AVH Vs. Neil Peart

**RevolutionMan** · 12.11.02, 05:57 AM

you asked for it!
im a HUGE rush fan as well as van halen. and some may say they are in a different league.

but i really feel it is their own styles that set them apart from the rest of the drumming field.

what do you think? neil to me, is obviously the man. but alex kicks all ass as well.

**Sean** · 12.11.02, 06:02 AM

I hate to say anything bad about a member of Van Halen but, to me, there is simply no comparison between the two. Peart is hands down the best drummer in the business. I saw Rush during the Roll the Bones tour and damned if that wasn't the best drum solo I've ever heard...and that's not saying anything about what he does within the confines of a song. Alex is good at what he does in Van Halen and I frankly couldn't imagine someone else on the skins but I don't think there's a doubt who the better drummer is.

**jrk5150** · 12.11.02, 06:32 AM

I just saw Rush in Boston on their last US tour date November 10. Neil is awesome. However, it was remarkable how similar parts of his drum solo were to Alex's drum solo on the Balance tour. Very similar in parts. Don't know who was first, but...

Neil is far more precise, and he's quick as hell.

**el_jalepeno** · 12.11.02, 06:38 AM

Peart [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

**sampson simpson** · 12.11.02, 06:43 AM

Peart with 1 arm is better then AVH

**AVH Blues** · 12.11.02, 06:50 AM

I bet Alex would be working at In and Out Burger if his brother wasn't Eddie. Neil is not someone that could be replaced, Alex could and if he pisses of Edward he very may will be. He best be careful not to aquire LDD.

**Grover** · 12.11.02, 06:54 AM

Different styles, different drummers.

Hard to imagine anyone else taking either one's place.

Neil a perfect timekeeper. Alex has swing. You chose which style you want.

It's like comparing steak and hamburger. Both from the same animal. Both taste great when prepared properly. But a burger won't deliver when you want a steak. And a steak is too much when you are craving a perfect burger.

P1 · 12.11.02, 07:02 AM

OK, the thing with this debate is that it's completely subjective (as with most debates). I'm a drummer and I enjoy the playing of everyone from Neil Peart and Buddy Rich to Phil Rudd and Ringo Starr. Complex does not necessarily mean better. The most basic purpose of the drummer is to keep the beat. Anything you do beyond that is icing on the cake. Believe it or not, there are alot of people (esspecially drummers) who don't like Peart's playing because it's too busy. IMO, he is perfect for Rush and AVH is perfect for Van Halen - neither would fit in the other's band. But saying Alex isn't Neil's league is ridiculous. Both of them are amazing drummers and are light years beyond 90% of the drummers out there.
So I say [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] to both of them.

**John Ashcroft** · 12.11.02, 07:25 AM

I've replied to this particular subject in the "What went down between VH and Rush" topic. So here it go again...

Making the analogy of Neil to Alex is like Yngwie to Eddie is just plain absurd! Yngwie is no where near the same league as Eddie for one. Alex is moderately close to Neil, but come on! It's not a matter of taste. Neil can bash better than Bonham, and play technically better than Copeland. He can do it all...excellently, always with superior regard for the song at hand. Alex is good, even great... but in the same league as Neil Peart, come on! (I say this even if he is a Canukle-head)

Also, to imply that Neil Peart doesn't "swing" is simply ludicrous. Check out YYZ. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

**Pabs** · 12.11.02, 07:35 AM

Not a big Rush fan. So I usually turn it off when they come on. But I have listened to them. Peart is good, but you just can't compare it to AVH because Rush and VH are just too different. I personally can't see Peart in Van Halen, and I don't care enough about Rush to imagine AVH there. So I guess because I don't like Rush, and I love VH, my vote is for AVH.

**cyberfiddl** · 12.11.02, 07:39 AM

Kinda off subject (but hey, I'm good with it):
Keith Moon is the only over-playing drummer I ever liked. It just worked with The Who.
Neil vs. Alex? Apples and oranges. Both very good but very different.
IMHO, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr were irreplaceable. Not your great technicians, but just played the damn song!

**PAL** · 12.11.02, 07:52 AM

What do you drummers think of Phil Collins?? How does he compare in the rate the best drummer thing we've got going here!!!!

Later,
PAL

**AVH Blues** · 12.11.02, 07:52 AM

Agree about The Who... though others may feel different, I think they had the most talented bass, drums and songwriter that ever got together. Not to mention two great voices. The Who was as close to the perfect band as anyone as come and should be the stick that all other bands are measured.

**valdez44** · 12.11.02, 08:16 AM

I agree with others have said that both "fit" well in their respective bands, and wouldn't really fit in the other. This argument is mostly subjective. Both are great drummers, however, I hate to say it, but in VH I think Alex could be more easily replaced Than Peart could in Rush. Again, I said this in another thread....but in order to see the difference you have to see Rush live. I thought I had see a lot of amazing drummers in my short life time...until I saw Rush live, and after watching Neil solo....this removed all doubt for me who the best drummer is...Neil, hands down!

**ebmm_axis** · 12.11.02, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by P1:
OK, the thing with this debate is that it's completely subjective (as with most debates). I'm a drummer and I enjoy the playing of everyone from Neil Peart and Buddy Rich to Phil Rudd and Ringo Starr. Complex does not necessarily mean better. The most basic purpose of the drummer is to keep the beat. Anything you do beyond that is icing on the cake. Believe it or not, there are alot of people (esspecially drummers) who don't like Peart's playing because it's too busy. IMO, he is perfect for Rush and AVH is perfect for Van Halen - neither would fit in the other's band. But saying Alex isn't Neil's league is ridiculous. Both of them are amazing drummers and are light years beyond 90% of the drummers out there.
So I say [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] to both of them.

Great assessment. I agree. You have to look at the drummer and see what he does for his band. Remember, the "Brown Sound" term was invented by Alex for the sound of his snare! Ed copied that from Alex!

Alex has a style, a groove, a beat, a rendition that seperates him from ALL other drummers. Right when you hear Alex playing, you know it's him, you know it's VAN HALEN. THere aren't a lot of drummers that can brag about that! At least from a non-drummer's perspective. hehehe

I would say Neil has more flash and is more complex, but Alex is Alex. Alex brings that Van Halen Brown Sound to the table!!