime Blues is just an abomination. Such great musicians, and they put this out?

Again, disgruntled Rush fan (for 20 years now!) Regardless, the stuff up to 1985'ish is some of the best rock music ever recorded, and we can never take that away, even if they do a Brittney Spears cover album next ;-)

[jamsjr44]

Yes we are, but I truly respect your opinion that's what forums are about! I agree with you to some point I wish they could have stayed more in the Moving Pictures, Signals era but they would not have survived the changing of the times. That's why hair bands of the 80's died off.

Roll the Bones I'll give you..

Test For Echo was great to me...If you watch Neils DVD you may appreciate it more because he plays every tune on there and explains how he came up with the drum parts for it and they weren't read, He played them by feel...(had to throw one in :)

Vapor Trails I really like it has some of their late 70's style riffs and sounds going.

But being a RUSH fan takes alot because I know alot of people can't get past Geddy's voice but I love the guys!

[Kevlar]

I find a bit of cheesiness to some of Rush's music, but I enjoy them a lot anyway.
Neil is definetly a favourite of mine, and he has had one effect on my playing I've really noticed: when I first got my china cymbal I basically used it as an alternate crash, but after listening to "The Professor" it's been rarely used on downbeats.

[NUTHA JASON]

just a moderator's salute here to Stu_Strib and jamsjr44. these are two members who have disagreed in the past. in this thread they show a perfect example of how we can vociferously disagree in a mature way. these kind of supported respectful arguments are instructive and valuable to our forum. there is a wry sense of humour and plenty of evidence that they read eachother's comments carefully. respect to you both and ... more of the same.

j

[jamsjr44]

thanks for the compliments. The reason I like this forum is because people make good reasonable arguments instead of the usual "your stupid" or "he sucks" statments like they do on other forums. As much as I am for free speech it is nice to have a good well thought out disagreement.

So thanks to you guys (Dogbreath, Bernhard and the other moderators) for the keeping the forums clean and forcing people to think about what they want to say before they post it.

And for those of you who says someone sucks, think about it WE ALL DID at some point or another. And if you are talking about professional drummers then at least they are getting paid to travel the world, playing in the best venues, with the best musicians, and with the best FREE equipment to SUCK! While we sit here discussing them wishing we were in that situation

:-).

Thanks again guys!

[2112theaterdreamingfreak]

Who here has been to a Rush concert? I have once, the 30th anniversery tour, and it was unbelieivelby good(excuse the spelling). Neil Peart has to be one of the most talented drummers that has ever lived. I haven't been to many concerts (Incubus[2],vince neil,poison,skid row,HIM,) but nothing could have topped that show. The whole band was so tight and on all night. Nothing could ever be like that performance. How many of you have seen Neil in the flesh? What was it like? I always wondered how he graced the stage in the earlier days of Rush. Share your expericnes! I knew the second i layed eyes on that DW set it was going to be sweet.

[G-money]

I've never seen him play live, but I definitely love his style. The way he incorparates brazilian and afro-cuban beats is awesome! LONG LIVE PEART!

[Mike T.]

I first saw Rush on their Power Windows tour ('85) and have seen them on each subsequent tour after that (I think that makes eight shows in all). Neil has always done a wonderful job staying true to his original drum parts when playing live. He plays with incredible intensity, yet always keeps a calm look on his face which has become one of his trademarks. I've noticed his solos have become more elaborate in the last ten years or so. It used to be part of a medley but now they've become songs by themselves. Neil's style and kit have evolved somewhat in the past 25 years I've seen him, but he's always produced very inspired drumming.

[Speedy]

I haven't seen them in concert but I have watched the Rush in Rio Live DVD. It was amazing. It was so cool how he played what was on the albums. Love to watch it again sometime......

[kazzman]

He definently puts on a great performance, but quite frankly, I was more impressed when I saw Dennis Chambers play with Santana. I'm probably going to be castrated for what I'm about to say, but I've been finding Neil's drum solo's repetetive and boring as of late too. I know he can come up with something different, but it's virtually been the same formula for his solo since the Roll the Bones tour.

Snare/Rudiment
Toms with foot tambourine trigger
Snare/Rudiments again
Toms again
Midi Marimba
Back to the toms
cowbells for a few seconds
electronic kit
toms
jazz ending

[Speedy]

He definently puts on a great performance, but quite frankly, I was more impressed when I saw Dennis Chambers play with Santana.


I saw the drum solo he did a while back on tv and it was sweet. Very creative, but just not as much as Peart.

[2112theaterdreamingfreak]

I havent been exposed to a lot of drum solos. Peart's solo is the only one I have seen live. I really would like to see some other drummers like Chambers, Gadd, etc..ya know? That would be cool. This site exposed me to a lot. I had never heard of dennis chambers but i just saw one of his vids today on here and im like, whoa. He is awsome. I need to broden(ick) my horizons.

[Jaxles]

I saw Rush on their 30th Anniversary Tour a little over a year ago. And it was the first show of the tour in Nashville. I have a bootleg copy of the concert, and I love listening to it because Neil Peart was the first drummer I ever really liked (of course you could say the same for any other younger drummer starting out). He's got great intensity and is hella tight with his drumming. But Geddy Lee told us that night that since it was the first show of the tour, if we heard any mess-ups to just ignore them.

And Geddy was right to tell us that, because during the show "Earthshine", and I have a recording of it to prove it, Peart accidentally "overplayed" a fill and, wouldn't you know it, missed the 1 count. He recovered just fine, but it goes to show that even the best make mistakes sometimes.

And kazzman, I get what you're saying about Peart's solo structure, but I can only agree with you to a certain extent. While he does follow the same formula and structure in his solos, he does mix things up and add/subtract things so that even if it's the same formula, he's not playing the exact same solo from the last tour or even the last show note for note. In fact, the solo he played at the show I saw actually BEGAN with his electronic kit section, before moving on to the snare rudiments and foot tamborine trigger stuff.

--Jax

[finnhiggins]

I havent been exposed to a lot of drum solos. Peart's solo is the only one I have seen live. I really would like to see some other drummers like Chambers, Gadd, etc..ya know? That would be cool. This site exposed me to a lot. I had never heard of dennis chambers but i just saw one of his vids today on here and im like, whoa. He is awsome. I need to broden(ick) my horizons.

I saw Dennis Chambers play in London with Mike Stern a few years back. He did a solo which had the audience literally screaming in disbelief. Not entirely my cup of tea (either Mike Stern or Dennis' approach to soloing) but he's a mean drummer.

If you want to see choppy stuff, go have a look at the video of Morgen Agren here on Drummerworld and then try to track down the whole Trum video with Fredrik Thordendal playing rhythm guitar. It's something to see.

Other than that, I'd recommend checking out the solo on the start of "Agitation" by Miles Davis on "E.S.P". Even after all this time it still sounds fresh and the tone of the drums and cymbals is amazing. I've got a few other solos I like, but that's an all-time great.

EDIT: Oops, forgot to mention that last one was Tony Williams. Go get it!

[RTDRUMS]

Neil and Rush are possibly the biggest influence on my playing. While other kids were listening to new kids on the block and mc hammer I was busy jamming along too exit stage left. So, Thanks for everything Neil.

However, Over my "more adult years" I have been influenced by a number of different drummers. and I would have to say Neil would agree that he's no BuddyRich, Either way he's close infact, On the wall next to my computer there are two framed pictures I recieved from my Wife. One is Buddy Rich and the other Is the Professor.

[InnateDrummer]

I agree, Neil Peart has eanred the name Professor, because he is really awsome, i know im only 15 but i basically grew up listenen to Rush, so they're my fav. all time band, i kinda grew into them because my dad always played them, iv seen them twice in concert, not many, but enuff, i was all smiles those two night though! they ROCKED!

M3

[Blue]

I think he is the best drummer ever, in his own way. This might seem outlandish, but it comes from him being my first exposure to a superstar drummer, yet that impression persists through today. He's like a machine, inhuman almost with his precision. Such an inspiration to me as well. I remember being little and listening to the solo on Tom Sawyer, and just thinking, that's how a rock solo should sound. I was in absolutely awe, and that was the first time for me being in awe at a drummer He can play the simplest thing, and make it sound totally out of this world. I don't know how he does it. Like the sixteenth notes on the solo in Tom Sawyer, the ghost notes in YYZ (I don't know exactly where), and mostly, his choice of fills and where he puts them. It all seems so perfect, like he knows exactly what's going on. It's so cool.

[Stu_Strib]

Yes he is a machine, but like someone else said, that detracts from his playing. He's a great drummer, perhaps too great? hehe

Also, Live in Rio, man it was hard to watch him play...He looks like a 90 year old man fighting through arthritis.

I also don't share the same 'verve' Neil does for drum electronics. I heard him say something like electronics are the best thing ever, because you have every sound available....that's a slippery slope, because the next step is Pro Tools and a drum machine. How much would that suck to see Peart diminished to a Pro Tools engineer and drum machine sequencer?

[TubbyDrummer18]

Neil and Rush are the biggest influences in my playing as well. I know it sounds weird because im only 16, but after going to the concert in brazil and singing along to tom sawyer with 80,000+ fans it truly was an unforgetable experience

[beatz]

Hey does anyone have a full-fledged Neil Peart discography?

[Stu_Strib]

I'd guess its pretty much mostly Rush? I haven't known Peart to be a session legend like Porcaro or Gadd.

[DTKBigDawg]

Well, I'm a few days late on the accolades of Mr. Peart, but I have to chime in as well.

I'm 41 and have been a Peart and Rush fan since I can remember. Having only been playing my own kit for 5 years or so, I would say he is the influence that got me started and will keep me trying to improve. He's accurate, fast and perfect in all he plays. When I just joined up with you all here a few days ago, his was the first video I watched on this site. I'll keep watching and trying to get to that level. It may be somewhat insurmountable for me as a goal, but hey, it's a goal nonetheless.

Cheers, Mr. Peart and thanks.

[stagecustom]

i just saw that animated video, and i have to admit pretty cool. Tell you the truth i have never payed attention to neil, but im starting to really notice him now. I have always respected him, as i do every drummer, but now im really starting to notice.


peace and love

[CJdrumfan]

Neil Peart is my ALL TIME FAVORITE drummer. Incredible, imaginative solos, creative fills, and (I don't think this has been mentioned yet) some really cool patterns on Rush songs like Mystic Rhythms, The Body Electric, Scars (played with foot triggers and hands on kit, sounds like two drummers!) Leave That Thing Alone, and I could drone on and on...

How about that little gem off Caress of Steel, Didacts and Narpets? YEAH! Ellwood rocks!

[ChrisD]

Neil has been a very big influence on not only my drumming but also his approach to writing lyrics as well.Just listening to some of their 10-minute plus songs such as the "Cynus" series off of "Farewell to kings" and "Hemispheres" or "La Villa Strangiato" or "Xanadu" or even the groove at the intro of "Sundivisions" and you realize that this is no ordinary drummer.He even played all of his parts on Rush in Rio exactly.Now come on,that takes some skill to go back and play 20 year old songs perfectly.That is why he looks like he is concentrating ...it is because he is!! It must take some concentration to play a song exactly!! I also think of Peart as the definite drummer above John Bonham.The only track I ever really appreciated from Bonham was "Fool in the rain" and perhaps "Moby Dick"but Peart...well....he has a vast catalogue of great tracks.Even the great Buddy Rich said in the eighties that he though Neil Peart was the best drummer in the world.

[fusssion]

being 39 ...i've been listening to Rush and been a big admirer of Peart myself....I've seen him many times live and witnessed the progression of his beautiful custom stained Tama kit from Moving Pictures all the way thru to his transformation to the DW's after his time w/ Freddie Gruber......

The fact that he DOES do each tune AS RECORDED live is great! Seeing what you hear on your CD live is what you're going for....right ?

And....his solos.....well....his solos are "orchestrated" ....his solos are very different from most other drummers ...(big surprise right ? :-) ) anyhow.....

His solo has changed ....SLIGHTLY thru the years.......still a great piece of work!!

Great drummer.....great man........been thru a lot..........much much respect!!!!!

Great thread all!!

[averysexyllama]

Neil has been my major influence since i first began drumming, though he wasnt number one on my list at the time. This guy is amazing, he certainly has done alot for music, as far as percussion goes.

[Pratt]

Yes he is a machine, but like someone else said, that detracts from his playing. He's a great drummer, perhaps too great? hehe

Also, Live in Rio, man it was hard to watch him play...He looks like a 90 year old man fighting through arthritis.

I also don't share the same 'verve' Neil does for drum electronics. I heard him say something like electronics are the best thing ever, because you have every sound available....that's a slippery slope, because the next step is Pro Tools and a drum machine. How much would that suck to see Peart diminished to a Pro Tools engineer and drum machine sequencer?

well, I feel sorry for this...

to say all this, mr "stu", you should at least have taken some time to know the right name of the album...

and no, you didnt hear him saying "something" like you said you did. but it seems you´d be pleased if he some day moved to pro tools (wich, by the way, if he did, he would have done with the authority that only him could ostent - he owns nothing else to our legacy!) .

I´m sorry if I didnt catch what you mean, but in case I´m right, terrible sorry for you and your poor irony...

[Pratt]

hey, has anyone watched the yyz video on Neil´s page? its awsome, if you didnt, take a look!

go to it through

www.rush.com

[Hammerhead]

hey, has anyone watched the yyz video on Neil´s page? its awsome, if you didnt, take a look!

go to it through

www.rush.com

Cool!! must have taken a long time to finish...
I saw rush in september last year in Stockholm, Sweden.. First conert in sweden since the mid -eighties! And of course i`ve heard the albums and yes he plays alot like the albums when he plays live.. but still, it`s impossible to compare! i admire his technique. A human metronome!!
and i`ve also seen Dennis Chambers and i can`t really see how one can compare Chambers and Peart like a few did.. To me they are two completely different drummers. I have difficulties comparing two drummers in generall for that matter.. But maybe thats just me:)
By the way: excuse me if my english is not that good.. I`m from Sweden and i`m not use to write in english:)

Cool forum by the way!!

[Pratt]

[QUOTE=Hammerhead]By the way: excuse me if my english is not that good.. I`m from Sweden and i`m not use to write in english:)

QUOTE]

dont worry hammerhead, my "brazilian" english isnt so good anyways, and still they haven´t kicked me out from here, hehe!!

[Hammerhead]

[QUOTE=Hammerhead]By the way: excuse me if my english is not that good.. I`m from Sweden and i`m not use to write in english:)

QUOTE]

dont worry hammerhead, my "brazilian" english isnt so good anyways, and still they haven´t kicked me out from here, hehe!!

hehe, thanks, no i feel a lot safer around here:D

[Drummer_Boy]

hey, has anyone watched the yyz video on Neil´s page? its awsome, if you didnt, take a look!

go to it through

www.rush.com

Yeah, I saw it, it was really cool. I like those graphics :P

[craigwikert]

neil is a great drummer. he's not extremely technical and his chops arent mindblowing, but his performances on odd time signatures with rush is so smooth and flowing that you cant even tell that it isnt standard 4/4.

anything to add?

[jamndrummer]

craigwikert


neil peart

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

neil is a great drummer. he's not extremely technical and his chops arent mindblowing, but his performances on odd time signatures with rush is so smooth and flowing that you cant even tell that it isnt standard 4/4.

anything to add?

I have seen Neil perform on their 21112 Tour years ago. That guy does have some chops. He plays a unique style to fit the bands music. I also heard him play some jazz for the Buddy Rich Tribute. Im not really into RUSH anymore but Neil can play.

[ZeppelinJB]

oooh deff. Agreed. He's amazing. Like you said not technical but just good. Best performances in 2112, Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer, probably already know that. He's of my influeneces along w/ IMO the greatest rock drummer Johnzo Bonzo[john bonham]lol, but Neil is excellent...so is Rush.

[DrumNut]

I wouldnt say Neil Peart is not technical. He's very advanced, especially for the fact its in the context of a popular band.

[Thinshells]

Neil is semi technical, but he approaches the patterns and fills as to what would sound good within the context of the Rush tune. He explained that well on his DVD, as did Jamie Borden on "Rush licks"

I have all of Rush's albums, and they sound like a whole different band between 2112 and now. Neil has matured along the way. I really like his drumming on signals, hold your fire and the darker, "Test for echo"

He goes for a feel, and achieves it well.

