I agree. I saw many a Rush concert, and "The Solo" was always a high point for us. Even in the days before Rush played the whole show with no opener, no one except for the non true fans would leave when Neil played.
Yeah. Folks would stop dead in their tracks. I saw more than one worker at shows just forget what they were doing while the solos went on because they were blindsided.
At Genesis gigs would go to loo during the Phil Collins pop songs but definitely not the drum duets which were almost as good as Neil. Almost but not quite. Btw I mean proper drum duets not the weird drumming on a coupla of stools shit they did on the Reunion tour. 1980s Los Endos stuff was epic.
It was hard to go to the bathroom at ANY point during a Rush concert. They always kept us glued to our seats... Well, glued to the spot in front of our seats because everyone stood the whole time cheering.
Yes, Neil triggered every sound himself, including the big band riffs. The electronic side of his kit has several Roland triggers encased in custom DW tom shells, and he also has additional foot triggers. The MalletKat MIDI marimba can also trigger any programmed sound. Neil wore shoes made for drumming by Urbann Boards. They even have a Neil Peart Signature model drumming shoe. If you go back and listen to all of his major drum solos on the live albums throughout his career, you will hear various familiar elements that have been carried forward as the solo evolved over the years. Some get left behind and new ones get added, some are brought back in later iterations. Neil's drum solo was a dynamic, living work, carefully composed and constantly re-interpreted as his experience in both music and life expanded. The man simply never stopped learning.
Well said. The only thing I would add (and please correct me if I get this wrong) is that Neil's drum tech, Lorne Wheaton, would load specific effects to be triggered for each song. As you said, Neil had triggers all around his kit to activate pre-loaded samples, but each song had it's own program. So the same trigger, like the round black one you can see above his snare, would activate a different sound depending on what song they were playing. If I understand this all correctly, when Neil got to the big band section of his solo Lorne would activate the program and when Neil would hit a specific drum or dedicated trigger it would play the horn sound or start the entire band at the end.
@@schafn As far as I know, you are absolutely correct. Lorne was responsible for loading the appropriate sound banks at the appropriate times throughout the show, including the solo. Neil had several distinct sound "palettes" that had to be loaded in sequence on the back end.
@somecallmetim2112 ...except one time. Watch the R30 video. I forgot exactly, but he used Roll The Bones effects on the wrong song...and you'll barely notice. It somehow worked .
Love watching people see Neil play for the first time. They've been doing it for 30 years, the solo is almost 9 minutes and in the middle of a 3 hour concert. The man was a force of nature. Rest in Peace, Neil.
A singular talent. I don't think I've missed any favourite rock star the way I've missed Neil. Thank heavens we have so many recordings, both musically and lyrically, to enjoy and remind us of his special qualities.
"Some are born to move the world To live their fantasies But most of us just dream about The things we'd like to be" Losing it - Rush Rest in Peace Neil Sadly gone too soon
I totally agree with you He was very special I also like the drum solo by Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy at the end of Bad Reputation And a drum solo by Alex Van Halen
When I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Symptom and couldn’t play guitar for almost 5 months (couldn’t grip anything), that's when I started to air drum instead of air guitar.
Not just air-drum. There's also table-drum, dashboard-drum, chair drum, knee-drum, drumming on your kids' backs (not as hard as Neil hit his drums, though). Edit: Oh, and steering wheel-drum.
The bit starting at 6:15 where his feet are in 3/4 and his hands are doing whatever the hell they want is a quote from a jazz drummer named Max Roach, specifically his piece called "The Drum Also Waltzes," in case anyone's interested in seeing what inspired Neil to do that. Roach was a great experimental, cutting edge percussionist in the jazz space in the middle of the century that deserves a fair bit of respect for pushing the instrument forward.
He's using a MalletKAT. It's basically a MIDI keyboard that is in the form of a marimba/xylophone/vibraphone, etc. It allows a drummer to trigger any midi sound (Rush used, bells, chimes, marimba, etc.) without having to setup multiple mallet instruments.
Yeah... in the early days, up through maybe Moving Pictures, Neil's kit grew pretty massive - wind chimes, tubular bells, wood blocks, cowbells (which remained throughout the rest of his career), a gong, two kick drums, a triangle or two... He was able to slim all that down with the advent of MIDI and triggering various sounds. Then he went and added a complete second kit - the electronic one. This was a man who was most definitely not afraid to try something new, as long as it served his needs.
Speaking as a guitarist, The Prof is about the only drummer who keeps my attention during a drum solo. I was devastated when Neil lost his life, but privileged to have seen Rush a few times. His solos were always a highlight. RIP Prof
Really one of a kind. Peart: 'I never take for granted that people admire us, so everything we do they'll admire. I always felt we had to earn our audience with each performance'. He was always trying to outdo himself. He's only ever given a couple of interviews, but they're all worth listening.
His books are amazing! His first one is highly personal and deals with grief due to the deaths of his daughter in a car accident,followed by the death of his wife from cancer a year later and how he dealt with those feelings... Quite intriguing...
The high point of every RUSH concert - dare I say the the ONLY thing I always looked forward to were Neil Peart's drum solos. They NEVER EVER let me down. Always astonishing rhythmic compositions. For a drummer there was nothing better
Great reaction and summation of Neil, Doug. I was fortunate to see Rush 10 times and no one left their seats for his solos In fact, the air drummers even took a break to simply marvel at his skill.
Neil will always be my #1 drummer. No question! Some will say there are better drummers out there but his playing and technique shaped who I am as a drummer. Thanks Doug!
@@phantomrider2112 Everyone has an opinion so I was just covering the bases. Lol. Just like ppl who tell me they respect Rush but can't stand Geddy's voice. To me it's the whole package.
@@Makai77 Keith is an exciting player and it’s hard not to like him for the energy he brought. Neil is the stoic drummer but man his consistent drumming is something I strive for.
I get emotional watching this. I am so blessed to have gotten to see him live many times with my brother. Neil has left an indelible mark on my life and I will always be grateful ❤
Neal truly is a gift; as a percussionist, lyricist, author and a human being. Reading from his books he had a career and that was to entertain Rush's audience. When he went to work it wasn't worth doing unless he could give the absolute best that he could draw from himself. Very few people even strive to the self perfection and self satisfaction that Neal asked and got for himself. He will be missed as a person we all would like to know. He will live on in his music for those that wish to enjoy and in his influences for those that wish to learn.
