Originally Posted by
NPYYZ
As you may have noticed by my forum name, I'm a huge Neil Peart fan. Because of my long time fan-dome of Neil, my drumming style is very similar to his, after all I've been a fan of his for 37 years so something was bound to come across in my playing.
Last week I picked up the new Rush Time Machine DVD. One thing I have noticed in recent years. Neil's drum solo's have become boring as hell. Ever since he started incorporating his e-kit into his solo they have gone down hill. I'll take the solo's from "All The World's A Stage" , "Exit Stage Left" - his best, and "A Show Of Hands" over the recent boring rhythmic experimental solo's any day. Also enough of the big band crap, it's not his style and he looks uncomfortable trying to play it. Neil is one of the best Prog Rock drummers in the world, he should dance with who brought him. I blame Freddie Gruber. Before him Neil's playing was inventive and raw, yet defined and controlled. After Freddie it seem Neil was no longer willing to take those chances he did before.
If you want to hear the real Neil Peart at his best, sometime when you are alone with no distractions, put on disc 3 from Different Stages Live at the Hammersmith 1978. Sit back and listen, mind blowing. Outstanding Drumming performance.