By all accounts, he gained a whole new appreciation for his own work with Rush in his last days. And given that he got his cancer diagnosis just six months after Rush's last show, one has to wonder how much of a factor the yet-undiagnosed cancer played into that last tour in terms of how Neil felt and even the thoughts he expressed in his final book and interviews. But I don't think a talent such as Neil's is content to "retire", absent other factors. Certainly, they'd have taken a break, and writing/touring would likely not have taken the same shape as it did before. Stephen King once said, "when you've just finished a pie-eating contest, the last thing you want to be offered is another slide of pie." 2015 marked the end of one of the busiest periods of Rush's career. He was irreplaceable.Ĭlick to expand.Meh. It made sense for Zep to quit all those years ago, following JH Bonham's passing. Technically brilliant, monster groover and although I have seen Peart play with Rush many times, Harrison impressed me like no other drummer I have seen, at a Porcupine Tree gig several years ago.Īlthough I am a big Led Zep fan and was super excited about their decision to reform in 2007 for what became the 'Celebration Day' dvd, I felt that as terrific a drummer as Jason Bonham is, that he got nowhere close to the groove of his Dad and in fairness, I never expected him to. I belief the remaining members have said that Rush are done and if they record or play together again, it will be under a new name. There is also the chemistry between the members of Rush that developed over decades of playing together. His writing style was as unique as his drumming. Not only an incredible drummer, but also he was the lyricist in the group. Neil Peart famously wrote the bulk of Rush’s lyrics, and his passing in 2020 after a battle with brain cancer not only put and end to the band, but shook the drumming world to its core.Īs with so many drummers on this list, we may not be able to experience new music from Neil Peart, but the man you’ve selected as the Greatest of All Time has given us an entire legacy to enjoy forever.There is No replacing Neil Peart in the context of Rush. Rush’s impact in the 70s was infectious, with the band’s beginnings set more in the ‘classic rock’ style leading thousands of teenagers straight to the nearest drum kit in order to try and bang-out Peart’s beats and fills.Īs the band progressed, so did the music’s sophistication, but the riffy, classic rock side of what drew fans to their music in the first place was never too far away.
He played a kit the size of a spaceship, and he played it like he came from another planet, incorporating not only a large amount of acoustic drums, but electronics, orchestral and tuned percussion, all of which served a purpose rather than being there as part of the show. Consider the reasoning and it’s clear to see why you have voted the Rush drummer as the definitive GOAT.Įverything about Peart’s drumming broke new ground, from the carefully orchestrated arrangements of Rush’s progressive peak to the mindblowing technical ability displayed throughout his career.
There’s never been a band quite like Rush, and there’s certainly never been a drummer quite like Neil Peart.
Ginger spoke his mind right until the end, and while he claimed to hate interviews, 2012’s Beware of Mr Baker gives fascinating insight into one of the instrument’s pioneers, whose legacy will keep his name alive for decades to come.
Post-Cream, Baker continued working with Clapton briefly in Blind Faith, collaborated heavily with Afro Beat artist Fela Kuti, as well as notching up - sorry Ginger - a large number of credits in the rock world with PiL, Hawkwind, Masters of Reality and more. His double bass drums, his groundbreaking drum solo with Toad, yet he viewed ‘Rock’ and its associated drummers with contempt to the end, identifying closely instead with his early heroes such as, Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. Ginger helped invent the genre, popularising - if not giving it - many ‘firsts’. He was a pioneer in the truest sense of the word, incorporating his jazz backround into the birth of British rock, but woe betide anyone who dared ‘tarnish’ him with the Rock brush. As we approach the top of your rankings, there’s a theme emerging: many great drummers also had the personalities to match, and Ginger Baker was no exception.
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