Neil Peart is?

a drummer with divided opinions here on PA. This should be interesting...

I don't know if he is the greatest drummer of all time, but he is on top of my list anyway. So I play safe and vote for option #2.

^because you're still a newbie,
keep on posting and tell us what you think, which is more interesting (we hope ) then just your vote.

about Neil, incredibly good, in my top five

Downright boring. His technical abilities are fine, but they are no better or worse than those of dozens of other drummers. He lacks imagination and spontaneity though. Anyone who plays the same solo for years can't be called anything but downright boring. The most important characteristics of a good drummer are spontaneity and imagination, and Mr. peart is lacking there. A drummer must be able to do the unexpected; every good drummer does that. Just look at what jazz drummers do all thd time! As I said, I respect ghis technical abilities, but thats all.
What he is incredibly good at is PA though. he has successfully created an image of himself  as the überdrummer, and that is where his reputation stems from. Again, I do not doubt his technical abilities at  all, but many other drummers have the same abilitiues; just listen to them play.

I voted OK, since I barely know what he has done, I know that he was the Drummer and Songwriter for Rush, but since I've only heard 3 albums by them (Moving Pictures, Hemispheres and 2112) and I only like 1. So I can't really give a fair vote, 

By no means the best in the world, but I have to say he's in my top 5.
That's MY top 5 not THE top 5 just for clarification. He makes my list because;

1 - He's Canadian
2 - He 33.333% responsible for the sound of RUSH
3 - He writes lyrics
4 - He has survived extreme personal tragedy

Bonnek wrote: mahavishnujoel wrote: Bonnek wrote: ^because you're still a newbie, keep on posting and tell us what you think, which is more interesting (we hope ) then just your vote. about Neil, incredibly good, in my top five but i have voted before... or is this a new rule!???? by the way i was gonna vote for Neil being in my top 5 because he was the reason why i first listened to rush and I am a guitar player!!! thats how much i like his playing!! Yes it's a new rule, something to do with a poll fraud I believe, anyway, serious business

Good drummer but don't put writing implements in his mitts (just drum sticks)

a good drummer.

I guess that I am a newbie as well so here goes.

Neil Peart is a very good drummer in my top five. He is the main reason that I got turned onto prog rock when I heard 2112 way back on my 16th birthday. I found his drumming unique, interesting and an integral part of the music. The last point is what I still find interesting about his playing. His drum parts are more than a rhythm section, they are an instrument on their own. I listen to Rush's songs and, as much as I listen to Lifeson's guitar, I anticipate Neil's drums as part of the actual melody of the song and not just a beat. Probably not explaining myself well but I am sure that his fans know what I mean.