Neil Produced "Burning for Buddy", a great tribute album with star drummers like Matt Sorum, Simon Phillips, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, etc. He has always been a jazz fan. He's my idol and I have never been as sad as the time when he passed.
Doug, your review was absolutely SPOT ON. Coming from a RUSH fanatic having seen over 55 of their shows live since my first show in 1978, Hemispheres, I applaud you 👏👏👏
He’s your favorite drummer’s favorite drummer. This is such a great video for conveying Neil’s intensity. It’s easy to miss just how hard he’s striking his kit.
One thing I really love about Doug, is he gets that child like Christmas morning, kid in a candy store, I just got a new bike for my birthday sort of excitement with things he loves. I do this too, but I can't see it from the outside looking in so I never really notice it, but it's not the same, because you have to watch someone else to appreciate it. If you're a car guy, Doug acts very much the same as Chris Harris does behind the wheel of a tail happy car. The grins and giggles of appreciation, excitement, and amusement. Nothing like seeing some truly happy. Be well good sir!
Thirty years of experience in that solo. Bam, The Professor is the man!!!! R30 was a great performance!! I love that he has incorporated all of the previous drum solos in some part as he went on. I love the pieces of eight from the 80's!! This is pretty cool and is close to the drum solo he performed on Letterman on drum solo week. Thank you Neil!
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I fell in love with Rush and Neil's drumming for the first time after randomly downloading a very low quality clip in the early 00s from YYZ + his drum solo from the Show of Hands tour. I'll never forget the feeling of finding something special that I felt that day.
GREAT reaction Doug!! Forever RIP Neil! Of the 9 times I saw Rush - I never left my seat (except to stand and applaud) when The Professor was exhibiting his masterclass solo in percussion!! There's a reason Rush would have an intermission halfway through their show - THAT is when you went to the loo and grabbed another brew! Neil was an 'event' not to be missed - through the whole show, and especially during his solo! I still deeply miss him - as so many do. His was the first 'celebrity' passing that I broke down and cried for - not just for being a huge Rush fan, his contributions to lyricism & drumming, but for the hardships his life had known (passing of his first wife and child), then finding a new life with a wonderful woman and having another child - THEN getting this death sentence of a disease! My heart was broken - and I still cry when certain songs are played and I think of him! As you dig deeper Doug, and into his past, you'll see as he expanded his kit, organic instruments (temple blocks, gong, tubular bells, etc.) couldn't fit any longer, so he went the MIDI route and embraced the technology at the time - constantly upgrading his kit & skills. You're right - kudos on ALWAYS being the student - forever growing & learning! Not many 'seasoned' drummers would have the humility to reinvent themselves 20 years into their career! Thanks for this! He will forever be missed. Cheers to you and The Professor!
Grateful to my nephew for introducing me to Rush decades back. Neil’s Bravura Virtuoso drumming is in a world all its own! Wow! His passion for the drum set is the world standard in said technique for how it’s done.
Someone needs to buy Doug that marimba sounding instrument for Christmas. Must be expensive. Loved to see Doug, air drumming and air dancing. What a talented drummer is Neil Peart. How could anyone challenge the Professor. It's just amazing. Thanks for posting this, Doug. Rush was my favorite band and still is, just a shame there aren't any more albums from them.
Ah a late era solo. I think a Presto-era solo might be more fun. Neil got bored with his grip and style and went to a famous drum teacher Freddie Gruber to "relearn" how to play. His goal was to get rid of the stiffness he'd always relied on, and get some groove. All the greatest drummers were, in Neil's opinion, Jazz drummers who don't just have chops, they have groove. Swing. Neil is all chops, no swing. No groove. And he wanted to groove, so he went and basically started learning to drum again. The solos from this period are interesting, more Big Band inflected, but I think his early 90s solos are Peak Peart Pyrotechnics. But, I'm not a drummer. What do I know? Certainly Neil thought there was nowhere left for him to go after he won every Modern Drummer award they had. Props to anyone at that level of skill who refuses to sit on their laurels.
Well Doug, I was waiting for you to do this. Yes, every electronic sound was que up by him. The big band sound at the end was his "Cottontail" which he did in his Buddy Rich tribute. This was the perfect symmetry of acoustic & electric drums. However, you need to see the live performance of "Xanadu" from the 1981 live show. This was the last tour before any electronic drums. It is a legendary performance by all 3.
And the crowd goes absolutely APESHIT!!! I know I certainly did. I personally would have LOVED to see a Neil Peart/Buddy Rich drum-off. That would have been BEYOND epic
Really digging your analysis on so many of the things I love. Well done. This one (since I wanted to be a drummer) is especially close to my heart, as Neil - along with Led Zep's Bonzo - was my inspiration. Thank you for helping me to understand the genius of these gents. ;)
I'll try to add some value here since there aren't any lyrics to recite. ;) First, skip to 3:19 for the start of the solo. The playing in this opening section is a little like what he does all through the song "Scars" from the album PRESTO. The tambourine strikes are coming from the left foot with a trigger pedal. 3:57 Not tap shoes, but dance shoes. 4:25 Kat MalletKat controller, probably running an Akai sampler. 4:53 Doug's air-drumming single-strokes but if you watch Neil you can see it's a mixed single/double pattern - not sure if it's a paradiddle rudiment but it's something like that. 6:17 This is a tribute to Max Roach's "The Drum Also Waltzes." Doing what all he's doing with both hands while keeping the 3/4 boom-chick-chick going with his feet is a BIG deal. 8:53 The "circle of four," which is the basis of the second drum break coming out of the bridge in "Tom Sawyer." 9:07 Please stop. :) 9:54 I love how in this iteration of the drum solo, Neil graciously slows it down for us to help us learn it 10:21 Neil's triggering samples from Count Basie records. 11:08 Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump"
Where the big band music came from that was triggered, Neil produced and played on two tribute to Buddy Rich CDs "Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich" and "Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2".
