T's First Time Reaction To Neil Peart (Rush ) Drum Solo - O'Baterista 

When one looks at Neil as one of the best drummers ever, add to that the fact that he was also an amazing percussionist, not to mention a world class lyricist, he has no equal.

The death of Neil, caused the US Army to do a song in his honor, Rush’s “Time Stand Still” give it reaction. Great song, great memorial.

The most influential musician in my life. R.I.P. Professor, you are missed but will never be forgotten.🔥🎧🤘🏻😎

Watching Neil for almost 40 years, and still bringing tears to my eyes: RIP Neil

There is a lot of more complexity here than your typical rock drum solo that perhaps only a percussionist will appreciate. For example part of his drum solo is to demonstrate independence from upper and lower body where he has a steady beat going on with his feet and he’s playing a completely different rhythm on top with his hands, that you may not catch unless your looking for it. I also just love the big band finish as a tribute to one of his inspirations buddy Rich.

Neil Peart. The man who never stopped learning. Often imitated - never, ever duplicated. The true "professor" on the drum kit!

Peart used his drums as a musical instrument, not just as a rhythm machine. Dude was The Drum Professor!

His drumming goes without saying, obviously. But also one of the best lyricists EVER. He wrote 98% of the lyrics and was a stunning wordsmith. Check out the lyrics to Anagram. You could spend all day finding all the actual anagrams in that song. Sometimes there are 2 or 3 in a single line.

Not many drummers can keep different beats with each limb simultaneously, other drummers wonder at this. Neil's quoted as saying his drum solos are like solving mathematical equations whilst running a marathon at the same time. Youngest inductee into Drummers World and he kept winning year after year until they put him a category of his own! He also continued to study his drums continuously, and under Freddy Gruber in 90's , a consummate professional. The Professor, he was a 1 off.

The xylophone like instrument is actually a MalletKat, which is a programmable instrument that replaced his Glockenspiel (basically a mini xylophone). He could trigger MIDI effects and sound bites and play basically any sound from it that he had sampled (not just xylophone), which is how he kicked off the Buddy Rich backing track.

He had drum triggers on his kit that were attached to an Akai keyboard/sampling unit. I'm a former IATSE Local 115 journeyman stagehand and set up several of their shows here, which is why I know this. They are my all time favorite band ever!

I was lucky enough to witness Neil Peart drum solos in person, when I saw Rush 5 times in my lifetime... it was incredible watching him perform 🤘🔥🔥🔥🔥 What a loss...😩

Been listening to Rush since about 12 yo and will be 57 tomorrow. I literally grew up on this band and The Professor, so is nice to see his appreciation is not lost :)

Many Great solos throughout the years. R.I.P Neil Peart!!

I get what you mean by saying you needed to explore the band first. Neil hit those drums like they owed him money and make it sound melodic at the same time.

The Professor schooled us all. RIP Neil Peart

This is an AWESOME reaction to ABSOLUTELY one of the greatest, if not THE greatest drummer to ever play to this point.

Neil will put a smile on all our faces for years to come. That is a legend!

This is the greatest 3 piece band ever. Neil was the heart and soul of this band, even though he was the new guy. An amazing talent, there will never be another like him. RIP

Every one of his solos is a master clinic in drumming. He covers all the genres...he even plays two different time signatures between his hands and his feet. There is no other than the Professor. Oh, and he also writes the most intellectual lyrics of all...unbelievable talent...

He makes those effects with some sort of effects hooked up to that particular kit. Neil was next level a true legend and pioneer. Great reaction

Homework, I love it. Well done. Rush is like none other. RIP Neil Peart- Professor of percussion ❤️

You looked, you learned, you listened, and you earned. ;) That kind of greatness doesn't come around too often.....

Next time make sure the cam view shows from above when he’s crossing his hands. Insane precision!! 🤘😎🤘

He uses every piece in this kit!! His crossovers are amazing

Yessssss!!!! Finally someone Reacted to the best Neil drum solo

This was after he went back to school in order to re-learn how to drum. He was considered one of the best drummers in the world and he saw that the drummer from Journey had improved his skills so Neil asked him where we had taken lessons. Next thing the band new, Neil asked if he could take a year off to go re-learn his craft. He spent a year with a famous drum instructor Freddie Grubber, learned a new technique for how to play and reset his while drum kit up to fit the new ways he had learned to play. The best part of that story is that the guys in the band agreed early on that they would always split royalties, credit and decision making equally. If anyone of them said no, they didn't do it and if anyone said wait just a minute, they waited. I've seen some of the Reels series, the breaking of the band... here's a band that Dee Snider could never do a show on because they never broke.

