I was lucky to see this live and with a great view looking down at the stage, so saw every stroke. One of the rare times in my life I had tears in my eyes. Glad you both liked this
Very few drummers alive today can compose a drum solo that grabs your attention from the get-go, and doesn't let up or get annoying for 8+ minutes. The professor covered it all: composition, rudiments, off beats, polyrhythms, flams, crossovers - all without it ever getting mundane or drawn out. It's a musical composition of the highest order and speaks to NEP's huge intellect and attention to details. I can hear snippets of all forms of drum influences, from classical percussion, African tribal beats, rock, jazz etc, knits it all together like a complex piece of tapestry. He will be cherished as one of the greatest contributors of this instrument for ALL OF TIME, and is sorely missed. RIP NEP - Master Poet & Professor of the drums.
exactly. i just watched a video of him talking about how he came to where he was & what drove him to become the way he was & as he said i was always learning & obsessing with how to become better & picking up from other drummers styles & techniques. He' s even said if you listen carefully you can hear little pieces of other drummers he's admired in his pieces but in it all he made what fit him to evolve into such a pleasure to watch & hear.
No bathroom breaks when the drummer is Neil Peart folks. I've heard tons of drum solos but most are not as well thought out or presented as a composition. This is what makes Neil's drum solos entertaining. The African rhythms on the electric kit are cool but I love Neil most when he's playing the acoustic kit. My favorite part of the solo is when Neil rolls a drum pattern (rudiments/paradiddles) on multiple drums to create a buzz. Neil usually ends his solos to a jazz backing track, love the thunder of the drums on that jazz track. Check out the bass solo by Geddy in "Leave that Thing Along". Thanks for the upload boys.
@@TheThamesmen Considering Rush's concerts go up to 3hrs, with a 15 min intermission, I usually know the set list. The drum solo is a keeper, but if I really needed to go, I would sacrifice my least favorite song over the solo. The thing about most Rush songs is there's always something that's crazy good going on musicianship wise on stage, that I can't miss, especially songs that are their deep cuts. The most common songs they play at concerts is my beer run or washroom break. Better yet, take the wife, for the beer runs... lol.
Great reaction! I am a drummer so I never go to the bathroom during a drum solo but anyone who got to see this tour and did would probably really regret doing it if they saw this video. Neil Peart truly is one of the greatest drummers of all time. Personally he rates number one for me and his composition skills are second to none. I like that you picked up on the nod to Buddy Rich. The final section of the solo is played to a track of the Buddy Rich band playing Cotton Tail (which Neil triggers of course). There is a great video of Neil Peart performing "Cotton Tail" Live with the Buddy Rich Band. This was part of a Buddy Rich tribute that Neil helped to put together featuring several rock drummers performing with the Buddy Rich Band. Another great reaction and more Rush please.
My Dads band was supported by Buddy Rich at the Fillmore, would you believe that... crazy line up. Ric, the drummer, didn't do a solo that night. Thanks for being here and supporting us. Thanks for being here and supporting us.
Ahhhhh.... You addict!! We will ALWAYS swing back around to our stuff Ether. We move away for a bit (so we can discover new bands) but will always touch base now and again. Be well
@@TheThamesmen I still think you ought to dip a toe into other groups from the era, like Foghat (Slow Ride) and the other Canadian rock trio, Triumph (Magic Power), among many others.
Carl Palmer's drum solo on the *Welcome Back My Friends* live set by ELP was the first one I had heard from a rock band where I felt it was truly musical, in that it had a kind of compositional arc. Neil's solo on *Exit... Stage Left* was the second one that fit that same description, and it was even better IMO. I still hold that up as his best solo because of how musical it was, and memorable to the point where you could sing it.
All that mastery and he writes some of the most intelligent, insightful lyrics. In a CNN Interview, he described playing drums with Rush as "Running a marathon while solving equations" Look up that interview and you will see the three friends who make that wonderful music. I love another comment, "We should be paid by the Note".
Neil's drums have such a perfect tuning that his shots rolls and fills have a musicality of notes to them, and how he can create and remembers each one within a composition of the song is unbelievable. Washout question , the greatest rock drummer or drummer in history.
I too was unaware that Rush was such a world phenomenon, until I started watching reaction videos some months ago. Really loved their concert in Rio video.
Bass solo you say? Well then, check out Rush's live performance of "Leave that thing alone" from the Time Machine Tour. The whole song really highlights Geddy on the bass and ends with a solo.
"Leave That Thing Alone" is a great suggestion. Another great live performance that really highlights all three of them is " Where's My Thing?", "Here It Is", This is an instrumental with a drum solo in the middle that was shot live in Dallas I think. on the Time Machine tour.
Greetings from Toronto! What a great start to my morning, thank you. I was always blown away by Neil's talent. I've been to 6 Rush shows and met them twice. It is a memory I will always cherish. Be good, be well, and stay safe.
