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Neil Peart: Bio, Drum Gear, Albums & More

Source: Wikipedia

Any true rock music fan would have undoubtedly heard of Canadian rock band, Rush. The band was formed in 1968 and has been blowing their audiences away with their unique sound and unmatched performances ever since.

At the core of their music, pounding away their rhythm and grooves is the incredible drummer, Neil Peart.

Peart’s technical proficiency, creative flair, innovative approaches, and style to drumming as well as his deep and intellectual lyrics contributes majorly to Rush’s distinctive music.

Despite his passing in 2020 after a long battle with brain cancer, his contributions to the world of music will always be cemented into the hearts of many and his influence will forever inspire other musicians.

Early Life

Born on September 12, 1952 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Peart was born as the eldest of four siblings. He grew up in a humble and happy family where his dad worked as a parts manager for Dalziel Equipment, an international harvester farm machinery dealer. After moving to Port Dalhousie, he attended Gracefield School and later on moved to Lakeport Secondary School.

During his years of early adolescence, he found himself to be really interested in music and got himself a transistor radio, where he would always tune in and listen to popular music stations from Hamilton, Toronto, Welland, and Buffalo. This is around the time of the rise of rock and roll and the decline of jazz which both influenced his style of drumming.

He first got into music by taking on piano lessons which did not turn out well. He did however, have a certain fondness for drums as he would always be drumming on objects around the house with a pair of chopsticks.

His parents acknowledged this and got him some basic equipment and drum lessons with a promise to get him a kit if he stuck on to it, and at 14 years old, Peart got his first drum kit.

Peart continued his drum lessons from Don George at the Peninsula Conservatory of Music. This is around the time where he made his first ever stage performance. He then went on to perform at several other places such as the St. John's Anglican Church Hall in Port Dalhousie with his first group, The Eternal Triangle.

As Peart grew older into his teenage years, he started playing in more local bands including Mumblin’ Sumpthin’ and the Majority. With them, he would perform all across Southern Ontario such as in Mitchell, Seaforth, and Elmira in spaces such as skating rinks, high schools, and church halls.

Career

A rough start, Peart moved out to London, England at 18 years old to try and achieve his dream of being a musician. He tried playing with many bands over there but to no avail, he needed to work another job at a jewelry store to support himself. After over a year, he chose to move back to Canada and worked for his dad.

As time went on, Peart never gave up, he continued to play in bars till one day in 1974, he landed an audition with Rush, who happened to be looking for a drummer at the time for their upcoming tour. After much discussion within the band, Peart was accepted and officially joined the band on July 29, 1974. This was the beginning of a legendary history.

Over the years of the band’s career together, they managed to create their own style of progressive rock with a combination of pop, grunge, reggae, heavy metal, and art rock. Within their 4 decade run, they’ve produced 20 studio albums, and 9 live albums earning themselves a strong and loyal fan base with constant sold-out tours.

During break periods from touring with Rush, Peart and his endless curiosity would record and perform with Vertical Horizon, the Buddy Rich Band, Jeff Berlin, and the Rheostatics. In 1994, he produced and dedicated a tribute album towards Buddy Rich, the legendary drummer and big-band jazz, named “Burning for Buddy”.

Drum Gear

Throughout his career, Peart has endorsed up to four drum companies including Drum Workshop, Tama, Ludwig and Slingerland.

Drums

Peart was known for using large drum kits for his creative and technical work as well as his masterful and lengthy drum solos. With this, he was able to impress and captivate all his audiences whether they were drummers or not.