He had a couple of effects as a backing track and near the end was the instruments from the video. His biggest drumming influence was the great Jazz drummer Buddy Rich so that’s why he ended the solo with that old time jazz piece. He also played with the Buddy Rich Big Band as a tribute to Buddy and may have also contributed to a book about Buddy but I can’t swear to that. Fun reaction T.

There's parts in this solo where his feet are doing 3/4 time and his hands are switching to 4/4 and 6/8 and other time signatures, all at the same time.

Neil was the king Seen them 3 times Neil just crushed it RIP

Your favorite drummer's FAVORITE DRUMMER..... The swing section at the end of the solo is Neil's tribute to hi favorite drummer, Buddy Rich. Also that solo was live in Rio, only 60,000 fans at that show!

Another example of how much this band is loved is when Jann Wenner--one of the founders of Rolling Stone who hated Rush--had to read out their name when they were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Neil was the real deal. He was EVERY drummer's favorite drummer. Also, the video is great, but for those fortunate enough to see the solo live it was phenomenal. The energy was unbelievable.

Growing up as an amateur drummer, Neil was my main drumming idol. It is always so very gratifying to see people not familiar with RUSH be so impressed and complimentary!

Got to see this live back in 2011. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. RIP Neil.

Clapping in appreciation to a video says it all.

And that is exactly why they call him "The Professor "

Washer dryers running in back keeps time. Super cool RIP Mr Peart legendary drummer lyrics writer and poet. Genius

Someone might have said this, but it’s called “O Baterista,” (bah-tear-EE-stah) because “Batería” is the drum section of samba music; “baterista,” would be a drummer of that style- and the influence is very obvious if you know that music style. His drum solo was pulling influence from the samba of Brazil and he was paying homage to that tradition in the name.

I love how you explained the background as to why you waited to do this video reaction

RIP Neil He generates every sound.He prompts the big band horns with a foot pedal.The true genius of the Proffesor has no cap.

My 5 favorite drum solos are: 1. Any Neil solo 2 - 5 Pick any solo from any of many live albums

T.....that sound you hear is a recording so that Neil could play drums against it....that old jazz.....he is so good, he knows how to come in when the music begins !!!

I've seen Rush 30+ times. This was the part you always looked forward to. RIP Neil. You are truly missed!

As a pianist and a long distance runner I'll speak about "the zone." It's a really strange and freeing feeling. When you've practiced something so much that it becomes literal muscle memory, your active conscious control isn't needed any more in the same way. Like when you drive home from work... you know you stopped at red lights, but you can't really remember doing it. Your brain just handles it for you. You get into that place where you let your body just do what you've trained it to do. Time feels different. You can think about other things even. Some even describe it as feeling detached from your body. Biologically you've gone from having to make actual higher level decisions for each movement at the cortex level of your brain to training reactions which get handled at the brain stem before they ever rise up to the higher levels of your brain. You find the zone in running and you've hit that pattern of breathing and moving your legs and arms and you just kind of hit the autopilot button and your brain can go do other things while you just run. Pretty sure Neil lives in the zone... it's about the only way to run different time signatures with different limbs at the same time. You just let your muscles keep their own time and take the brain out of the equation.

Love it, TNT!! I think the crowd is better on this version! There are a lot of his solos throughout his career that are awesome, but the Live in Frankfort (which is basically the same solo just switched around) comes off a little more melodic and really shows his progression over the years!! Be well and God Bless… from Texas!!

His solo from Live in Frankfort (2 years after this one) is awesome as well.

Everytime I see or Hear RUSH a bit of sadness comes over me, knowing I won't see them together live in concert again. Still Blessed for the many times I had. Rest In Peace Professor... Lyricist & Percussionist

If you want to be fully entertained, as a fan of live music. I would highly recommend watching the entire Rush in Rio show. 3 hours of greatness!.

A sad day when Neil passed. Rush still is my favorite group. Never get tired of this. For another good, but different drum solo, watch Phil Collins and Chester Thompson of Genesis.

Love the way he changes up his sticks to a jazz grip, and back … mind blowing!!!!!

He wasn't just the drummer he was one of the best drummers as well as the main songwriter and a philosopher.