[Jason Dorn]

Neils chops might not be "Technical" but there damn good and his composition and use of time signatures is extraordinary. A great example of this can be realized by counting the song Driven from Test for Echo.

[Thinshells]

Neils chops might not be "Technical" but there damn good and his composition and use of time signatures is extraordinary. A great example of this can be realized by counting the song Driven from Test for Echo.

Test for echo has a cool dark quality about it, and I really like the guitar intro to "driven."

[mlehnertz]

I'll add my Neil thoughts. I saw Rush twice back in the 1980s or early 90s. I was on the floor for one of the tours - the one with the big red balls. I'm trying to remember back.

1) Chops out the kazoo.
2) His mechanics are terrible. It was almost like he had casts on his wrists they were so stiff. He looked akward and uncomfortable but you didn't notice it in his playing.
3) I would always leave the concerts thinking "I could have stayed at home and listened to Rush albums." The drumming was a carbon-copy of the studio recordings.

Don't get me wrong, I think he's a great musician and I really enjoy Rush songs but after seeing him in concert, I was a bit turned off by Neil as a drummer.

On a side note, didn't he evolve from a drum corps drummer to the set?

[Jason Dorn]

The new Peart video Anatomy of a Drum Solo is coming out nov 1 the same date R30 should be released really looking forward to these videos.

[Greg]

I have been a Rush fan since 1978 and Neil has been a huge influence. After watching the Work In Progress DVD, I came away with the feeling that Neil truly does "study" drumming and music and that is what makes him as great as he is. At times I find his fills a bit repetitive, but I wouldn't trade his chops!! Neil brings out so much variation in his playing style that it kind of sucks to pigeon hole him in the genre of "rock." He is obviously so influenced by big band and jazz and swing that you have to believe he would make a similar impact in those circles as well. Listening to the Burning for Buddy CDs is testament to the fact he is not just a timekeeper. On the horizon, I see John Blackwell gaining the same kind of accolades as Neil. If you haven't seen John Blackwell play live, you have missed out on a one of a kind treat. Glad to be on this forum!

[Sabian_Dragon]

The other important thing to remember is Neil Peart plays in what I like to call "Happy-Medium" mode. He shifts along with the complexity of the entire band; when the guitar/bass has a complex rhythm, he backs off with a simple beat; when the guitar/bass are simply pumping out the same three-chord monotone, he starts going into his own world of complexity, primarily with the ride cymbal and bass drum.

This is an important skill for drummers to have. Over the years, I've noticed that too much complexity can lull an audience to sleep just as bad as too much simplicity. Music is an expression of emotion in its purest form, and thus, the entire band needs to share the weight as opposed to just one player. Therefore, while some drummers might curse Peart for playing the same "monotonous" rhythm in each of his songs and say that about 95% of his playing is as common as any other drummer, the important thing to remember is that Peart is allowing the rest of the band to express their music as well. He's a wise drummer in the sense that he saves his best talents for when they are needed most.

For those who say that Peart is overrated because he plays the same thing over and over again, be aware that a lot of his stuff is very methodical as opposed to improvisational. Peart has such a scientific mind (just read his lyrics and, if you get a chance, Ghost Rider) that he sees everything in a plug-n-chug mode. He may play the exact same thing for the same song, but in my opinion, a drummer who practices one thing a thousand times is better-versed in percussion than a drummer who practices a thousand things once.

That's my schpeel.

[Fish]

Although I think it's impossible to rate any drummer as the "BEST EVER", this guy has to come close.

Unfortunately, RUSH have never toured in Australia. Damn shame that. They are not well known over here to crappy mainstream radio stations who would rather plug talentless manufactured "Idol" tools then run great bands who can actually play. But every muso knows them, wants to be able to play like them, and have been waiting 30 years for them to come down under. They would fill stadiums no problem, but I'm not sure they know that.

Peart's solo's are the best I've ever seen, his speed and clinical execution is nothing short of brilliant, that's a personal view, ....would be nice to see live though....

[Thinshells]

Although I think it's impossible to rate any drummer as the "BEST EVER", this guy has to come close.

Unfortunately, RUSH have never toured in Australia. Damn shame that. They are not well known over here to crappy mainstream radio stations who would rather plug talentless manufactured "Idol" tools then run great bands who can actually play. But every muso knows them, wants to be able to play like them, and have been waiting 30 years for them to come down under. They would fill stadiums no problem, but I'm not sure they know that.

Peart's solo's are the best I've ever seen, his speed and clinical execution is nothing short of brilliant, that's a personal view, ....would be nice to see live though....

You know, Rush tours where the album sales are. It seems to me if they can Pack the house in RIO, they really should tour Australia. I wish there was a way for the Ghostrider to see this and put it on his ajenda. Autralia is a big country, and I bet Rush would do well there.

[drummerdude2112]

NEIL PEART IS THE REASON I STARTED TO PLAY THE DRUMS. HE ROCKS!!!!!! AND SO DOES RUSH!!!!!!

[Fish]

You know, Rush tours where the album sales are. It seems to me if they can Pack the house in RIO, they really should tour Australia. I wish there was a way for the Ghostrider to see this and put it on his ajenda. Autralia is a big country, and I bet Rush would do well there.



They would do very well here. And they wouldn't have to tour the whole country, just the East coast - Melbourne and Sydney. I'm in Perth on the West coast, which is probably too small for them, but I would take the 4 hour flight east to see them, as I'm sure many would.

More and more of the bigger international bands are beginning to tour Australia. Foo Fighters come here a bit, they have played at some great festivals. Motley Crue are touring with Motorhead next month, to name a few.

I'm sure the Professor would enjoy some time out riding the Australian coastline too.

[finnhiggins]

Or they could just play IT conferences in the UK...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/30/music_poll_results/

[Thinshells]

I am designing my next maple kit (one possibility) to copy either the mahogany superstar kit or the bright red "weapon" Artstar prototype kit Neil used. I have always wanted that kit.

[Womble]

I have somehow reached the age of 24 without ever hearing so much as a snippet of a Rush tune. Jealous, Finn? But one thing I've never forgotten was the '25 Greatest Drummers Poll' in the 25th Anniversary edition Modern Drummer. In it, the magazine readily praises 24 of the drummers, offering its own opinion as to why they are correctly esteemed.The Neil Peart summary, however, reads like this (emphasis added):

"The most influential rock drummer of all time, Neil Peart's work with the progressive-rock trio Rush is considered to be classic. Many drummers relate to and are excited by Peart's powerful big-kit approach..."

I wasn't left in much doubt as to what the writer on that feature thought of Neil Peart!

It really is about time I listened to it myself, though. ThinShells, perhaps you could recommend me your favourite album?

[Thinshells]

I have somehow reached the age of 24 without ever hearing so much as a snippet of a Rush tune. Jealous, Finn? But one thing I've never forgotten was the '25 Greatest Drummers Poll' in the 25th Anniversary edition Modern Drummer. In it, the magazine readily praises 24 of the drummers, offering its own opinion as to why they are correctly esteemed.The Neil Peart summary, however, reads like this (emphasis added):

"The most influential rock drummer of all time, Neil Peart's work with the progressive-rock trio Rush is considered to be classic. Many drummers relate to and are excited by Peart's powerful big-kit approach..."

I wasn't left in much doubt as to what the writer on that feature thought of Neil Peart!

It really is about time I listened to it myself, though. ThinShells, perhaps you could recommend me your favourite album?

Well, Chronicles has a great cross section of tunes. The Rush in Rio DVD is amazing.

[Daddy-o]

Neil has evolved over the years so, I would recommend starting at the beginning. Fly By Night is the second Rush album and the first album with Neil. You will hear many of his signature rhythms on this album.

Many people are turned off by the style of music or Geddy Lee's vocals. Even if that's not your cup of tea, it's worth spending some time listening to the various Rush albums to hear the magic that is in that guys hands.

Daddy-o

[Fish]

Yeah, some people have asked me if the singer was female!

I think after you get used to it, you realise that Geddy's distinct voice matches their style perfectly.
But the main drawcard to RUSH is that they are all masters of their respective instruments and they play live with incredible force and accuracy. No, I haven't seen them live personally, but have several live video's and CD's.
Have a look at "A Show of Hands" on video, not just at the drumming, which is wild, but check out Geddy's ability with the Bass and keyboards and of course singing while he's at it......just remember to take a breath every now and then!!

A couple of great live CD's to get are:
"All The World's a Stage" from a 1976 concert, the song "Anthem" is just nuts.
and,
"Exit...Stage Left" this of course has the best drum solo I have ever heard, "YYZ". (please no Moby Dick fans get upset..I love that too!! ) Check out Neil's website for a great animated version, very cool.

Cheers!

[rude-i-mental]

so neil plays every note. every time. you cant. you get mad. totally understandable. i was in a drum corps for a couple years and i asked the director why it was necasary to play the piece right every time and if the guys at the top ever made mistakes. he said they did not make mistakes because there were 200 other guys out there who would be willing to fill the spot and they would play the part if i could not. so i practiced. neil is lucky to be able to play his own licks on the big stage. practice, practice, practice.

[fasthands]

THIS SITE IS UNREAL!!!!!

Ive got to say its the first time i have heard neil and un technical in the same sentence.

I met neil 1988 when i was in Toronto doing a tattoo in the Skydome with my own band.

He came over to us and complemented us on our technical ability.

He then asked me to show him some of our own more technical movement.

Things like flam para triplets, paradiddle diddles which were not heard of in kit drumming at the time and open single work including doubles with 5s and 7s.
Neil uses all of these movements to this day and picked them up reasonably quickly( much much much quicker than any other kit drummer i had came across) and to a high standard.

How many missed notes or rim shots do you hear between drums?
How many missed notes when he plays single runs?

[candlemass]

I can understand the people that criticize Neil for his lack of improvisation but... COME ON! Does he even need to improvise? Neil is the "brain" of the band, Alex Lifeson is the one who has this rock 'n roll soul and who improvises. As for his solo, it's still very interesting to watch, specially for non-drummers. Better than those drummers who make rudiments solo just for the crowd to go 'yawn'.

I'm influenced by Neil not only on drumming, but as a person too.. he's very intelligent, not like the rock stars who just sit at home drugging themselves and banging groupies. He gets his bike and goes to Mali; Travels to China, etc., his philosophy of life really influences me. His lyrics might seem unconventional at times, but there's much more in them than in a "I wanna Rock!! Rock!! I waaaant to Rock" kind of tune.

I remember I got to have drum lessons at the same time I got to hear Moving Pictures for the first time, and my teacher was a huge Rush fan as well, and he gave me "Drum Techniques Of Rush". I still run to the book whenever I want to get inspiration for some drumline.

I have transcribed a few songs for the Rush Tablature Project (http://www.cygnusproductions.com/rtp), you might want to check it out!!

See you,
Edu

[mrocktor]

Peart got me interested in playing music again, after a long time. His lyrics also were what lead me to better understanding my own philosophy in life. That said, I'll comment on some of the previous posts and then summarize my opinion.

thats why i dislike him, its like why would you want to go to a concert and listen to the SAME thing you would hear on the CD, i dunno, its kinda boring.

You definitely do not hear the exact same thing as on the CD. Rush improvises, they just don't mess with their songs (with the exception of Alex, who changes his solos). They jazz up song beginnings and endings, bridge songs etc. Also, the energy they play with when live makes for an incredibly different experience when compared with the crystal clear, laboratory grade precision of most of their recordings.

If you had seen "Natural Science" as it was performed in São Paulo, you would understand what I mean.

The crux of the matter is this: Peart is a perfectionist. His drum parts are crafted for perfection, in content, expression and execution. I am quite sure that he would consider any "changed" version he could play live as worse than the original. Unlike most of the bands out there, Rush sogns are a cohesive engineered whole - you can't change something and make it better (or as good) just like that.

"If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice"

Are they serious? What horrible lyrics under the pretense of genius. Cutesy word play should be left to popular country music.

It is genius, you just didn't understand. I'll have to refer you to the philosophy of Ayn Rand.

If I sound like a disgrunted Rush fan, that's because I am. Everything up to about 1985 was so good, and its all been horrifying since.

Show don't tell, Dreamline, Bravado (one of the top 5 Rush songs in my opinion, which is saying a lot), Animate, Leave that thing alone are all excellent. I do agree that most of the best material is in the period up to Grace Under Pressure. Horrifying is taking it way too far. The only CD I don't play frequently is Test for Echo.

I'm probably going to be castrated for what I'm about to say, but I've been finding Neil's drum solo's repetetive and boring as of late too.

Me too! To be honest, the "A Show of Hands" version was so good, I'm sad he changed it.

Neil never struck me as any more of an ego maniac more than any other extremely excellent world-reknown drummer.

Neil Peart is a humble person.

If being humble means acting as or beleiving you are less good than you are, I can assure you Peart is nothing of the sort. Peart is an Objectivist, which is clear from his lyrics. This philosophy is based on strict adherence to reality, with no softening or accomodating. He is most likely very aware of how good he is, and acts accordingly.

Being the best at something and proud of it does not make you a bad person.

I agree entirely with your post Sabian_Dragon. Peart does not write a drum part to be played along with a song, he writes part of the song itself. The drumming in Rush's songs is as essential as the guitar riffs or bass line.

While this means that Peart's drum parts are not constant exercises in virtuosism, it actually makes him a better drummer. In my opinion, the best.

mrocktor

[morphe]

Am i the only one who's noticed that neil peart isn't that tight when performing live?

[Thinshells]

Am i the only one who's noticed that neil peart isn't that tight when performing live?

I have heard upon occasion, he does goof. in fact, during one concert he dropped his sticks 4 times.

I have seen him live twice. He was flawless.

[candlemass]

I was there in the recording of Rush In Rio, and I remember clearly that he missed a fill in "Limelight", but they probably "fixed" it in the studio.

As for Rush's lyrics, sometimes they almost get to the level of pretentiousness, but songs like "Subdivisions", "The Trees"... it's music for the mind, it's not stuff like "I'm gonna rock and roll all nite". Not that the latter isn't good music, it's just that we must have a balance (see the lyrics in Hemispheres, damn, you just can't stop quoting Rush :P)

[GAZZASCOTLAND]

yup...neil peart has been a favourite of mine for many a year...have seen them 4 times now..the last one was earlier this year in glasgow...the sound was awsome and the sound from neils kit was quite stunning....i have his dvd which was very informative...at the glasgow gig though,they made a total blunder at the start of spirit of radio...alex and geddy looked at neil....neil just glimpsed up and gave a wry smile at them both...a brilliant moment,showing they(he) are human afterall....drum solo out of this world..i have seen more technical solos,but,great rythym and showmanship thrown in for good measure...he just looked so relaxed and totally into it....what a man....long live pearty

[Class A Drummer]

In my opinion Neil Peart is the greastest drummer of all time. I have not seen a better or more influencial drummer ever. I have been drumming since i was 6. My faveriote stuff to play is his music from my rush drum books. I have mastered led Zepplin, Nirvana, (just started steve gadd music), and of course rush. The drumming in rush is by far the hardest and most fun to play. To all you haters out there of Neil saying hes "one of the best but i dont think he is as good as..." I say get a clue. If you can find a better drummer then let me know.

[theorist]

i am glad that both types of band exsist. it is as impressive to me when a band can perfectly reproduce their cd as rewrite them for a show. one day i will be lucky enough to see rush live (i hope).

j


i waited 20 years to see them. i got to see them in 2002 in pittsburgh. it was magic. neil...well, what can i say. i was so moved it brought tears to my eyes.

[TOMANO]

Neil Peart is a craftsman and his passion for drumming comes through in his performances. He puts great emphasis on composition and his approach is always one of continual growth. He is also indirectly responsible for countless commission checks to music store employees selling multiple-tom-double bass-dozen cymbal sets as first kits to innumerous kids in suburbs throughout America!

TOMANO

[CJH2112]

Neil Peart is my main influence and I think he is the best at what he does bar none. He has the respect of every drummer around because of his professionlism and his dedication to the art of drumming. He is also the most humble drummer in the world. I am a better person and drummer because of Neil and RUSH.

www.shakedowncruise.com

[King Crimson]

I sat(actually stood) on the 3rd row last year for their 30th tour.

I made the mistake of watching his footwork on a few songs.

My God!

I'm not smart enough to say why he is so good.

But he is the best that I have ever seen in 43 years.

