Drummers Who Compose | Part 3 Of 4

This show dates back from June 29, 2012, it was part of LA Music Academy's 3rd Drummer Reality Camp. The loss of Neil Peart is devastating on two levels. First, of course, to the entire drumming community. As Jimmy Chamberlin recently commented, “A piece of Neil lives in nearly every contemporary drum part in rock— whether people realize it or not.”

Secondly, on a personal level. Before every tour Neil would block out a Drum Channel studio for a full month to practice before Rush rehearsals even started. One big lesson I definitely learned from Neil is always be prepared.

While he was at DC we would have lunch every day in my office and he would always want to know what other drummers might be coming in to visit or record. It was always amazing to me that he was just as excited to meet his drumming idols as they were to meet him.

There are so many great memories. I once bought a light at Restoration Hardware because I thought the wing screw design would be perfect for the Time Machine set— and Neil agreed.

When he liked something he would just light up. If he thought something was not quite right, he would never say he didn’t like it. He would just say, “Let’s try something different.”

Neil cared greatly about education for drummers and the importance of having a good private teacher. He almost quit drumming at one point but his teacher encouraged him to keep going.

There is a lot that we can learn from Neil as a person and a drummer. We will do our best to continue our mission... as he wanted it.

— Don Lombardi

Doane opens by asking Neil if his writing dictates his drumming. Neil discusses how he plays his drum parts as musical phrases and how his learning experience with teachers in recent years has completely changed his approach. Doane discusses how to compose and the importance of every drummer to reach out and try even in the simplest form. Neil also talks about how he approaches a song after it has been given to him with a click track or a drum machine.

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