One could imagine that Rush’s music would serve as a master class for any aspiring rock musician. The Canadian power trio was renowned for creating some of the most innovative rock music in history during their time together, consistently pushing the envelope on each record they released. Neil Peart acknowledged that he had never understood the allure of a single rock legend, even though every band member felt a debt to the heyday of rock and roll.
However, Peart was already drawing inspiration from the most important bands to hit the scene when he was just starting as a drummer. Peart, inspired by the British Invasion to pick up a pair of sticks, looked up to Keith Moon. He eventually put on drum performances that would have made the crazy guy behind the kit blush.
However, Peart would go on to define Rush’s core sound, winning them the respect of both their label and their creative peers with the album 2112. This came after a few disappointing album sales. Years before gaining notoriety for shaping rock, another English band had embraced the power trio format.
After leaving The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton formed Cream and gradually created the blueprint for a supergroup. The three musicians were known to experiment with whatever sounds fit the song, whether it was incorporating psychedelic influences across albums like Disraeli Gears or turning blues standards inside out like on “Crossroads.” Their music also featured the thunderous sounds of Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.
By the time Cream came to an end, fans had declared Clapton a guitar god. People regarded him as one of the greatest guitar heroes the world had ever known. Peart appreciated Clapton’s technical skill but was never as impressed as most people were by his playing.
Neil Peart revealed that, when asked about his influences, he never connected with Clapton’s approach to the instrument. He said to Marc Allen, “I was glad to realize from the beginning too was an important insight that I had in my young years.” This insight is the difference between taste and quality, something he was able to identify, like Eric Clapton. Although I’ve always thought he was a good guitarist, I’ve never been particularly fond of his style.
However, this does not imply that Peart was a music snob. Rush would experiment with any genre of music that would fit them throughout their later career. They added jazzy textures to albums like Hold Your Fire and incorporated reggae rhythms into Permanent Waves.
Nonetheless, Peart wasn’t about to completely downplay Cream’s influence. The band’s eventual inclusion of their cover of “Crossroads” on the 2000s EP “Feedback” provided evidence of their success. Peart embraced diverse music genres but knew when to break with consensus, showcasing his dynamic approach to music.