Some of his drums and equipment included:

  • Ludwig Super Classic Series Drum Kit
  • Alternate Mode malletKAT 7 KS Electronic Marimba
  • DW Custom Exotic Bog Oak Timeless Timber Shells
  • Fat Kat Kick Pedal
  • DW Custom “El Darko”
  • Slingerland in “Blackrome” Finish with “Vibra-Fibing”
  • Tama in custom Rosewood finish with “Vibra-Fibing”
  • Simmons SDS pads

Drum Snares

For the most of his career, he always stuck to his Slingerland Artist Model snare drum despite his constant changes in drum gear. Other snare drums he would use include:

  • DW 14 x 6.5 Collector’s Series Neil Peart R40 Snare Drum
  • Rogers Dynasonic, 5x14 chrome over brass

Cymbals

Peart played multiple brands of cymbals, including Roland, Wuhan, Paragon, Sabian and Zildjian:

  • Roland V-Cymbal Crash for TD-30KV Metallic Gray
  • Roland VH-13-MG V-Drum Hi-Hat
  • Wuhan 18” China
  • Paragon 22” Ride - Limited Edition Steampunk
  • Sabian 14” Paragon Hats
  • Sabian 10” Paragon Splash
  • Sabian 16” Paragon Crash
  • Sabian 18” Paragon Crash
  • Sabian 20” Paragon Crash
  • Sabian 20” Paragon Diamondback Chinese
  • Zildjian 14” A New Beat HiHats
  • Zildjian 22” A Ping Pide
  • Zildjian 13” A New Beat Hihats
  • Zildjian 8” Avedis Splash
  • Zildjian 10” A Splash
  • Zildjian 20” China Boy Low
  • Zildjian 18” A China Low
  • Zildjian 18” A Medium Crash

Drumsticks

Pear mostly played with Promark drumsticks however he also used Slingerland:

  • Promark Shira Kashi Oak 747 Neil Peart PW747W
  • Promark Neil Peart 747 R40 Drumsticks
  • Promark TX11AW Joe Morello Drumsticks
  • Slingerland Gene Krupa Signature Sticks

TV Appearances

Aside from his music videos and 10 video albums, he has also been credited as an actor in 3 movies called The Art of Drumming (2017), Adventures of Power (2008), and Rush: Time Stand Still (2016).

He was also a voice actor for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters (2007). Apart from that, he’s also made his appearances on tv-host shows including The Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live, among others.

Awards and Nominations

Peart has won and earned 34 reader’s poll awards from Modern Drummer which includes 15 “best recorded performances” of which 12 of them were almost in consecutive years. He even won the MVP award and Best Prog Drummer from them in 2013.

Other than those, hes was awarded 9 Juno awards and 7 Grammy nominations.

Neil Peart videos

Neil Peart playing Rush's "Tom Sawyer".
Neil Peart playing a Jazz tune "Cotton Tail" at the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert in 1991.
Neil Peart playing (an almost 9 minute long) drum solo in Frankfurt.
Neil Peart playing Rush's "YYZ" live in Rio.

