Neil Peart

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Image:R30neil.jpg Neil Ellwood Peart (IPA: Template:IPA) OC, (born September 12, 1952 in Caledonia, Ontario) is the main lyricist and drummer for the progressive rock band Rush. Nicknamed The Professor, Peart has received many awards for his recorded performances and has often been acknowledged as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time due to his technical proficiency. In terms of his overall influence he is one of the most important drummers in history.[1] He uses a famously elaborate drum kit, which has ranged in size from merely large to truly elephantine. His drumming style is eclectic: he cites influences ranging from Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Steely Dan's Steve Gadd, The Who's Keith Moon to jazz drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, and fans look forward to his complicated, technical solos in live shows. His last name is pronounced 'Peert', although many mispronounce it Pert.

Contents

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Lyrics

Literary references abound in Peart's lyrics, most likely due to Peart being an avid reader. Examples include William Shakespeare ("Limelight"), Friedrich Nietzsche ("Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres"), John dos Passos ("The Camera Eye", "The Big Money"), J. R. R. Tolkien ("Rivendell", "The Necromancer") and Samuel Taylor Coleridge ("Xanadu"). Some of the most oft-commented upon are homages to Ayn Rand's novel "Anthem", in Rush's 1975 song of the same name on their "Fly by Night" album, and again in an explicitly acknowledged derivation in 1976's "2112" suite. "There was a remarkable backlash, especially from the English press— this being the late seventies, when collectivism was still in style, especially among journalists," Peart said. "They were calling us 'Junior fascists' and 'Hitler lovers.' It was a total shock to me." Weary of accusations of Fascism, or even simply ideological fealty to Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, Peart has sought to remind listeners of his eclecticism and independence in interviews. He did not, however, try to argue in defense of Rand's views.

"For a start, the extent of my influence by the writings of Ayn Rand should not be overestimated -- I am no one's disciple."

Image:Neil-Peart.jpg Along with his Rush colleagues Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Peart was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio were the first rock musicians so honoured.

Peart's only child, daughter Selena Peart Taylor, was killed in a single-car accident in 1997. His wife, Jaqueline Taylor, died of cancer only 10 months later in 1998. It was rumoured that Peart would be leaving Rush following these tragedies. However, after a brief hiatus to mourn and reflect, he returned to the band. Later he married photographer Carrie Nuttall.

Peart is also the author of three travelogues, including The Masked Rider, which documented a bicycle tour through Cameroon in late 1988, and Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, which recounted his motorcycle travels through Canada, the United States, and Mexico following the deaths of his wife and child. His third, Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times, was released in June 2004, along with a re-release of The Masked Rider.

With the 2002 release of the band's "Vapor Trails" album, Peart has returned to the business of performing live with his bandmates. At the start of the tour, it was decided amongst the band members that Neil would not take part in the daily grind of press interviews and "Meet and Greet" sessions upon their arrival in a new city that typically monopolize an immensely popular touring band's daily schedule. While Neil has always shied away from these types of in-person encounters, it was decided that having to needlessly expose him to an endless stream of questions about the tragic events of his life was quite unnecessary.Template:Fact

Some of Neil Peart's lyrics, particularly the bittersweet Limelight, deal directly with his ambivalent attitude towards fame and the concomitant loss of privacy [2].

Neil has released two instructional DVDs; A Work In Progress through Warner Bros Publishing in 1997 and Anatomy Of A Drum Solo through Hudson Music in 2005.

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Solos

Neil Peart is known for complicated, extremely technical drums solos containing odd time signatures, complicated arrangements and exotic percussion instruments. These solos have been featured on every live album released by the band. On the early live albums, the drum solo was included as part of a song. On all subsequent live albums, the drum solo has been included on a separate track. All of Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, leaving each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-late 1980s Peart has utilized MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibra-slap. Some purely electronic, description-defying sounds are also used.

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Awards

Image:Neil Peartcollection.jpg

Neil Peart has received the following awards in the Modern Drummer magazine reader's poll:

  • Hall of Fame: 1983
  • Best Rock Drummer: 1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985
  • Best Multi-Percussionist: 1983,1984,1985,1986
  • Best Percussion Instrumentalist: 1982
  • Most Promising New Drummer: 1980
  • Best All Around: 1986
  • 1986 Honor Roll: Rock Drummer, Multi-Percussion
(As a member of the Honor Roll in these categories, Neil is no longer eligible for votes in the above categories.)
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Gear

Image:Neil-Peart-Snare.jpg Image:Neil Peart Sabian Cymbals.jpg

  • Drums:

Slingerland (1974-79)

Tama Seisakusho (1979-86)

Ludwig Drums (1987-94)

Drum Workshop(1996-present)

Kick: DW 22"
Toms: 8",10",12",13",15",15",16",18"
Snares: DW 13" piccolo snare, 14" edge, 14" solid wood
Hardware: 24k gold plated DW 9000 hardware & pedals (hi-hat-DW 5000 series)
  • Cymbals:

Avedis Zildjian (1974-2003)

Sabian Paragon signature (2004-present)

Hi Hats 13",14"
Splash 8", 2x10"
Crash 2x16", 18", 20"
FX cymbals 19", 20" chinese
Ride 22"
  • Electronics:
Roland V-Drums (DW shells)
Roland V-Cymbals
Roland TD-10 Brains
Fat Kat trigger pedals
Emu 4000 Samplers
Dauz trigger pad
Mallet Kat
Remo Drumheads
Pro-Mark 747 drumsticks (Oak)
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Audio

Image:Neilpeart.jpg

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Video

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External links

Template:Wikiquote

Rush
Geddy Lee | Alex Lifeson | Neil Peart
John Rutsey
Discography
Albums: Rush | Fly by Night | Caress of Steel | 2112 | A Farewell to Kings | Hemispheres | Permanent Waves | Moving Pictures | Signals | Grace Under Pressure | Power Windows | Hold Your Fire | Presto | Roll the Bones | Counterparts | Test for Echo | Vapor Trails
Live albums: All the World's a Stage | Exit...Stage Left | A Show of Hands | Different Stages | Rush in Rio | R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour | Rush Replay X 3
Compilations: Archives | Chronicles | Retrospective I | Retrospective II | The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 | Gold
Other records: Not Fade Away (Single) | Feedback (Cover album)
Related articles
Burning For Buddy | Burning For Buddy, Vol. 2 | Victor | My Favorite Headache | A Work In Progress | Anatomy of A Drum Solo
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