Correction in the video from the humans that made it: The song is The Spirt of Radio, not Spirit of The Radio. Rush is one of the most iconic rock bands in the world. Neil Peart and his drumming for Rush is a masterclass in prog rock drumming... and that's exactly what we're looking at in this drum lesson. Neil Peart is widely considered one of the best drummers of all time. If you want a drummer that you can bet will appear in the top 10 lists for best drummers of all time, Neil Peart if one of them. But WHY? How Neil Peart composed the drum parts, how Rush recorded them, the sound of the drums in all of Rushs' songs...groundbreaking on every level for music and drumming. I hope you enjoy this deep dive drum lesson on Neil Peart, Rush, and Neil's drumming. Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts! ► Start Your FREE StephensDrumShed Drum School Trial Here: bit.ly/2TpkJmJ Subscribe or I will steal your cymbals: bit.ly/2AyH1Fb Go here to snag the sheet music for this video: bit.ly/34kh0vy
Hey Stephen, love your channel. I made an African song in honor of Neil, my inspiration, love for you to check it out. Kilebu Neil Peart th-cam.com/video/Rs8ZlEcOucg/w-d-xo.html
Man, I miss Neil a lot. How someone that was so introverted managed to have such an infectious personality through his playing is incredible. Great Vid!
i don't think he was introverted, he just didn't like being crowded by people who knew him for his music. i get the feeling he'd be very social if he was somewhere that he was unknown or at least wasn't being bombarded by rabid fans
A lot needs to be said about a drummer and a band that can take the Morse code cadence of an airport call sign and turn it into a classic, foundational song in progressive rock.
and let's not forget that he incorporate parts of Shakespeare in his works. Rush first live album "All The World A Stage", from there Moving Pictures album song entitle Limelight "All the world's indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers", you can see the influence that Neil use in his lyric. plus how many bands or groups would wright a song about "The Trees".
Neil is a giant among giants. The thing that still strikes me about his playing is regardless of how difficult his parts were, they were clean, musically interesting, and had a real groove. Neil played some really difficult stuff, but none of it ever felt like he did it just to show off. It all fit into and substantially added to the music, and he made even the strangest meter changes feel so natural that you often didn't realize it was happening.
I grew up (born in 1993, so it was of my own accord) listening to Rush and at another weird end Nine Inch Nails, two bands who made different time signatures just feel normal - dancey - not show-offy and flashy but to serve the music. As a consequence now, when I do come up with ideas they're just naturally not always in 4/4. I love to trace that subconscious influence in myself, I was listening to these bands as a teen and had no theoretical knowledge. I didn't know they were changing time signatures all over the place, but I learnt to air drum along to them and internalised so many Rush songs specifically that I think, now I am a musician but I don't listen to Rush anymore, those lessons have just embedded themselves in me. I'm very thankful for that.
I was lucky, I got to see Neil Peart and Buddy Rich play. Both great drummers, but Neil might have been able to play jazz but not as good as Buddy. Buddy might be able to play rock, but not as well as Neil.
People often forget it was not just that this drumming is bloody hard...he actually composed it! and it is so tasteful and fits so well in the sound of Rush. His drumming still puts a smile on my face and an appreciative shake of my head being a fellow drummer. RIP professor.
Neil was a true philosopher, which he reflected much on his drumming style. Bear in mind that he wrote a lot of lyrics for Rush too. One of a kind. Thanks for this video, you rock!
I think what elevates Rush above other prog groups for me is that their overthetopness never felt over the top. Groups like Tool and Dream Theater feel like they’re showing off how great and how smart they are. Rush never did. RIP Neil. I don’t even drum, but you are a hero.
La Villa Strangiato was the song that broke their old school progressive back - so to speak - their goal was to play it straight through when studio recording it (like they would live) but it was so difficult to play for all 3 that proved impossible (at their level of excellence anyway). That experience is what led to writing songs in more digestible (and recordable) bites.
I agree bands like porcupine tree and dream threatre are that way, all technical and no sense of song, but not Tool. And rush abandoned it's prog flavor when they became a synth based, soft rock band. When Rush was in their height of progressive rock with Hemispheres, one of the reasons for doing it was to show off, and they admitted it, but they were well ahead of dream threatre and others because musical composition was still paramount.
I've never viewed Neil Peart as a great rock drummer I viewed him as an incredible drum virtuoso who happened to play rock and roll, not to mention write most of Rush's lyrics, there was so much more to him than meets the eye, there are tons of great drummers out there but few like him...
The note that said he rode his motorcycle to shows and it was a nightmare for the tour manager is vague. He had a trailer of bikes that was towed by his private tour bus. When he wasn't on stage, he was riding. He loved the fans but never understood fame. He considered himself an every man. No better than anyone else, in any way. He would rather ride than be fawned over. For me? A Legend.
My favorite drummer of all time. thank you for not only mentioning their hits but also mentioning some of their deep cuts like the enemy within. would’ve loved to hear you play One Little Victory but honestly Neil’s catalog of amazing drumming is endless. There’s something to appreciate in every single rush song
Thanks for this one Stephen. My first drum teacher played Tom Sawyer for me on my first lesson. That was my “I need to drum” moment. I didn’t look back.
I am not a drummer, But I know what makes a great drummer, and that's courage. Neil had that in spades. And character of being because I just don't know if I could have handled the death of my only child, and my wife of many years shortly thereafter with that much courage. I salute you Professor, You were truly one of a kind and an inspiration to millions...
