Broncos730 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 QUOTE (naturalsciences101 @ May 18 2009, 05:10 PM) It's funny how you don't need to be a drummer, or even know anything about the intracacies or subtleties of drumwork to know that this guy is something way beyond special. All those highly nuanced drum fills and how they work in conjunction with everything else around them is something that pleases the intellectual side of you. He's a smart drummer, is what he is. He plays intelligently, and that registers with the mathematically precise apparati of the human brain. Dig? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaldad Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 QUOTE (fledgehog @ May 19 2009, 08:13 AM) He's not. most people around here just say he is because they're blind fanboys who relentlessly fellate everything that relates to Rush, or they simply haven't been exposed to better drumming. this............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushgoober Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Part of it seems not just what you can do, but the context in which it's done. First off, I would quality Neil as being my favorite rock drummer. There are jazz drummers that are mindblowing, but it's not the same style of music, and comparisons are perhaps unfair. The progressive rock era had some startlingly amazing drummers for sure. I'm sure there are plenty of more modern drummers that have outstanding ability in groups and genres that I don't personally care for, and that's the crux of it for me. It's the context of the drumming that makes Neil so amazing. Unless it's a drum solo, drumming doesn't exist in a vacuum, but is part of an overall picture. I happen to love the overall picture of Rush music, so the drumming to me shines as being particularly outstanding. In terms of what Rush music is, the drumming is phenomenal and fits in amazingly. There are prog rock albums where the drumming is stunning, but it's often one stunning aspect among many that vie for attention. That said, the guitar, bass and keyboards of Rush are no slouch. That the drumming still manages to shine forth so obviously in that context can only be a testament to how talented Neil really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 QUOTE (metaldad @ May 19 2009, 07:20 PM) QUOTE (fledgehog @ May 19 2009, 08:13 AM) He's not. most people around here just say he is because they're blind fanboys who relentlessly fellate everything that relates to Rush, or they simply haven't been exposed to better drumming. this............. Seconded Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetaxe&saw Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 QUOTE (Fridge @ May 19 2009, 07:22 PM) QUOTE (metaldad @ May 19 2009, 07:20 PM) QUOTE (fledgehog @ May 19 2009, 08:13 AM) He's not. most people around here just say he is because they're blind fanboys who relentlessly fellate everything that relates to Rush, or they simply haven't been exposed to better drumming. this............. Seconded Turded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacklifeson Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 IMHO, you cant accurately rate musicians like you can athletes (and even then its hard once you get to a certain level. Who's to say Ringo wasnt the best drummer in the world and he only played simply to serve the songs? Maybe he had incredible chops that none of us saw? (this of course is an example, pretty sure Ringo stinks ) I love Neil because of what he does inside of the songs. You dont hear too much of that kind of playing inside of pretty digestible music, and when there is flashy drumming its usually speed metal double bass or jazz thats esoteric. He was also one of the first rock drum gods so that helps his status. Geddy is the same way on bass, there are tons of guys technically better but when they arent doing 6 string bass solos that last 10 minutes, they are playing pretty mundane stuff. Geddy plays tricky and creative bass parts inside of rock songs. I love when people say, oh Rush songs arent hard to play, I can do that easily. Well, why dont YOU write that song or drum/bass/guitar part and stop mimicking someone that can. As they have gotten older, as all three of them have said, they are less concerned with being the best they can be on their instruments and more into crafting songs. I dont think any of them are trying to prove anything now into their 50s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush! Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 The thing is, with Neil, is that he IS definitely one of the best "rock" drummers out there. He's got the chops & rhythms to prove he's one of the best rock drummers. But outside of rock music, there's not much else he's really good at. He can play some basic jazz stuff, but it doesn't sound very good & almost comes off as trying too hard. Great drummers can play extremely complicated rhythms & fills, but also be able to just "sit in the pocket" so to speak & just lay back & groove... and also be able to play multiple styles of music. Neil is definitely great, but can he play any salsa or reggae music? That's the deal with Neil. He's definitely one of the best rock drummers out there, & is definitely a big influence on my playing. But he's not the best all-around drummer, which I think is the question being posed here, because he is not proficient in other styles of music besides rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowtothesky Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Calling anyone 'the best drummer in the world' is like saying that your Mom is the best mom in the world. It is all about your particular taste and personal relevance. Why I think Neil stands out from many other drummers is that he has developed a style of playing unlike any other rock drummer, especially in the 70's. He has influenced so many drummers today it is unreal. It is his uniqueness that makes him great. Not technical expertise, although he has loads of that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mankad89 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 All in all, I probably don't