@@TheThamesmen Love Bernie's Tune that he did with Gene Krupa! Alway amazed me with that long expanse that he never learnd to read music. Learned it all by ear.
Man, he was just so good. Seeing Neil do it live was a staggering experience. I feel privileged that I got to see Rush live- I took my elder brother (who was the one who got me into them) to Wembley on the R30 tour and we were lucky enough to have front row tickets right in front of Geddy Lee. They were so tight, so incredible and always seemed to be having so much fun. Thanks for the video and the laughs gents... I'm off for a snooze in my smoking jacket.
Speaking as an ex road crew member, we have a soft spot for drummers. They tell us when the stage is level because the drool comes out both corners of their mouth equally. Seriously though, the only other drummer I've seen pull off a solo that has so much from left field as well as amazing drumming was Mick Fleetwood, but he was more weird than musical at times. Very entertaining indeed, what a pity they never toured Oz. Great video gents, more please!
Also you know when they are at the door s the knocking speeds up :) The worst one we say to drummer is that they get to hang out with musicians..... Poor drummers.
I started playing drums when I turned 12, when I was 15 my first concert was Rush Signals tour, sitting in the balcony looking directly at Neil. I was lucky enough to see them live another 15 times through the years.
Niels solo is a story in development, style, and maturity taking place over 4 decades. Parts still sound like the very early years, quads on the double kick reminiscent of the solo in YYZ in the 80's, electronic percussion of the 90's, and the more developed tones of the later years. Pieces of Eight, the keyboard-like piece played on the electronic marimbas, was released on a vinyl tear out in a drumming magazine in the late 80's. The tribute to jazz and big band at the end opens the eyes of fans and musicians to sounds we no longer hear in modern music. The man is a gem. I knew he was done playing after R40, but really hoped to see him continue writing. Maybe one day someone release works he had written and never published.
Near the end, When Neil flipped one of his sticks in the air, Niel caught the drum stick the wrong way (With the but end out), But he immediately noticed this, flipped it around with his fingers on one hand and, even after this, he left himself with plenty of time for that next “hit” on the symbols. This is why he is called the professor. He didn’t even panic. He just knew how to get the job done and he did it. Effortlessly. As A side note I am quite sure he triggered the horn sounds with his bass drum hits. Listen, there was no horn “blasts” without a bass drum hit. But there was more going on with that now that I listened to it again. Perhaps with his High-hat peddled. The ending sequences may have been a section of big band that he triggered on a one-time basis. As an amateur drummer, I want to say Niel “WORKED”. He worked on every drum hit he did. He said this in a few interviews, that he always wanted to be the best he could be. Even in the R40 tour (40 years since the band was established), Neil said “time” was an enemy. But an enemy he would not let get the best of him. His body was going through the natural phase of aging. But that just made Niel work harder. We should all strive to be like Niel. Whether it’s drumming or processing packages at a package processing plant. Do the best you can be and strive for more. That’s what made Niel the professor of his craft. I can’t tell you how the passing of Niel has affected me, But I think, if Niel and I had this conversation (about sadness in his passing), he would say “Just relax and do what you do your best”. And if asked about my own drumming abilities, Niel might say “Always strive to better at what you do. Don’t get lazy and say you have already reached your best. Because your best has yet to come. No Matter what your age.” Niel knew this. He is a model for us all. Look at his writings of Rush’s songs. mostly just “Happy”, and sometimes with a message. There was a lot of analysis of Niel’s lyrics for “The Trees”, about people in society being suppressed and the need to rise above. When asked, Niel replied, and I am paraphrasing here… “It was just a fantasy about Oaks and Maples in the forest”. And my reaction to this was, YES! Thank you Niel. That’s all it was, and I only took it as such. A fun song about some factitious cartoonish characters, about the “Oaks” and the “Maples” in the forest. Just plain good fun. God Rest Niel Peart.
When I was younger, in the days of vinyl, the joke was... "Hey! The record is stuck. Oh no, it's a drum solo". This video does not apply to that joke. Bloody great one you lot overseas... Cheers! Ohhh... Buddy Rich tribute right there on the share. Right on Alex! Amazing. I saw John Bonham live without all the technical stuff. Interesting comparing!
I've seen that live so many times (including this performance in Frankfurt)... but I'm still impressed everytime I see this! We will miss Neil, the professor forever...
Everything on his kit was built trying diffrent sounds and instruments through the years. Every album that has new drums never left the kit. He was a true evolution in motion. Amazing human being! RIP Neil I rate this 11 out of 10
The amount of effort this man puts into every performance is unmatched...especially given this was in their last 4-5 years together (of over 40). As the saying goes within the drumming community, "Neil Peart is your favorite drummers' favorite drummer".
Just so much brilliance... thankful to have seen the various drum solos that The Professor crafted for each tour since the mid-late 80s through the final R40 Tour. Also highly recommend Neil performing at the Buddy Rich Tribute show, it's fantastic seeing him out of the Rush groove and into another style.