[Zildjian232]

ive been thinking a lot about danny carey vs neil peart sort of thing. i know they play differnt types of music but they would have to be pretty damn close to each other on the list of best rock drummers. what do you guys think?

[Builder]

I've been a fan of opera my whole life. One of my favorites is The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). I’ve listened to it so many times over the years on tape that I know almost every note by heart. One year for my birthday, my girlfriend bought tickets for us to see The Marriage of Figaro at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is Los Angeles. We were young, and not rich, and we were probably the only couple there who didn't drive up in a luxury car. The place was beautiful, and the seats were great. The lights dimmed, the music started, and I was transported.



The opening scene takes place in the bedroom that will be shared by Figaro and Sussana after their wedding. Figaro is on his knees measuring the space that will be occupied by the nuptial bed. He calls out the numbers "Cinque... dieci.... venti... trenta!" exactly as I had heard them hundreds of times before, and I felt a thrill seeing the expression on his face while the familiar words were called out.



On and on the evening went, all the words exactly as I knew they would be, but now living things; all of the notes perfectly played by the orchestra. When the curtain fell for the last time the crowd was on its feet. This classic piece of musical theater had been executed faultlessly by a group of talented artists who realized that perfection is sometimes best expressed through perfect reproduction.



When I saw Rush in concert many years ago, the songs were performed with amazing precision. I was astounded at how closely the music matched the memories I had of all of times I had listened to the albums and heard the singles on the radio. Many bands riff and vamp. Many bands actually suck live and only achieve greatness through digital manipulation and post-production editing. Lightening, it is said, cannot strike the same place twice. Rush can strike home, with laser-like accuracy, over and over. Not all art is made better through riffing and improv. Some art is perfect just the way it is. I am thankful that Neil Peart has the ability to play my thoughts and memories just the way they are in my mind and heart.

Put so eloquently I might add. Neil is my ALL time favorite. His percision is not impossible to match but if you attempt it, you will have to pack a lunch or two (that includes all the Gatorade you will sweat out). I was introduced to Neil on the Live album "All the Worlds a Stage." That solo is still in my head to this day." I had never heard a kit used so completely as Neil's. Add to that his ability to write lyrics that remain with you. He is definitely one of the most influential drummer's of the last half century. I for one like that he can stick to the piece as written. There are things I listen for when I see a band do a gig. Especially if they do covers. One is precision. How close to the piece are they? Heard a cover of Stairway to Heaven once. The band did a wonderful job until the end. You all know the spot. "When all are one and one is all." He butchered it, completely and utterly. He didn't do the fill as Bonzo did it. They had done such a great job up until then. I left afterwards, I was so disgusted. Sounds a little trivial, I know but that is something thats important to me in the music. Especially classics like Stairway. Anyway, my 2 cents. Ciao. Rich The Builder.

[dib da drummer]

Am i the only one who's noticed that neil peart isn't that tight when performing live?

YES!! I've seen Rush in concert 15 times, 8 TIMES from NO further away than 5th row! I've seen Neil drop a stick 1 time! ONCE!!!
And that was during a VERY quick flair pattern during A RAIN STORM!! At Nissan
Pavilion in Manassas, Virginia during the Test For Echo tour!! A BIG thunderstorm
came up 1/2 way through the show and SOAKED the stage!! BUT, Alex, Geddy, and
"THE BEST ROCK DRUMMER OF ALL TIME", Neil Peart, kept playing the whole time,
without stopping! Consument professionals! CONSUMENT PROFESSOR!! NOW, can
you say you've seen him any more than that? Any CLOSER than that? I DON'T THINK
SO!!! Neil Peart INVENTED THE WORD TIGHT!!

[mesabplayer]

Helllo..I'm new to this GREAT site.I'm a 25 -year guitar player, goin back to my roots, to play drums again..I'm researching all the equipment now. When I saw Peart's name, I had to respond. He is absolute precision, measure by measure, unwavering, unflinching..To have the timing and feel that he has, he's a true inspiration..And having gone through what he has, personally, and still come back to the music, that's incredible..
I've been influenced by Rush since day one..PEART RULES!!!

[TOMANO]

Admiration for an artist? Absolutely! Influenced by? Sure. Disagreements over one's style or application to his/her craft? Maybe...But to argue over whether or not a drummer drops his stick EVER is very bizarre to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this thread, but I do find myself laughing quite a bit at some of the posts. It seems that some posters are the exact people Neil wrote about in songs like Limelight and Entre Nous.

TOMANO

[King Crimson]

"Neil Peart is the most popular drummer today. When it comes to voting in Modern Drummer or Drummerworld - Neil Peart is always the No. 1."

Right off of this site.

[Bobhead]

I remember I got to have drum lessons at the same time I got to hear Moving Pictures for the first time, and my teacher was a huge Rush fan as well, and he gave me "Drum Techniques Of Rush". I still run to the book whenever I want to get inspiration for some drumline.

I have transcribed a few songs for the Rush Tablature Project (http://www.cygnusproductions.com/rtp), you might want to check it out!!

See you,
Edu

I have that book too. I was definitely a bit part of my learning growing up. Love it!!

[Zumba_Zumba]

The Exploration sections on his new Anatomy DVD are both very interesting. I feel if he played any of those for his solo it would certainly please many drummers in the audience. However, he makes a relevent point (on his anatomy dvd) in that his solo is focused on pleasing music lovers not just drummers. During the exploration he seems to play differently as these sections are not structured as is his solo. He seems looser and relaxed and his technique benefits from that (what a concept, huh?) Anyone else notice this?

[on_the_one]

quite comical, as a few have already noted, how some here are talking about how they saw NP drop a stick and even four times on one particular night! NOW HERE IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION...did he grab a stick and keep playing all while keeping time? i'm sure he did because no one has mentioned that point in any of the the posts i've read. guys, get a life.

[glynes]

Hubby was switching to VH-1 yesterday inbetween plays in the Superbowl Playoffs and ran across a couple of specials on Rush ... the first was a recent-era live show in Germany, and some terrific shots of Neil, especially from a camera directly above his kit ... I'd love to see more drummers from that angle! ... what impressed me was how much of his drumming wasn't the mind-blowing fast-all-over-the-kit stuff everybody talks about, but just good solid grooves (still all over the kit though). I've always been very intimidated by the speed stuff, but I saw a lot of stuff I could understand, and some of it I think I could even learn.

The second show was an early 80's MTV-type video thing ... music was awesome, video was proclaimed by my Englishman to be "pants"! 8-) The drums were a lot more of the flashy BPM stuff, and I didn't find them nearly as catchy.

To sum up ... I like his recent work, and having seen it in detail, should I ever get a chance for a clinic or a lesson, I think I wouldn't be to initimidated to introduce myself as a fellow-drummer and have a conversation about how he does what he does.

[A thunder of Coxy]

After listening to the drum solo on his page I fell in love with his drum sound lol. I especially love his snare sound, anyone know what snare it is, heads he uses and how its tuned?I can tell its tuned high but how high and reso? Also what heads on toms and the other questions I have asked about the snare for the toms plz, cheers

[Daddy-o]

Hello A thunder of Coxy,

I have the Work In Progress DVD and a section of the disc contains a discussion of Neils snare drums. He has an arsenal of snares with him in the studio. Each has a sound characteristic that he likes to have available when the situation warrents. So, it's kind of difficult to pin down specifics as far as the one-size-fits-all-situations recorded sound.

Daddy-o

[Zumba_Zumba]

Regarding the questions about the drumhead selections of his toms, all I can tell you is in his new "Anatomy..." DVD he uses DW coated clear batters and clear resos which I believe come with the drums from the factory and interestingly enough, as is standard practice among many drummers, the heads tend to be replaced. Apparently he is keeping them. They are basically Remo Ambassador-weight clear heads with an outer ring of white coating on the batter to help control overtones. His snare has a basic coated Ambassador-like head (not sure if it is Remo (the DW heads may be indeed made by Remo - anyone know?)) and the bass drum has a clear Remo Powerstroke 3 batter.

As far as tuning I guess he tunes his toms fairly tight (more so on the higher toms), even on the larger toms. Again this is a guess and is based on listening to R30 and Anatomy DVDs. The larger toms have quite a bit of ring. Compare this sound with the Rio concert; the larger toms sound really loose. Of course all of this observation is taking into account that the audio was engineered the same for both time periods. Mic'd toms tend to sound different than live drums so achieving the Neil Peart sound may be difficult in that regard. Long winded response but the best I can do. Perhaps others have further or even better insight. Best of luck.

[sound zap]

Did Neil come out with a new video this month?

[theorist]

neil doesn't just play drums, he goes to work.

his style is very unique... it's tight and controlled. the drum sticks seem to be extensions of his arms. he becomes one with the drum kit. it becomes part of him. it almost seems as though the two join together to make one single entity. neil is my favorite drummer. there's no one else like him. he makes the hardest things look so damn easy.

[foghorn2]

I'm a late fan of Neil Peart. I've heard him over the years since I was in the teens. I always liked Rush and his drumming but I always found other drummers to be my idols.

But Neil has been growing on me since his first DVD. I was amazed how his style of drumming evolved over the years and how intelligent he was and how well he spoke. Up to this point I never know he wrote most of Rush's songs.

I picked up Signals soon after and relived those great songs from my high-school years. I now admire him as a person and a drummer more than I ever had especially since watching his latest Anatomy DVD. He is a humble, respectful gentleman who is respectful of other drummers and he gives credit to many of them.

I bought Counterparts and wow did I miss this album altogether! What a masterpiece. What a disservice radio has done to music connoisseurs. What lyrics! (hence my signature).

He inspired me to improve on my drumming and persona. He is also the reason I'm poorer now trying to make my new setup like his too.

[Edgecrusher]

I am very ignorant about Neil Peart. I have only heard the Rush song and his solo which are on this site and I quite liked what I heard, but I wasn't blown away. It said on his bio that he is "the most popular drummer today", but I'm not sure why after what I heard. I can understand why people love Steve Gadd, but to me Neil Peart isn't that great judging from what I've heard so far. Why is he so popular?

In his solo, he didn't do any beats which I found very interesting or which really grooved and had a good feel to them (IMO), at least not compared to Gadd, or Vinnie. He kept the bass on 1 and 3 for the most part (I think). Does he ever do linear beats?

If the samples on this site are good examples of his style, then I guess I don't like his style, but that's not to say it's "bad"... just my humble opinion.

[Zardoz]

I think we should change the name of the website to "EveryPostMustContainASteveGaddReference.com" ;-)

Just like another member mentioned on here, Peart and my father are my 2 main influences for picking up drumsticks. As far as rock drummers go, he is the greatest ever and arguably behind Rich and Krupa.....one the most influential drummers ever. Also, there are very few drummers that you can listen to for a few seconds and go "yeah that's so-and-so playing", Peart is one of them.

Edgecrusher (cool FF song btw), he's been in a little band called Rush for about 30 years now. If your only exposure to him is from this website, then I will first be more than happy explaining to you what a snare drum is ***i'm kidding!*** and then make you some Rush compilations. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Those few small clips of a legend like Peart on here are just like most clips on here.....not the best way to totally soak in the artist and his/her style. I think of them as "teaser trailers".

His solo differs from about 90% of other big-named drummers in that, he's not just hamming it up and showing off his chops. It's an actual composition, which is different then the token "wow that dude is da fastest!" drum solo types. The man can sit down and explain the reason for every note he plays, which makes it more interesting.

The complaint that I hear most about Peart's playing is that he "overplays everything", but many other big-name drummers (which I won't name because I'm not turning this into a war), play over-the-top for the music they're propelling or following, but with Rush his style fits perfectly. This guy rarely plays a bad beat. When people say "they don't groove" are missing the point of their music. Rush's music is pure energy and that's it.

And whatever ignorant person said the guy must have an ego. While I'm sure he does just like most musicians (why does that need to be expained???) there are many interviews where he shuns off any pioneering things people have pointed out him doing and also telling people to "if you want to really listen to guys who play, listen to Bruford, Bozzio," and lists a few others.....so, if you call that "ego", then you're probably just some disgruntled drummer who throws a temper tantrum because you still can't play 'Tom Sawyer' after all these years of practicing in your mum's basement. ;-)

In closing, I would highly suggest picking up his dvd's, even if you don't like the Rush-sound or whatever, because the man's philosophy about music will blow your mind. He has some of the best speaking parts in any "instructional" videos I've ever seen. The dude knows his sh*t moreso than most professional musicians.

[King Crimson]

but to me Neil Peart isn't that great judging from what I've heard so far. Why is he so popular?



Just when you think you've heard it all........wow.

[Zumba_Zumba]

I know. I just came to after passing out reading that post. Seriously in all fairness to edgecrusher, this website has opened me up to new drummers I might have heard about but never heard play or seen play. Some of them I was disappointed and others I was blown away. That's the beauty of drumming and music for that matter. Discovery is always going to occur. Believe it or not, there are people out there that don't find Steve Gadd to be all that great (very small minority but still).

Anyway, edgecrusher, check him out. I hear Rush is releasing the Exit...Stage Left DVD soon and that contains arguably some of Neil's best work.

And another note for everyone: Nutha Jason mentioned in a nutha thread that copying a drum part and composing a drum part are very different. So remember, people may be able to "copy" his stuff and then turn around and say he's not all that great, but I bet they couldn't come up with those beats.

[foghorn2]

Just when you think you've heard it all........wow.

I'm beginning to think that some us drummers are a bit too critical.
When any of us has reached the level of success and the abilities of Neil Peart, then we shall be able to come here and criticize him. If you want to say you don't like his style thats one thing, but if you start to say that he sucks or anything like that, you'll have to deal with me after I hear what YOU have posted in the "your place, your playing" section on this board.

[Bernhard]

Fact is, that the Neil Peart Page is the most visited gallery-page at Drummerworld every month for six years now.

Followed by the always changing Travis Barker and Joey Jordison.

Then come the heavy-weight champions Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers.

Bernhard

[tambian89]

Fact is, that the Neil Peart Page is the most visited gallery-page at Drummerworld every month for six years now.

Followed by the always changing Travis Barker and Joey Jordison.

Then come the heavy-weight champions Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers.

Bernhard

Personally, I think Neil Peart is the most influencial Rock drummer next to Bonham and Bill Ward (Sabbath). He is really one of the best, and many people identify with him, and strive to drum like him (like me).

- Marc

[Zardoz]

It's kind of funny how things work out. Their music was better in the 70's, but some of his fantasy/sci-fi lyrical content wasn't the greatest. Then, they tone-down their music in the 80's, yet his lyrics were superior.

I get a kick out of whoever made that comment about Peart being an awful lyricist overall. Every lyricist from Dylan to Johnny Cash to Neil Young have had their run of poor lyrics. It's like once someone writes one poor song lyrically, their outcasts for it and can never recover from that. Give me a break.......

[photon]

Neil was a huge influence on me in the late 70's when I was a major Rush fan. As I matured I lost interest in the band as I found their music to be somewhat pretentious. To put it in perspective the last album of theirs I purchased and loved was Farewell to Kings. I saw them about 5 times in the late 70's and Neil was of course amazing.

That being said I recently purchased Anatomy of a Drum Solo and you know what?....the solo really didn't blow me away. I mean Neil still has those blinding chops but I found it to be too robotic and save for the electronic additions to his kit it could have been 1979 all over again...personally I don't see a lot of growth here.

I know I'm going to get killed for this but that's my personal take on it.

[Anduin]

Neil was a huge influence on me in the late 70's when I was a major Rush fan. As I matured I lost interest in the band as I found their music to be somewhat pretentious. To put it in perspective the last album of theirs I purchased and loved was Farewell to Kings. I saw them about 5 times in the late 70's and Neil was of course amazing.


Dude, are you my long-lost twin? Did you see all those New Years Eve shows at Maple Leaf Gardens like I did?

[Anduin]

and many people identify with him, and strive to drum like him (like me).


I strive not to drum like him. 'Tis a curse!

[Guinness]

Rush is an extremely polarizing band. I'm probably the biggest Rush fan in the world and realize that a lot of people hate them. For me it's the whole package, Geddy, Alex and Peart. I don't think that any three guys could ever compliment one another in such a way as to make the beautiful music that they do so well. Peart's lyrics hit a personal note with me like it does many others. Every time I listen to their music it's like coming home. Like a great piece of art can effect you profoundly, so is Rush to me.

