The late legendary Rush drummer and main lyricist, Neil Peart, was a fundamental part of the band, widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time and renowned for the incredible and complex lyrics he wrote. He was an inspiration to countless musicians over the decades, but like everyone else, he was influenced by other artists as he developed as a drummer. He even once mentioned four Progressive Rock drummers who were particularly important to him.
The 4 Progressive Rock drummers that Neil Peart said were important for him
Phil Collins (Genesis)
Neil Peart told Rhythm Magazine in 1987 that these drummers “set such a high standard of technical ability but with the excitement that rock drumming has.” He mentioned the legendary Genesis drummer and singer as an important musician for him.
When Phil Collins joined Genesis in 1974, Neil Peart was still an aspiring musician and would join Rush only a few years later. Just like Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Peart was also heavily influenced by the British Prog Rock groups, including Genesis.
In an interview with Rhythm magazine in 2011, Peart praised Phil, saying he was still part of his drumming and was an essential influence to him. Phil Collins was an enormous influence on my drumming in the ’70s. Thus remains a part of my playing even today. His recorded drum parts with Genesis and Brand X in those years were technically accomplished, yet so musical – even lyrical. (Also) his rhythmic patterns were woven into the intricacy of the music. While lending a smooth, fluid pulse to the songs and extended instrumentals.”
Neil Peart continued:
“His fills were imaginative and exciting, alive with energy and variety. While the refined technique was always in the service of the music. Even within those fills, Phil applied a jazz drummer’s sense of dynamics. Which also guided his ensemble playing, and inspired me to try to incorporate that sensibility into my own triple-f approach.”
“Plus, his drums sounded so good. Good-sounding drums are always the result of a good-sounding drummer, and speak of the player’s touch. Phil’s combination of that quality and the natural drive of his playing produced truly melodic-sounding drum parts. Flowing and musical. One outstanding piece of work that reflected all of those qualities was the Genesis album ‘Selling England By The Pound’, from ’73,” Neil Peart said.
Peart curiously had the chance to watch Genesis play live in 1974 and had other amusing encounters with Collins. He saw Collins in a bookstore in England (before he was famous with Rush) and a second time when they were eating at the same restaurant. However, Peart didn’t approach Phil on either occasion, and they only nodded to each other at the restaurant.
Michael Giles (King Crimson)
The British drummer Michael Giles, best known for his work with King Crimson, was also mentioned by Peart. The Canadian musician admired him a lot and even said back in the 80s that Giles was one of his favorite drummers. In an interview with Dream Theater’s drummer Mike Portnoy for Rhythm magazine in 2007, Peart was asked if Giles influenced him. His answer was: “Oh, big time. Not only the early King Crimson but MacDonald and Giles too. It is everything I wanted.”
“It was both disciplined and exciting. He was so fired up by what he was doing. But it was contained within a structure. His fill construction and sense of ensemble playing and orchestrating a part was unparalleled and very underrated,” Neil Peart said.
Giles was part of King Crimson’s two first albums “In the Court of the Crimson King” (1969), “In the Wake of Poseidon” (1970), leaving the band in 1969. After that he recorded with the duo formed with Ian McDonald and artists like Luther Grosvenor, Murray Head, Jackson Heights and Leo Sayer.
Bill Bruford (Yes and more)
Another British drummer praised by Peart was Bill Bruford, known for working with Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and more. Talking with Modern Drummer in 1987, he praised Bruford, calling him one of his favorite musicians.
“Bill Bruford is one of my favorite drummers. I admire him for a whole variety of reasons. I like the stuff he plays, and the way he plays it. (Also) I like the music he plays within all the bands he’s been in,” Neil Peart said.
Peart invited Bruford to be part of the Buddy Rich tribute album, produced by him, called “Burning For Buddy” (1994). Bill played in the track “Lingo”
At the time Neil said, in a TV interview (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) that Bruford was “a guy that was high on my list of the ‘dream team’. He was able to do it and came in, did a superb job in this particular one. It was a piece that he had arranged for big bands specifically for this project.”
Carl Palmer (ELP and Asia)
Another drummer mentioned by Peart was the influential Carl Palmer, who is best known for being a member of the supergroups Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Asia. They had the chance to meet each other only once as Palmer recalled in an interview with Billboard in 2020. “I only met Neil once, in Montreal, at a Rush concert. It was a brief encounter, no more than that. We talked about snare drums. I remember he was a shy man. But a very nice guy.”
“He helped move the boundaries in progressive rock music. That is for sure. As far as his playing, I would not say he was the most original player but he was always searching. That’s what made him interesting. He had very good ideas overall and I commend him on that. Neil always played well, and that’s the most important thing. He looked like, and sounded like, he was trying all the time. And that’s why he was a great drummer, because 95% of the time he pulled it off!”
He also revealed that Peart invited him to be part of the Buddy Rich tribute album the Rush member made in the 90s. However, Palmer was too busy at the time and was not able to be part of that record.