I'm a 51 year old lifelong Rush fan who just took up drumming about a year before Neil's death. I got talked into teaching basic drums to kids as a music instructor (I'm really a guitar player), so I took up the drums to not feel like a charlatan. And since I had to get as good as I can as fast as I can, who better to try to start to begin to start to begin to imitate than Neil Peart, whom I've been listening to since the age of 8? These drumming videos are a lifesaver for someone like me, and now that I'm 2 or 3 years into it I'm having a blast.
My first Rush Tour was Moving Pictures. I saw them for Signals tour, Grace Under Pressure Tour, Hold Your Fire Tour, Roll the Bones Tour, Power Windows Tour, Presto Tour, Counterparts Tour, Test for Echo Tour, Time Machine, Snakes n Arrows Tour. I was quite angry at myself for missing R40 but hey, I'm grateful for all the times I did see them through the years. And of course LOVED all his solos (even though I play guitar)...
Neil Peart was my inspiration starting back in 1975 when I was ten years old. I have been drumming now for 42 years, and one of my favorite things to do is throw on a Rush CD (I have every one of them, and have seen Rush in concert more times than I can remember) and drum along with them. Talk about a workout. Sadly, I haven't had a drum set now for a couple years. Had to sell my kit, and then we moved cross country.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary
That’s why we call him “the Professor”!! Been a loyal RUSH fan since first hearing Caress Of Steel in 1975, at the ripe old age of 15. I am now 63 & I miss Dirk, Lerxst & Pratt so much. I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 years since the beginning of the R40 tour. Great video. I am so glad we have all of these memories to see us through & more importantly to pass the genius of these 3 guys to the next generation. KEEP ON RUSHIN’!!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Us 80's guys... air drumming the fill on the outro of Don't You Forget About Me is just SO satisfying. The wait before the part is murder! Great vid as usual.
I’ll never reach that level of greatness, and I’m fine with that. I’m happy to be able to play what I can play considering I’m self taught. One day I hope to take a few formal lessons
That's because you have your own level of greatness you're going for. And it will look different than Neil's. And that's ok. Neil was largely self taught as well in the early years if my memory serves me correct.
@@StephenTaylorDrums yip, it wasn't until wayyy later in his career until he took lessons to be more flowy (for lack of a better word). You can definitely see it too, a good example is his solo on "A Show of Hands", he does look kinda stiff while still drumming phenomenally, and his later solos look more relaxed
Neil Peart was Beyond Human in His approach to Drumming. He implemented Jazz, West African Drum sounds into His Own an made a Drumming Masterpiece. Let's not forget Reggae. Neil Was a Master of his profession. John Bonham an Neil Peart are always going to Remembered for their ability to drive the beat of the song with precision an allow his group members to play to their utmost ability. Miss you Neil.🙏
I'm not a drum person (don't pay as much attention to them as I do other instruments) other than Rush. Neil was just amazing. His creativeness, I believe, is the best there has ever been. His loss was probably the hardest blow the music world has ever faced.
a drummer is only as good till someone comes along who is much better (of superior quality or excellence) then any who came before them. Neil Peart IS of the highest quality of drummer of all time. simply the best!!!
This is genuinely hilarious his contribution to drumming doesn't even come remotely near that of John Bonham's. He was nowhere near as technical as Bonham or Paice or Mitchell and he was never as creative as Ringo. Peart's greatest accomplishment was somehow fooling the world into thinking he was some sort of virtuoso.
As someone who knows Neil's drumming inside and out (99% listening, 1% trying to play!), this is a fantastic highlight of his most famous grooves, and you pretty much nailed every one of the demos.
Long live The Professor. Gone, but not forgotten. He is desperately missed. The world of drumming is better for his existence. Loved watching the video. Thank you🙏.
One of my fav Neil Peart parts is his subtle playing during "A Lerxst In Wonderland" starting ~3;36 mark of "La Villa Strangiato" and then of course as it builds up again
They all had very great taste in dynamics, especially for their studio albums (ok, most of them, a few seemed to be less dynamic than the others :) )...
Glad you covered Neil’s ride and hi-hat techniques and implementations. He could’ve given a master class on using those alone in his style. Legend has it his kit mics went out during a sold out arena show. No one else noticed. 😳🤯
Neil once said in an interview he wrote his music so that it would be challenging even for him to play at any time. He said he never wanted to just be able to play effortlessly so that it was always an experience when he played well. He wrote everyting that way including anything he wrote for the other members as well. This high standard is the reason his music seems hard for others but he said he wanted people to play it, he just wanted them to have to make an effort to do it well.
Another drumming legend lost. I cried when I heard the news. All the years Rush performed, I never once got the chance to see them live. I just watch videos of Neil and Rush playing past shows. I always love watching him rocking out on drums! As a long time drummer myself, Neil has always inspired me. Just as another drumming legend Ginger Baker has. I still listen to his awesome solo in “Toad.” RIP Neil and Ginger 😢
Neil never stopped being a student. He didn’t become famous and then get the attitude he was famous because he mastered his instrument. He wisely knew there is ALWAYS more to learn.
Neil was my main influence as a drummer. Rush was my main influence as a music lover. In all the great musicians we lost in the past few years, neil's in the one that touched me the most, and still does. Oh and great video BTW ;)
Good to see the correction of the spirit of radio, which not coincidentally, was the slogan of 102.1 in Toronto, which eschewed Rush. Hence, the unflattering lyrics. And, in Canada, we say YY...ZED. Not zee. 😉
Stephen you are a great drummer and nailed the elements with great technique. What separates all the rest of the drummers from Mr Peart is that along with incredible precision there was an amazing amount of feel that nobody can match playing his music. Much like Bonzo. We can all play his music to varying degrees but none have his feel and touch. Thanks again for a great video.