[photon]

No Anduin....I saw all those shows in Winnipeg....one of the best was with Max Webster warming up...it was the All the Worlds a Stage Tour.............they just blew my head off because it was in a small theatre.....

[Zardoz]

I recently purchased Anatomy of a Drum Solo and you know what?....the solo really didn't blow me away. I mean Neil still has those blinding chops but I found it to be too robotic and save for the electronic additions to his kit it could have been 1979 all over again...personally I don't see a lot of growth here.
No, you're not going to get burned at the steak for your opinion. However, I got so sick to my stomach after reading your post that I threw-up my dinner (just kidding!).

Although he is one of my main influences, I was also getting bored listening to his last 2 solos, mainly because he uses elements I've heard since the All The World's A Stage live album. Then, my bud who's a guitarist made a very simple, yet obvious point "He can use some of those parts again & again over a 30 year period because they're that cool-sounding." That quickly made me rethink what I previously stated.

Peart's solos differ from many pro drummers in that, it's not all about chops, playing 1,000 m.p.h. or blatantly showing off. His are more of a composition than anything. I love that "big-band" ending he uses, you don't see too much of that anymore, especially in a rock setting.

On the other hand, I've heard quite a few .mp3's of him warming up on the kit before a show and.....wow.....totally different than his drum solo. A total sonic assault and blazingly fast, especially for a dude who's in his 50's.

[photon]

Hey Zardoz I agree...the big band thing was the best part.. you just gotta love that swing....threw in a little homage to Buddy there too...

[timebandit]

I've been a fan of opera my whole life. One of my favorites is The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). I’ve listened to it so many times over the years on tape that I know almost every note by heart. One year for my birthday, my girlfriend bought tickets for us to see The Marriage of Figaro at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is Los Angeles. We were young, and not rich, and we were probably the only couple there who didn't drive up in a luxury car. The place was beautiful, and the seats were great. The lights dimmed, the music started, and I was transported.



The opening scene takes place in the bedroom that will be shared by Figaro and Sussana after their wedding. Figaro is on his knees measuring the space that will be occupied by the nuptial bed. He calls out the numbers "Cinque... dieci.... venti... trenta!" exactly as I had heard them hundreds of times before, and I felt a thrill seeing the expression on his face while the familiar words were called out.



On and on the evening went, all the words exactly as I knew they would be, but now living things; all of the notes perfectly played by the orchestra. When the curtain fell for the last time the crowd was on its feet. This classic piece of musical theater had been executed faultlessly by a group of talented artists who realized that perfection is sometimes best expressed through perfect reproduction.



When I saw Rush in concert many years ago, the songs were performed with amazing precision. I was astounded at how closely the music matched the memories I had of all of times I had listened to the albums and heard the singles on the radio. Many bands riff and vamp. Many bands actually suck live and only achieve greatness through digital manipulation and post-production editing. Lightening, it is said, cannot strike the same place twice. Rush can strike home, with laser-like accuracy, over and over. Not all art is made better through riffing and improv. Some art is perfect just the way it is. I am thankful that Neil Peart has the ability to play my thoughts and memories just the way they are in my mind and heart.
I could not of said it better myself, that was beautiful! As for Stu you can't say you are, or were a true RUSH fan @ any time. A true RUSH fan changed as the years and music, changed and matured.Neil Peart could do 2&4 for the rest of his life, and he will always get the upmost respect from me !!!!! Sure there are other great drummers, more complex, faster, more indepent. I.E, Marco minnemann, Akira Jimbo, ect. But from Neil you get the whole package, take a listen to Hemisheres or NaturalScience, I say to you STU, name another drummer who could write, compose & play as well!!!

[screaming muffin]

i hate rush. And i hate neil pearts drumming. I'm not saying it's crap, i just hate it.

he has a weak drum sound, his fills are boring and repetitive, he doesn't groove, he uses electronics - which i hate because they sound cheesy and weak... he's technically great, or at least to me he is, but he isn't very creative. At least, not compared to Ringo, or Vinnie, or Tim Alexander (3 of my faves)

his double bass stuff is pretty boring, too

but i guess i'm biased because i hate rush and their over the top cheese flavoured sound... i prefer the cheese you can eat, not the stuff you can listen to, like rush.

I really hate that song The Trees, i hate the metaphor... they take themselves way too seriously, especially in that song (a song like that shouldn't be serious)

And Bravado is another one that rates highly on the suckiness scale to my ears

hahaha

and they have such a crap, CRAP name!! "Rush" ..?!??!?!!
not that it matters, but still

oh and btw... that's all IMO, so don't call me "wrong"

:D

[DogBreath]

i hate rush. And i hate neil pearts drumming. I'm not saying it's crap, i just hate it.

he has a weak drum sound, his fills are boring and repetitive, he doesn't groove, he uses electronics - which i hate because they sound cheesy and weak... he's technically great, or at least to me he is, but he isn't very creative. At least, not compared to Ringo, or Vinnie, or Tim Alexander (3 of my faves)

his double bass stuff is pretty boring, too

but i guess i'm biased because i hate rush and their over the top cheese flavoured sound... i prefer the cheese you can eat, not the stuff you can listen to, like rush.

I really hate that song The Trees, i hate the metaphor... they take themselves way too seriously, especially in that song (a song like that shouldn't be serious)

And Bravado is another one that rates highly on the suckiness scale to my ears

hahaha

and they have such a crap, CRAP name!! "Rush" ..?!??!?!!
not that it matters, but still

oh and btw... that's all IMO, so don't call me "wrong"

:D

I wouldn't say that you're wrong, just somewhat limited in your ability to express your thoughts. It's a rare post in this forum that needs to use the word "hate" seven times while discussing a single subject. Oh, plus three uses each of "crap" and "cheese," and one reference to your "suckiness scale." Wow. You're really exposed me to a new way of looking at Neil Peart.

[ZDrums24]

thats why i dislike him, its like why would you want to go to a concert and listen to the SAME thing you would hear on the CD, i dunno, its kinda boring.
actually, lately hes been improvising a little more live, there are now whole sections of his solos where he take an idea and improvises over it.

[cdawg_2010]

i enjoy pearts playing, and hes one of my favorite rock drummers ever. but i also enjoy his big band video on here that from his dvd. i think he has great grooves and an even betetr set

[Anduin]

they take themselves way too seriously,

Look a bit closer and you'll realize how far from the truth you are on this point. These guys are some of the most laid-back, funniest musicians you'll ever find.

Exhibit A: Geddy's use of functioning clothes driers on stage instead of backline amps.
Exhibit B: The bizarre collection of toys on Alex's stage guitar rig.
Exhibit C: The mini documentary on Rush In Rio that shows them off stage.

Sure they look serious much of the time on stage. That would be because they're concentrating on nailing an excellent performance for you.

[LinearDrummer]

actually, lately hes been improvising a little more live, there are now whole sections of his solos where he take an idea and improvises over it.


Absolutley correct....
Not sure what some of the people who posted this thread are looking at....Anyone whos watched him over the years has seen how he's progressed....not nearly as mechanical as he used to be and his solos are much looser...
I think Gruber made him more loose and free....

[timebandit]

I'm a late fan of Neil Peart. I've heard him over the years since I was in the teens. I always liked Rush and his drumming but I always found other drummers to be my idols.

But Neil has been growing on me since his first DVD. I was amazed how his style of drumming evolved over the years and how intelligent he was and how well he spoke. Up to this point I never know he wrote most of Rush's songs.

I picked up Signals soon after and relived those great songs from my high-school years. I now admire him as a person and a drummer more than I ever had especially since watching his latest Anatomy DVD. He is a humble, respectful gentleman who is respectful of other drummers and he gives credit to many of them.

I bought Counterparts and wow did I miss this album altogether! What a masterpiece. What a disservice radio has done to music connoisseurs. What lyrics! (hence my signature).

He inspired me to improve on my drumming and persona. He is also the reason I'm poorer now trying to make my new setup like his too. Hey! great tread Foghorn, there is some great material out there from rush........go get yourself hemispheres or moving pictures. These are well orchastrated songs, musically, lyrically...just great stuff. there are many others to, such as power windows, permanent waves
and Roll the bones...check it out and ENJOY!!!!

[Wormsrock]

Umm... this guy is sweet. No question. Guys like Peart, Bonzo, and Keith Moon are definitely some of the best around.

[rendezvous_drummer]

what is there to say about niel peart. the man is a living legend. I've been into Niel Peart ever since i first heard Tom Sawyer. The man is absoluetly amazing and i cannot say anything bad about him, except he looks dead when he drums but besides the point there, does anyone care how a man looks while he plays. Truly one of the greatest drummers of all time.

[rendezvous_drummer]

When it comes to RUSH, im not a fan of all of their music, but the drumming is superb. My least favorite thing about rush is definitely the voice and lyrics! Geddy lee is a talented bassist, but his voice makes me cringe, like in "Fly by Night". Also the lyrics... i heard that peart writes the lyrics for most songs, dont know if that's totally true or not, but the lyrcis just don't make any sense to me. Look at "spirit of the radio" for example when geddy sings "echo of the sound of salesmen"..............what the hell does that mean? The lyrics are funny and all because sometimes they can be incredibly odd and sometimes stupid, but still, i do think rush is a great band. Quite possibly the greatest Canadian Band in terms of record sales.

[Bren]

Much in the same way that Roger Ebert doesn't need to be a director to tear a strip off of Battlefield Earth, or I cook to dislike asparagus regardless of how it's dressed up, anyone who is critical of Neil or Geddy doesn't need to be superior to either of them as a drummer or lyricist to justify himself. And if someone who is a better drummer than Neil says that he's terrible, it isn't necesserily true.

[drummermajor]

I respect Peart a great ammount, but I find the big band ending of his solo hilarious. The guy can't really swing....which is fine because he's a rock drummer, but still I can't help but laugh at it

[Class A Drummer]

and mostly, his choice of fills and where he puts them. It all seems so perfect, like he knows exactly what's going on. It's so cool.
I know what you mean. I belive the greatest fill of all time was played on the 2 min. 55 second mark of subdivisons. A 1 bar fill. so simple to play but so incredibly perfect.

[KR3]

He says it himself that even after 40 years of playing, he is still learning. Especially 4 limp independence.

What I admire about NP is his approach to drumming. He is perfect for Rush. As Ringo with the Beatles.

I refuse to bash any professional drummer out there. They are all great in their craft and can only aspire to be close to what they can do.

[drummermajor]

I also think it's great that he's putting so many different styles into that solo. Don't hear many waltzes or big bands in a rock concert.

I just thought that the big band ending was funny (coming from a jazz players perspective). The crowd loved it so it did it's job......

As Peart get's older his technique get's a little slopier but in my opinion his creativity and playing get so much better.

[IDDrummer]

I hate to see people arguing and getting petty over Neil Peart! I never could figure out why people get so polarized over different drummers - I think of it more like flavors of ice cream. You just like what you like!

Anyway, I like Peart (and Rush) a lot. I heard my first Rush song in about 1976, and have seen most tours since 1978. I have seen the band and Neil grow and mature through the years without lowering their standards or worrying about meeting anybody else's expectations. I also understand what other people don't like, but that's cool with me as long as they aren't disrespectful of my tastes.

I find it kind of amusing that we discuss best drummers - to me, there can be no best drummer. Each one is like a storyteller; unless you want to hear the same story over and over from the same storyteller, variety is good.

[Womble]

Like him or not, Neil Peart if a household word all over the world. I'm not speaking to his skill or abilities, just the fact that he is a little bigger than most kids think.

A household word? I don't think so. The only reason I'd ever heard of Neil Peart and Rush was because I read Modern Drummer. I got to the age of 24 without ever hearing a Rush tune. No friend of mine in the whole of England has even heard of Rush - I'm being serious. They have a huge following, sure, but their popularity is a long way from the level you assume it to be.

Zardoz - Peart is the second most influential drummer behind Buddy Rich, is he? What's happened to Ringo?!

Don't get me wrong, I do now own the Chronicles and I enjoy it (with Finn on the lyrics though), but some of the things said about this guy are really stretching credibility.

[rendezvous_drummer]

Niel Peart is one very intelligent man. I heard him do an interview somewhere and the man's a genius. Like fixme jesus said, he writes books that are witty, clever and intelligent. It'd be great to have a discussion with him.

[NUTHA JASON]

calm down people.

don't bash neil.

[LinearDrummer]

As Peart get's older his technique get's a little slopier but in my opinion his creativity and playing get so much better.

Huh....somebody is confused....

As he got older he studied with Gruber and changed his technique and approach to playin and yet he was still able to pull off his old match grip material without a mistake....

[drummermajor]

Huh....somebody is confused....

As he got older he studied with Gruber and changed his technique and approach to playin and yet he was still able to pull off his old match grip material without a mistake....

If you compare his playing from his most recent video to an older one, you'll notice that his technique is slopier. He uses a lot of unecessary arm movements etc. Not insulting his playing at all, but had I seen a recent video of him before the older ones I wouldn't have been impressed simply for technical reasons.

[fixmejesus]

Its not really sloppiness. He sounds less like a drum machine now that he varies his hits.

If you were to call it sloppy, then Stewart Copleland would be the sloppiest player in the world.

[drummermajor]

The slopiness comment has nothing to do with him varying what he plays. I am refering to technique alone. The way Neils body moves has always seemed a little stiff to me. In "Anatomy" his arms are moving a lot more than they did in the past.

I'm not saying slopiness is bad. I used to think that way...that's why I couldn't stand elvin jones for a long time. Although I still can't stand watching Ari Hoenig. He makes drumming look painful. Listening is great though.

I'm not a technical freak. It's just an observation that he uses a lot of arms now.

[shuffle]

You can expect quite a wide range of opinions when you enter one of these threads in the "drummers" section... However, I must say I'm very surprised to see the adjective "sloppy" to qualify Neil Peart's playin'.

I've seen him live around 10 times, spanning from the Hemisphere tour to the last R30 tour, and I certainly didn't noticed any "sloppiness" appearing in his playin'.

[bonham990]

Sloppy and Neil Peart just seem not to fit with eachother. After seeing Anatomy of a drum solo he's far from sloppy hes just very technical!

[drummermajor]

That's what I was refering to as being sloppy technique wise. I think there are several definitions of sloppy here. I'm not in anyway saying his playing is sloppy. But I feel his technique is sloppy.

I'm refering specifically to the big band ending from anatomy of a drum solo.

I don't want to sound like I'm bashing the guy. His technique is not bad. I don't want to make it sound like I'm saying it's terrible, because it's not. Far from it at that. It is just not as clean as it once was in my opinion (not his sound...don't think technique = sound). We can all agree he is a technical drummer and one of the best.

[Crazy]

I am not a Rush fan and therefore never realy heard and got into his drumming, but I always heard that he was a great drummer and surely influenced or motivated many of us outthere, so I am pretty surpirsed to read so many critics on his playing.

I should chek out for myself, any recommendations of a live album ? (I love to listen to live albums that's where you can get a hold on perfromance)

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

Rush In Rio is supposedly an excellent DVD and good concert footage. I haven't personally seen it, but I've heard nothing but good things on this forum.

[LinearDrummer]

I should chek out for myself, any recommendations of a live album ? (I love to listen to live albums that's where you can get a hold on perfromance)

Rush in rio is a cool DVD but maybe its just me but it seems like he lacked the energy in his playin...just seemed like you could tell hes been thru alot of personal trageties...

I think for a live Cd I would recommend Different Stages... To me he was really on top of his game at that stage of his career and its one of his best solos....

[bonham990]

Anyone noticed all the washers and dryers in all of Rush's concerts?

[Melll]

Best Bass Amps ever!

Peart is amazing. I saw RUSH on the Roll The Bones tour in 92. Love their stuff in general and Neils playing in particular.

I have kinda gone luke-warm on their recent stuff (last album I got was Different Stages) but the DVDs are fantastic.

I've also got Work In Progress and agree that Neil's a down to earth and likeable guy, shame that he's had the world of crap happen to him in his life and glad he's come through it.

I need to get Anatomy Of A Drum Solo.

[Class A Drummer]

Anyone noticed all the washers and dryers in all of Rush's concerts?
Yes. Dont tell me u think that doesnt look cool. thats so original. im gonna use that one day heh heh.

