Neil Peart: The Best Rock Drummer to Ever Do It

Nine times out of ten, whenever someone asks, 'Who’s the best rock drummer?' the answer is usually Neil Peart. But who is he? Where is he from? What songs make him so iconic? What makes Rush so special? All will be answered in this article.

Neil Peart was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on September 12th, 1952, and grew up in Port Dalhousie. During his teenage years, he floated around trying to fulfill his dream of being a full-time drummer. After traveling and trying to discover himself, he settled back home and focused fully on music. It was around this time when he found a small band trying to get off the ground, known as Rush. Neil joined in the middle of 1974, about six years after the original formation. He would eventually take over as drummer and primary lyricist. Together the band was an unstoppable force and would make itself a household name in the Progressive Rock Era. The band released 19 studio albums, and won third place in “most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band.” With these accolades, the band only grew and grew. They got to the point where Neil had enough recognition as the youngest drummer (at 30 years old) to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame. Neil’s drumming can only be explained as breathtaking as the technicality can be so complex but simple. His stamina adds another layer to the performance. The songs where Neil's drumming really shines are “Tom Sawyer,” “By-Tor and the Snow Dog,” “YYZ,” and “The Spirit of Radio.” Neil Peart died in 2020 of cancer, but his legacy as a drummer prevails.