Never to be forgotten, and even when we thought he was the greatest, he went back to teachers to improve himself, he was one of a kind. Thank you Neil.
In 1978, I was 16, and there was a moment that changed my life. I was riding in a friend's car and he popped in an 8-track and said, "Man you gotta hear this drum solo". It was Neil's solo on Exit Stage Left. I was completely blown away. At that point in my life I did not know a snare drum from a tom tom, but I soon had every rush album recorded, and became obsessed with drumming, and Neil's lyrics. Though I soon learned that I would never have "it", 40 years later, putting headphones on and hitting stuff has been the main hobby in my life. I don't think you can ever say one person is "The greatest drummer", but I think it could be argued that he was one of the most influential drummers in history. RIP Professor, and thank you Stephen for this spot-on break down (Well-played)
wow - I always found his playing bar none - none work the cymbals that way he does - he is the only one that brings every cymbal to life in most songs - genius -
I had never heard of Neil Peart until two months ago (I'm 66years old). My two and a half year old grandson became a fan of Rush, mainly because of Neil. My grandson watches Neil's drum solo at Frankfurt over and over and copies his drumming, he is such a fan, and I thank him for introducing me to such an amazing drummer, and such an amazing band.
Love it ST! You got the teacher chops! Not many of us can teach and chop it at same time. Thanks for these. I’ve been playing a long time and still learn all the time because of you. Cheers from Maine! 🍻
La Villa Strangiato is a masterpiece of fusion, energy, talent and the will of the greatest 3 man band, imo. Exit Stage Left makes me emotional lol! In an interview,Neil Peart said it took them 3 days to lay it down! Time and tempo changes, beats and syncopations galore. I want Rush songs at my funeral✌️
Huge Rush fan here. Thanks for breaking down some of Neil's incredible fills. I would add something else though....Neil is one of the best at progression. He brilliantly builds and builds throughout different segments of their songs which also makes his style very unique. I still can't believe he is dead!! Miss you Neil!
I was 12 in Dec. 74 when i first saw Rush open up for Kiss at the Detroit Palace in Detroit And became an instant fan of Neils and the Band, He hit those drums hard. Kiss put on a good show too but Rush became my favorite only got to see them 12 more times but wow every time. Great video Stephen
Nice🥲 I miss Neil so very much! Thank you for highlighting some of his best stuff and for breaking it down for us mortals. From the first time I heard the professor play I've been a huge fan and a student of his style. 👍❤🎶🙂
I’m a millennial who was introduced to classic rock by way of Guitar hero 2. “YYZ” was in that game and it sounded like nothing I’ve ever heard before so then I went out and bought rush cds and learned from the best. I can tell you the exact day and time I was when Neil passed away. I’ll always be a little sad I never got to see him perform live but his legacy will clearly live on. RIP
Given this a thumbs up just for the pronunciation of his name, I thank you. Fantastic video , a total master of time signature changes and is missed by many. RIP Neil "the professor"
This was so right on, great job and thanks! And for me at least, you're the first to mention his two handed ride cymbal hihat groove near the beginning of Subdivisions. It's very hard to hear and even see on live performances, but he's also doing something with that left hand on the hihat. He's either raising his foot a bit, or hitting a small splash, but wtg loved it.
Neil taught me to play essentially. I was 15 and allowed access to a church every week night for nearly two years..I would go with my kit, my headphones, a Cd player and my Rush albums. I spent the first year chasing my own tail, then the second it opened up and made sense at last. Still now I chase the professor's coat tails...Later on though as a session player, his "lessons" gave me the musicality to be hired again. Never has a drummer been so sympathetic to the music whilst driving it at the same time as Neil. God bless ya Elwood.. ride in peace. X
I now see that Mike Portnoy adopted the same mindset about what to play. He sticks with his signature fills and beat grooves, of course adding some new tastes here and there, but always coming back home sweet home. I miss Neil so much. He was the second drummer I really appreciated as a kid.
Neil was amazing @ "serving the song" . He rarely played over the vocals. His performances were incredibly unique. Of course he would reuse certain things throughout the years ("From the toolbox"). No easy task to come up with fresh ideas over 19 STUDIO A!BUMS ! People say things like "it's not that hard". Well it's easier to reverse engineer than be the engineer
Try to bear in mind Neal was a creative genius working with what is the best little Symphony orchestra in Rock, so he had LOTS of time to create. Just my thoughts. BTW Great job as always
Answer -- because no one is Neil Peart except Neil Peart, like Keith Moon he made things up in his mind as he went, he invented, he did not boringly count and try to make something appease his music teacher, even he stated that he had problems recreating at times what he did in the studio, especially Tom Sawyer
In "The Weapon", you actually have to reverse your hands so that you play the hi-hat with your LEFT hand and the snare with your right. Give it a try! Neil once said that this song was presented to him with an impossible-to-play drum machine part and this was his interpretation of what Geddy & Alex came up with in their writing sessions.
To me another aspect to the beauty of Neil's playing was the musicality of his drumming. Not just being percussive but having the ability to weave a cohesive sound together with his playing. It was a true gift.
I think 2112 is a masterpiece in longer drum work where several times you hear Neil go for some long melodic lines. I was a fan before 2112, but that sure raised my appreciation of drumming by quite a wide margin.
