Neil Peart on Music and Writing Pt 2

SKF NOTE: When I posted the first part of this interview I had forgotten this interview was the basis for Neil Peart’s April 1984 Modern Drummer cover story. I thank those listeners who refreshed my memory.

This is the other side of the cassette used to tape this interview. Much more of the conversation here, unlike Part 1, is about drums and drumming. But our discussion also includes writers and writing.

The conversation on both sides of this cassette starts mid-sentence. “Adam,” who I mention at the start of this interview, is the name of the drummer who won one of Neil’s drumset giveaways.

My question to Neil concerned some drummers’ belief that drum gear makes the drummer. That is, owning Neil’s drumset meant Adam should sound like Neil Peart.

In 1983 or 1984, pre-digital media, these tapes served only as the basis for the written interview. During interviews, the click of the tape ending was my cue to turn over the tape and start recording on the other side, or to start recording with a new tape.

Sometimes I wouldn’t hear the click. Sometimes there was no click. But, I never wanted to stop the conversation while changing tapes. Normally, within a day or two of an interview, I would transcribe the tapes; my memory of the conversation fresh enough to fill in a few seconds of blank tape.

Again, this 45-minutes conversation with Neil Peart is one of my favorites. It is a conversation with two guys who love music, drumming, and writing.

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Kenny Clarke Raised the Bar for Drummers

SKF NOTE: Kenny Clarke is a drummer I read about before I heard him play. Clarke is a founding father of Bebop, credited with moving timekeeping off the hi-hat and over to the ride cymbal. He did so, according to one account, because crossing his right arm over his left to play the hi-hat was awkward, and limited Clarke’s left-hand movement.

Clarke is also credited as a pioneer in expanding use of the bass drum. Not satisfied playing steady 1-2-3-4 timekeeping on his bass drum, he started playing bass drum accents.

I first heard Clarke play on trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie’s 1946 big band recording of “Things to Come.” The skill necessary to play that tune was daunting and depressing. After listening to “Things” the first time I remember asking myself, “How are you ever going to be as good as that drummer?”

Hearing Clarke on a live ESP album with the Bud Powell Trio was equally impressive. Again, Clarke’s brush and stick work, his skill in the piano trio setting, raised the bar on my drumming.

Then, moving into the YouTube era, so many great videos of Clarke drumming are available. They are wonderful to watch. Seeing and hearing Clarke play is much different than only hearing him play.

Finding Clarke’s obituary yesterday in an old Down Beat magazine brought all these memories to mind. What a great drumming legacy.

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Neil Peart on Music and Writing Pt. 1

SKF NOTE: This 30-plus minute conversation with Neil Peart is one of my favorites. It is a conversation with two guys who love music, drumming, and writing. Neil talks about his goal to transition to professional writer from drummer/lyricist, once he experiences “diminishing returns” on improving as a drummer.

I’m afraid I had forgotten where this interview took place and in which issue of Modern Drummer magazine it appeared. Since I originally posted this I was reminded this interview is the source for Neil’s April 1984 MD cover story.

And re-reading that interview online here, I discovered in my own words, “this interview…was done [in a room backstage] on the last day of Rush’s five-concert series at Radio City Music Hall.”

Finally, Neil sent me the photo used here of he and his daughter. Neil is so happy in this pic. I attributed Neil’s happiness to his triumph in reaching his goal of becoming a pro writer, while focusing less on his former role as “Rush’s drummer/lyricist.” Because Neil published this photo elsewhere, I am comfortable using it here.

NOTE: There are some glitches in this sound file. The original sources were cheap cassette tapes. Digitizing these tapes exposed low-volume and loss of some data. So there are perhaps eight spots where the sound is missing. I shortened the “dead air” spots, but left them in place so listeners will know what they are.

I think Neil’s writing fans will especially enjoy hearing him here. This is the Neil I remember. A bright, curious guy with no airs about him, enjoying our conversation.

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Joe Morello – ‘Brother Jack’

SKF NOTE: From Joe Morello’s “Sextet And Big Band“ album released in 1989. Known primarily for his small band drumming, especially with The Dave Brubeck Quartet, this track presents a driving, swinging, big band drumming Joe Morello. Enjoy.

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Max Roach on Hollywood Drums?

SKF NOTE: My earlier post focusing on Max Roach playing Meazzi Hollywood Tronicdrums prompted one reader to ask if Max Roach had ever made albums using Hollywood drums.

The friend who gave me Max’s “For Big Sid” from the 1977 “Solos” album on Bayside Records tells me these are Hollywood drums. I have no reason to not believe my friend. He’s quite smart and knows a lot about drums and drumming.

That said, I have no other verification on the make of drums Roach used to record his “Solos” album.

At any rate, the “Solos” drums sound great. It’s interesting to compare the 1977 “For Big Sid” with the original 1966 Gretsch drum version on Max’s “The Drum Also Waltzes” album on Atlantic Records.

“For Big Sid” 1966
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