Timbale Posted September 3 Share Posted September 3 Neil talked a lot in interviews over the years about drumming influences - and bands he loved - but when it came to discussing lyrics, he always seemed to talk about authors, not songwriters. Did he ever discuss lyricists he liked? He talked a lot about loving The Who, for instance...but I've never read anything where he discussed Townshend as a lyricist. Do you think he had songwriting influences? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yyz2112 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 I think his influences were literary authors rather than song writers. He mentioned F Scot Fitzgerald and Hemingway in interviews when changing from his fantasy based style in the 70's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemistry1973 Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 (edited) I think he was majorly influenced by Sting and Peter Gabriel. Many similar themes expressed among the three of them. Pete Hammill too. Edited September 6 by chemistry1973 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbale Posted September 6 Author Share Posted September 6 4 hours ago, chemistry1973 said: I think he was majorly influenced by Sting and Peter Gabriel. Many similar themes expressed among the three of them. Pete Hammill too. I can see strong connections between Peart and Sting and Peter Gabriel (I don't know Pete Hammill's stuff) - I just have never, ever heard him discuss it, which strikes me as odd. He loved both of their bands (Police and Genesis) so much, such formative influences...and yet never a mention of the lyrics (that I've read)... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurkst Posted September 6 Share Posted September 6 Neil cited Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull as a major influence on his lyric writing. Pete Townshend too obviously. He was also an admirer of Bob Dylan's words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted September 7 Share Posted September 7 18 hours ago, yyz2112 said: I think his influences were literary authors rather than song writers. He mentioned F Scot Fitzgerald and Hemingway in interviews when changing from his fantasy based style in the 70's. . Largely. Sometimes to a fault, imo, where his lyrics are too much like prose 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbale Posted September 7 Author Share Posted September 7 On 9/6/2023 at 1:59 PM, Lurkst said: Neil cited Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull as a major influence on his lyric writing. Pete Townshend too obviously. He was also an admirer of Bob Dylan's words. That's cool to know - I don't really know Jethro Tull's music that well, so I wouldn't know what to look for in terms of influence. With him being such a Who fan, I always assumed that he was a fan of Townshend's lyric writing....I've just never heard him mention it. And besides that one Dylan quote (not a lyric, just some comment about inspiration) I've never heard him talk about Dylan's writing, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yyz2112 Posted September 8 Share Posted September 8 On 9/7/2023 at 10:42 AM, goose said: . Largely. Sometimes to a fault, imo, where his lyrics are too much like prose I tend to agree. Whilst clever and interesting in their own right the lyrics didn't really suit hard/ prog-rock for my tastes, but I guess it's another element to what makes it 'Rush'. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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