The bizarre groove from The Weapon was actually originally made up by Alex Lifeson on a drum machine while he and Geddy we're writing the music. Neil describes the process of trying to learn it and how backwards and awkward it was in the tour program from the Signals tour. In it he tells a little story of the genesis of each of the songs on the album. So Alex was the real mad scientist in this case with the pro treatment by the best in the business!
Dude… I was actually looking for that La Villa Strangiato ride/bell groove and I just couldn’t find it and get it down on my own. And here you are. Bless you and bless the great Neil Peart
The "dance-able" weird beat in THE WEAPON was, if I remember correctly, a beat from a drum machine that was programmed by Geddy, and then played backwards, and Neil learnt it and played it in the song. You might want to ask Geddy to confirm this but I'm pretty sure it's what he said a while ago.
That is one of the tunes Neil learned the sequencer part Geddy programmed. Started with The Spirt of Radio, they stopped doing sequenced parts through whole tunes on HYF. Notice Neil's parts on those tunes are usually the most technically locked in, in the whole catalog.
Great video as always. I've played over 30 years and to this day, Free Will and The Trees are two of the most difficult songs ever to play on the drums for me. I would even say they're more difficult than Tom Sawyer due to the crazy time and tempo changes in each song. Utmost respect to those three prodigies, but especially Neal.
Might be worth noting Neil was quoted as saying…it was Alex who is the “secret weapon” of Rush. Often times, Alex programmed the drum parts, would hand off demos to Neil, and Neil would literally replicate and humanize them. This is particularly clear in “The Weapon”. That’s a clear replication from a sequencer. Neil was legendary in every way. Great Vid!! Thank You! 👏👏
You could do a whole video trying to analyze and explain and teach that one extended fill/solo section a little more than halfway through La Villa Strangiato. The live in studio version on the video really shows it. He does such a complex thing and it sounds like he just wings it, but it's so exact every time.
This was a great break down, though I was thinking before I ever watched it "What DOES make his drumming so hard?" The answer is, a masterful use of many different rudiments tied together. What's interesting though, is that when I was learning Rush songs as a drummer, the practice it took to gain the skill level to do those rudiments was effortless. It was fun, because what he created in those songs so perfectly matched the music he was playing to, coupled with the fact that the music was just so good, it never felt like "work." I don't know how else to explain it, but hopefully that made sense.
Correction in the video from the humans that made it: The song is The Spirt of Radio, not Spirit of The Radio.
Rush is one of the most iconic rock bands in the world. Neil Peart and his drumming for Rush is a masterclass in prog rock drumming... and that's exactly what we're looking at in this drum lesson. Neil Peart is widely considered one of the best drummers of all time. If you want a drummer that you can bet will appear in the top 10 lists for best drummers of all time, Neil Peart if one of them. But WHY? How Neil Peart composed the drum parts, how Rush recorded them, the sound of the drums in all of Rushs' songs...groundbreaking on every level for music and drumming. I hope you enjoy this deep dive drum lesson on Neil Peart, Rush, and Neil's drumming.
Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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Spirt?
@Stephen Taylor You should pin this comment to the top.
I commented it but scrolled and saw this so I deleted the comment 🤣
Hey Stephen, love your channel. I made an African song in honor of Neil, my inspiration, love for you to check it out.
Kilebu Neil Peart th-cam.com/video/Rs8ZlEcOucg/w-d-xo.html
It's also Why Why Zed, not Why Why Zee. 😁
Man, I miss Neil a lot. How someone that was so introverted managed to have such an infectious personality through his playing is incredible. Great Vid!
Couldn't agree more!
Introverts are awesome that’s why lol
Hear you brother!
i don't think he was introverted, he just didn't like being crowded by people who knew him for his music. i get the feeling he'd be very social if he was somewhere that he was unknown or at least wasn't being bombarded by rabid fans
@@unluckykeys I thought the same thing. Just imagine hearing the same questions over and over again? It would drive me nuts after a while.
A lot needs to be said about a drummer and a band that can take the Morse code cadence of an airport call sign and turn it into a classic, foundational song in progressive rock.
and let's not forget that he incorporate parts of Shakespeare in his works. Rush first live album "All The World A Stage", from there Moving Pictures album song entitle Limelight "All the world's indeed a stage
And we are merely players Performers and portrayers", you can see the influence that Neil use in his lyric. plus how many bands or groups would wright a song about "The Trees".
So very true!!
Neil is a giant among giants. The thing that still strikes me about his playing is regardless of how difficult his parts were, they were clean, musically interesting, and had a real groove. Neil played some really difficult stuff, but none of it ever felt like he did it just to show off. It all fit into and substantially added to the music, and he made even the strangest meter changes feel so natural that you often didn't realize it was happening.
I grew up (born in 1993, so it was of my own accord) listening to Rush and at another weird end Nine Inch Nails, two bands who made different time signatures just feel normal - dancey - not show-offy and flashy but to serve the music. As a consequence now, when I do come up with ideas they're just naturally not always in 4/4. I love to trace that subconscious influence in myself, I was listening to these bands as a teen and had no theoretical knowledge. I didn't know they were changing time signatures all over the place, but I learnt to air drum along to them and internalised so many Rush songs specifically that I think, now I am a musician but I don't listen to Rush anymore, those lessons have just embedded themselves in me. I'm very thankful for that.
@@DevinJuularValentine what songs of NIN are with weird time signatures?
Neil Peart did do certain things just to show off. He has admitted as much.
rush as a band was literally created to show off because they wanted to write hard songs other bands couldn’t play lol.