Neil was one of the first to employ any sort of electronic triggering of non-drum sounds incorporated into a mixed acoustic/electric kit. Yes, all of the orchestral hits in the penultimate segment are triggered by his feet. You need to watch this solo at least six times in great detail to catch all of his brilliance in action. The segment where his left foot is on the tambourine in a 2:3 pacing atop a 3/4 tempo, while his hands are drumming in 6/8 is the most mind-blowing to me. Another thing to watch for is that HE NEVER MISSES. No unintended rim-strikes, no fumbles. He spent years on this composition, and you can find videos of earlier solos while he continued to mature the variety of movements included. This one is the final product. It isn't a drum solo. It is a full musical percussion composition. Nobody but The Professor could do this.
Neil is a God. I regret every day that I didn't see Rush in concert. This must be Frankfurt. I'll never ever get tired of this performance. Isn't that a xylophone? Neil studied tirelessly with teachers too, even when he was with Rush. That's why he's so good. He rules the world from beyond the grave, along with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
I have been a fan of yours since you "found" RUSH. I have been listening to Rush for the last 42 years. I love seeing the reaction to this band from content creators. Most go from "how the hell do they make that much sound with only 3 people", to "wow (PC version), are they detailed", to "these guys are one of my favorite bands, hands down"
I'm 62 now, and have been a RUSH fan since the mid 70's when in High School. I've been fortunate enough to have seen them live 54 times over the decades, and each time was a special treat, watching Neil do his magic! He was great, yet humble, and it's great to have seen him constantly pay homage to the greats before him, such as Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. A class act all the way!
The electronic marimba part is a segment of a larger piece he did for Modern Drummer Magazine back in 1987 called Pieces of Eight. There are a couple of TH-cam videos where you can hear that whole piece. Definitely worth a listen, too.
That came on one of those plastic '45 records in that issue. Do you remember that? Am I correct? 500 plus comments and this may be the only one to remember or at least mention that part of the solo.
Doug, I really appreciate your analysis and insight into popular music. Many who attempt this are not knowledgeable enough to attempt doing what you do. You bring so much background to your work. Thank you!
This drum solo was written long time ago and he played with different arrangements in every world tour, but was the same for all gigs in that particular tour. TOTAL MONSTER!!! Doug, Mexico salutes you!
Neil Peart was in my opinion a genius This is just an awesome drum solo With respect shown to the origins of rock/heavy rock music I think my favourite Rush album is Moving Pictures But Rush never stood still They pushed boundaries And God Bless them for it
When I first heard Rush. A friend brought over the "All the World a Stage" where I heard the drum solo on that album. Needless to say I was blown away and I thought it was two drummers playing. What can I say, I was 12 years old and didn't know any better. You need to listen to that drum solo. That drum solo made him famous and if you buy the album you'll hear the live 2112 all the way thru that I saw and heard in concert here at home. In person it was a mind blowing experience hearing "We have assumed control". BTW: He's doing a lot of four way independence during this drum solo. Also, when playing drums the first thing we tell the student is to always play relaxed. He plays both match grip and traditional grip and there are a few rock drummers that use traditional grip. I have the DVD...lol That is his tribute to Buddy Rich and he triggers the horns with pads.
Mr. Peart might be the only musician that I've never heard a single criticism of. Ever. A respect that is totally deserved, and a talent second-to-none.
Oh, I've heard many criticisms of Neil, mostly by the same guy on the (now-defunct) Counterparts message board, a Rush fan-run message board from the mid-90's to just a couple years ago. He was a grumpy old ghit from England and basically said nothing after Permanent waves was any good (except maybe Moving Pictures, but usually after a few pints). Just checked and The Rush Forum is still active. That one, Counterparts, and The Rush Messageboard were the big three fan boards at around the same time frame. TRM went down first, then CP.
One of my favorite concerts I have attended. Rush, FLoyd and YES.......mind altering music. All these legendary beath in the energy of the universe.....and exhale it in musical form.
One of the amazing things about Neil's solos is that if you study them, you can see him grow as a player. He first introduced the Waltz section in the early 90s and his playing was very within the 3 beat frame of the waltz, not crossing barlines. By "Different Stages", he was playing across the bar a bit, but still in a 3 feel. On Vapor Trails, he started exploring playing across the bar more including some of the 7/8 accent hints. By R30 (this tour) he was able to demonstrate that higher level of independence to play the waltz in the feet and significantly more complicated material in his hands. As an educator, I love that you can see him grow as a composer and a player with each tour's solo.
One can not understate the importance of Neil to Rush- I can't imagine them without his contributions! They were my first ever concert 1978- Hemispheres and it was a voyage for a 13 year old. I was a instant fan starting in summer of 76 with 2112 and from that point on I was able to see them 6 times in my life- each concert was a amazing live performance. Theirs is some of my favorite music for my whole life. Thank you Neil and Doug for this treat today
Neil's drum solos were a highlight of every Rush show, but you should know that, post-tragedy Neil solos had quite a lot in common with each other. There was plenty of variation in the improvised parts, but the meat and bones were the same, from this tour to the final tour, including the rotating kit, down to the big band ending and the video on the big screen. He gave them various titles, but they were all pretty similar. AMAZING, to be sure. Just don't expect to see a completely different solo if you decide to watch more.
Neil was so much more than a drummer. He was a “compositional percussionist” and that’s not even including his stellar lyric writing. RUSH were one of a kind. I miss them everyday and I haven’t been the same since Neil’s death on January 7, 2020. We miss you Professor. ❤️❤️
I think neil is one of the more musical percussionists, it's almost melodic. In the big band section i think he is triggering the horn stabs and later triggers the track to play along with.
Rush was the first band I chose for myself as opposed to simply following because of what my father and older brother listened to. Rush always just resonated with me, and that remains true to this day. While I loved watching Neil Peart’s drumming evolution I must admit some of my favorite work are from Rush’s earlier days when Neil utilized his Hi-hats more. I really liked his set up for Xanadu, even if it meant he had to be limber & quick in getting up and down to all the various pieces for that performance.
The best part? He was *SICK* during this part of the tour! And those band sounds were actually activated by Neil using foot pedals that triggered the sounds!
Neil Peart was a true “student” of the craft. He was always pushing himself to learn more, to discover as many techniques, drumming styles, arrangements as he could. As such a student, he was a master of the highest order. And a humble and deeply philosophical man as well. As a drummer, I’ll always consider Neil Peart to be my greatest influence. He truly is in the very top echelon of drummers of all time.