I got to see this in person....whole different experience, and IMO it wasn't his best I had seen, it was amazing but over 30 years, he had some killer work live that no camera can come close to capturing it live!
For me it is the 3/4 time boom ching ching played with his feet. Right left left in perfect time while his hands are at a completely different level. It's freaking amazing.
As the self proclaimed biggest RUSH fan of all time, I'm here to say that the best drum solo by the professor was from the EXIT STAGE LEFT album in the middle of YYZ. It is the professor at his absolute best!!!
Gentlemen, you neglected to grade the performance. I was waiting for the Nadia Comaneci perfect 10 x 2. You must have been so mesmerized by the performance that you just forgot!
That wasn't a drum solo. That was a composition. Most people don't realize he's keeping a 3/8 beat with his feet (bass drum on beat 1, and tambourine on beats 2 and 3) for much of this while dazzling us with his insane handworks. Neil verbally broke this this solo down in a clinic and described how he got the big band hits at the end. They were inspired by Count Basie and recorded in a studio for this solo. The sounds were converted into an electronic format and assigned to electronic pads around the kit. Neil is actually manually triggering those big band hits while he's playing. The only gimmicks here are the the reverb/delays right at the beginning created by the sound man.
'Please, sir(s) I want some more' Rush. Maybe, In The End, Digital Man, Working Them Angels, Distant Early Warning. And definitely at some point The Garden.
@@TheThamesmen If he played the guitar at the same level he played the drums, he would have been right up there with Jimmi Hendricks and all the other guitar legends.
Thanks for that review guys, I’m an old Rush fan as they were my favorite band in the 70´s and early 80´s but for some reasons never really spent time to look at drum solos. It was impressive. I did not see much Rush reviews from you lately and was wondering if you would be interested to do the Camera Eye…really interesting, I’d say it’s their last progressive song before they evolve to a different style and sound. Camera eye is on their top album Moving Picture and really worth the time to listen at it. There is an official version on the net with a “movie” that give it an interesting perspective. They are at their best. Thanks in advance.
Seen Rush 4 times Loved them every time from Toronto to Detroit and The version of working man in Cleveland blew me away. I will say Neil is the second greatest drummer of all time.. Even he would have told you Buddy Rich was his inspiration. He was the last person in the video. What Buddy could do with a standard drum set was second to none.. Rest in peace Neal It was a great ride.
Neil was so amazing at all aspects of the drums. Such an amazing performer and artist. Gents - do yourselves a favour and watch: Rush-Freewill (lyrics) which has a ripping solo by Alex; and Geddy hits his highest note/pitch of all songs ever produced. Then, watch: Rush - Freewill - Bass & Drum tracks; and listen to Geddy's and Neil's ripping solos done in unison with Alex's rip! You'll love it.
Right after the snare rolls he goes in to a polyrhythm. His feet are keeping one beat while his hands are playing multiple times. This takes years to train your brain to do this. He's quite remarkable.
It's not a drum solo it's a song without guitars, bass, keyboard and voice.😉 And like someone write, Neil Peart is your favorite drummer's favorite drummer.
I believe the only ones qualified to determine best solo ever would be Kieth Moon, Buddy Rich, Ginger Baker and John Bonham. Living drummers would be Stewart Copeland, Roger Taylor & Ian Paice. But as solos go, this one is up there in the Hall of Fame.
There's a newer Canadian band you guys should check out called Crown Lands. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WOsOXLixWoY.html The song link is to their Rush hòmage. (You can see the nods to Rush, but it's also it's own thing, if you know what I mean.)
Personal opinion as a Neil Peart fan - and I think Neil would cop to this - Buddy Rich was indisputably a better drummer. However, Neil Peart was a composer, lyricist, poet, philosopher and writer. I think Neil's best solo was the one he did on "Exit Stage Left" in 1981 where he maintains the same beat and resumes "YYZ" at the conclusion of the solo. It was shorter, and it lacked for electronic drums (the kit then was all acoustic and percussion), but in my opinion it was still better.
the first time we heard Neil perform a drum solo in the 80s, after an hour of playing, then the song we were all waiting for, to hear the drum solo.. YYZ and after that we ALL knew we were watching the greatest drummer ever.. up until that moment everyone accepted that John Bonham “Led Zeppelin” was the best drummer ever… but after YYZ the world knew Neil is WAY better than ANY DRUMMER and it is not close at all
I have never really listened to drum solos very much. How would the drummers from Nightwish stand up to him? How would the drum solo in In-A-Gadda-Di-Vida stand up in comparison?
What most people don't know is Neil was very sick during this show, just on the verge of pulling out of it altogether but went on anyway, full of flu meds...
Exit stage left has way more energy but is only 2 minutes and no video exisits although it was filmed but never made it to the actual consert video for some reason
Neil didn't like this particular solo and had said he wish they taped others on this tour. He thought it was a poor performance and he was off somehow.