I was lucky, I got to see Neil Peart and Buddy Rich play. Both great drummers, but Neil might have been able to play jazz but not as good as Buddy. Buddy might be able to play rock, but not as well as Neil.
Farewell to this drum king. Humble in his life, honest with his words, complex with his rhythms, and a beacon of light in this world. RIP Neil
Your statement perfectly describes Neil, I wish the rest of world could understand what a genius he and the members of Rush are. Thank You.
amen!
Perfectly stated 👌🥇🥁🇨🇦&🌎🤘🖖✌️
People often forget it was not just that this drumming is bloody hard...he actually composed it! and it is so tasteful and fits so well in the sound of Rush. His drumming still puts a smile on my face and an appreciative shake of my head being a fellow drummer. RIP professor.
Their will never be a another drummer like him. Miss him so much still
Ever hear of Jeff Porcaro or Steve Gadd?
Neil was a true philosopher, which he reflected much on his drumming style. Bear in mind that he wrote a lot of lyrics for Rush too. One of a kind. Thanks for this video, you rock!
I think what elevates Rush above other prog groups for me is that their overthetopness never felt over the top. Groups like Tool and Dream Theater feel like they’re showing off how great and how smart they are. Rush never did.
RIP Neil. I don’t even drum, but you are a hero.
Rush for me always looked like 3 mates having a f**king good time. Never saw a bad show here in the UK.
La Villa Strangiato was the song that broke their old school progressive back - so to speak - their goal was to play it straight through when studio recording it (like they would live) but it was so difficult to play for all 3 that proved impossible (at their level of excellence anyway). That experience is what led to writing songs in more digestible (and recordable) bites.
@@jimbosc Nice factoid, didn't know that!
I agree bands like porcupine tree and dream threatre are that way, all technical and no sense of song, but not Tool. And rush abandoned it's prog flavor when they became a synth based, soft rock band. When Rush was in their height of progressive rock with Hemispheres, one of the reasons for doing it was to show off, and they admitted it, but they were well ahead of dream threatre and others because musical composition was still paramount.
@@gianthills porcupine tree and dream theater have no sense of song and tool do? Garcon, I'll have 2 of what this guy's having!
Neil's drumming is something we might never see again. Amazing work here man!
Couldn't agree more...and thank you my friend!
@@StephenTaylorDrums Cheers!
Agree! Once in a lifetime. Only one Professor!
@@JT-sl3ui th-cam.com/video/7XZbzweWKnc/w-d-xo.html
I've never viewed Neil Peart as a great rock drummer I viewed him as an incredible drum virtuoso who happened to play rock and roll, not to mention write most of Rush's lyrics, there was so much more to him than meets the eye, there are tons of great drummers out there but few like him...
The note that said he rode his motorcycle to shows and it was a nightmare for the tour manager is vague. He had a trailer of bikes that was towed by his private tour bus. When he wasn't on stage, he was riding. He loved the fans but never understood fame. He considered himself an every man. No better than anyone else, in any way. He would rather ride than be fawned over. For me? A Legend.
My favorite drummer of all time. thank you for not only mentioning their hits but also mentioning some of their deep cuts like the enemy within. would’ve loved to hear you play One Little Victory but honestly Neil’s catalog of amazing drumming is endless. There’s something to appreciate in every single rush song
Thanks for this one Stephen. My first drum teacher played Tom Sawyer for me on my first lesson. That was my “I need to drum” moment. I didn’t look back.
Haha! You had an epic drum teacher...I love it
Definitely paved the way for generations and why he's Drum God rip Neil
I am not a drummer, But I know what makes a great drummer, and that's courage. Neil had that in spades. And character of being because I just don't know if I could have handled the death of my only child, and my wife of many years shortly thereafter with that much courage. I salute you Professor, You were truly one of a kind and an inspiration to millions...
Neil's genius was a gift to humanity. What an absolutely transcendent, inspiring talent.
I'm a 51 year old lifelong Rush fan who just took up drumming about a year before Neil's death. I got talked into teaching basic drums to kids as a music instructor (I'm really a guitar player), so I took up the drums to not feel like a charlatan. And since I had to get as good as I can as fast as I can, who better to try to start to begin to start to begin to imitate than Neil Peart, whom I've been listening to since the age of 8? These drumming videos are a lifesaver for someone like me, and now that I'm 2 or 3 years into it I'm having a blast.
I had the pleasure of seeing him live in 2010, I was 16 and it was my first concert ever.
So jealous.
First time I saw them I was 16 as well, in 1991 on the Roll The Bones tour, from that point on I was hooked
My first time seeing them live was 2004, R30 tour
My first Rush Tour was Moving Pictures. I saw them for Signals tour, Grace Under Pressure Tour, Hold Your Fire Tour, Roll the Bones Tour, Power Windows Tour, Presto Tour, Counterparts Tour, Test for Echo Tour, Time Machine, Snakes n Arrows Tour.
I was quite angry at myself for missing R40 but hey, I'm grateful for all the times I did see them through the years. And of course LOVED all his solos (even though I play guitar)...
Neil Peart was my inspiration starting back in 1975 when I was ten years old. I have been drumming now for 42 years, and one of my favorite things to do is throw on a Rush CD (I have every one of them, and have seen Rush in concert more times than I can remember) and drum along with them. Talk about a workout. Sadly, I haven't had a drum set now for a couple years. Had to sell my kit, and then we moved cross country.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR!
With heart felt admiration and sincerity!
Gary
That’s why we call him “the Professor”!!
