2/20: Drum Solo, Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, 1978

A solo performed by a drumming genius with lots of energy and plenty to prove.

This drum solo is definitely one of Neil’s most energetic. Recorded on this day in 1978, only a few years into Peart’s tenure with the band, it’s exactly the kind of look-at-me musicianship you’d expect out of a young genius with plenty to prove.

The first minute is one long fill; a fill is the rhythmic balls-to-the-wall chaos that “fills” empty space in a measure, especially in the last four to sixteen beats of a song. Here, it’s stretched into an impossibly long sixty seconds, before the actual rhythm of the solo coalesces. It’s perfectly controlled insanity. I’m in awe.

But even once the general rhythm starts, he doesn’t slow down. In fact, Neil’s feet are going so fast on the kickdrums that it’s hard to make out the individual hits—in the whole two minute mark, the only beats I can make out are the ones on the cowbell. Yet it’s not a hot mess. The beats are there; they’re distinct. They’re just too fast to actually hear. The technicality is astonishing.

Worth noting too is that, judging by the fact that Geddy shouts at the end of the recording, “Thank you everybody, good night!” this was in fact the final song in the set (not counting the encore). Meaning Neil had played an entire show prior to drumming this solo.

So this is him at his most exhausted.

Is there any wonder why I and so many others believe Neil Peart is the greatest drummer who ever lived? This solo is proof.