Every sound you hear he’s hitting an electric drum pure genius

Was stunned ypu has not reacted to the drum solo yet. Then found that this was the r40 Rio solo and not the Frankfurt solo. Lots of similar components. I am still partial to the tom tom runs in the YYZ solo from my influential years. It grew and changed over the years. Every major tour it changed slightly, grrw and expanded. So so glad you found a new one for me.

He used a Spanish word because they were recording in Rio, bat-uh-REE-sta, means 'drummer'. As a drummer of 40 years and a huge Rush fan I will always like the work Neil did. But as a couple others have mentioned, the solo he did on the Exit...Stage Left release is his best IMO. It flows and is a lot of fun. Give it a listen on your own time (there is no video, just audio), I think you'll enjoy it. That mental capacity you mentioned, to be able to know where the drums are and not hit the wrong thing...50 years of practice and playing. Muscle memory, I can play with my eyes closed, as any drummer with experience can do...you KNOW your kit. It's funny that you laugh at the cowbell sequence. In an interview a long time ago Neil explained his philosophy regarding his use of cowbells: They are a comedic element to music, used to lighten the mood a little and provide some levity. I can still remember back to the Grace Under pressure tour when he used the electronic drums for the first time. I was sitting in the 4th row and when his platform rotated around so the electronics were out front, the crowd went apeshit crazy! If you want to hear one of THE best all-out jams Rush did, check out Freewill if you haven't already. The solo/jam section in the middle will blow you away. Great reaction, thank you!!

To start, thank you for pronouncing his last name correctly. It was a big pet peeve with him. Thank you for showing him that respect, as well as the reverence you displayed. CLASSY!!! I hope that I am not repeating this, but toward the end of the video, before the video started, there were notes being played. Those notes were made by what are called 'drum triggers'. Each time he hit the triggers with his sticks, a not or notes would be generated. Now with all the drums and all the complexities that you noticed, this was yet another layer of stuff he used, WOOOOOWWWWW!!!!

Neil was also the person that said "Subdivisions" in the song. In the video they show Alex mouthing the words, but it was actually Neil. Fun fact: They actually had to trick Neil into saying the words so they could record it for the song.

Neil could do a one handed solo, make a double cream coffee with the other, never miss a beat and still out drum some of the drummest of drummers. Brother didn't even break a sweat here, that's how good he was.

RIP, felt like I lost a friend 🥁

thanks great reaction.i saw neil play this exact solo in birmingham .england and as a drummer myself tried to learn this solo but with no joy ,some parts i can play but this genius with drumsticks is so good at making his solos and songs so hard for you to learn thats why hes the best and stands alone as the greatest drummer and best lyrisist ever.any rush fan will say the same.your the 1st guy to react to this solo and i was so happy when i saw the video..r.i.p neil .hands of god

Great performance as always but as a drummer myself, my all time favorite is Neil's drum solo in the middle of YYZ from Exit Stage Left. Solo masterpiece technically and compositionally.

I still miss him so much.

NO ONE EVER GOES FOR BATHROOM BREAKS OR TO GET MORE BEER, WHEN NEIL PEART DOES HIS SOLO'S !!!!!

There are many great influential drummers but what for me puts Neil Peart in a league of this own, is how his drums solos are musical. Every solo is a composition, and laid out with thought, precision and artistry. Some will take a washroom break during a drum solo, but not when its NP. He has jaw dropping chops and you never want to miss a second of it.

Keeping four independant beats in synch. One with each leg, one with each arm, simul. Dude is the original Doctor Octopus.

Neil is not only the professor but also the GOAT

At no time does he look like he is working hard.

He has a sea of drums and symbols and hits them all!!!

Rumour has it, that drum set needed a cigarette when “The Professor” was finished.

This drum solo was nominated for a best instrumental Grammy.

GOAT!!! You mentioned him being “in the ZONE”. Lots of professions or arts folks get in the Zone. Atheletes too… race car drivers talk about the Zone, as a mental place where slow motion takes over… for Neil there, we’ll, you mentioned how he just knew where each drum was, then he hits the keys, tiny slices to hit right… but I bet, for him, it was like slow motion… Oh, lemme turn here, see that drum there, oops, I need to hit these other two first, then I’ll get back to this one”, etc. again, I’ll just say… GOAT!!!

The Greatest Drummer who ever Lived. RIP "Professor"

So glad you got to see this TNT!! Love all your reactions, ESPECIALLY your Rush reactions. I really feel you are being sincere and authentic! Stay safe, and where's your lovely wife??