Hahaha love your reaction Doug, had that many times myself regarding the Prof! Put it into context....this is the middle of a ROCK concert!! Very very few could compose and evolve a solo like Neil and you can count on one finger the number who would have the skills, talents, knowledge and above all the STONES to pull off such a monumental piece and end it with a colossal swing piece? Jaw dropping.... Thank you for such a joyous reaction 👍
For me this is his 2nd best drum solo. I've been a Peart fan since the beginning. I first saw them in 1974, then '75 and '76 in Houston Texas. I think his best solo is the on in Rio de Janerio. The crowd was massive and was extremely reactive to his solo. This drum kit on this video is completely gold plated. The cost of it was a cool 1.5 million dollars.
This solo, and all the solos towards the end of his career are a history of drumming, both universally and personally...in this edition, he starts off with "primitive" rhythms and does some classical work, jazz ("The Drum Also Waltzes"), bits of his life from the 80's (marimbas and cowbells), rock, and then of course, the big band stuff in tribute to Buddy, Gene, and the jazz greats. A masterwork if you know what you're looking for.
RIP Neil ... one of the greatest drummers of all time ... he wasn't know as 'The Professor' for nothing ... one of my major influences and heroes as a drummer over the last 45 years ... keep rockin' in heaven X
The Marimba is a MalletKat. Neil actually called it a "MIDI Marimba" himself -- because that's exactly what it is intended for -- although it can be used to trigger many different samples (such as the glockenspiel during "Spirit of Radio"). His drum tech switches the samples behind the scenes for him. During the kit-spin, he sets off some random effects. As well as the rear e-kit and MalletKat, he also has MIDI pads within easy reach of the acoustic kit. They're hard to spot, but you can easily see a pad just in front of the snare (between the toms). He also has a MIDI foot pedal next to the hi-hat pedal. He uses all those triggers to cue the single-hit horn blasts, as well as cueing the final section of Duke Ellington's 'Cotton Tail' at the end of the solo. He also used the foot switch during the 3/4 ostinato (boom-cha-cha), triggering a tambourine sample. Although easy to play in and of itself, Neil makes it many times harder by playing complex "floating" rolls around the drums. Those rolls speed and slow down rapidly and fluidly -- but independently of the underlying ostinato. That takes an outstanding amount of independence. So sad to lose him, but few have advanced the art of the drummer more than he did. The legend. The Professor. RIP
He got the award for No1 rock drummer in the world in the 70's. When asked how it felt to be the No1 drummer in the world his reply was .......I don't know you better ask Karen Carpenter. If you want the definitive drum solo have a look at Carl Palmer's solo in Karn Evil 9 at the California Jam in '73 played on the steel kit from British Steel
That set up is 2 kits. An electric kit with the black cymbals and an acoustic set. His stage will spin around when he switches to the acoustic kit so he is always facing the crowd.
Greatest percussionist of all time in my book. His solos were always the highlight of every Rush shows. You could see thousands of « Neil » air drumming in the stands during his drum solos. Every. Single. Time. Just like you did. Epic memories. Thank you Mr Peart, long live the professor. We all miss you. RIP.
I was 17 in 1978 when I bought all the worlds a stage so the original Working Man live solo holds a special place in my heart - never forget the intro " and now the Professor on the Drum Kit " - it doesn't hold up to this but it was my first .
Neil. The best. However... At some point, you might check out "19 Days", by Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree. A truly gifted drummer and this song enables that gift to shine.
Been to A LOT of Rush concerts and it's fair to say, nobody gets up for a beer during The Drum Solo!! R.I.P. Professor, we all love and miss you!!!
I agree. I saw many a Rush concert, and "The Solo" was always a high point for us. Even in the days before Rush played the whole show with no opener, no one except for the non true fans would leave when Neil played.
I noticed once that people that were walking around stopped in their tracks when his solo started
Yeah. Folks would stop dead in their tracks. I saw more than one worker at shows just forget what they were doing while the solos went on because they were blindsided.
At Genesis gigs would go to loo during the Phil Collins pop songs but definitely not the drum duets which were almost as good as Neil. Almost but not quite. Btw I mean proper drum duets not the weird drumming on a coupla of stools shit they did on the Reunion tour. 1980s Los Endos stuff was epic.
It was hard to go to the bathroom at ANY point during a Rush concert. They always kept us glued to our seats... Well, glued to the spot in front of our seats because everyone stood the whole time cheering.
People will be talking about Neil Peart hundreds of years from now in the same light as we speak of Beethoven, Mozart, etc.
Yes, Neil triggered every sound himself, including the big band riffs. The electronic side of his kit has several Roland triggers encased in custom DW tom shells, and he also has additional foot triggers. The MalletKat MIDI marimba can also trigger any programmed sound. Neil wore shoes made for drumming by Urbann Boards. They even have a Neil Peart Signature model drumming shoe.
If you go back and listen to all of his major drum solos on the live albums throughout his career, you will hear various familiar elements that have been carried forward as the solo evolved over the years. Some get left behind and new ones get added, some are brought back in later iterations. Neil's drum solo was a dynamic, living work, carefully composed and constantly re-interpreted as his experience in both music and life expanded. The man simply never stopped learning.
And now DWe drums exist. Neil was a true pioneer.
Well said. The only thing I would add (and please correct me if I get this wrong) is that Neil's drum tech, Lorne Wheaton, would load specific effects to be triggered for each song. As you said, Neil had triggers all around his kit to activate pre-loaded samples, but each song had it's own program. So the same trigger, like the round black one you can see above his snare, would activate a different sound depending on what song they were playing. If I understand this all correctly, when Neil got to the big band section of his solo Lorne would activate the program and when Neil would hit a specific drum or dedicated trigger it would play the horn sound or start the entire band at the end.
@@schafn As far as I know, you are absolutely correct. Lorne was responsible for loading the appropriate sound banks at the appropriate times throughout the show, including the solo. Neil had several distinct sound "palettes" that had to be loaded in sequence on the back end.
@somecallmetim2112 ...except one time. Watch the R30 video. I forgot exactly, but he used Roll The Bones effects on the wrong song...and you'll barely notice. It somehow worked .
He was a huge Buddy Rich fan.
Love watching people see Neil play for the first time. They've been doing it for 30 years, the solo is almost 9 minutes and in the middle of a 3 hour concert. The man was a force of nature. Rest in Peace, Neil.