Been a loyal RUSH fan since first hearing Caress Of Steel in 1975, at the ripe old age of 15.
I am now 63 & I miss Dirk, Lerxst & Pratt so much.
I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 years since the beginning of the R40 tour.
Great video. I am so glad we have all of these memories to see us through & more importantly to pass the genius of these 3 guys to the next generation.
KEEP ON RUSHIN’!!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Us 80's guys... air drumming the fill on the outro of Don't You Forget About Me is just SO satisfying. The wait before the part is murder! Great vid as usual.
I’ll never reach that level of greatness, and I’m fine with that. I’m happy to be able to play what I can play considering I’m self taught. One day I hope to take a few formal lessons
That's because you have your own level of greatness you're going for. And it will look different than Neil's. And that's ok. Neil was largely self taught as well in the early years if my memory serves me correct.
@@StephenTaylorDrums yip, it wasn't until wayyy later in his career until he took lessons to be more flowy (for lack of a better word). You can definitely see it too, a good example is his solo on "A Show of Hands", he does look kinda stiff while still drumming phenomenally, and his later solos look more relaxed
Been a drummer and massive Neil/Rush fan since 1980. Great job.
Neil Peart was Beyond Human in His approach to Drumming. He implemented Jazz, West African Drum sounds into His Own an made a Drumming Masterpiece. Let's not forget Reggae. Neil Was a Master of his profession. John Bonham an Neil Peart are always going to Remembered for their ability to drive the beat of the song with precision an allow his group members to play to their utmost ability. Miss you Neil.🙏
Fantastic video Stephen. There’s so much subtlety in Neil’s playing that many of these techniques can be missed. 👍🏻🥁
I'm not a drum person (don't pay as much attention to them as I do other instruments) other than Rush. Neil was just amazing.
His creativeness, I believe, is the best there has ever been.
His loss was probably the hardest blow the music world has ever faced.
a drummer is only as good till someone comes along who is much better (of superior quality or excellence) then any who came before them. Neil Peart IS of the highest quality of drummer of all time. simply the best!!!
This is genuinely hilarious his contribution to drumming doesn't even come remotely near that of John Bonham's. He was nowhere near as technical as Bonham or Paice or Mitchell and he was never as creative as Ringo.
Peart's greatest accomplishment was somehow fooling the world into thinking he was some sort of virtuoso.
As someone who knows Neil's drumming inside and out (99% listening, 1% trying to play!), this is a fantastic highlight of his most famous grooves, and you pretty much nailed every one of the demos.
Long live The Professor. Gone, but not forgotten. He is desperately missed. The world of drumming is better for his existence. Loved watching the video. Thank you🙏.
One of my fav Neil Peart parts is his subtle playing during "A Lerxst In Wonderland" starting ~3;36 mark of "La Villa Strangiato" and then of course as it builds up again
They all had very great taste in dynamics, especially for their studio albums (ok, most of them, a few seemed to be less dynamic than the others :) )...
Glad you covered Neil’s ride and hi-hat techniques and implementations. He could’ve given a master class on using those alone in his style.
Legend has it his kit mics went out during a sold out arena show. No one else noticed. 😳🤯
1:18 this is killing me. Love the drum lesson, but the song’s title is The Spirit of Radio.
Yep, see pinned comment. Knew we were gonna get one of those song titles wrong lol
Always makes me cringe. As well as people spelling his first name "Neal". SMH
I caught that too and it bothered me only a tiny bit. At least Stephen pronounced Neil’s last name correctly. ;)
@@DavidHoustonMusic thats for sure :)
Thank you for this, now I don’t have to.
Neil once said in an interview he wrote his music so that it would be challenging even for him to play at any time. He said he never wanted to just be able to play effortlessly so that it was always an experience when he played well. He wrote everyting that way including anything he wrote for the other members as well. This high standard is the reason his music seems hard for others but he said he wanted people to play it, he just wanted them to have to make an effort to do it well.
Another drumming legend lost. I cried when I heard the news. All the years Rush performed, I never once got the chance to see them live. I just watch videos of Neil and Rush playing past shows. I always love watching him rocking out on drums! As a long time drummer myself, Neil has always inspired me. Just as another drumming legend Ginger Baker has. I still listen to his awesome solo in “Toad.” RIP Neil and Ginger 😢
Love Neil’s playing so much! Rush was such a powerhouse with three incredible musicians, so great. Love this Stephen, awesome playing!
Neil never stopped being a student. He didn’t become famous and then get the attitude he was famous because he mastered his instrument. He wisely knew there is ALWAYS more to learn.
Neil was my main influence as a drummer. Rush was my main influence as a music lover. In all the great musicians we lost in the past few years, neil's in the one that touched me the most, and still does. Oh and great video BTW ;)
Nice work! Especially on a smaller kit, you broke the fills down incredibly well and made it easier to duplicate!
Good to see the correction of the spirit of radio, which not coincidentally, was the slogan of 102.1 in Toronto, which eschewed Rush. Hence, the unflattering lyrics. And, in Canada, we say YY...ZED. Not zee. 😉
Stephen you are a great drummer and nailed the elements with great technique. What separates all the rest of the drummers from Mr Peart is that along with incredible precision there was an amazing amount of feel that nobody can match playing his music. Much like Bonzo. We can all play his music to varying degrees but none have his feel and touch. Thanks again for a great video.
Neil was unique! A genius! Nobody like him! He is simply a legend! A scientist of drumming! Rest in peace Professor!