9:45 He has electronic triggers all over that kit, especially in the back. Here he's using them to trigger brass hits, likely sampled from old Count Basie albums. The long sample that he plays over at the end is Basie's "One O'clock Jump."

Much respect for taking the path to connect to RUSH's music before watching this video. Glad to see your reaction and how much you enjoyed it. Take care.

He uses foot triggers on his left foot to trigger the big band sounds,

G.O.A.T. Rest In Peace Professor.

Glad you reviewed this solo as opposed to the R30 which everyone else reviews. Neil was never happy with that particular solo. I've always thought this one was better. Nice choice!

Starting with the "Vapor Trails" tour (this was recorded at the last stop on that tour, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Neal performed drum solos which were fully composed and named. Each tour, the name would change, but would always be "the Drummer" in a language other than English: thus, this tour, it was "O Baterista", while the next tour ("R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour"), the solo was called "Der Trommler", and so on. For each composition, there are portions which are specified for improvisation, while the majority is fully composed, and demonstrates various skills and techniques. There are definite similarities from one composition to the next - phrases which are re-used, yet the overall effect is always new and fresh. On each tour, the drum solo would be effectively the same for each show, with variation only at the specifically improvisational parts - thus, when I saw Rush in Atlanta for this tour, I got to see Neal perform essentially this composition: I love that it was recorded, but actually being there was mind-blowing! Half my enjoyment of the video is the memories being brought back: humongous thanks to my great friend Robert who managed to buy tickets within about 50 feet of the stage & brought me along!

Being a drummer myself, knowing what drum to hit is the easy part. Neil Peart was a perfectionist and hit the drums perfectly every time with terrific precision. He also with Rush played in odd time signatures wich is hard to do without it sounding odd or off. Besides his drumming that made him great, Neil wrote most of the music and lyrics for Rush. He will be missed but remembered as a legend.

Love this solo, this one of his smaller kits

Been watching this one for years and I even have the audio-only versions of a few of his solos on my phone to listen to on the go. I'm a drummer myself, and this man removed ANY EXCUSE I COULD THINK OF to not work to get better. I'm also not ashamed to say that watching this solo again brings a tear to my eye, every. single. time. Just breaks my heart that he's gone.....

He was able to make the sounds with electronic drum trigger pads mixed in with his acoustic set. Basically pads like the back set mixed into different spots in his set and foot triggers on the floor. And the ability to trigger the music at the end the same way. The xylophone looking intrument is called a malletkat basically an electronic xylophone i guess you can say that is programmable with different configurations.

Limelight was my introduction to Rush, we have been friends ever since.

Excellent analysis T.

My favorite solo still has to be from the exit stage left album in the middle of the song Red barchetta

Hes,when seeing them live, I wanted to watch his drum solo.

They say : "He's your favorite drummer's favorite drummer"!!!

My favorite drummer ever!

RIP Professor…. Thanks for the upload

Don't think I've seen this solo before. The main solo I watch. Everyone react to is the r30 concert Live in Frankfurt. But he has quite a few other solo that are phenomenal. He calls the live in Frankfurt his masterpiece. Its on point.

I got the news of Neil's death on my phone at work. I had to go out to the loading dock so no one would see me ugly-crying like a little girl. And thank God we're not watching the Frankfurt solo for the eleventy-third time.

You must watch neil Pearts drumm solo live in Frankfurt that ist amazing

Great reaction. It's the first time I've seen this performance. Thank you for posting. Check out 'The Garden' (live). It was their last song on their last album. Look up about Neil's life and you will see how the tragedies in his life relate to the song. It's not a drum solo, it's a story of love and loss.

OMG...Finally! Someone is reacting to what I think was his best work. The most accessible solo video is from Frankfurt Germany so everyone reacts to that one. Although it's great, this solo is just better. Also like a song you can hum to once you've heard a few times. Thank you.

Two of my favorite live album by RUSH are Exit Stage Left 1981. Xanadu is amazing. Then RUSH in Rio. You will see an intense fan support

Alright, so, in this solo, Neil takes you on a tour. He took you to Africa. He took you to Asia. He took you to the Middle East. He took you to the Caribbean. He took you to the South Pacific. And finally, he took you to the USA. He has studied percussion in all these places.

The Professor....class is in session!!!

Thumbs up for pronouncing his name correctly. 👍

Neil is your favorite drummers favorite drummer.