RIP Neil. Damn
A singular talent. I don't think I've missed any favourite rock star the way I've missed Neil. Thank heavens we have so many recordings, both musically and lyrically, to enjoy and remind us of his special qualities.
For me it's Jon Lord, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
Yep I'm with you there. Still sad that he's gone
For me it's Neil and Stevie!!!
Genius he was!
"Some are born to move the world
To live their fantasies
But most of us just dream about
The things we'd like to be"
Losing it - Rush
Rest in Peace Neil
Sadly gone too soon
"When I heard that he was gone
I felt a shadow cross my heart"
Nobody's Hero - Rush (Neil Peart)
Sadder still to watch it die
Than never to have known it
For you the blind who once could see
The bell tolls for thee
Suddenly you were gone. With all the lives you left your mark upon…
If Neil would have dropped a solo album of just him drumming I would buy it.
I totally agree with you He was very special I also like the drum solo by Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy at the end of Bad Reputation And a drum solo by Alex Van Halen
Everyone would
A fellow Rush fan of mine once said "We don't air-guitar we're Rush fans... we air-drum." So true.
I was sitting about 5 seats away from Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) at a Rush Concert in Kansas City... even he was air-drumming during Tom Sawyer :)
When I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Symptom and couldn’t play guitar for almost 5 months (couldn’t grip anything), that's when I started to air drum instead of air guitar.
Not just air-drum. There's also table-drum, dashboard-drum, chair drum, knee-drum, drumming on your kids' backs (not as hard as Neil hit his drums, though).
Edit: Oh, and steering wheel-drum.
THIS.
But the Geddy fans among us also do air-bass.
The bit starting at 6:15 where his feet are in 3/4 and his hands are doing whatever the hell they want is a quote from a jazz drummer named Max Roach, specifically his piece called "The Drum Also Waltzes," in case anyone's interested in seeing what inspired Neil to do that. Roach was a great experimental, cutting edge percussionist in the jazz space in the middle of the century that deserves a fair bit of respect for pushing the instrument forward.
Interestingly enough, Max Roach WAS NOT HAPPY that someone else had mastered his ostinato!!!
Good info, I didn't even know he got that from Max Roach, another jazz drum pioneer.
He's using a MalletKAT. It's basically a MIDI keyboard that is in the form of a marimba/xylophone/vibraphone, etc. It allows a drummer to trigger any midi sound (Rush used, bells, chimes, marimba, etc.) without having to setup multiple mallet instruments.
Only $1500 back then
Yeah... in the early days, up through maybe Moving Pictures, Neil's kit grew pretty massive - wind chimes, tubular bells, wood blocks, cowbells (which remained throughout the rest of his career), a gong, two kick drums, a triangle or two...
He was able to slim all that down with the advent of MIDI and triggering various sounds.
Then he went and added a complete second kit - the electronic one. This was a man who was most definitely not afraid to try something new, as long as it served his needs.
Thank you. I was going to say the same. I have played (around) with one.
Peart was a student of jazz drumming towards the end of his life. He never stopped learning
He also used it to trigger the drum riser rotation
Speaking as a guitarist, The Prof is about the only drummer who keeps my attention during a drum solo. I was devastated when Neil lost his life, but privileged to have seen Rush a few times. His solos were always a highlight. RIP Prof
I saw Rush 4 times on 4 different tours (2004-2013) and trust me, no one was getting beer during the drum solo by The Professor
THE ONE...The only...The Professor...Rest in Eternal Power
Music Valhalla had a place of honour long prepared for this man.
He was a monster! God bless him wherever he is now
Neil Peart was simply the greatest rock drummer of all time. He was constantly innovating and changing.
Really one of a kind. Peart: 'I never take for granted that people admire us, so everything we do they'll admire. I always felt we had to earn our audience with each performance'. He was always trying to outdo himself. He's only ever given a couple of interviews, but they're all worth listening.
Nobody does drum solos like Neil. What a legend. RIP.
I agree
Except for Carl Palmer…😮
Holy friggin crap. Could listen to this for hours. Talk about PLAYING the drums. Absolute perfection! He also wrote great lyrics.
A true genius of the art , so smooth and inventive , always a pleasure to listen and watch the Professor at work. Sadly missed .
His books are amazing! His first one is highly personal and deals with grief due to the deaths of his daughter in a car accident,followed by the death of his wife from cancer a year later and how he dealt with those feelings... Quite intriguing...
Thank you for looking into a _drum_ solo. Drummers are often underrated in terms of ability and musicality and you've shed a bit of light on that.
There will only ever be one Neil and I got to grow up and old with his genius. RIP Professor.
The high point of every RUSH concert - dare I say the the ONLY thing I always looked forward to were Neil Peart's drum solos. They NEVER EVER let me down. Always astonishing rhythmic compositions. For a drummer there was nothing better
Great reaction and summation of Neil, Doug. I was fortunate to see Rush 10 times and no one left their seats for his solos In fact, the air drummers even took a break to simply marvel at his skill.
the only time I got to see Rush was during this tour. I feel so blessed to be able to witness this drum solo live!
Me too!
Neil will always be my #1 drummer. No question! Some will say there are better drummers out there but his playing and technique shaped who I am as a drummer. Thanks Doug!
If there are those who would say there are better, their voices are very quiet.
@@phantomrider2112 Everyone has an opinion so I was just covering the bases. Lol. Just like ppl who tell me they respect Rush but can't stand Geddy's voice. To me it's the whole package.
While Keith Moon is my "favorite" drummer ever, I would never argue that Neil is, hands down, the "best" ever.
@@Makai77 Keith is an exciting player and it’s hard not to like him for the energy he brought. Neil is the stoic drummer but man his consistent drumming is something I strive for.
Stuart Copeland tells the story of being greeted by fans' as their 2nd favourite drummer.
I get emotional watching this. I am so blessed to have gotten to see him live many times with my brother. Neil has left an indelible mark on my life and I will always be grateful ❤
He was so amazing. He will be missed. Burning for Buddy was a passion product for Neil. Certainly one to check out.
Agreed. A fitting tribute from one legendary performer to another.
