Early in sixth grade, a friend asked me on a weekly, then almost daily, basis, "Have you heard Rush's drummer?" He kept asking this until I confirmed, "Yes, I've heard Neil Peart play drums on Rush's albums. I see why you're a fan."
And, I did see why he was such an admirer of Peart's drumming. A band such as Rush, that isn't especially subtle and features the grandiose vocals of Geddy Lee, requires a drummer who isn't just a passive timekeeper. I remember thinking that the first time I heard "New World Man." When I think of the band's standout, "Tom Sawyer," Peart's drumming is key to the tune's epic feel. It's also readily apparent on "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Entre Nous," which, in my opinion, is the best song Rush ever recorded. Peart passed away recently, but the heart and personality he put into his drumming live on--deservedly.
