The Genius Of Neil Peart

If anyone is a household name with drummers, it’s Neil Peart.

Known lovingly as ‘The Professor’, Peart was an innovator on the kit, a prolific writer and lyricist, and an absolute legend. But why is he considered one of the greatest drummers of all time?

Here’s some Peart education:

► 0:00 -- Intro
► 0:49 -- The Inventor
During his 40-year career with Rush, Peart developed signature riffs that are recognizable even in the playing of the drummers he influenced.

One of the most obvious examples is the ride cymbal groove that can be heard in songs like “The Spirit of Radio”, “YYZ”, “La Villa Strangiato”, “Subdivisions”, and more. Peart described it as something he’d use at medium tempos to bring forward motion to the music. He actually created the pattern by accident when trying to learn something completely different!

We can’t mention Peart’s signature riffs without talking about his massive drum fills. Cascading down his entire kit in songs like “2112” and “Lakeside Park” – not just because he could, but because it totally worked in the context of the tune – set him apart from other drummers of the time.

► 2:31 -- The Designer
There was always a purpose for every drum part, and that was to support the music. Peart was adept at building tension in one section and releasing it in the next. Listen to what he plays through Alex Lifeson’s guitar solo in “Tom Sawyer” or during the choruses in “Limelight” (that shift between a relaxed 3/4 groove and a driving 4/4 groove is a work of art!).

► 4:56 -- The Virtuoso
In the ’70s, Peart was already pushing boundaries with technically proficient drumming, like his intricate parts on “La Villa Strangiato” and “2112”. His independence on “Bravado” was next level, and his double bass playing on tracks like “Anthem” and “One Little Victory” was incredible.

► 7:15 -- The Explorer
Peart wasn’t just interested in the traditional drum kit. He loved experimenting with sounds as a whole, whether it was percussion or electronics. In Rush, he went beyond simply playing rock by incorporating other styles into the music (especially in songs like “Xanadu”, “Closer To The Heart” and “The Trees”).

He embraced modern technology as it entered into the music space, which meant using Simmons pads, a MalletKAT MIDI controller, Roland pads and more. In “Mystic Rhythms” he used a Simmons electronic tom and triggered sounds with a pedal. Most rock drummers don’t push sonic boundaries like Peart did.

► 9:22 -- The Mathematician
If you aren’t convinced of Peart’s genius yet, imagine combining all of the above points with challenging time signatures. “By-Tor And The Snowdog”, “Cygnus X-1 Book I” and “Book II”, “Xanadu”, “La Villa Strangiato”, “YYZ“…the list goes on and on and could wrap around the globe twice.

► 11:14 -- Final thoughts
Even though his nickname ‘The Professor’ came from a Gilligan’s Island character, Neil Peart has taught drummers so much over the years. He was also a constant student and his legacy will live on even longer in his work.

What have you learned from Neil Peart?

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[scottwall]

I met Neil 2 years before he passed away at Panamint Springs resort in Death Valley. PSR is a run down cowboy- miner camp in Death Valley, Calif. He was on a new BMW motorcycle. Talked to him for 90 minutes about motorcycles and I pointed out some destinations for him to stop at in the park. Only talk of music was when i asked if a 12 hour ride affects his work. He explained that he takes a day off after a long ride. I didnt say shit about the band or the 7 times I saw them live. Motorcycle talk. Gave him a Perrier water and he liked my safety-welding glasses. I had 3 pairs so I gave him one. Genuine great man. Riding his bike alone, not complaining about a terminal illness.

[rickb]

Rush, a 3 man band that sounded like a 6 man band. Everyone of them was so talented and diverse in their playing!

[mayorrodgers]

Neil is the one and only “celebrity” death that brought tears to my eyes. I grew up listening to Rush. The man wrote the lyrics to a large part of the soundtrack of my life. He will forever be missed.