[Zardoz]

Rush In Rio is supposedly an excellent DVD and good concert footage. I haven't personally seen it, but I've heard nothing but good things on this forum.
50,000 Brazilian fans singing every word (including YYZ) at the top of their lungs. This crowd gets really into it. While the video & sound quality aren't top-notch like their R30 dvd (they explain why it's not in the Rio documentary), I enojoyed this one much more because the crowd was obsessively into it.

[NUTHA JASON]

south america must be a great place for touring...people are so passionate there. queen said that it was one of their favourite all time gigs... when freddy and brian did 'love of my life' the audience sang so loud that freddy stopped singing and let them do the song for him while he wept. when 50 000 non english speaking people do that to your lyrics...well, its got to be a high point in your career.

j

[Rory]

Neil Peart is one killing drummer. He definitely goes down in history as one of the greatest drummers. Neil Peart is the reason I started playing drums. I think Neil Peart does his solos in a way that makes it look easy for him.
Now let me talk about Rush. Even though I think Rush makes good music, there is something about them(not just Neil) that makes them musically inspiring. While many bands may just go on with the same style and music for decades, Rush has shown many changes. I know there are some that don't exactly like the 80's sound of Rush, but you have to admit that on every record; Geddy, Alex, and of course Neil show their instint mastery of their instruments. I find it unique that Rush has changed it's sound from time to time. They started with a Zeppelin Clone (their self titled debut with Rutsey) to an amazing hard proggresive rock band in the 70's. Just as this was a unique transition, the 80's held a new surprise. For one, I actually really like the 80's sound of Rush. Yes, you could say it does not have the hard sound of the 70's, yet you have to admit that they still had their own unique sound. And come on, at least they were not becoming sell-outs or pop stars. I even like the modern alternative sound to Rush. No matter what the sound, I always find Rush to be one of the best and most underrated bands in the world (though we as musicians recognize the talent of Rush, Rolling Stone magazine proves to still be an arragont group of music snobs; but that's just my opinion). Neil Peart is God!

[Rory]

PS. I have seen Neil play 3 times in my life (I am only 16)
-T4E Tour: Uniondale, NY (I was only 7, so I don't remember so much from that show except that I had bad seats)
-Vapor Trails: New York, NY: Live at the Garden (that was an amazing show; 3rd row seats from the front; sweet)
-R30: Virginia Beach, VA: I had good seats for this show. The only flop that happened was that Neil's Big Band sequencer hit a glitch and did not go. However, he still just played the part and did an amazing job. No matter how talented you are, there are always going to be flops now and then. It happens to every musician. Great show.

[balboa]

Im a huge Rush fan, and avid drummer, with many albums and songs under my belt. As with any musician, our orchestrations, style, and musicianship mature over time. Seeing that Rush has been around for 30 some years, one can see the maturation process which has taken place over the 3 decades. My question to all of you is : what albums do you feel really feature Neil Peart at his peak of complexity and tastefullness? Or even what songs from certain albums feature these traits. I like all the 70's, 80's, 90's and latest drumming, but certain songs really stand out. Songs like Cignus X1 from Hemispheres, Jacobs Ladder from Permenant Waves, Marathon and Middletown Dreams from Power Windows, Peaceable Kingdom and Ceiling Unlimited from Vapor Trails, Chemistry and The Weapon from Signals. My list could go on forever and include every song! But what parts in songs, and what songs do all of you really respect and why?

[Highway_St*r]

I can't believe that Neil's technique is sloppy nowadays, around the nineties he underwent lessons with Freddie Gruber (who's taught Dave Wekl and Steve Smith) that refined his technique and approach to drums. The two albums and live albums after that period doesn't show his lack of energy or playing and from the Anatomy Of A Drum Solo only proves that he is as amazing as ever! Rush is definately a band to check out!!

[balboa]

Im a huge Rush fan, with many songs under my belt. I am seeking out other Rush fans to see which songs they feel are the greatest, in terms of orchestration, and chops. Which songs do you feel, and or albums, showed Peart at his peak. For example, The Weapon and Chemistry from the album Signals. Cygnus X1 and Circumstances from Hemispheres. Marathon and Middletown Dreams from Power Windows and so on and so forth. Which parts in each song do you think feature greatness. Just curious as to what other Peart fans think about certain songs.

[Colonel Bat Guano]

I am seeking out other Rush fans to see which songs they feel are the greatest, in terms of orchestration, and chops. Which songs do you feel, and or albums, showed Peart at his peak.

To be honest, I don't consider myself a Rush fan at all anymore. I was into them when I first started drumming in the mid-80's and I got a lot of inspiration from their 70's and early 80's output, but they don't do it for me personally now. Anything post-Signals is tough for me to deal with. However, I do have respect for them as players, as all-around good guys and as survivors. I also owe a big debt to them for my early development musically, I'm just not into the Rush thing anymore. BUT ...

...at the time I would've said Hemispheres. The band arrangements as a whole and Neil's drumming in particular are interesting. I think Moving Pictures rocks more overall, but in that different "every-song-on this-album-could-possibly-be-a-single" kind of way.

...

[the skin man]

Drummers like Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Chad Wackerman and Jack DeJohnette completely and totally blow Neil Peart away. It doesn't matter if they're not rock drummers and he is. Neil Peart has to be one of the most overrated drummers of all time. I'd bet at least one in five drummers that graduates from the Berklee of music every year can do everything that Neil Peart can do including the odd time. The only difference is he's in huge band that's been huge for a long time and they're not.

[Mark in Seattle]

The legend he has probably been the second most influential rock drummer of all time behind John Bonham. I love everything about his playing his consistancy is second to none every note is played as intended the stick is the same height from the head the attacking angle the same. A machine he flows seamlessly through odd time and complicated multi time patterns. I noticed very early on long before I thought of becoming a drummer that there was something special about his playing he really took the progressive styling to a whole new level. I hear a Billy Cobham influence in his playing but where Billy had a little bit of slop (not a slam it was because he was pushing the boundrys and believed in preserving the integrity of the live performance) Neil strived to nail every part exactly the same every time. I have so much to thank this man for he has filled me with joy listening to his playing. He made me want to become a drummer I have only been playing 5 yrs but have been airdrumming since I can remember because of him. Also he has been an inspiration to me in life to continue drumming with the passion he has after the horrible tragedies in his life ( he lost his wife and daughter in the same year) drives me to overcome any obstacles in my life. Alot of people would say he is busy and doesnt play in the pocket but if you listen closley you will notice that he has a great ability to use space and not crowd the beat at all the appropriate moments. Imo the whole drumming world is a better place because of him.

http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Neil_Peart.html

Few people know that the late Johnny Carson was a drummer. He would have on his show as often as possible Buddy Rich. I saw Buddy one night talking to Johnny, when Johnny asked if he had seen the Rolling Stones at Madiso Square Garden. Buddy said "Yeah" and they have the worst drummer he had ever seen". Johnny just lost it laughing. he than asked who he thought was a good rock drummer. Buddy answered "Neil Pert".
Neil Pert's inspiration was Buddy Rich.

[Anduin]

Drummers like ... blow Neil Peart away.

Blah blah blah. Dude, that may well be true in some subjective way, but back in the 1970s when I first heard Neil, nobody was doing what he was doing. It's one thing to come along afterwards and cop somebody's licks, but to create the style in the first place, that's something much more important and valuable. I could play all Neil's parts too if I chose to, but that wouldn't make me the groundbreaker that he is.

[CarterB_Junkie]

Drummers like Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Chad Wackerman and Jack DeJohnette completely and totally blow Neil Peart away. It doesn't matter if they're not rock drummers and he is. Neil Peart has to be one of the most overrated drummers of all time. I'd bet at least one in five drummers that graduates from the Berklee of music every year can do everything that Neil Peart can do including the odd time. The only difference is he's in huge band that's been huge for a long time and they're not.


n00b post of the day award goes to you !

Bravo !

[jamsjr44]

Drummers like Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Chad Wackerman and Jack DeJohnette completely and totally blow Neil Peart away. It doesn't matter if they're not rock drummers and he is. Neil Peart has to be one of the most overrated drummers of all time. I'd bet at least one in five drummers that graduates from the Berklee of music every year can do everything that Neil Peart can do including the odd time. The only difference is he's in huge band that's been huge for a long time and they're not.

Very intelligent post on your part and I'm quite sure all of those guys feel the same way, actually they all sit around saying how the blow Neil Peart away! I am a huge RUSH fan anything they have ever done I have it on tape, cd, video or dvd. At one time I thought he was by far the best drummer to ever been born but as I got older and more involved in drumming I realized that yes there were more technically skilled drummers, but I never ever tried to discount what he meant to drummers world wide and to rock musicians in general. Neil's influence is huge and maybe not from a technical standpoint, but he made a lot of guys pick up sticks and want to play and probably made others stop playing. He is probably just as well known as Buddy Rich is, to people who are not musicians. Meaning when people used to say who is the best drummer ever, they would answer "that guy who plays for that band RUSH, who has the lead singer with the irritating voice!"...LOL

And also RUSH is huge for a reason and he is huge part of that, they would not be RUSH with any of the guys you mentioned before him, because they would not have played the songs the way he did. Before you go discredit his playing, a lot of pro drummers became pro's because of his influence. He isn't overrated, he never went to drum magazines begging to be chosen best rock drummer in the years he was. And don't confuse being influential with being the best all it means is, he inspired guys to play and maybe not exactly his style but he made them want to play drums. I know for me personally after I heard Exit Stage Left, it made me take drumming more seriously than I ever had before. I'm not saying his drum solo on YYZ was ever the best solo, but it is by far the most popular.

One more thing any Berklee drummers think that their playing will ever be on 21-24 platinum selling albums, 2 instructional dvd's, at least 4 concert videos, thousands of live shows and be one of the most influential drummers of all time, since you can do anything he can?...LOL.

Also since you say Berklee drummers can do anything he can, the biggest question is CAN YOU DO 50% of what he can??

[shuffle]

Fact is, that the Neil Peart Page is the most visited gallery-page at Drummerworld every month for six years now.

Bernhard

I wonder how many monthly hits all those great Berklee graduates have on their web sites

[the skin man]

Neil's influence is huge and maybe not from a technical standpoint, but he made a lot of guys pick up sticks and want to play and probably made others stop playing.

But that's different. How much he inspired other people to play and how well known he is are not the same things as how much ability he has. Those are two different ways of looking at a drummer.


And also RUSH is huge for a reason and he is huge part of that, they would not be RUSH with any of the guys you mentioned before him, because they would not have played the songs the way he did.

I'm not saying he doesn't do stuff that other rock drummers don't do, because obviously he does far more than the average rock drummer and obviously he is creative in a way that makes a lot of musical sense. But I think Dave Weckl is a far better rock drummer than Neil Peart from what I've seen. If we could go back in time and stick Dave Weckl in Rush would the drumming have been as good? Who knows? But that's a very hypothetical question.


Before you go discredit his playing, a lot of pro drummers became pro's because of his influence. He isn't overrated, he never went to drum magazines begging to be chosen best rock drummer in the years he was.

He is overrated because everyone says he has more ability than everyone else, which is not true. His real claim to fame is his fame itself.


One more thing any Berklee drummers think that their playing will ever be on 21-24 platinum selling albums, 2 instructional dvd's, at least 4 concert videos, thousands of live shows and be one of the most influential drummers of all time, since you can do anything he can?...LOL.

That's because he is more well known than them, not because he has more ability. And is it really that many Rush albums? I have a bunch of them, but I don't remember there being quite that many.


Also since you say Berklee drummers can do anything he can, the biggest question is CAN YOU DO 50% of what he can?

No, I can't even come close to playing the way Neil Peart does. But I'm being totally honest when I say he is overrated. I've heard so many people say stuff like "Neil Peart is the greatest drummer of all time" and unless they say exactly what they mean by that, I really don't think that's an accurate statement. If anyone were to take an honest look at it, they would have to admit that there are many ways in which other drummers surpass him.

[the skin man]

n00b post of the day award goes to you !


What does n00b mean?

[DogBreath]

Skin Man, you aren't really making any points. Neil Peart is as good as he is, no better and no worse. He is talented and popular. This thread is to talk about him, but you're talking about the fact that you disagree with some people's opinions about him. You think he's "over-rated"? Great, you made your point about your opinion. Move along if you have nothing to add. The purpose of this forum is to talk about drummers, not to just repeat that you don't think one is the best drummer ever. You could go from thread to thread saying that each drummer is over-rated and isn't the best drummer ever. How does that add to any discussion?

By the way, a n00b is someone who is "new" and says silly things that more experienced people wouldn't say.

[the skin man]

Skin Man, you aren't really making any points. Neil Peart is as good as he is. You think he's "over-rated"? Great, you made your point about your opinion. Move along if you have nothing to add. The purpose of this forum is to talk about drummers, not to just repeat that you don't think one is the best drummer ever. You could go from thread to thread saying that each drummer is over-rated and isn't the best drummer ever. How does that add to any discussion?


And the other 164 posts on this thread have been made by people making points about their opinions. I think the real lesson here is don't say anything that might annoy the Neil Peart fans because they are very dedicated.

[Class A Drummer]

Drummers like Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Chad Wackerman and Jack DeJohnette completely and totally blow Neil Peart away. I'd bet at least one in five drummers that graduates from the Berklee of music every year can do everything that Neil Peart can do including the odd time. The only difference is he's in huge band that's been huge for a long time and they're not.
So what if they all blow him away? does that mean peart isnt very good? Drummers such as weckl and wackerman in most peoples eyes are much better than peart, but that doesnt mean they wud be better rock drummers than peart. I consider gadd to be the best in the world, but that does not mean i think he wud do a better job as a rock drummer. he is definitly over rated but not as much as you think.

*Edit- 1400 posts.

[Kernel Panic]

Just like the Krupa's, and Rich's of yesterday influenced and inspired the drummers of today. The Ringo's, Peart's, and Bonham's will do the same for the drummers of tomorrow.

As for Geddy Lee's voice being irratating, I have some Patsy Cline on the turntable so you can fall to pieces. Hmm I think I some have Slim Whitman as well provided it won't cause your head to explode.. :D

But all kidding aside whoever is your favorite drummer or band, it all boils down to a matter of personal taste. I enjoy Rush just as much as the next Rush fan, but on the same note I could as well listen to The Beatles, Moby Grape, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, or The Grateful Dead. I have to admit I'm one of those folks who felt inspired to get serious about playing after viewing the Rush In Rio DVD.

[DogBreath]

And the other 164 posts on this thread have been made by people making points about their opinions. I think the real lesson here is don't say anything that might annoy the Neil Peart fans because they are very dedicated.
No one said that you couldn't state your opinion. Almost everything here is an opinion. Stating an opinion that differs from the majority is fine, as long as it is done in a mature and appropriate fashion and somehow adds to the discussion. Repeatedly calling someone over-rated just gets old quick.

I think the real lesson here is that when a forum administrator offers advice, you might want to consider taking it.

[jamsjr44]

And the other 164 posts on this thread have been made by people making points about their opinions. I think the real lesson here is don't say anything that might annoy the Neil Peart fans because they are very dedicated.

It doesn't annoy me to say that he is over-rated, I was just stating my opinion on why I think he isn't over-rated. But if you make a statement that saying every 1 out of 5 drummers from Berklee or any music school can do what he does, just sounds like you are discrediting his playing and that any drummer can be just as good, just because they went to music school. My ex-lead guitarist graduated from Berklee Music School and he would be the last to tell you, "that one in five of us guitarist that graduated from here, can play like Joe Satrianni" for example. Those words would never come out of his mouth.

There is one other thing you forget that Neil does, he composes songs, writes just about all the bands lyrics, does just about every piece of percussion himself when playing live while keeping outstanding time. I mean some of his drumming may not be as techinically challenging to a more advanced drummer, but to be able to pull it off live managing that many different aspects is incredible. I have seen RUSH perform at least 22 times live and I have never left there saying "Neil just wasn't on tonight!" I leave their shows still saying "after all these years when I thought he couldn't get any better he does." And remember RUSH is just main job he can play different styles of music check out either one of his Burning For Buddy CD's where all the great drummers play with the Buddy RIch Band. In fact all drummers should have both of those CD's in their collection.

It's like Travis Barker I'm not a big fan and thought he was getting too much hype, but I also like to think of myself as an open minded person, so I listened to more blink 182 stuff and came away saying, I'm still not a blink 182 fan, but I respect his playing much more than I did before. I don't know if he will ever be a Weckl or Smith or Couliatta but I also know that he deserves most of the accolades he gets for his playing.

