. . . in the freedom of music
But glittering prizes and endless compromises
Shatter the illusion of integrity


Recorded in 1980, and as applicable as ever. One of the reasons I love this band.

For the words of the prophets were written on the studio wall,
Concert Hall,
And echo with the sounds of salesmen.

But you started at the end of the song...

Neal Peart - best drummer ever or what!?

i think so, but most rush fans do.

of course, REAL drummers know a lot of the more obscure drummers, and seem to dig some of them more. i don't know if it's because they really think they're better drummers than peart and the likes of bonham or if they just like knowing more than us nondrummers. since we don't know the obscure guys, we can't argue.

what do you think, beat?

Lenny White.

oh, yeah, and i started at the end of the song because those are possibly my favorite song lyrics. they describe why i hate most mainstream crap that's thrown in your face by MTV and pop culture.

Love Rush's music and lyrics....unfortunately, I can't take the voice. It's just too much for me. I feel the same way about Dave Matthews Band.

BTW...the best drummer ever is Keith Moon. Thought you guys should know.

lukin - step away from the crack pipe. We're here to help you!

Peart has more drums in his set than anyone ever, and he can play every damn one of them at the speed of... well... really fast!

I like Bonzo's style too. I just think Peart is fancy.

Oh... one last threadjack here, while we're on the drummer subject.

Lars Ulrich from Metallica doesn't suck!!!

Bonzo is right up there....but Moon is outta control....Peart doesn't crack the top ten 🙂

I wouldn't trust Lars with my eighth grade marching band.

I hollered "LOOK OUT LUKIN!"... but it was too late... he'd already been lobotomized!

hehehehe 🙂

Another Rush fan here. The drums on 2112's Overture brings chills to my spine.

And then there's the lyric I mummble under my breath now and again at work when I try to interject some new thinking only to get shooed away: "Forget about your silly whim. It doesn’t fit the plan"

IMNSO Peart is the 2nd greatest Rock and Roll drummer of all time and I'm also a Rush fan. Moon is probably 3rd and Ginger Baker is 4th, at least for their time.

It is Bonzo who holds the prize. If you don't believe me, you havent seen the Zeppelin DVD. Don't even talk to me until you've seen the entire thing. O.K., you can start with Moby ******.

You're right, those Dumb A$$ Drummers (I'm looking North of here) love to envoke their obscure drummers. I think it's fair to try to remain in the realm of pop music, myself. My favorite bass player, for instance is John Paul Jones. I also really like Oteil Burbridge, the lastest Allman Brothers BP.

I do admire Beat for his passion for his craft, though.

You always hear "so and so is THE BEST (place instrument here)" But it really is all subjective. Im sure every drummer that any of you submit as the "BEST" are masters of their craft and have something to give musically if not inovators and trend setters. (except for Peter Criss...he was NOT a great drummer Damn KISS freaks!) Case in point. I can not deny that Neil Peart is an extremely talented drummer, but I prefer John Bonhams style. These two would be classified as "rock and roll" drummers. And Peart would be in the subset of "progressive rock". There are many rock drummers who have been an influence..

Bonham
Cozy Powell
Ian Paiste
Nikko McBrain
Ted McKenna
Mitch Mitchell
Tim Alexander
Bill Ward to name a few.

But there are also drummers form other genres that were influential to me...

Tony Willimas
Terry Bozzio
Jack DeJohnette
Gene Krupa
Buddy Rich
Steve Gadd
Steve Smith

All of these guys are pretty damn amazing in their own right. To say who is the best ever? Who really freakin knows its all a matter of what you prefer.

BUT..With that being said, if I had to pick the one guy, it would be a man that absolutley blew my mind and brought me to actual tears to see him play. Who floated me off this earth to place that I cannot describe (I had the very good fortune to see him before he passed at a very young age) it would be....








Tony Williams

Did I really type Tony Willmas???

Somebody shoot me.

Ok if were talkin rock drummers....there is no doubt who reins supreme. The THUNDER that was Led Zeppelin THE HAMMER OF THE GODS....


JOHN HENRY BONHAM......




By the way. Peart is pretty far down my list. MAYBE ton 15. Technically amzing but Aesthetically boring. HE AINT GOT NO BAWLS!!!

I think Bonzo's Montreau off of the CODA album is better than Moby ******. No doubt in my mind that Bonzo and Peart will go 1-2 (in either order) on most peoples lists. Like Tim said, it's a matter of opinion.

BTW Tim - Good call on Nikko Mcbrain. Ya gotta love Maiden.

I just had to bust in on this thread. I'm a huge music fan and when asked the questions like who was the best guitarist, or bass player, or drummer, our answers usually directly reflect our unique or individual taste in music. I can honeslty say from a straight rock standpoint, objectively speaking, Jimmy Fox of 'The James Gang" and Keith Moon of "The Who" could be considered the best of the pure rock drummers.

I think Neil Peart is fantastic, but he is more classicly trained. His music is far more difficult to play and I would put him in a diferent class. Unmistakably one of the best drummers ever recorded.

Also, Manu Katché. Session drummer who recorded and toured with Sting and Peter Gabriel among others. Very gifted.

Great thing, music.

Terry Bozio has got to be up there

How about this:

Bonham: best drummer.
Peart: best percussionist.

I would agree.