Posted: Thu May 20, 2004 9:05 pm
I bought Images and Words 8 months ago... and I still can't get into it. They are good musicians, but I don't really like the music. 

how des one outgrow the second greatest drummer of all time ( first being buddy of course...)ElfDude wrote:, "Oh. I really used to be into him but I think I've outgrown him."
Yeah...
i've only heard a small section of his work, not much at all, and i'd liek to beleive you , but get neil to say that and i willElfDude wrote:Neil could play rings around Buddy.
Mike Portnoy is DT's drummers name. he said that "outgrown him" quote because: Mike REEEEELY likes rush's material but after the signals album he thinks that they lost their touch. the only post signals album he'll listen to is Counterparts.ElfDude wrote:I see on YesWorld.com that DT is going to be the opening act at a few Yes shows this fall. I guess if Yes has to have a warm up band (I prefer it when they don't) then DT is a good choice.
A friend of mine once had the job of driving DT's drummer to the airport after a concert. He was asking him about his favorite drummers. Bill Bruford was one of them, but he didn't mention Neil. My friend finally asked if he liked Neil Peart. The guy responded soemthing like, "Oh. I really used to be into him but I think I've outgrown him."
Yeah...
...which is a good thing, because their approaches are drastically different. Neil has a very solid, very structured approach to drumming, very much like a classical musician. Buddy was far looser, though he could be astoundingly precise when he needed to be. Buddy really embodied jazz musicianship--extremely high mastery of his instrument with a solid penchant for playing in the moment, making every song and every performance a new creation, rather than a re-creation (I love the way Wynton Marsalis talks about this distinction). One of the most interesting tributes I ever read to Buddy was Neil's liner notes on Burning for Buddy (a pair of tribute albums he produced), in which he writes, "We all know that no one can fill Buddy's shoes--but we can sure have fun trying!" Another great tribute to Buddy came from Dennis Chambers, who said, "The things that Buddy forgot about drumming, we'll never know." Neil also quotes Jim Chapin, one of the greatest drum set teachers ever, "Who will fill his shoes? No one can, but if we just heed his example and fill our own shoes, maybe we will work wonders." Most professional drummers I know would take Buddy over Neil...which is absolutely no insult to Neil. It would be like saying, "I'd rather have Sandy Koufax than Roger Clemens." As a drummer, I'm wowed by Neil, but floored by Buddy. I wish I'd been able to see him when he was alive.ElfDude wrote:Neil is much too polite and modest to call himself a better drummer than someone like Buddy Rich.