Never to be forgotten, and even when we thought he was the greatest, he went back to teachers to improve himself, he was one of a kind. Thank you Neil.
In 1978, I was 16, and there was a moment that changed my life. I was riding in a friend's car and he popped in an 8-track and said, "Man you gotta hear this drum solo". It was Neil's solo on Exit Stage Left. I was completely blown away. At that point in my life I did not know a snare drum from a tom tom, but I soon had every rush album recorded, and became obsessed with drumming, and Neil's lyrics. Though I soon learned that I would never have "it", 40 years later, putting headphones on and hitting stuff has been the main hobby in my life.
I don't think you can ever say one person is "The greatest drummer", but I think it could be argued that he was one of the most influential drummers in history.
RIP Professor, and thank you Stephen for this spot-on break down (Well-played)
if it was 78 it was all the worlds a stage. exit stage left came out in 81
wow - I always found his playing bar none - none work the cymbals that way he does - he is the only one that brings every cymbal to life in most songs - genius -
Stephen, what a GREAT explanation of the genius of Peart! You did your homework, and we're all better for it.
The ride cymbal bell groove was dubbed, "The Neil-a-diddle" by our marching band drum line back in '92
I had never heard of Neil Peart until two months ago (I'm 66years old). My two and a half year old grandson became a fan of Rush, mainly because of Neil. My grandson watches Neil's drum solo at Frankfurt over and over and copies his drumming, he is such a fan, and I thank him for introducing me to such an amazing drummer, and such an amazing band.
Welcome to Rush, there's so much there to enjoy. :)
Love it ST! You got the teacher chops! Not many of us can teach and chop it at same time. Thanks for these. I’ve been playing a long time and still learn all the time because of you. Cheers from Maine! 🍻
It was such a great tool growing up playing his songs. Thanks Neil, you'll be eternally missed.
I've always thought that the drum fill that comes a few bars after the infamous Tom Sawyer drum fill was even better, but it never gets mentioned.
NP was one of a kind. Deeply missed but we were lucky to be alive when he was. Rest in Peace brother. 🙏❤️🎶
La Villa Strangiato is a masterpiece of fusion, energy, talent and the will of the greatest 3 man band, imo. Exit Stage Left makes me emotional lol!
In an interview,Neil Peart said it took them 3 days to lay it down! Time and tempo changes, beats and syncopations galore. I want Rush songs at my funeral✌️
This was the best, most concise, accurate, and informative overview of Neil's magical world. I learned a lot from this, thank you VERY mucho!!
Huge Rush fan here. Thanks for breaking down some of Neil's incredible fills. I would add something else though....Neil is one of the best at progression. He brilliantly builds and builds throughout different segments of their songs which also makes his style very unique. I still can't believe he is dead!! Miss you Neil!
Great video. I like watching you play Neil’s parts because in a way it is easier to digest what is really going on. Rip, Mr. Pearl.
I was 12 in Dec. 74 when i first saw Rush open up for Kiss at the Detroit Palace in Detroit And became an instant fan of Neils and the Band, He hit those drums hard. Kiss put on a good show too but Rush became my favorite only got to see them 12 more times but wow every time. Great video Stephen
Nice🥲
I miss Neil so very much! Thank you for highlighting some of his best stuff and for breaking it down for us mortals. From the first time I heard the professor play I've been a huge fan and a student of his style. 👍❤🎶🙂
Great video Steve.. he is very missed, but his teachings are his gift and will be with us and our children for decades to come.
I’m a millennial who was introduced to classic rock by way of Guitar hero 2. “YYZ” was in that game and it sounded like nothing I’ve ever heard before so then I went out and bought rush cds and learned from the best. I can tell you the exact day and time I was when Neil passed away. I’ll always be a little sad I never got to see him perform live but his legacy will clearly live on. RIP
Given this a thumbs up just for the pronunciation of his name, I thank you. Fantastic video , a total master of time signature changes and is missed by many. RIP Neil "the professor"
This was so right on, great job and thanks! And for me at least, you're the first to mention his two handed ride cymbal hihat groove near the beginning of Subdivisions. It's very hard to hear and even see on live performances, but he's also doing something with that left hand on the hihat. He's either raising his foot a bit, or hitting a small splash, but wtg loved it.
Neil taught me to play essentially. I was 15 and allowed access to a church every week night for nearly two years..I would go with my kit, my headphones, a Cd player and my Rush albums. I spent the first year chasing my own tail, then the second it opened up and made sense at last. Still now I chase the professor's coat tails...Later on though as a session player, his "lessons" gave me the musicality to be hired again. Never has a drummer been so sympathetic to the music whilst driving it at the same time as Neil. God bless ya Elwood.. ride in peace. X
I now see that Mike Portnoy adopted the same mindset about what to play. He sticks with his signature fills and beat grooves, of course adding some new tastes here and there, but always coming back home sweet home. I miss Neil so much. He was the second drummer I really appreciated as a kid.
Jacobs Ladder - love the ending section: 6/8, 7/8, etc etc etc
Neil was amazing @ "serving the song" . He rarely played over the vocals. His performances were incredibly unique. Of course he would reuse certain things throughout the years ("From the toolbox"). No easy task to come up with fresh ideas over 19 STUDIO A!BUMS ! People say things like "it's not that hard". Well it's easier to reverse engineer than be the engineer
Lol, couldn't agree more. Always easier to be a critic than an artist
Try to bear in mind Neal was a creative genius working with what is the best little Symphony orchestra in Rock, so he had LOTS of time to create. Just my thoughts. BTW Great job as always
Fabulous, fresh tribute to Neil's drumming. Thank you!