[the skin man]

But if you make a statement that saying every 1 out of 5 drummers from Berklee or any music school can do what he does, just sounds like you are discrediting his playing and that any drummer can be just as good, just because they went to music school.

When I say 1 out of 5, that is just a very vague general impression. I'm no expert, and I don't claim to know with any certainty. What I do seem to notice is that jazz drummers routinely do stuff of greater technical virtuosity and these are drummers that aren't even well known among other jazz drummers. I wouldn't be a bit surprized that if some audition were held for a Rush cover band in which the drummer was required to replicate Peart's playing, huge numbers would just nail it cold. And if it were 1 in 5, then 4 times as many wouldn't nail it than would. Maybe one area where people would have a tough time would be the solos. I don't think this URL has been posted on this thread yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfNpAF7wSzU&search=neil+peart

If it was, my mistake. Obviously, there's a bunch of impressive things happening there and I don't think it makes sense to say that being able to do that is just a basic of requirement of being a trained drummer.

[playplayplay]

Ok all you Niel basher's stand back... I have the most respect for that man. Niel as I know him. I come from his home town and have breathed the same air and went to the same high school, my own dad claim's to have gone to school as him. So comming from me as I know it he would spend hours upon hours in the garage making what now seems only other peoples opinion but this man is a real drummer, he feel's and breathes the music he play's to and make's few mistakes, a real born to be drummer, when most of us only dream to play as good or equal, this only happens to few people in life and he made drumming much more interesting to everybody. for this alone he deserves not to be judged. Thanks to Niel, Buddy, and all the greats. we all have somthing to strive for but keep in mind drumming is different for every one of us and learn to appreciate the beauty of the art itself, thanks Niel! for all your inspiration. Hope we can all jam one day soon, peace!

[LinearDrummer]

that's fine if a drummer can cop all of neil's licks in a rush cover band...they have a pattern set out for them. but neil COMPOSED those parts(and most lyrics, other percussion parts,etc.) himself...that's called creativity,my friend.


SO TRU!
How easy it is to forget that mastering someone's licks is good but does one have the technique and creativity to take a blank sheet and compose and master those parts on their own....

For the life of me I NEVER thought I'd see the day where words like sloppy and over-rated would be used to describe Neal's playing...

Goin to all those concerts back in the day and seeing the effect this man had on the audience is undescribable...The Forum would light up and you would see thousands of people air-drumming the licks of Tom Sawyer and YYZ etc...

Of course his licks can be executed - the bar has been raised....but please remember hes one of the reasons the bar has been raised...

[crdn]

Rush is one of those bands that you either love or hate because of the high vocals not because of the drummer. I think everyone would agree that Neil Peart is an amazing musician and has inspired tons of newbies into developing their craft. There are very few in the world today that would disagree with that statement I'm sure.

Being a Rush fan for years and after seeing them live several times I continue to stand in awe as I watch and listen. The same way I do when I watch the Buddy Rich videos on this site. I guess what I'm saying is there are many greats why limit ourselves to picking just one?

[mikeybbdrummin]

Drummers like Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Adam Nussbaum, Chad Wackerman and Jack DeJohnette completely and totally blow Neil Peart away. It doesn't matter if they're not rock drummers and he is. Neil Peart has to be one of the most overrated drummers of all time. I'd bet at least one in five drummers that graduates from the Berklee of music every year can do everything that Neil Peart can do including the odd time. The only difference is he's in huge band that's been huge for a long time and they're not.

In what way are you talking about? Speed? Jazz? There are guys, Grant Collins, Bozzio, Thomas Lang and Bobby Rock to name a few that probably have greater four way independence than most of who you mentioned. What does that mean? Do they blow away everyone you mentioned? No. They are all good at what they do.
Neil is my second favorite drummer after Gregg Bissonette. Some like Gregg and some may not be fans. I think in a Jazz setting Gregg has more experience and would be a better candidate in that situation over Neil but I dont like him any less because of it. Neil may not do it for you, but to say he is overrated, you have to remember that drummers wanted to be Neil, just as much as drummers want to be Dennis, Dave and Vinnie.

[the skin man]

In what way are you talking about?

I'd say just about every aspect of drumming, but maybe Jack DeJohnette and Adam Nussbaum may not be as good when it comes to some aspects of rock. Here's another thing: it might be the case if you took everything that Neil Peart has done and subtract the stuff with odd time, double bass, the solos, and the times when he's really pushing his chops to the limit, then the vast majority of his playing would remain and we would be left with is stuff that we would expect every drummer who has finished music school to be able to do - not something expected of an amazingly talented individual. Of course, that doesn't mean they would have the creativity or overall musical sense to come up with it in the first place. Feel free to jump on me if you think I'm wrong, but I do get the sense that that is probably the case.

[mikeybbdrummin]

[quote=the skin man]I'd say just about every aspect of drumming, but maybe Jack DeJohnette and Adam Nussbaum may not be as good when it comes to some aspects of rock. Here's another thing: it might be the case if you took everything that Neil Peart has done and subtract the stuff with odd time, double bass, the solos, and the times when he's really pushing his chops to the limit, then the vast majority of his playing would remain and we would be left with is stuff that we would expect every drummer who has finished music school to be able to do - not something expected of an amazingly talented individual. Of course, that doesn't mean they would have the creativity or overall musical sense to come up with it in the first place. Feel free to jump on me if you think I'm wrong, but I do get the sense that that is probably the case.[/quote

READ what you just said. You just said in Neils playing he has alot that makes him different than the average drummer. But take it away and he is basic. Thats like saying
take away everything that made Buddy, Buddy and hes just another drummer. That could be true, but why discredit anyone for what makes them, them. With all the drummers out their, if you have to, you should compare rock to rock, jazz to jazz or funk to funk. Just because drummer A is skilled in one or more styles than drummer B does not mean that drummer B is not a good drummer.

[the skin man]

You just said in Neils playing he has alot that makes him different than the average drummer. But take it away and he is basic.

What I meant was, a huge amount of it is basic, and that is not necessarily true of many other drummers. Less of their playing is basic. But in general, I think you do make a good point given that all sorts of great players often play things that are basic, because that is what the music requires. Obviously it would be silly to say that Buddy Rich was over-rated because at one moment during one tune he was playing something that was common or easy.

[mikeybbdrummin]

[quote=the skin man]What I meant was, a huge amount of it is basic, and that is not necessarily true of many other drummers. Less of their playing is basic. But in general, I think you do make a good point given that all sorts of great players often play things that are basic, because that is what the music requires. Obviously it would be silly to say that Buddy Rich was over-rated because at one moment during one tune he was playing something that was common or easy.[/quo

I guess it depends on what you listen to. It sounds like you think that the more you play in a song, the better you are. Again, just because a drummer plays more than another does not mean he is better. In fact if you put a Neil type player in a Puddle of Mud (for example) type of band it just would not sound right. And vice versa.
So to me that would make him a drummer just not right for the job.

[the skin man]

It sounds like you think that the more you play in a song, the better you are.

No, in fact, I think that it what makes some drummers really good: they know when to keep things simple or they are able to do something that is different, but still simple. My point is that a huge amount of what Neil Peart does is basic or at least basic for someone who has gone to music school and when he does do stuff that is not basic, it is not something that is totally beyond the reach of large number of other professional drummers. Maybe I shouldn't type this stuff because DogBreath is going to start barking at me again, but my point is not that he is not a great drummer. I think he is a great drummer. But when people place him on some higher plane, write things like "NEIL PEART IS GOD", or say that he is the greatest player in the entire history of the instrument, then they really are distorting the history of the drums and the current state of affairs in drumming. For what it's worth, I don't think anyone said that on this thread: "he is the greatest drummer of all time". But I have heard many people say that and I'm surprized that so many do.

[mikeybbdrummin]

No, in fact, I think that it what makes some drummers really good: they know when to keep things simple or they are able to do something that is different, but still simple. My point is that a huge amount of what Neil Peart does is basic or at least basic for someone who has gone to music school and when he does do stuff that is not basic, it is not something that is totally beyond the reach of large number of other professional drummers. Maybe I shouldn't type this stuff because DogBreath is going to start barking at me again, but my point is not that he is not a great drummer. I think he is a great drummer. But when people place him on some higher plane, write things like "NEIL PEART IS GOD", or say that he is the greatest player in the entire history of the instrument, then they really are distorting the history of the drums and the current state of affairs in drumming. For what it's worth, I don't think anyone said that on this thread: "he is the greatest drummer of all time". But I have heard many people say that and I'm surprized that so many do.

First off let me say I am not saying you are wrong in your opinion. Im trying to understand where you are coming from. Neil was popular in the mid to late 70's and was doing different, interesting and challenging stuff before anybody knew who Weckle, Coliauta or Chambers was. Just because they may have surpassed him in one way shape or form does not mean his is not good at what he does. And if you ask alot of people that you would call better than Neil, I bet Neil was part of their influence while learning to play. And "God", "Greatest ever" and that is all a matter of opinion.
I will always say that Bissonette is my "favorite" because to me, to say he is the best that ever walked the planet is a slap in the face to every incredible drummer out there.
I have stated that many drummers have faster feet, hands and more extreme four way independance than Gregg but thats not the most important thing.

[the skin man]

Maybe I should change what I said in the first thing I posted. I said I thought 1 in 5 Berklee grads could do everything that Neil Peart could do. I wouldn't be a bit surprized if that many really can play all the stuff that he plays, but I also wouldn't be a bit surprized if they aren't nearly as good at actually coming up with the stuff in the first place. So in that sense they can't do all that he can do because coming up with it in the first place is something that he does. I don't know much about the history of drumming, but again, I'm skeptical when people say that he did stuff in the ' 70's that nobody had done before. A fair amount of what I've heard doesn't sound all that more amazing than things big band drummers did a long time before and didn't Billy Cobham do a bunch of similiar amazing stuff in the ' 70's? Again, big band jazz and what Billy Cobham was doing are not rock, so there is a difference. And I like I said, I can't claim to know a huge amount about the history and development of all that stuff.

[mikeybbdrummin]

Maybe I should change what I said in the first thing I posted. I said I thought 1 in 5 Berklee grads could do everything that Neil Peart could do. I wouldn't be a bit surprized if that many really can play all the stuff that he plays, but I also wouldn't be a bit surprized if they aren't nearly as good at actually coming up with the stuff in the first place. So in that sense they can't do all that he can do because coming up with it in the first place is something that he does. I don't know much about the history of drumming, but again, I'm skeptical when people say that he did stuff in the ' 70's that nobody had done before. A fair amount of what I've heard doesn't sound all that more amazing than things big band drummers did a long time before and didn't Billy Cobham do a bunch of similiar amazing stuff in the ' 70's? Again, big band jazz and what Billy Cobham was doing are not rock, so there is a difference. And I like I said, I can't claim to know a huge amount about the history and development of all that stuff.

Like I said earlier. Compare style w/style. You can't compare Bellson to Grohl. So why compare Big band w/ progressive rock or rock. Cobham did some very cool stuff in the 70. He was was one of the first guys to do a double bass shuffle through a song. But then many years later Alex Van Halen did the same w/ Hot for Teacher. Would you tell any hard, hard rock double bass wizard hes not good because he does not, or can not, play jazz or big band? I think Im going in circles w/this. There are drummers that can do it all. And some that cant, but are Amazing at the style they prefer. If Vinnie or Weckle cant hold a candle to a speed metal drummer ( not my favorite ) would you look down on them?

[the skin man]

Compare style w/style.

I think to a certain degree you're right on that one. So when people say "Neil Peart is the greatest rock drummer of all time" that has a lot more plausibility than the idea that he is the greatest drummer of all time. What if someone stuck the brain of Chad Wackerman in the body of Neil Peart and had him play in Rush? People might say that the drumming became more complex, but they might also say it didn't fit as well. And there are similiar things in jazz. For example, for example a lot of people say that Dave Weckl's swing feel is the weakest aspect of his playing.

[mikeybbdrummin]

I think to a certain degree you're right on that one. So when people say "Neil Peart is the greatest rock drummer of all time" that has a lot more plausibility than the idea that he is the greatest drummer of all time. What if someone stuck the brain of Chad Wackerman in the body of Neil Peart and had him play in Rush? People might say that the drumming became more complex, but they might also say it didn't fit as well. And there are similiar things in jazz. For example, for example a lot of people say that Dave Weckl's swing feel is the weakest aspect of his playing.

True on the Wackerman idea. But you need to keep in mind the OTHER people in the band. You dont want to play just because you can. In Spirit of Radio the intro Alex does a riff over and over while Neil and Geddy match each other note for note. They play together for the benefit of the song not the benefit of their instrument. To play complex drums you need ( or should ) to play in a complex band so its not all about you.

[the skin man]

If Vinnie or Weckle cant hold a candle to a speed metal drummer ( not my favorite ) would you look down on them?


I've heard some thrash drummers do some really impressive things with speed and power and precision and I sure wouldn't look down on any other drummer if they were unable to match it if they were good in lots of other ways. I wonder if that's why so many people keep on looking at the Joey Jordinson page on this site - he's like some kind of athlete in that way - I'm not sure, I haven't listened to him. I'd bet Weckl could do all that stuff though. For him it's probably like "well, I just wanted to be able to play with a certain amount of accuracy, with a certain amount of speed, I just wanted to have it in case I need it." That's what he said once in a clinic I saw. Basically, he said he doesn't need all that speed all that often and he demonstrated a bunch of really amazing stuff that didn't hardly use any speed at all and just sounded great, but he likes to have it knowing he can play with a huge amount of speed if he needs to.

[mikeybbdrummin]

I've heard some thrash drummers do some really impressive things with speed and power and precision and I sure wouldn't look down on any other drummer if they were unable to match it if they were good in lots of other ways. I wonder if that's why so many people keep on looking at the Joey Jordinson page on this site - he's like some kind of athlete in that way - I'm not sure, I haven't listened to him. I'd bet Weckl could do all that stuff though. For him it's probably like "well, I just wanted to be able to play with a certain amount of accuracy, with a certain amount of speed, I just wanted to have it in case I need it." That's what he said once in a clinic I saw. Basically, he said he doesn't need all that speed all that often and he demonstrated a bunch of really amazing stuff that didn't hardly use any speed at all and just sounded great, but he likes to have it knowing he can play with a huge amount of speed if he needs to.

I dont know if Weckle can or not. Those guys have very fast feet and even faster hands. All that speed stuff is a whole other animal.
The way you see Neil is the way alot of people see Lars Ulrich. Im not a Lars fan, but people talk alot of crap about him now. 15 to 20 years ago Lars was at the top of his game and was one of the top guys if not the top guy looked at in his style. Now guys have passed him in ability, technique or whatever. And it seems as though he does not get the credit for his playing ability that made us know who he is in the first place. As w/Neil, Im sure the guys that are considered better than Lars were influenced by him.

[billy]

I've been a fan of opera my whole life. One of my favorites is The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). I’ve listened to it so many times over the years on tape that I know almost every note by heart. One year for my birthday, my girlfriend bought tickets for us to see The Marriage of Figaro at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is Los Angeles. We were young, and not rich, and we were probably the only couple there who didn't drive up in a luxury car. The place was beautiful, and the seats were great. The lights dimmed, the music started, and I was transported.



The opening scene takes place in the bedroom that will be shared by Figaro and Sussana after their wedding. Figaro is on his knees measuring the space that will be occupied by the nuptial bed. He calls out the numbers "Cinque... dieci.... venti... trenta!" exactly as I had heard them hundreds of times before, and I felt a thrill seeing the expression on his face while the familiar words were called out.



On and on the evening went, all the words exactly as I knew they would be, but now living things; all of the notes perfectly played by the orchestra. When the curtain fell for the last time the crowd was on its feet. This classic piece of musical theater had been executed faultlessly by a group of talented artists who realized that perfection is sometimes best expressed through perfect reproduction.