Neal truly is a gift; as a percussionist, lyricist, author and a human being. Reading from his books he had a career and that was to entertain Rush's audience. When he went to work it wasn't worth doing unless he could give the absolute best that he could draw from himself. Very few people even strive to the self perfection and self satisfaction that Neal asked and got for himself. He will be missed as a person we all would like to know. He will live on in his music for those that wish to enjoy and in his influences for those that wish to learn.
Neil Produced "Burning for Buddy", a great tribute album with star drummers like Matt Sorum, Simon Phillips, Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Steve Smith, etc. He has always been a jazz fan. He's my idol and I have never been as sad as the time when he passed.
As Geddy Introduced him....The Professor on the Drum Kit 🥁 ❤🖤
Back in the 70s even
Doug Helvering, as a 60 year old lifelong Rush fan, thank you...this guy was a genius with iron discipline, RIP Professor..
"The independent rhythm of all of his limbs..." what a way to describe it.
Doug, your review was absolutely SPOT ON. Coming from a RUSH fanatic having seen over 55 of their shows live since my first show in 1978, Hemispheres, I applaud you 👏👏👏
He’s your favorite drummer’s favorite drummer. This is such a great video for conveying Neil’s intensity. It’s easy to miss just how hard he’s striking his kit.
One thing I really love about Doug, is he gets that child like Christmas morning, kid in a candy store, I just got a new bike for my birthday sort of excitement with things he loves.
I do this too, but I can't see it from the outside looking in so I never really notice it, but it's not the same, because you have to watch someone else to appreciate it.
If you're a car guy, Doug acts very much the same as Chris Harris does behind the wheel of a tail happy car. The grins and giggles of appreciation, excitement, and amusement. Nothing like seeing some truly happy.
Be well good sir!
Thirty years of experience in that solo. Bam, The Professor is the man!!!! R30 was a great performance!! I love that he has incorporated all of the previous drum solos in some part as he went on. I love the pieces of eight from the 80's!! This is pretty cool and is close to the drum solo he performed on Letterman on drum solo week. Thank you Neil!
I fell in love with Rush and Neil's drumming for the first time after randomly downloading a very low quality clip in the early 00s from YYZ + his drum solo from the Show of Hands tour. I'll never forget the feeling of finding something special that I felt that day.
GREAT reaction Doug!! Forever RIP Neil! Of the 9 times I saw Rush - I never left my seat (except to stand and applaud) when The Professor was exhibiting his masterclass solo in percussion!! There's a reason Rush would have an intermission halfway through their show - THAT is when you went to the loo and grabbed another brew!
Neil was an 'event' not to be missed - through the whole show, and especially during his solo! I still deeply miss him - as so many do. His was the first 'celebrity' passing that I broke down and cried for - not just for being a huge Rush fan, his contributions to lyricism & drumming, but for the hardships his life had known (passing of his first wife and child), then finding a new life with a wonderful woman and having another child - THEN getting this death sentence of a disease! My heart was broken - and I still cry when certain songs are played and I think of him!
As you dig deeper Doug, and into his past, you'll see as he expanded his kit, organic instruments (temple blocks, gong, tubular bells, etc.) couldn't fit any longer, so he went the MIDI route and embraced the technology at the time - constantly upgrading his kit & skills.
You're right - kudos on ALWAYS being the student - forever growing & learning! Not many 'seasoned' drummers would have the humility to reinvent themselves 20 years into their career!
Thanks for this! He will forever be missed. Cheers to you and The Professor!
He is one of the GODS of drumming. Awesome talent, milestone remark on music history. Highly missed, highly adored... We love you NEILL!
Grateful to my nephew for introducing me to Rush decades back. Neil’s Bravura Virtuoso drumming is in a world all its own!
Wow! His passion for the drum set is the world standard in said technique for how it’s done.
My friend and I have seen every Rush tour together since 1981. We use to fight over who got the binoculars during Peart's solo.
Amazing - can’t wait to watch this in full… rock 🪨 on 🥁
Someone needs to buy Doug that marimba sounding instrument for Christmas. Must be expensive. Loved to see Doug, air drumming and air dancing. What a talented drummer is Neil Peart. How could anyone challenge the Professor. It's just amazing. Thanks for posting this, Doug. Rush was my favorite band and still is, just a shame there aren't any more albums from them.
Half electric kit, triggers and the rest acoustic. ❤
Ah a late era solo. I think a Presto-era solo might be more fun.
Neil got bored with his grip and style and went to a famous drum teacher Freddie Gruber to "relearn" how to play. His goal was to get rid of the stiffness he'd always relied on, and get some groove. All the greatest drummers were, in Neil's opinion, Jazz drummers who don't just have chops, they have groove. Swing. Neil is all chops, no swing. No groove.
And he wanted to groove, so he went and basically started learning to drum again. The solos from this period are interesting, more Big Band inflected, but I think his early 90s solos are Peak Peart Pyrotechnics.
But, I'm not a drummer. What do I know? Certainly Neil thought there was nowhere left for him to go after he won every Modern Drummer award they had. Props to anyone at that level of skill who refuses to sit on their laurels.
You looked like you were having a blast reacting to this! Well Done! Rush was one of my favorite bands of the 70's
Look into "Fear", it shows how great of a lyricist he was!!
I've seen Rush twice in concert and both times Neil Peart's drum solos were the highlight of the show.
Well Doug, I was waiting for you to do this. Yes, every electronic sound was que up by him. The big band sound at the end was his "Cottontail" which he did in his Buddy Rich tribute. This was the perfect symmetry of acoustic & electric drums. However, you need to see the live performance of "Xanadu" from the 1981 live show. This was the last tour before any electronic drums. It is a legendary performance by all 3.