Never actually thought about dancing to Rush... But Neil was AWESOME!
Last Rush show was August 1, 2015, as documented in their farewell documentary, Time Stands Still.
The Professor will continue to teach for generations...RIP Neal....
Excellent again! Peart moved fast, so should TH-cam vids like this one. You keep it moving - much appreciated.
Answer -- because no one is Neil Peart except Neil Peart, like Keith Moon he made things up in his mind as he went, he invented, he did not boringly count and try to make something appease his music teacher, even he stated that he had problems recreating at times what he did in the studio, especially Tom Sawyer
Thank you for sharing the genius of our Neil.
🙏 ✌ ❤ 🎶 🌎 👏 Neil
I literally just came across the 8 minute Drum Solo video yesterday, so this is pretty cool to see
In "The Weapon", you actually have to reverse your hands so that you play the hi-hat with your LEFT hand and the snare with your right. Give it a try! Neil once said that this song was presented to him with an impossible-to-play drum machine part and this was his interpretation of what Geddy & Alex came up with in their writing sessions.
Mr Taylor, Sir, you nailed this explanation of greatness!
RIP Professor!
PS - I'd love to hear your take on Carl Palmer's ELP work!
Forever grateful that I got to see the Holy Triumvirate play live 2 times, clockwork angels tour and R40 tour, best live band of all time! RIP NEIL
Very cool! Thanks for the music sheets bro! Greetings from Hungary.
To me another aspect to the beauty of Neil's playing was the musicality of his drumming. Not just being percussive but having the ability to weave a cohesive sound together with his playing. It was a true gift.
I think 2112 is a masterpiece in longer drum work where several times you hear Neil go for some long melodic lines. I was a fan before 2112, but that sure raised my appreciation of drumming by quite a wide margin.
The bizarre groove from The Weapon was actually originally made up by Alex Lifeson on a drum machine while he and Geddy we're writing the music. Neil describes the process of trying to learn it and how backwards and awkward it was in the tour program from the Signals tour. In it he tells a little story of the genesis of each of the songs on the album. So Alex was the real mad scientist in this case with the pro treatment by the best in the business!
Dude… I was actually looking for that La Villa Strangiato ride/bell groove and I just couldn’t find it and get it down on my own. And here you are. Bless you and bless the great Neil Peart
Yea, that groove is all over their music. And La Villa is still one of my favs
Plus Neal wrote lyrics for Rush songs. He was well read and wrote fantastic lyrics to mimic their awesome sound!!!
The "dance-able" weird beat in THE WEAPON was, if I remember correctly, a beat from a drum machine that was programmed by Geddy, and then played backwards, and Neil learnt it and played it in the song. You might want to ask Geddy to confirm this but I'm pretty sure it's what he said a while ago.
That is one of the tunes Neil learned the sequencer part Geddy programmed. Started with The Spirt of Radio, they stopped doing sequenced parts through whole tunes on HYF. Notice Neil's parts on those tunes are usually the most technically locked in, in the whole catalog.
Good drumming fella!! And yes Neil was ridiculous. I only got to see him once live and he was awesome.
Thanks for the video…I miss Peart and Rush playing live again.
Great video as always. I've played over 30 years and to this day, Free Will and The Trees are two of the most difficult songs ever to play on the drums for me. I would even say they're more difficult than Tom Sawyer due to the crazy time and tempo changes in each song. Utmost respect to those three prodigies, but especially Neal.
'Strangiato' is subtitled "An exercise in indulgence" (or something like that).
0:59, 1:06 to 1:48, 2:19 The song is called The Spirit of Radio, not the Spirit of the Radio.
That was driving me nuts. For someone who supposedly studied Neil so much, he doesn't even get the name of one of the band's biggest hits correct.
excellent breakdown and demonstration my man.....many thanks for this upload,i will go back and relearn the spirit intro.
Great video, buddy!
Neil is a genius and will always be missed!
I see you corrected the Spirit of Radio thing, but at least you're not pronouncing it Pert, as soooooo many erroneously do. Thank you!
Might be worth noting Neil was quoted as saying…it was Alex who is the “secret weapon” of Rush.
Often times, Alex programmed the drum parts, would hand off demos to Neil, and Neil would literally replicate and humanize them.
This is particularly clear in “The Weapon”. That’s a clear replication from a sequencer.
Neil was legendary in every way.
Great Vid!! Thank You! 👏👏
Thankyou for this bro my air drum kit had it all lmao Tom sayer no problem lol my heart sank when Neil passed time to get it right
The Weapon. So glad you brought that one up. I love that drum part.
The coolest implementation of the ride bell-hi hat groove is at 3:19 in Bravado. Check it out if you get a chance.
Also, *The Spirit of Radio
You could do a whole video trying to analyze and explain and teach that one extended fill/solo section a little more than halfway through La Villa Strangiato. The live in studio version on the video really shows it. He does such a complex thing and it sounds like he just wings it, but it's so exact every time.
Highly informative and illustrative. Thank you.
This was a great break down, though I was thinking before I ever watched it "What DOES make his drumming so hard?" The answer is, a masterful use of many different rudiments tied together. What's interesting though, is that when I was learning Rush songs as a drummer, the practice it took to gain the skill level to do those rudiments was effortless. It was fun, because what he created in those songs so perfectly matched the music he was playing to, coupled with the fact that the music was just so good, it never felt like "work." I don't know how else to explain it, but hopefully that made sense.
That Ride is totally Sweet!!