think he's the "best ever," but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is an absolute GREAT at his craft. That's good enough for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metaldad Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 QUOTE (mankad89 @ May 19 2009, 03:52 PM) All in all, I probably don't think he's the "best ever," but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is an absolute GREAT at his craft. That's good enough for me! that is all we can ask for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate1647 Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 why is it that every rush drum cover on youtube is awful. what does neil do differently that those drummers don't. look this guy pretty much nails the song. but he looks like a complete moron when he plays it compared to neil. and just listen. he's just sitting there tapping along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnRy4ks87Xg now sure neils a bit cleaner, but i mean can you just feel the energy he puts out? NO OTHER DRUMMER PLAYS LIKE THIS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I hate when people compare how good he is now to how good he was back in the day. Guys, lets face it. The guy is pushing up on 60 and the fact that he can still do what we are seeing him do today (like on the last tour) is amazing in itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadu93 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (fledgehog @ May 19 2009, 09:13 AM) He's not. most people around here just say he is because they're blind fanboys who relentlessly fellate everything that relates to Rush, or they simply haven't been exposed to better drumming. Bill Bruford OWNS Neil. I'm sure Neil would tell you himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sword and Armor Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (Thorne @ May 18 2009, 05:31 PM) QUOTE You could train pretty much anyone to play drums absurdly fast if you had enough time, whereas it takes a special person to make them talk. Speed does not equal talent. Look at Lars Ulrich. Fast? Yes. Talented? The jury is out. He's no where near the level of so many drummers, feel wise, including Neil. It's the old "1000 monkeys at 1000 typewriters" thing. Same thing with Portnoy. Neil is all about feel and has a "sixth sense" if you will. He seems to know and feel exactly what to play and where to play it. That's not taught, that just comes from within. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weakly Criminal Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mara Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (ReRushed @ May 19 2009, 08:44 AM) I don't care if he isn't the greatest drummer in the world, he's my favorite. Likewise. He can make a SONG out of 8.5 minutes of drumming. I find myself with snippets of his solos replaying in my head sometimes. And no, I'm not a drummer. Coming from the perspective of someone who can't even be called a novice (me), I find his cymbal work intriguing. Lastly, Neil himself would be the first to agree with people who say he is far from the best. He does not waste time patting himself on the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturalsciences101 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (Weakly Criminal @ May 19 2009, 08:09 PM) His fills are just the tastiest. Yea dude, I said tastiest. What? As opposed to what? A guy like the dude from Audioslave/Rage who's totally 'Vanilla'. lol....I actually heard this term spewed forth by a guitarist friend of mine who's hung around a bunch of drummers. Anybody else ever hear this slang? And, what does it mean? I'm assuming it's just a really straightforth drum style with not much excitement...a la AC/DC. But, I think that the drums in both Audioslave and AC/DC fulfill a needed role. A Peart-style drummer in both of those outfits wouldn't make much sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeOhBe Bob Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (goose @ May 18 2009, 08:01 PM) You lost me at "Dragonforce". I think he meant to say Dragonforce Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (Earthshine @ May 18 2009, 11:56 PM) Neil is great. One of my favorites. I am not familiar with the gentlemen and bands you mentioned. But here are a few clips of drummers. I feel these are some of the GREATEST ever. Gene Krupa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko&feature=related Louie Bellson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-51KQfwIJc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuaYRkuuQbU Max Roach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNpDQztqWQw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns6i4YAe11Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8Il-yRz_A...5E12FB5&index=0 Elvin Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVOd1hK0_w&feature=related Art Blakey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkjRoTh0ktU&feature=related Papa Jo Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrKShqNkcnI&feature=related Philly Joe Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIPIc3bkYoc Joe Morello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwXjgti7GyY&feature=related Billy Cobham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kucsAP4tlXY&feature=channel Terry Bozzio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJpD6n-TnY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7IM2Cpdme0&feature=related Simon Phillips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81Jr4kcZHIk Narada Michael Walden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYuZsA8VSA Tony Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPu6oJz88kw Carl Palmer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZrvES90m2c&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bma732cy0s&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9fkAGwJcM And the best for last: Buddy Rich! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X3meL51Dkg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfGd53pmiZs Enjoy! You are my hero! Post of the year here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (StuartBruce @ May 19 2009, 04:37 AM) As for the You Tube clips, I will get round to watching them next time I get a week off work. And for those of you (just one I think) who were 'lost' at Dragonforce .. shame, such a shame. Just a little ribbing, my friend! No hard feelings. Enjoy the clips. I know I will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goose Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (BeOhBe Bob @ May 19 2009, 11:35 PM) QUOTE (goose @ May 18 2009, 08:01 PM) You lost me at "Dragonforce". I think he meant to say Dragonforce Z I think you mean Dragon-BALL Z! And that's just mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InvisibleAirwaves13 Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Neil is the best for one reason. He is the crutial 3rd leg of our favorite band. Without Neil and his exceptional drumming the music of RUSH just would not be the same. It would all be different, the timing, the feelings each song evokes and not to mention the lyrics. He is simply the best fit and that is why we love him. There are better technical drummers, faster and stronger drummers but none that fit the music of RUSH like Neil. Let us all relax and enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthshine Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (goose @ May 20 2009, 12:10 AM) QUOTE (Earthshine @ May 18 2009, 11:56 PM) Neil is great. One of my favorites. I am not familiar with the gentlemen and bands you mentioned. But here are a few clips of drummers. I feel these are some of the GREATEST ever. Gene Krupa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko&feature=related Louie Bellson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-51KQfwIJc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuaYRkuuQbU Max Roach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNpDQztqWQw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns6i4YAe11Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8Il-yRz_A...5E12FB5&index=0 Elvin Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVOd1hK0_w&feature=related Art Blakey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkjRoTh0ktU&feature=related Papa Jo Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrKShqNkcnI&feature=related Philly Joe Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIPIc3bkYoc Joe Morello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwXjgti7GyY&feature=related Billy Cobham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kucsAP4tlXY&feature=channel Terry Bozzio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJpD6n-TnY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7IM2Cpdme0&feature=related Simon Phillips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81Jr4kcZHIk Narada Michael Walden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYuZsA8VSA Tony Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPu6oJz88kw Carl Palmer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZrvES90m2c&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bma732cy0s&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9fkAGwJcM And the best for last: Buddy Rich! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X3meL51Dkg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfGd53pmiZs Enjoy! You are my hero! Post of the year here! Thanks very much for your kind words!! Glad you liked them! Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeOhBe Bob Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (goose @ May 20 2009, 01:14 AM) QUOTE (BeOhBe Bob @ May 19 2009, 11:35 PM) QUOTE (goose @ May 18 2009, 08:01 PM) You lost me at "Dragonforce". I think he meant to say Dragonforce Z I think you mean Dragon-BALL Z! And that's just mean. yeah, you're right it was mean but it wasn't directed at you, goose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrHands Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 QUOTE (Earthshine @ May 20 2009, 01:14 AM) QUOTE (goose @ May 20 2009, 12:10 AM) QUOTE (Earthshine @ May 18 2009, 11:56 PM) Neil is great. One of my favorites. I am not familiar with the gentlemen and bands you mentioned. But here are a few clips of drummers. I feel these are some of the GREATEST ever. Gene Krupa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9J5Zt2Obko&feature=related Louie Bellson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-51KQfwIJc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuaYRkuuQbU Max Roach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNpDQztqWQw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns6i4YAe11Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8Il-yRz_A...5E12FB5&index=0 Elvin Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVOd1hK0_w&feature=related Art Blakey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkjRoTh0ktU&feature=related Papa Jo Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrKShqNkcnI&feature=related Philly Joe Jones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIPIc3bkYoc Joe Morello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwXjgti7GyY&feature=related Billy Cobham: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kucsAP4tlXY&feature=channel Terry Bozzio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcJpD6n-TnY&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7IM2Cpdme0&feature=related Simon Phillips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81Jr4kcZHIk Narada Michael Walden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYuZsA8VSA Tony Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPu6oJz88kw Carl Palmer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZrvES90m2c&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bma732cy0s&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9fkAGwJcM And the best for last: Buddy Rich! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X3meL51Dkg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfGd53pmiZs Enjoy! You are my hero! Post of the year here! Thanks very much for your kind words!! Glad you liked them! Thanks again! Add Gavin Harrision, Thomas Lang & Virgil Donati to the list & we're covered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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