Discography

Albums

  • 1970: Doris Troy With Doris Troy
  • 1974: Rush With Rush
  • 1975: Fly by Night With Rush
  • 1975: Caress of Steel With Rush
  • 1976: All the World's a Stage With Rush
  • 1976: 2112 With Rush
  • 1977: A Farewell to Kings With Rush
  • 1978: Hemispheres With Rush
  • 1978: Closer to the Heart [12 Inch] With Rush
  • 1978: Archives With Rush
  • 1980: Rush Through Time With Rush
  • 1980: Permanent Waves With Rush
  • 1980: La Villa Strangiato With Rush
  • 1981: Moving Pictures With Rush
  • 1981: Exit...Stage Left With Rush
  • 1982: Signals With Rush
  • 1982: Exit...Stage Left [Video] With Rush
  • 1984: Grace Under Pressure With Rush
  • 1985: Through the Camera Eye With Rush
  • 1985: Power Windows With Rush
  • 1985: Grace Under Pressure [Video] With Rush
  • 1985: Champion With Jeff Berlin
  • 1986: The Last of the True Believers With Nanci Griffith
  • 1986: Hear 'n Aid
  • 1987: The Peel Sessions EP With Culture
  • 1987: Hold Your Fire With Rush
  • 1988: Big Money With Rush
  • 1989: Presto With Rush
  • 1989: A Show of Hands With Rush
  • 1990: Three Decades of Rock: 60s 70s & 80s
  • 1990: Chronicles With Rush
  • 1990: Bittersweet With Glenn Wilson
  • 1991: Roll the Bones [Single #2] With Rush
  • 1991: Roll the Bones With Rush
  • 1991: Masters of Metal: It's Alive!
  • 1991: Black Cat Dub With Gato Negro
  • 1991: A Show of Hands [Video] With Rush
  • 1991: 70's Greatest Rock Hits, Vol. 1: Hard N' Heavy
  • 1992: Whale Music With Rheostatics
  • 1992: Roll the Bones [Single #1] With Rush
  • 1992: Moment of Truth With Terri Nunn
  • 1992: Killer Metal
  • 1992: Eighties Greatest Rock Hits: Arena Rock, Vol. 3
  • 1992: Classic Rock Box: WNEW-FM 25th Anniversary Box
  • 1992: B-Sides Ourselves With Skid Row
  • 1993: Today's Hottest Hard Rock
  • 1993: So Tough With Saint Etienne
  • 1993: Into Darkness With Winter
  • 1993: Dead Enz Kidz Doin' Lifetime Bidz With Young Black Teenagers
  • 1993: Counterparts With Rush
  • 1993: Black Ark in Dub With Lee "Scratch" Perry / Black Ark Players
  • 1993: Back Stage Pass (Live & Rockin')
  • 1994: Sunday Matinee: Best of NY Hardcore
  • 1994: Mountain Stream [Madacy #1]
  • 1994: Meetin' Tonight! With Clara Ward & the Ward Singers
  • 1994: Kerrang!: The Album
  • 1994: Hot City Nights [Alex]
  • 1994: Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich With Buddy Rich Big Band
  • 1995: ¡Cinco Años!
  • 1995: Psychotrance, Vol. 2 With Darren Emerson
  • 1995: Masters of Metal: Wreaking Havoc, Vol. 1
  • 1995: Live: The 70s
  • 1995: Hard Rock Essentials: 1980s
  • 1995: Guitar Heroes [Special Music Company]
  • 1995: 18 Headbangers from the 80's
  • 1996: Working Man: A Tribute to Rush
  • 1996: Test for Echo With Rush
  • 1996: Oh What a Feeling, Vol. 2: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music
  • 1997: World Music That Speaks to the Spirit
  • 1997: Ultimate 16: Power of Rock
  • 1997: Strikeforce, Vol. 2
  • 1997: Retrospective, Vol. 2 (1981-1987) With Rush
  • 1997: Retrospective, Vol. 1 (1974-1980) With Rush
  • 1997: Kentucky Christmas: Old and New With Jean Ritchie
  • 1997: Cocktail: Shakin' & Stirred With Jaymz Bee
  • 1997: Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich, Vol. 2 With Buddy Rich Big Band
  • 1998: Whatever [Original Soundtrack]
  • 1998: The Waterboy
  • 1998: Sunday Afternoon With Rebecca Hall
  • 1998: Small Soldiers
  • 1998: Rock the Party With Jive Bunny / Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
  • 1998: Gospels & Spirituals: The Gold Collection
  • 1998: Different Stages: Live With Rush
  • 1998: Crossroads With Jeff Berlin
  • 1998: Best of the Best: 25 Years of Rock
  • 1998: All or Nothing at All: 25 Early Hits 1939-47 With Frank Sinatra
  • 1999: XIII With Rage
  • 1999: Tribute to the Titans
  • 1999: The Warner Brothers Years & More With Bill Haley
  • 1999: Red Star: Tribute to Rush
  • 1999: Prophesies With Hermetic Science
  • 1999: Moontower With Dan Swanö
  • 1999: Commencement With Deadsy
  • 1999: Ascend With Greg Howe
  • 2000: VH1: The Big 80's Arena Rock
  • 2000: Unerotica: Reformatted Eighties Audio With Rosetta Stone
  • 2000: Second Nature With Jesse Davis
  • 2000: Into Darkness/Eternal Frost With Winter
  • 2000: First Construction With Sound Transmission
  • 2000: Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert Deluxe Set
  • 2001: With All That I Am With Carol Duboc
  • 2001: Le Concert du Siecle
  • 2001: Chronicles/Moving Pictures With Rush
  • 2001: Archives With Yngwie Malmsteen
  • 2002: Versão Acústica, Vol. 2 With Emmerson Nogueira
  • 2002: Vapor Trails With Rush
  • 2002: Rock Classics: The Heavyweights
  • 2002: On the Road: 07-06-02 Morrison, CO With The String Cheese Incident
  • 2002: On the Road: 04-04-02 Austin, TX With The String Cheese Incident
  • 2002: Family Values Tour 2001
  • 2002: Exit... Stage Right: The String Quartet Tribute to Rush With Vitamin String Quartet
  • 2002: A Work in Progress