When I saw Rush in concert many years ago, the songs were performed with amazing precision. I was astounded at how closely the music matched the memories I had of all of times I had listened to the albums and heard the singles on the radio. Many bands riff and vamp. Many bands actually suck live and only achieve greatness through digital manipulation and post-production editing. Lightening, it is said, cannot strike the same place twice. Rush can strike home, with laser-like accuracy, over and over. Not all art is made better through riffing and improv. Some art is perfect just the way it is. I am thankful that Neil Peart has the ability to play my thoughts and memories just the way they are in my mind and heart.
WOW....WISH I COULD WRITE THAT WELL (RIGHT ON)

[mikeybbdrummin]

Many bands actually suck live and only achieve greatness through digital manipulation and post-production editing. Lightening, it is said, cannot strike the same place twice. Rush can strike home, with laser-like accuracy, over and over.



Very true. I dont understant why its bad to have an incredible memory to play all their intricate parts exact year after year. I have only seen them live twice and it would suck to start to air drum Neils parts along w/him and have him play something else. Alot of us drummers have memorized his parts so why shouldnt he?

[Darmikalus]

neil is an incredible drummer, especially for what he does, the new RUSH replay DVD just got out, i bought it and i loved every second of it... on the "show of hands" dvd he kept at least 35000 people clapping along to him....thats the dream isnt it? thats what every drummer wants to do? neil has lived the dream of every drummer to come before him or after him. granted neil isnt the best funk, or jazz or latin drummer, but he arguably MADE modern rock drumming for years. SOO many greats have been inspired by him, and continue to be inspired. even now at the age of 57 hes making new grooves and new licks that i, or alot of people cant even fathom playing. yet he has always been very humble about it, i read the things he writes up on his website (www.neilpeart.net) and he described going to see roy hanes in concert, with freddie gruber, and greg bissonette, and he honestly said he was humbled to be nest to so many great drummers. even after beign a fore-running star of the Art of drumming for 30 years, he still gets inspired when he sees new drummers, and is practising latin grooves, and such, and i dont doubt that rush's next album will have some amazing licks, and cool grooves many of us will be trying to learn. if you listen to the old stuff with the crazy time signatures and massive fills, and exotic percussion, youll see how meticulously orchestrated all of it is, if you listen to his new stuff, youll heat great foot coordination, and some double bass fills he wouldnt of dremaed of 25 years ago...
rant over...

[smoggrocks]

oof. too many pages to take in...


the thing i admire most about neil is his dedication to the craft, and his decision to go back and take lessons. i think that says a lot about someone's humility and sensibility.

i was a rush fanatic way before i even started playing drums. i found their music exciting and distinctive, and i loved that the drums were so integral to the music and so upfront. definitely did my share of airdrumming to a lot of their tunes.

while i enjoyed their live performances [must've seen them at least 25 times], in retrospect, i think they, ehhh... rushed everything. they weren't sloppy, just too rapid-fire. maybe it was the adrenaline.

i completely lost interest in the band after moving pictures. i thought the music was dull and one-dimensional and too smooth and processed-sounding. i hated that geddy changed his singing. i always liked that rush was one of those bands you either loved or hated -- that's a good position to be in!

as for neil's playing... i think it's great in the context of rush. i think sometimes he intellectualizes his playing too much; i'd like to see him just go to town. but i think that's his personality: a little anal, very intelligent, very calculating. with drums, sometimes you need to put passion before intellect, and take some chances.

as for his overall mastery of the drums, i don't think he is as developed as many other players out there. he does his thing, which is great; but there's a lot he can't do, and he admits it. obviously, he can't really play jazz [burning for buddy, anyone?], but he's neil peart, so no one's expecting him to.

i will always admire him for what he contributed to one of the most successful rock bands in history. i love that he made the drummer important. and i appreciate that he lays the 'dumb drummer' stereotype to rest.

but i don't think i'd look to him as the guy that embodies what drumming is about.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

DogBreath, I wish I'd seen your post sooner. I'm a fan of the Marriage of Figaro ever since I had to learn some of the repetoire a few years ago when I was taking classical singing lessons. Some of the music is just phenomenal. My singing teacher took me specially into the head office at the Royal Academy of Music to see the table on which Mozart wrote the entire opera. It's a beautiful table, with a layer of glass over the top; because somebody had decided to put their cup of tea on it! I felt like I was stepping back and I could imagine Mozart writing the opera by candlelight.

I think, to say the least, you would have found that interesting. The music is just so rich and diverse, the story, witty and comedic and the characters deep and mischevious. There's such humour in the work and such virtuoisity. In performance (except for mine) and in creation.

[mikeybbdrummin]

I just went to Rush.com and previewed their new dvd/cd Replayx3. Three previously released dvd (vhs at the time) concerts. One 60 min, 70 min and 90 min. It looks like you can order it w/R30. I think under 60 bucks is pretty good. Anybody have it yet?

[IDDrummer]

I just went to Rush.com and previewed their new dvd/cd Replayx3. Three previously released dvd (vhs at the time) concerts. One 60 min, 70 min and 90 min. It looks like you can order it w/R30. I think under 60 bucks is pretty good. Anybody have it yet?

yep!

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14324&highlight=rush

[King Crimson]

I just went to Rush.com and previewed their new dvd/cd Replayx3. Three previously released dvd (vhs at the time) concerts. One 60 min, 70 min and 90 min. It looks like you can order it w/R30. I think under 60 bucks is pretty good. Anybody have it yet?

I got last tuesday. Good stuff. I really like "Hold Your Fire" and it has "Turn The Page" live!

The CD has some good stuff on it. But the videos are great.

[Drumzealot]

Dont get me wrong i do have mad respect for Peart, hes a very talented Drummer. I'm just not into RUSH, mainly because of Geddy LeeI know this is an older thread but…
When I was 12 years old I could recite every lyric to every Rush song that existed. I could play most of the drums parts, most of the guitar parts and some of the bass parts. I LOVED Rush. But then I grew-up.
Personally, I agree with this and with Stu. I respect Peart and enjoy just about everything he does with Rush but find myself feeling bored with the total lack of spontaneity and “soul”. Plus the music over all, I loved it when I was an adolescent but out grew it in early high school when my interests shifted from chops and grandeur to groove, improvisation and taste.
And those lyrics…just a few days ago I put on Grace Under Pressure and had to laugh…

Memory banks unloading
Bytes break into bits
Unit One's in trouble and it's scared out of its wits

OMG…we MUST go help Unit One!!! Red Alter! Quick, Jones ready the rescue pod, Smitty prepare the rescue suits, Karzowsky, we’ll need three rescue blasters. This in NOT a drill. I repeat, this is NOT a drill.

Seems pretty cheez-ball to me.

[the skin man]

I've gone back and listened to some of the older stuff, and it's true that nobody can deny that it's really good drumming. It's stuff where he's doing a bunch more than the average drummer would do, but it still fits really well with everything else that's going on. So it doesn't sound like he's overplaying, although maybe in another context doing that much would be overplaying.

[Drum Monkey]

Definitely my biggest drumming influence! Love his style, the way he plays, everything!
I think everyone would agree that Neil Peart is an amazing musician and has inspired tons of newbies into developing their craft.
Newbies? Not everyone who is inspired by Neil is a newbie. There are professionals, amateurs as well as beginners.

-DM

[Drum Monkey]

It's not overplaying because it fits the music. He has and excellent bassist and guitarist to work with!

-DM

[Jeff Almeyda]

Also the lyrics... i heard that peart writes the lyrics for most songs, dont know if that's totally true or not, but the lyrcis just don't make any sense to me. Look at "spirit of the radio" for example when geddy sings "echo of the sound of salesmen"..............what the hell does that mean? .

It's a take-off on the song "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel

Sound of Silence final verse goes: "And the words of the prophets were written on the subway halls, tenement halls echo with the Sound of Silence."

Spirit of Radio" And the words of the profits were written on the studio walls , concert halls echo with the sound of salesman."

Makes a little more sense now, huh? Especially when you read the rest of the song's lyrics about the true "spirit of radio".

BTW, I know this post was a few months ago but I didn't see the answer anywhere.

[Jeff Almeyda]

Neil started it all for me. As a kid, I remember learing "La Villa" and torturing myself with it.

Yes, there are more advanced drummers out there (Plenty of them)

But this fact remains: Most of the music that features incredible drumming does NOT appeal to today's youth or even to a sizable portion of the listening public. Compared to music like Rush or Tool NOBODY listens to Vital Information or Planet X and forget about the swing stuff.

Danny Carey made a similar comment in a recent MD article. He was VERY blunt and he said something like" Yeah great monkey drummers but the music SUCKS"

Virgil blows Neil (and pretty much all others) away but let's listen to 2 hrs of Virgil's or Weckl's music and see if it moves an audience (of not just drummers) like 2 hrs of Rush.

Yes, popularity is a limited gauge of talent but it's patently obvcious that the man has struck a chord that has resounded with his listening public for over 30 years.

If all of these others guys are SOOO much better, why are they limited to doing clinic tours in music stores? Isn't music about communicating with people? And if what you are saying is so amazing then everyone will at least want to hear it , no?

Maybe they surpass Neil in the "drumming" department but if you take a broader look at it, Neil has achieved a much more worthy goal. He has managed to communicate a part of himself (through lyrics and music) to the world not just blown a few drummers away with his blazing chops.

Please don't give me the: "There are a hundred better guys than Neil who never made it." story either because Neil did not rely on anything other than talent to get where he is today. He's not some sex symbol or anything like that, he made it on his music alone.

I think you Neil bashers are just incredibly jealous. I'm not saying you have to like him but this "I hate him" stuff is just the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head..

[the skin man]

"Yeah great monkey drummers but the music SUCKS"


I don't get it. Monkey drummers as in "using all four limbs wildly" or monkey drummers as in "unintelligent"? It has to be the first one because that's the only interpretation that makes sense. If that's what it is, then I think to a certain extent that's true of a bunch of that stuff. It's unfortunate that you have to listen to so much cheese to hear all the amazing drumming. There was some stuff about that on the Dave Weckl thread, but the moderator said it was off-topic I think.

[LinearDrummer]

Rush is one of those bands that you either love or hate because of the high vocals not because of the drummer. I think everyone would agree that Neil Peart is an amazing musician and has inspired tons of newbies into developing their craft. There are very few in the world today that would disagree with that statement I'm sure.



Gavin Harrison, Jason Bittner and Mike Portnoy are anything but "newbies" and I've read countless articles from them saying Neil was one of their biggest influences...so unless I'm misunderstanding you I'm not sure what you are stating....


Maybe they surpass Neil in the "drumming" department but if you take a broader look at it, Neil has achieved a much more worthy goal. He has managed to communicate a part of himself (through lyrics and music) to the world not just blown a few drummers away with his blazing chops


Couldn't have said it any better ;-)

[timebandit]

Mr. Neil Peart is a living legend. Bottom line , end of story, Finito! ( and I say Mr. out of respect )

[White]

Peart has been my biggest influence for years, and I am a pretty hardcore Rush Fan lol, Although I have never seen them live, (they have never come near my home town lol, closest they have come was toronto, 16 hours away lol. But ya, Im a big fan of pearts Drumming

[neilpscuz]

Dont get me wrong i do have mad respect for Peart, hes a very talented Drummer. I'm just not into RUSH, mainly because of Geddy Lee

Ok maybe Geddy isn't the greatest vocalist in the world BUT, can your bass player play bass, keyboards, taurus pedals, and sing every song !!! Dude you gotta at least respect the- talent he brings....Neil is and will always be my biggest influence,ever sice I got 2112 on 8-trac all those years ago.....

[the skin man]

Here's a Neil Peart interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEaKNmYMdpM&search=Peart

[dman2332]

No one is better than the Professor. I have never seen him play live but I have both the Rio DVD and the R30 DVD and his solos are excellent. He is extremely smooth in his sticking patterns and playing them consistently on a day-to-day basis. The way he replicates every note of every song is awesome. I love his drumming in Tom Sawyer (my all-time favorite) and the fill he uses in the song. Hats off to the Professor!!!

[somedrummer]

Having watched through R30 a few times now, I have a few questions. (I apologize if these things have already been discussed here and please point me in the right direction).

First, I wonder how Neil is able to play his tom setup the way it is, with them starting all the way above his high hat with approx. 6 inch intervals (from what I can tell) between 8" and 10", 10" and 12". It seems as though it would be nearly impossible to do anything other than go down the toms, and even that looks uncomfortable to me. While I respect his playing and ability as a drummer, I am unable to comprehend how this setup makes logical sense (not a personal attack, just trying to understand).

Secondly, my mom and I were wondering about the washer and dryer and other appliances on stage with the band. I'm sure there must be some story behind them, but what is it?

Third, I think Rush is a really great band. I find all their music (that which I have heard) to be insightful, and I realized that they work very well together as a unit, in the power trio format that they are in. Geddy gets the vocals for his spotlight, Alex has the guitar which naturally gets some spotlight, and Neils drum parts work together well and are interesting enough that he gets some spotlight too.

[LinearDrummer]

First, I wonder how Neil is able to play his tom setup the way it is, with them starting all the way above his high hat with approx. 6 inch intervals (from what I can tell) between 8" and 10", 10" and 12". It seems as though it would be nearly impossible to do anything other than go down the toms, and even that looks uncomfortable to me.

Well when you have the same setup for the most part of 30 years at some point you should be comfortable with it :-)

He goes down the toms from left to right of course but he also goes from right to left starting on the floor especially from the older songs....The 8 and 10 are used alot with quick strike rolls and accents when he does his reggae type feels...

I did notice that when he was experimenting with the traditional grip they weren't used as much as before...maybe thats why he went back to match grip....in the early days he was all over them....

[NUTHA JASON]

i just bought the live in rio and watched it through several times. i think you're being a bit harsh stu. neils stil a fluid powerhouse behind the drums. he looks so serious tho. like a business man. trying to catch him smiling during the show is like trying to find walley.
what i do like about the DVD is that for once the editing team must have had a drummer in it and they cut peart nearly everytime he does something interesting. great angles too. o batterista is an awesom solo. it is a true must have DVD for fans of neil.
j
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/noel/rushinrio2.jpg

[palmeris]

Having watched through R30 a few times now, I have a few questions. (I apologize if these things have already been discussed here and please point me in the right direction).


Secondly, my mom and I were wondering about the washer and dryer and other appliances on stage with the band. I'm sure there must be some story behind them, but what is it?

.

I am a big Rush fan and a bigger Peart fan. I have seen them live 14 different tours and enjoyed every one of them, have never seen a bad Rush show or performance.

As for the appliances, Rush has always had some wierd stuff on stage, it's mainly Geddys doings but Alex has been know to put up some weird stuff also. the appliance thing started sevral tours ago, maybe it was test for echo, with a refridgerator, then went to the maytag dryers. they have t shirts in them and at the end of the show the band members take them out and toss them to the crowd. They say " I got this t-shirt from dryer #1 at a Rush show" or something close to that.

Geddy used to have a lot of little toys and charcters that he would set up on his keyboard setup, on top of the amps, etc. The last tour he stuck them in the revolving sandwich vending machine.

I have seen bozo the clown, a cardboard cutout of a bikini clad babe, the 3 stooges stuffed heads sitting on top the amps, a case of beer, pirates, parots, alex walk off stage while palying his guitar in the middel of a song and sit on top of a roadie who was taking a nap, a Birthday cake complete with lit candels....anyway you get the point the band likes to have fun while they perform and it comes across in the energy of the show. they ENJOY IT!

[foursticks]

I love the way how Neil Peart has such a 'neutral' face whilst playing. The only time I've ever seen him smile is in the 'Rush in Rio' DVD.

[Pocketman]

I'll say this about Neil Peart. His drumming changed the course of my life. Like so many of you, I started playing the drums beacuse of him. I was 13 and saw the video (back when MTV played videos let alone by a progressive rock band) for Subdivisions and all I could think about was how cool this serious looking guy playing the drums was. Not to mentioned WHAT he was playing. I was so hooked and there was no looking back. Throughout high school my bedroom and locker were covered in Rush pictures. My dad took me in 1984 to see them on the Grace tour. As I watched the opening band play I saw Neil's kit behind them covered by a sheet. I remeber just staring at it KNOWING what was under there. When he first came into view under the lights playing 'Spirit Of Radio' I was in heaven. Like it's been stated before, you knew everything he was going to play before he played it and that was just how I wanted it.

Thanks to Neil I became a drummer and dedicated more time to it than anything else in my life. Lessons, practicing, gigs, college degree, etc. Over time my tastes have changed and I don't listen to Rush as much any more. But on their last tour I was able to see them second row. As I sat there seeing my childhood hero right in front of me, I went from a home owning, married father to a teenager again.