[RoosterCogburn]

12 minutes is nowhere near enough time to describe the genius of Neil Peart

[davidjperkins]

Geez- what did I learn from Neil. I came up with Neil in St. Catharines, ONT. He was a phenom in those early high school bands. A few years after school I got the call that Neil's replacement in a local bar band had another gig so I worked for a couple of months subbing in. Neil came by one night and asked me about my ride patterns- I was a jazz based drummer so rock was not foreign to me (from the prog stuff) but I was more "swishy" than a rock player. He told me that toms were not the enemy and he sat in for a set that night and I got to see (on my drum set no less) him play the same tunes HIS way- it was eye opening. We spoke a bit after- I told him I would be working on voicing with more toms and bass drum if he got on the ride every so often said he would but it would drive a lot harder to be few bands later our orbits intersected as my bandmates ended up on the Moving Pictures album cover- our manager was Bob King (aka the Naked Guy) and Hugh was a pal . In the years following I found myself in Dan Lanois on a session with a big set of drums- 5 toms....!!! never played on a kit like that but what popped into my head- Neil's advice....!! I brought in all kinds of fills and orchestrations on that album and it was a blast. So thanks for the advice and when I first heard Spirit of Radio and the section with that driving ride/bell pattern- I smiled, he took our deal and made it into something amazing. He was meant to be great.

[JETstudiosinc]

I'm not a drummer but I'll just say this now 3 years after he has passed. My 2.5 year old daughter asks me to play videos of Neils solos and Rush songs while she plays her toy drum daily. I showed her a few videos once and she is hooked. Even if she doesn't end up a "Drummer" later in life, Neils music and influence will live on.

[dornelli]

Neil deserves a holiday in canada, a documentary, and at least a full book with all his lyrics comprised, to show what the amazing filosopher he was

[rayjeeves]

The one thing I learned from Neil…
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”
I live my life around the theme of freewill now.

[mountainhobbit]

I love how later in life he realized he didn't have a natural 'swing' on the kit and began taking lessons from Freddie Gruber...Neil never stopped learning, growing and exploring his whole life! Check out his 2017 interview with Classic Rock Magazine.

[unclebadger]

He's not really gone. In a hundred years they'll still be studying and loving his music ❤️

[High-Overlord-Snarffie-Pug]

dude's last show was over 3 years into having cancer and he still sounded amazing, he was a true professional

[Petervannzarry]

Not only a musical legend but as a human being, he went trough a lot of difficult things in his personal life and STILL played and created music. He is an example that music can save people lives. Rest in peace.

[YDCFF_]

He wasn't only a great drummer, his lyrics and poetry are brilliant.

[remander]

This man's passing prompted me at 48 years old to finally take up the drums. There will never be another like him. RIP Professor.

[CharlesSummers-dv]

I was fortunate enough to have seen Rush back in the middle 1980’s.
Neil Peart of course was the BEST drummer of all time and a great guy.
The tragedy that he went through with the death of his daughter and wife, followed by the soul searching that he went through in his travels on his BMW motorcycle, was simply heart wrenching and amazing.
After that all, he made it back to his drums and RUSH.
He was an intelligent man and always sought to better himself.
Simply as a person…he was a role model to us all.
RIP Neil…we were all fans.

[TheComfortInStatic_Official]

Best damn rock and roll drummer to ever exist on the face of the planet ever. RIP Professor.

[KinProductions]

When he passed, it hurt, really bad.

My wife came up to me "You can cry, you know?"
Hell no, Neil would have hated it - He was a private man who didn't truly like the glamour of being in the spotlight.
He wanted to be seen as an equal...
But the truth is, he was a tank.
Both as a drummer and as a person.

Rest easy prof, one day we'll be half the person you are.

[scarydave]

I saw the Clockwork Angels tour, Neil dropped a stick and played double with the other stick. He did it so well it was a good 30s before any of the stage hands noticed and passed him another pair, nobody in the crowd who wasn't a drummer noticed for sure. Absolute legend.

[mikebryant]

The awesome thing about Rush and Neil..is that you can listen to the same songs over and over AND STILL hear something different!! Pure Genius in our day..we got to witness Mozart!

[stephenstrussvideo]

Neil is the reason I play drums today. I played percussion in elementary and middle school, but it never hooked me. Even got a drum-set a few years later, but I had no interest so in the dusty basement they went. But on my birthday when I was 14 or 15, a co-worker of my mother's recommended getting me the Rush in Rio DVD. That opening overhead shot of Neils insane kit and him playing Tom Sawyer left my jaw on the floor. I distinctly remember pausing that video about halfway through and going to my basement to carry my drums back upstairs. 20 years later, I have a music degree from college, recorded on dozens of records and spent most of the last decade touring around the country playing original music. Thank you Neil.