  • 2003: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Vol. 2
  • 2003: The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 With Rush
  • 2003: Still Rezin' With Northern Cree / Northern Cree Singers
  • 2003: Songs from Wildwood Valley With Wildwood Valley Boys
  • 2003: Rush in Rio With Rush
  • 2003: Rock Heroes [Eurotrend]
  • 2003: Peace and Tranquility
  • 2003: One or Nothing With Violet Island
  • 2003: On the Road: 10-17-02 Vancouver, BC With The String Cheese Incident
  • 2003: Joe Budden With Joe Budden
  • 2003: Ilth With Purdymouth
  • 2003: Beat Avenue With Eric Andersen
  • 2004: Versão Acústica, Vols. 1-3 With Emmerson Nogueira
  • 2004: Top '80s, Vol. 2
  • 2004: On the Road: 04-25-03 Chicago, IL With The String Cheese Incident
  • 2004: Feedback With Rush
  • 2004: Chamber Maid: The Baroque Tribute to Rush
  • 2004: Billboard #1s: The '80s
  • 2005: You'll Rebel to Anything With Mindless Self Indulgence
  • 2005: Venomous Fingers With George Bellas
  • 2005: The String Quartet Tribute to Rush's 2112 With Vitamin String Quartet
  • 2005: Subdivisions: A Tribute to Rush
  • 2005: R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour [Video] With Rush
  • 2005: R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour With Rush
  • 2005: Legends of Rock [Time Life]
  • 2006: True Rock
  • 2006: The Piano Tribute to Rush With Todd Rubenstein
  • 2006: Silent Nightclub With Richard Cheese
  • 2006: Replay X 3 With Rush
  • 2006: Oh What a Feeling, Vol. 3
  • 2006: Mamonas Assassinas ao Vivo With Mamonas Assassinas
  • 2006: Greatest Rock Songs [Industrie]
  • 2006: Grace Period With Apologetix
  • 2006: Gold With Rush
  • 2006: Classic Rock Presents Prog Rock
  • 2007: The Loop With Jacob Moon
  • 2007: Snakes & Arrows With Rush
  • 2007: Rockopilatorio
  • 2007: Old Skool of Rock
  • 2007: My Perfect List: Covers
  • 2007: Music for Rocking
  • 2007: Halloween [2007 Original Soundtrack]
  • 2007: Far Cry With Rush
  • 2007: All Pro With DJ Z-Trip / Z-Trip
  • 2008: Snakes & Arrows Live With Rush
  • 2008: Second Season With Wave Mechanics Union
  • 2008: Now That's What I Call Classic Rock
  • 2008: Christmas Jukebox
  • 2009: Working Men With Rush
  • 2009: Rock Heroes, Vol. 2: Metal Edition
  • 2009: Retrospective, Vol. 3 With Rush
  • 2009: I Love You, Man With Theodore Shapiro
  • 2009: Grace Under Pressure: 1984 Tour With Rush
  • 2009: Burning the Days With Vertical Horizon
  • 2009: Buddy Rich Memorial Concert 2008
  • 2009: Atlantic Records: The Time Capsule
  • 2009: 3 With Susanna and the Magical Orchestra
  • 2009: 20th Century Masters Collection: The Best of Canada
  • 2010: Wondrous Stories: A Complete Introduction to Progressive Rock
  • 2010: Total Drivetime
  • 2010: The Rounder Records Story
  • 2010: SCORE: A Hockey Musical [Original Soundtrack]
  • 2010: Rock Anthems [Universal 2010]
  • 2010: New World Man: A Tribute to Rush
  • 2010: Icon With Rush
  • 2010: Caravan/BU2B With Rush
  • 2010: 2112/Moving Pictures With Rush
  • 2011: Unto the Locust With Machine Head
  • 2011: Time Machine: Live in Cleveland 2011 With Rush
  • 2011: Sector 3 With Rush
  • 2011: Sector 2 With Rush
  • 2011: Sector 1 With Rush
  • 2011: Moving Pictures: Live 2011 With Rush
  • 2011: Icon 2 With Rush
  • 2011: Greatest Ever! Rock Anthems
  • 2011: Gods of Guitar [Universal]
  • 2011: Dominion With Benedictum
  • 2011: David Suzuki's Playlist for the Planet
  • 2012: The Great Canadian Two Four
  • 2012: Plays the Music of Rush With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 2012: Icons of Rock
  • 2012: Clockwork Angels With Rush
  • 2012: A Spoonful of Time With Nektar
  • 2012: 5 Classic Albums With Rush
  • 2013: XXX: Three Decades of Roadrunner Records
  • 2013: Vapor Trails Remixed With Rush
  • 2013: The Studio Albums 1989-2007 With Rush
  • 2013: The Lords of Salem [Original Soundtrack] With Griffin Boice / John 5
  • 2013: Heart of the Piano With Geoffrey Keezer
  • 2013: Echoes from the Underground With Vertical Horizon
  • 2013: Clockwork Angels Tour With Rush
  • 2013: 100 Hits: Driving Rock [2013]
  • 2014: Spirit of the Airwaves With Rush
  • 2014: Prog Rocks! Vol. 3
  • 2014: Latest & Greatest Driving Rock Anthems
  • 2014: Icon: Best of Canada - The 1980's
  • 2015: The Lady Gone Electric With Rush
  • 2015: R40 Live With Rush
  • 2015: Plays Prog Rock Classics With Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 2016: Under the Covers With Ninja Sex Party
  • 2016: The Complete Agora With Rush
  • 2016: Proponent for Sentience With Allegaeon
  • 2016: Passaic 1976 With Rush
  • 2016: 2112 40 Years Closer: A Q&A with Alex Lifeson and Terry Brown Commentary With Rush
  • 2017: Under the Covers, Vol. 2 With Ninja Sex Party
  • 2017: Pinkpop 1979 With Rush
  • 2017: Canada 150: A Celebration of Music - Icon
  • 2018: The Broadcast Archives With Rush
  • 2019: Under the Covers, Vol. 3 With Ninja Sex Party
  • 2020: The Little Box of Rush With Rush
  • 2022: Jacob's Ladder With Brad Mehldau