And the crowd goes absolutely APESHIT!!! I know I certainly did. I personally would have LOVED to see a Neil Peart/Buddy Rich drum-off. That would have been BEYOND epic
Really digging your analysis on so many of the things I love. Well done. This one (since I wanted to be a drummer) is especially close to my heart, as Neil - along with Led Zep's Bonzo - was my inspiration. Thank you for helping me to understand the genius of these gents. ;)
I'll try to add some value here since there aren't any lyrics to recite. ;) First, skip to 3:19 for the start of the solo. The playing in this opening section is a little like what he does all through the song "Scars" from the album PRESTO. The tambourine strikes are coming from the left foot with a trigger pedal. 3:57 Not tap shoes, but dance shoes. 4:25 Kat MalletKat controller, probably running an Akai sampler. 4:53 Doug's air-drumming single-strokes but if you watch Neil you can see it's a mixed single/double pattern - not sure if it's a paradiddle rudiment but it's something like that. 6:17 This is a tribute to Max Roach's "The Drum Also Waltzes." Doing what all he's doing with both hands while keeping the 3/4 boom-chick-chick going with his feet is a BIG deal. 8:53 The "circle of four," which is the basis of the second drum break coming out of the bridge in "Tom Sawyer." 9:07 Please stop. :) 9:54 I love how in this iteration of the drum solo, Neil graciously slows it down for us to help us learn it 10:21 Neil's triggering samples from Count Basie records. 11:08 Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump"
Where the big band music came from that was triggered, Neil produced and played on two tribute to Buddy Rich CDs "Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich" and "Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2".
Neil was one of the first to employ any sort of electronic triggering of non-drum sounds incorporated into a mixed acoustic/electric kit. Yes, all of the orchestral hits in the penultimate segment are triggered by his feet. You need to watch this solo at least six times in great detail to catch all of his brilliance in action. The segment where his left foot is on the tambourine in a 2:3 pacing atop a 3/4 tempo, while his hands are drumming in 6/8 is the most mind-blowing to me. Another thing to watch for is that HE NEVER MISSES. No unintended rim-strikes, no fumbles. He spent years on this composition, and you can find videos of earlier solos while he continued to mature the variety of movements included. This one is the final product. It isn't a drum solo. It is a full musical percussion composition. Nobody but The Professor could do this.
Neil is a God. I regret every day that I didn't see Rush in concert. This must be Frankfurt. I'll never ever get tired of this performance. Isn't that a xylophone? Neil studied tirelessly with teachers too, even when he was with Rush. That's why he's so good. He rules the world from beyond the grave, along with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
It's a mallet controller made by Kat. It's playing samples of marimba or some such over MIDI.
OK thank you@@hubbsllc
I have been a fan of yours since you "found" RUSH. I have been listening to Rush for the last 42 years. I love seeing the reaction to this band from content creators. Most go from "how the hell do they make that much sound with only 3 people", to "wow (PC version), are they detailed", to "these guys are one of my favorite bands, hands down"
I'm 62 now, and have been a RUSH fan since the mid 70's when in High School. I've been fortunate enough to have seen them live 54 times over the decades, and each time was a special treat, watching Neil do his magic! He was great, yet humble, and it's great to have seen him constantly pay homage to the greats before him, such as Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. A class act all the way!
Thanks Doug! Always love going back and revisiting this solo from R30!
The electronic marimba part is a segment of a larger piece he did for Modern Drummer Magazine back in 1987 called Pieces of Eight. There are a couple of TH-cam videos where you can hear that whole piece. Definitely worth a listen, too.
That came on one of those plastic '45 records in that issue. Do you remember that? Am I correct?
500 plus comments and this may be the only one to remember or at least mention that part of the solo.
So glad you did this review, awesome! I think the Anatomy of a drum solo was back during Test For Echo....1997...
Neil was definitely the biggest influence on me musically, he never failed to amaze me.
Brother...from 15:15 forward you are articulating everything that most of us can't. Thank you.
Saw R30 in London. I have this on DVD and of course have watched it many times. Still smiling as you did, Doug, when I watch this.
Doug, I really appreciate your analysis and insight into popular music. Many who attempt this are not knowledgeable enough to attempt doing what you do. You bring so much background to your work. Thank you!
This drum solo was written long time ago and he played with different arrangements in every world tour, but was the same for all gigs in that particular tour. TOTAL MONSTER!!!
Doug, Mexico salutes you!
Neil Peart was in my opinion a genius This is just an awesome drum solo With respect shown to the origins of rock/heavy rock music I think my favourite Rush album is Moving Pictures But Rush never stood still They pushed boundaries And God Bless them for it
When I first heard Rush. A friend brought over the "All the World a Stage" where I heard the drum solo on that album. Needless to say I was blown away and I thought it was two drummers playing. What can I say, I was 12 years old and didn't know any better. You need to listen to that drum solo. That drum solo made him famous and if you buy the album you'll hear the live 2112 all the way thru that I saw and heard in concert here at home. In person it was a mind blowing experience hearing "We have assumed control". BTW: He's doing a lot of four way independence during this drum solo. Also, when playing drums the first thing we tell the student is to always play relaxed. He plays both match grip and traditional grip and there are a few rock drummers that use traditional grip. I have the DVD...lol That is his tribute to Buddy Rich and he triggers the horns with pads.
Brought binoculars to every single concert just to focus on his snare.
Mr. Peart might be the only musician that I've never heard a single criticism of. Ever. A respect that is totally deserved, and a talent second-to-none.
Oh, I've heard many criticisms of Neil, mostly by the same guy on the (now-defunct) Counterparts message board, a Rush fan-run message board from the mid-90's to just a couple years ago. He was a grumpy old ghit from England and basically said nothing after Permanent waves was any good (except maybe Moving Pictures, but usually after a few pints).
Just checked and The Rush Forum is still active. That one, Counterparts, and The Rush Messageboard were the big three fan boards at around the same time frame. TRM went down first, then CP.
No one goes to the bathroom or for a beer when the Professor is lecturing!!
Neil does actually play the Marimbas. Neil used them in his drum solo on the Snakes And Arrows tour which they did release on DVD.
Sadly only ever got to see Rush one time but that concert shaped my future, forever the greatest band to grace the earth and I will die on that hill
Greatest drummer to walk the earth!!!!!!
One of my favorite concerts I have attended. Rush, FLoyd and YES.......mind altering music. All these legendary beath in the energy of the universe.....and exhale it in musical form.
One of the amazing things about Neil's solos is that if you study them, you can see him grow as a player. He first introduced the Waltz section in the early 90s and his playing was very within the 3 beat frame of the waltz, not crossing barlines. By "Different Stages", he was playing across the bar a bit, but still in a 3 feel. On Vapor Trails, he started exploring playing across the bar more including some of the 7/8 accent hints. By R30 (this tour) he was able to demonstrate that higher level of independence to play the waltz in the feet and significantly more complicated material in his hands. As an educator, I love that you can see him grow as a composer and a player with each tour's solo.
