DRUMMER CAFE

Yes ... John Rutsey was one of Rush's founding members. He played on the first Rush album and on a single. He was with the band for six years, leaving the band (July 1974) just four months after the LP was released. Neil Peart joined Rush and was playing with them by August of that same year.

Well said.  I am one of those aforementioned drummers.

I read an interview with Neil in which he said that, at a young age, he wanted to be Keith Moon, but quickly realized that he wasn't that kind of drummer.  IMO, this speaks of a great deal of self-awareness and humility on Neil's part, as does his reference to himself and the listening public as "mere mortals" compared to many of the other drummers on the Buddy Rich Memorial albums.  Despite the sometimes bombastic and calculating style of his drumming, he seems like a humble guy who admires his peers rather than competing or looking down on them.

Even more uncommon: Neil's "drum solo of life" once brought a cartoon meatball back to life.   

Ugh.  The scolding continues.

I tried to kick off the thread with an uncommon perspective that, while I love Neil's drumming, perhaps he has actually had a bit of an negative effect on my playing overall.  I may not be the first person to ever write that, but I doubt if it's a common subject on the Neil worship threads. 

I'd just assume this thread sink away into the abyss.

Smitty, you're looking at this all wrong.     You've inspired two pages worth of discussion and counting.  Granted, it may not be exactly what you had in mind, but...    

Here's my uncommon observation:  It doesn't get mentioned often, but I think the songwriting for Rush was/is great.  My favorite (from a songwriting perspective) is the one with Aimee Mann singing background.  "Time Stand Still", I think it is, from 1987 or so, right?

Somehow I get the impression that Neil would be a cool hang... I'd probably try to bring up something other than drums, though.  He seems like he has unique perspective on things (only judged through his books).   

Did anyone read his Ghost Rider book?

You mean this?



Here's something uncommon ... his real name is: Cornelius Ellwood Peart
In this photo, he definitely looks like a Cornelius.

I think we've all got photos from periods in our lives that we would just assume never make the light of day again. I know I do.

You are correct. The "ear" as in pear ... not the "ear" as in earth.
It's an honest mistake. Just another example of how messed up the English language is.

+1 on the English language 

But nope on your comments....it is said like EAR....So dash my poor attempt at phonetically trying to get the point across...it sounds like the sound one would make when saying the word PEER. Like "PEER pressure"...so, spelt wrong for sound pronounciation...it is pEERt.

"something uncommon about neil peart."


there. i said it.

 


actually, here goes something completely different:


he played on my work colleague's daughter's demo cd last month.


no lie. he was in town, and the producer or engineer handling the session rang him because he owed him a favor. so he played on this chick's cd.

no shmancy fills. no bombastic double bass. just straight up candy store rock.


what was really funny was my work colleague had no idea who he was. when i was chatting with him in the elevator, he said, 'hey, do you know of a drummer named neil peart?' and i said 'of course--everyone does!'  and then he went on to relay the story to me, and i almost strangled him for not inviting me to the session.

he said he was one of the nicest, most intelligent, and most spiritual people he'd ever encountered. i woulda given my lower intestine to be there.


other trivial stuff about neil: when he's in nyc, he frequents the same bar i frequent--mj's in grand central station. he likes his macallen, or whatever that whisky's called. he skinnydips at his lakeside home in canada. he has normal friends.


all this trivia and more can be found in any of his autobiographies.