Thanks for everything Neil.

[Ian Ballard]

Neil Peart is the drummer and lyricist for Rush.

I really like Rush.

Therefore, I really like Neil Peart.

[timebandit]

youv'e got to listen to the music to really appreciate Neil. go back & listen to some rush, like "hemispheres" or " Mystic Rythems " or " Bravado". just song after song , there is great drumming. But you have to like the music as a whole. Go load your Ipod up with Rush's full body of work. I will garuantee every song , the drumming will spark your interest from start to finish!!

[Bernhard]

ok - had to delete some posts, let's say the last 100. Was not in the mood to read them all. Say thanks to some nice members so.

B.

[NUTHA JASON]

at least the whole thread didn't go.

so its a warning to all that certain standards will be maintained. Neil might actually read his thread. he may one day post on it. lets make him feel welcome and not...

a) overdo the heroworship (which is a turn off to celebrities)
b) overdo the critiscism

but still debate.

j

[mikeybbdrummin]

With Neil, love him or leave him, you cant take away what he has accomplished in his career, and his influence on drummers around the world. The same amount of drummers that want to be Vinnie Coliauta, Thomas Lang or Virgil Donati today wanted to be Neil from the late 70's, all the 80's and beyond. So lets give credit where credit is due. You dont have to worship the ground he walks on, but accept him for what made him the drummer that he is. And the drummer that makes us want to say GOOD things about him in the first place.

[the skin man]

So lets give credit where credit is due.

I think the key thing is an unusual combination of impressiveness and popular appeal. Most drummers that impressive don't have that much popular appeal, or to the extent that they do, what they play doesn't fit in with the rest of the music as much. It's more likely to sound like flashiness just for its own sake.

[mikeybbdrummin]

I think the key thing is an unusual combination of impressiveness and popular appeal. Most drummers that impressive don't have that much popular appeal, or to the extent that they do, what they play doesn't fit in with the rest of the music as much. It's more likely to sound like flashiness just for its own sake.

I dont think he would have a popular appeal if he didnt have impressiveness first.
Neil is a team player. Your right. The intro of Spirit of Radio w/the drums and bass matched note for note was for the song and not for Neil's ego.

[the skin man]

I dont think he would have a popular appeal if he didnt have impressiveness first.

Yeah, it's a total package. The drumming would not be as popular if it didn't fit the music, but the drumming itself became something that the band has been popular for. Some stuff is drumming for it's own sake - basically the solos. And there again, what they had was a combination of impressiveness and popular appeal. Most solos that impressive or more impressive aren't things that the average music fan could really get into. Other solos that people could get into aren't as impressive. Or they're just sort of a chops display. Everyone just says "wow, that was really fast and that's cool" but there isn't necessarily all that much interesting going on.

[Ian Ballard]

Neil's solo is a song. It's a well composed and thought-out piece of music.

This is something we aren't seeing anymore from the rock drummers solo these days.

[NUTHA JASON]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIPAXNGq7HE&mode=related&search=

just to put things back in perspective.

j

ps: warning 9 minutes long

[y0avz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIPAXNGq7HE&mode=related&search=

just to put things back in perspective.

j

ps: warning 9 minutes long

Wow big deal......I can do that :-)

[DogBreath]

Wow big deal......I can do that :-)
Really? You can write a solo like that, perform it flawlesly in front of thousands of people, and then get rich and famous for being able to do things like that over and over for decade after decade? That's great. I'm kind of surprised that I haven't heard of you before.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Wow big deal......I can do that :-)

Spoken like a true YouTube critic.
Waiting for your post, please.

[NUTHA JASON]

dudes... the sideways smiley is indicative that our y0avz is joking.

j

[DogBreath]

I was smiling while I typed.

[shuffle]

What a great solo....So many ideas in there.

The part I like the most is the waltz, from 3:04 to 4:24. The contrast between the low-toms and the high toms sound that he plays over the feet ostinato is just beautiful. And that big thunder sound at 3:14 is a great effect. The fast combinations starting at 3:54 are awesome.

Such a nice salute to Max Roach.

[IDDrummer]

As a rule, I'm not a huge fan of drum solos. However, I like Neil's solos because they are so well structured. They truly are pieces of music rather than simply a technical showpiece.

I have been a Rush fan for nearly thirty years, and the debate about Neil (and Rush, for that matter) always kind of amuses me. In some cases I can see a person's point, maybe even agree with it (for example, Neil is a bit stiff playing jazz), but it doesn't matter to me. I like what I like, and the band's music literally is a part of my life. Their development has mirrored my development in many ways. I don't play in Neil's style at all, but he's been an inspiration, nonetheless.

Neil Peart and Rush have given me great joy through the years; I'm thankful for the work they have done.

[dib da drummer]

As a rule, I'm not a huge fan of drum solos. However, I like Neil's solos because they are so well structured. They truly are pieces of music rather than simply a technical showpiece.

I have been a Rush fan for nearly thirty years, and the debate about Neil (and Rush, for that matter) always kind of amuses me. In some cases I can see a person's point, maybe even agree with it (for example, Neil is a bit stiff playing jazz), but it doesn't matter to me. I like what I like, and the band's music literally is a part of my life. Their development has mirrored my development in many ways. I don't play in Neil's style at all, but he's been an inspiration, nonetheless.

Neil Peart and Rush have given me great joy through the years; I'm thankful for the work they have done.


Spoken like a "true" professional. Well done and Thank You! Couldn't of put it better myself. Way to go, ID! ;-)

[Synthetik]

As a rule, I'm not a huge fan of drum solos. However, I like Neil's solos because they are so well structured. They truly are pieces of music rather than simply a technical showpiece.

I have been a Rush fan for nearly thirty years, and the debate about Neil (and Rush, for that matter) always kind of amuses me. In some cases I can see a person's point, maybe even agree with it (for example, Neil is a bit stiff playing jazz), but it doesn't matter to me. I like what I like, and the band's music literally is a part of my life. Their development has mirrored my development in many ways. I don't play in Neil's style at all, but he's been an inspiration, nonetheless.

Neil Peart and Rush have given me great joy through the years; I'm thankful for the work they have done.

My sentiments parallel yours except for the solo part, I do enjoy them when they are well done.

OT: Northern Idaho...close to backbeats drum shop?

[IDDrummer]

OT: Northern Idaho...close to backbeats drum shop?

Is that in Sandpoint? I've heard there's a neat shop there and I see ads in the Nickel's Worth, but I haven't been in. The ads don't generally list the name of the shop, for some reason. Sandpoint is about forty miles from me (not that far, really, in North Idaho terms!). If it is the shop in Sandpoint, tell me a bit about it - I'd like to visit it if it's worthwhile.

[Synthetik]

Is that in Sandpoint? I've heard there's a neat shop there and I see ads in the Nickel's Worth, but I haven't been in. The ads don't generally list the name of the shop, for some reason. Sandpoint is about forty miles from me (not that far, really, in North Idaho terms!). If it is the shop in Sandpoint, tell me a bit about it - I'd like to visit it if it's worthwhile.

So as not to hijack the thread, you have a PM.

Back to the topic of Neil Peart...who I am sure has made thousands pick up a set of sticks, and has been responsible for the sale of countless Tama, Ludwig and Dw kits.

[y0avz]

dudes... the sideways smiley is indicative that our y0avz is joking.

j

Apperantly...you are the only one who got it.
I hope the "joke police" wont get me next time.

[NUTHA JASON]

the this could be you singing:
Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase

[mikeybbdrummin]

I just watched Rush in Rio. Like Neil or not, how anyone can say he is not Musical or is uncreative is beyond me. His solo is not off the top of your head in the moment. Thats what makes him different than most. Its well organized and creative with many different aspects to it IMO. Even back in the day from Exit stage Left. Two different solos. Both w/different parts and ideas that keep you interested. The very original little cowbell part? Need I say more?

[Ian Ballard]

I just watched Rush in Rio. Like Neil or not, how anyone can say he is not Musical or is uncreative is beyond me. His solo is not off the top of your head in the moment. Thats what makes him different than most. Its well organized and creative with many different aspects to it IMO. Even back in the day from Exit stage Left. Two different solos. Both w/different parts and ideas that keep you interested. The very original little cowbell part? Need I say more?

He seems to always keep some of the same themes, which is really cool. He'll change the overall structure and content, but always does the "snare solo" part.

I also remember intentionally buying a bunch of cowbells, expressly for the purpose of emulating his "cowbell melody".

[dib da drummer]

I just watched Rush in Rio. Like Neil or not, how anyone can say he is not Musical or is uncreative is beyond me. His solo is not off the top of your head in the moment. Thats what makes him different than most. Its well organized and creative with many different aspects to it IMO. Even back in the day from Exit stage Left. Two different solos. Both w/different parts and ideas that keep you interested. The very original little cowbell part? Need I say more?


No, you don't have to say more, mikey. But you know you can 'cause you express it so
honestly and eloquently. Excellent points and Thank You! We, who know drums, can appreciate what Neil has done for 30+ years with his professionalism, talent, grace, and certainly his humility. He has inspired more drummers on this planet than most and it's really weird to hear anyone have negative comments about him and his contributions to the music industry, let alone the percussion world. Besides, he isn't known as "The Professor" for nothing! Take Care...

[dib da drummer]

the this could be you singing:
Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase


Hey NUTHA,


Isn't "Red Barchetta" a great song. Not to mention, an awesome demonstration of drums and percussion. Thanks for the snipit of the lyric! Makes me wanna go out, get in my car, roll the windows down, open the sunroof, throw in the "Moving Pictures" CD, and go cruisin' down the highway with Neil crankin' out the drums. Peace...

[NUTHA JASON]

not mentioned here (i think) is that our neil is also the prime lyic writer for rush. the man's quite deep.
with global warming and dwindling resources the words of red barchetta are prophetic.

j

[rendezvous_drummer]

not mentioned here (i think) is that our neil is also the prime lyic writer for rush. the man's quite deep.
with global warming and dwindling resources the words of red barchetta are prophetic.

j
Yea man, have you seen his dvd's? He talks about drums while walking through forests. Some of his lyrics though make no sense at all. For example, in "Spirit of the Radio", when the song is near the end, Geddy Lee sings "Echos of the sound of salesmen, of salesmen, OHHHHHHHH SALESMEN!". Hilarious part but odd. Great lyricist none the less.

[NUTHA JASON]

i think he's talking about adverts taking up too much airtime.

but yes the whole forest thing just strengthens the guru image. he is so calm and soft spoken for such a vicious drummer. really humble too. would make a good friend.

j

[Skitch]

Yea man, have you seen his dvd's? He talks about drums while walking through forests. Some of his lyrics though make no sense at all. For example, in "Spirit of the Radio", when the song is near the end, Geddy Lee sings "Echos of the sound of salesmen, of salesmen, OHHHHHHHH SALESMEN!". Hilarious part but odd. Great lyricist none the less.
I don't mean to speak down to you here but you do realize that the preceding part of this "The words of the prophets were written on the studio walls" was a spin off of Simon and Garfunkel's Sound of Silence Lyric, "The words of the prophets were written on the subway walls".
Some of his lyrics though make no sense at all. For example, in "Spirit of the Radio", when the song is near the end, Geddy Lee sings "Echos of the sound of salesmen, of salesmen, OHHHHHHHH SALESMEN!". Hilarious part but odd.
And, I believe, this line refers to the growing commercialism of music (which would explode in the 1980s) at the time in which Rush wasn't cranking out hit song after hit song. As Frank Zappa put it in his book, "and turn up the handclaps....."

Rush and other bands like Genesis were really having to start to reidentify and reinvent themselves. "The Spirit of Radio" is basically a reminder of where radio came from and what made it great. There was a time when the record companies didn't control everything (like the playlists and radio station conglomerates) for the sake of selling commercial slots for advertising (back to Frank here, ..."to buy all the worthless crap people want to sell us")

This song was a real social commentary on where free radio was headed, for better for worse, in the not too distant future..

"One likes to believe in the freedom of music but glitter prizes and endless compromises challenge the illusion of integrity....."

Do you see the relevance in these words?

I don't know that I even really listen to Rush much anymore, but they did contribute alot and many bands from the 1990s list them as a major influence. And at least Neil, as a lyricist, made people rethink the whole "dumb drummer" attitude. I don't know that Neil would make my top ten list, but he still has contributed quite a bit. And you have to respect a band who didn't sell out for bigger profits in the growing face of top 40 radio. I can think of one band that did and doesn't even tour anymore. Rush is probably still as popular as ever with music fans and they did this doing it their way.


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMxJw0VnqE (”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMxJw0VnqE”)

[Skitch]

I'll say this about Neil Peart. His drumming changed the course of my life. Like so many of you, I started playing the drums beacuse of him. I was 13 and saw the video (back when MTV played videos let alone by a progressive rock band) for Subdivisions and all I could think about was how cool this serious looking guy playing the drums was. Not to mentioned WHAT he was playing. I was so hooked and there was no looking back. Throughout high school my bedroom and locker were covered in Rush pictures. My dad took me in 1984 to see them on the Grace tour. As I watched the opening band play I saw Neil's kit behind them covered by a sheet. I remeber just staring at it KNOWING what was under there. When he first came into view under the lights playing 'Spirit Of Radio' I was in heaven. Like it's been stated before, you knew everything he was going to play before he played it and that was just how I wanted it.

Thanks to Neil I became a drummer and dedicated more time to it than anything else in my life. Lessons, practicing, gigs, college degree, etc. Over time my tastes have changed and I don't listen to Rush as much any more. But on their last tour I was able to see them second row. As I sat there seeing my childhood hero right in front of me, I went from a home owning, married father to a teenager again.

Thanks for everything Neil.

Here are some things which Neil contributed:


He made the drum solo an inexpendible and much anticipated part of a concert. How many times do you hear drum solos anymore? He integrated keyboard instruments on a grand scale into a rock band. There may have been other multipercussionists, but no one else was incorporating Tubular bells, Orchestral Bells, and Crotales into the music, thus making the younger more impressionable drummers rethink percussion as a whole. All of the band directors in the world should be thanking him for this as well as Musser and Deagan. This also makes me wonder if Pete Best and John Rutsey ever have lunch together?
He welcomed technological change into his playing when most drummers wouldn't.
The one thing that I admire him for was the statements he would make regarding what sticks he used or cymbals. Neil, at that time, felt that what a drummer has to contribute to the music was far more important than what heads he used. I didn't understand ths at the time; now I do. Because it isn't important to be a Neil clone or a Steve Gadd clone; it is more important to be the best drummer you can be. And if that is using a pair Germanic hand cymbals for hi hats, so be it - just be careful how you enter Poland! Furthermore, in this same mindset was the fact that Neil removed logos from his cymbals until the Paragon line came out and it was his demand that the Paragon logo be subtle. His statement is that you should be finding you own voice not copying his!
When asked about the samples used on his solo during the Show of Hands live recording, he stated that he did use sampling be reconstructed the samples so as to not just rip off something digitally from a record, showing some character and more tech savy.
He wanted the rap section on the song "Roll the Bones"

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMxJw0VnqE (”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMxJw0VnqE”)

[WeatherKing]

he is so calm and soft spoken for such a vicious drummer. really humble too. would make a good friend.

j

Here is a fantastic interview! Check out the Sirius radio interview and click the "available online" link. Neil is very upbeat. When you say he would make a good friend NJ, imagine how interesting it would be to ride with him in between shows.


http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/News.htm

Cheers!

[NUTHA JASON]

thanks WK. great link. he is really bright and cheerful. nothing like the frowning businessman behind a wall of tomtoms.

j

[mikeybbdrummin]

i think he's talking about adverts taking up too much airtime.

but yes the whole forest thing just strengthens the guru image. he is so calm and soft spoken for such a vicious drummer. really humble too. would make a good friend.

j

I was on Neils website a few months ago and Neil stated he had played duet drums w/his friend Gregg Bissonette. I have stated Gregg is my favorite drummer followed by Neil. I have known Gregg for over fifteen years and when I talked to Gregg about a month later I joked about why I was not invited to watch. He told me that Neil was kind of a private person. They went out on Greggs boat and Neil could name every bird and fish in sight. Gregg said he was very nice guy and a very smart man.

[NUTHA JASON]

great story. and based on what i've seen of greg (met him and got his DVD) i would imagine that the two of them got on really well.
j