Frequently asked questions

At what age did Neil Peart start playing the drums?

Neil Peart started playing the drums in 1966 at the age of 14.

When did Neil Peart pass away?

Neil Peart died on 7 January 2020 at the age of 67.

How long did Neil Peart play the drums for?

Neil Peart played the drums for 53 years.

Which drum brands did Neil Peart use?

Throughout his career Neil Peart has used Zildjian, Ludwig, DW, Rogers, Fat, Roland, Slingerland, Tama, Simmons, Wuhan, Paragon, Sabian, Promark and Remo.

What genres is Neil Peart known for?

He is known for playing Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Jazz and Swing.

How many recordings has Neil Peart been featured on?

Counting all his Albums, Neil Peart has been featured on at least 223 recordings.

References chevron down

  1. Neil Peart, Rush
  2. Neil Peart Biography, Andrewloson
  3. Neil Peart, Wikipedia
  4. Neil Peart, Equipboard
  5. Neil Peart List of Movies and TV Shows, TVGuide
  6. Neil Peart, IMDb
  7. Neil Peart, TheMovieDB
  8. Neil Peart Industry Awards, AndrewOlson
  9. Neil Peart, Grammy
  10. Neil Peart / Credits, AllMusic
  11. Neil Peart Albums and Discography, AllMusic
  12. Neil Peart albums and discography, LastFM
  13. Music Credits for Neil Peart, RateYourMusic

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