One can not understate the importance of Neil to Rush- I can't imagine them without his contributions! They were my first ever concert 1978- Hemispheres and it was a voyage for a 13 year old. I was a instant fan starting in summer of 76 with 2112 and from that point on I was able to see them 6 times in my life- each concert was a amazing live performance. Theirs is some of my favorite music for my whole life. Thank you Neil and Doug for this treat today
Neil's drum solos were a highlight of every Rush show, but you should know that, post-tragedy Neil solos had quite a lot in common with each other. There was plenty of variation in the improvised parts, but the meat and bones were the same, from this tour to the final tour, including the rotating kit, down to the big band ending and the video on the big screen. He gave them various titles, but they were all pretty similar. AMAZING, to be sure. Just don't expect to see a completely different solo if you decide to watch more.
Neil was so much more than a drummer.
He was a “compositional percussionist” and that’s not even including his stellar lyric writing.
RUSH were one of a kind. I miss them everyday and I haven’t been the same since Neil’s death on January 7, 2020.
We miss you Professor. ❤️❤️
A girl that had a crush on me in high-school dad won tickets to Rush back on Roll the Bones tour and his solo was phenomenal as you would expect
I think neil is one of the more musical percussionists, it's almost melodic. In the big band section i think he is triggering the horn stabs and later triggers the track to play along with.
Yes, I believe he was triggering the samples with his 2nd E-kick. Saw them a few times and that seemed to be the source of the longer samples.
Rush was the first band I chose for myself as opposed to simply following because of what my father and older brother listened to. Rush always just resonated with me, and that remains true to this day. While I loved watching Neil Peart’s drumming evolution I must admit some of my favorite work are from Rush’s earlier days when Neil utilized his Hi-hats more. I really liked his set up for Xanadu, even if it meant he had to be limber & quick in getting up and down to all the various pieces for that performance.
The limb independence is so impressive. Love this solo.
Doug this is by far my favorite reaction from you! Every 5 seconds, boom something exciting happens
The best part?
He was *SICK* during this part of the tour!
And those band sounds were actually activated by Neil using foot pedals that triggered the sounds!
Neil Peart was a true “student” of the craft. He was always pushing himself to learn more, to discover as many techniques, drumming styles, arrangements as he could.
As such a student, he was a master of the highest order. And a humble and deeply philosophical man as well.
As a drummer, I’ll always consider Neil Peart to be my greatest influence. He truly is in the very top echelon of drummers of all time.
Hahaha love your reaction Doug, had that many times myself regarding the Prof! Put it into context....this is the middle of a ROCK concert!! Very very few could compose and evolve a solo like Neil and you can count on one finger the number who would have the skills, talents, knowledge and above all the STONES to pull off such a monumental piece and end it with a colossal swing piece? Jaw dropping.... Thank you for such a joyous reaction 👍
For me this is his 2nd best drum solo. I've been a Peart fan since the beginning. I first saw them in 1974, then '75 and '76 in Houston Texas. I think his best solo is the on in Rio de Janerio. The crowd was massive and was extremely reactive to his solo. This drum kit on this video is completely gold plated. The cost of it was a cool 1.5 million dollars.
This solo, and all the solos towards the end of his career are a history of drumming, both universally and personally...in this edition, he starts off with "primitive" rhythms and does some classical work, jazz ("The Drum Also Waltzes"), bits of his life from the 80's (marimbas and cowbells), rock, and then of course, the big band stuff in tribute to Buddy, Gene, and the jazz greats. A masterwork if you know what you're looking for.
RIP Neil ... one of the greatest drummers of all time ... he wasn't know as 'The Professor' for nothing ... one of my major influences and heroes as a drummer over the last 45 years ... keep rockin' in heaven X
The Marimba is a MalletKat. Neil actually called it a "MIDI Marimba" himself -- because that's exactly what it is intended for -- although it can be used to trigger many different samples (such as the glockenspiel during "Spirit of Radio"). His drum tech switches the samples behind the scenes for him. During the kit-spin, he sets off some random effects.
As well as the rear e-kit and MalletKat, he also has MIDI pads within easy reach of the acoustic kit. They're hard to spot, but you can easily see a pad just in front of the snare (between the toms). He also has a MIDI foot pedal next to the hi-hat pedal. He uses all those triggers to cue the single-hit horn blasts, as well as cueing the final section of Duke Ellington's 'Cotton Tail' at the end of the solo.
He also used the foot switch during the 3/4 ostinato (boom-cha-cha), triggering a tambourine sample. Although easy to play in and of itself, Neil makes it many times harder by playing complex "floating" rolls around the drums. Those rolls speed and slow down rapidly and fluidly -- but independently of the underlying ostinato. That takes an outstanding amount of independence.
So sad to lose him, but few have advanced the art of the drummer more than he did.
The legend.
The Professor.
RIP
The electric trigger pad he uses to play the marimba is a Katt Percussion Mallet Katt. It's made up of 3 individual octaves chained together.
I have watched this 100 times, at least! always watch from end to end! Never get tired of it! It always amazes me!
He got the award for No1 rock drummer in the world in the 70's. When asked how it felt to be the No1 drummer in the world his reply was .......I don't know you better ask Karen Carpenter.
If you want the definitive drum solo have a look at Carl Palmer's solo in Karn Evil 9 at the California Jam in '73 played on the steel kit from British Steel
That set up is 2 kits. An electric kit with the black cymbals and an acoustic set. His stage will spin around when he switches to the acoustic kit so he is always facing the crowd.
Very cool to hear your enthusiasm, enjoyment, and admiration of Neil.
Greatest percussionist of all time in my book. His solos were always the highlight of every Rush shows. You could see thousands of « Neil » air drumming in the stands during his drum solos. Every. Single. Time. Just like you did. Epic memories. Thank you Mr Peart, long live the professor. We all miss you. RIP.
I was 17 in 1978 when I bought all the worlds a stage so the original Working Man live solo holds a special place in my heart - never forget the intro " and now the Professor on the Drum Kit " - it doesn't hold up to this but it was my first .
I saw this concert live (Frankfurt), thanks for the journey back in time 😊
Neil. The best. However... At some point, you might check out "19 Days", by Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree. A truly gifted drummer and this song enables that gift to shine.