Neil Peart Pieces Of Eight.

[@bambam4274]

In the May 1987 Modern Drummer article, "The Quest for New Drums" Peart wrote: "Like many percussionists, I had long harbored a secret wish to create a piece of music using only percussion instruments, and this looked like the key to that dream! I practiced with the KAT for a few days and then, when I had a free day, recorded a "demo" of a marimba piece I had been working on over the summer. ...The piece is entitled "Pieces Of Eight" because of all the different time signatures it ended up meandering through. I hadn't thought about that too much just playing the marimba, until I had to learn it on drums! With only a day to record it all, I didn't really have time to play it more than a couple of times through, so that, too, was a good challenge. I find it interesting as a drummer to work with a melodic instrument and think melody as well as rhythm. You can really get into some wild areas! In a way, I wish I hadn't been so obsessed with drums alone in the beginning and had acquired more knowledge of music theory. But I suppose in this day and age you do have to specialize!"

[@tonyheredia3314]

Just shows u the incredible drummer Neil really was .

[@scottgibson807]

My kids used to dance to this as toddlers. We called it the drum song. RIP Neil.

[@martindellavalle6370]

One of greatest to sit behind a drum kit R.I.P Neil we miss you

[@vollhockeypucks2851]

Neil Peart's drumming, lyrics, and philosophy will always be a great inspiration to so many of us.

[@franktilelli3581]

RIP to the Professor.. I love this era of his drum sound with the Ludwig kit..

[@terrywelch-gk4xm]

No drummer before him ever arranged such melodic pieces for percussion. Nobody ever had or needed a kit like his, either, and it will be a long time if ever we see another with the personal goal of being the G. O. A. T.

[@dwite02]

R.i.p. Mr. Peart. You were an inspiration to countless musicians and a national treasure.

[@bobloblaw8660]

RIP professor. My favorite work from him

[@terrywelch-gk4xm]

What drummer, dead or alive ever composed such melodic pieces like this? I would have loved to hear the soundscape between his ears, with the unlimited abity to work melody mixed with any beat and rhythm which he had mastered. Because he wrote thoughtful and intelligent lyrics as well as he drummed, I personally have to wonder how much stuff he worked on that never made a public appearance. He called it quits when he realized he could no longer meet his own exacting super high standards for drumming... How G. O. A. T. is that?

[@YourFreeBeats]

OMG, I was not aware he passed. EASILY one of my top three musical idols growing up. Coming from Toronto, I followed the band from the late 70;s. In fact the year this was published, I wrote to the Prof (via Modern Drummer) and six months later he wrote me back...that is when it was solidified he was a real cat. Ironically, many of the things Neil experienced later in his life, I am experiencing now, so even as someone in their late 40's I continued to look toward him for inspiration. This is very sad. RIP Neil

[@MrLeFilipfloppyvelarde]

"I don't need Alex and Geddy to make music... but it is more fun with them" - Neil Peart probably,like, in the shower or something. RIP Neil Peart

[@mannydib]

They're amazing. Its like they all play lead together and still manage to mesh like clockwork

[@terrywelch-gk4xm]

absolute proof of the percussion magician that was Neil Peart. There will not ever be another of his caliber.

[@martincadena5238]

A good friend played this for me and I knew I was listening to greatness !

[@mjm5081]

Thanks so much for sharing! 🙏 ✌ ❤ 🎶 🌎 👏 Neil

[@ScottCowperthwaite]

I had this when it came out. Long lost but thanks for sharing.... GREAT SCOTT!!!!

[@hannemankingtube]

R.I.P. Neil Peart

[@Grizzam721]

I've always loved this song. I had the Modern Drummer insert years ago, but I don't know what happened to it. Thanks very much for posting this.

[@The1970cesar]

Fantastic Neil, insuperable.💪💪💪🙏

[@anthemgunaether2914]

I’ll miss you Sir.

[@marleyorange]

If he had only ever written and performed this he would a legend.

[@FelicityTheDragoness]

3:40 my favorite part

[@MrBostonrobb]

Sick.

[@Scorcher-nn5yy]

I Had this tune in 1988 but misplaced it. Fucking Awesome. I asked Luke Holland to Play it If He thinks He is So Good.

[@relentfx]

I just found my copy in a bin of old records. Thanks for uploading this because it's much easier than dragging out my old record player

[@art31david]

Lucas Hubert, Thank you for uploading this audio. I made a full drum set & percussion score of this song on my KZbin channel and I borrowed a few snapshots of this video for the commentary and you were appropriately credited at the end.

Thanks for this. Missing him.

[@jasonwilliams6005]

Still have the record from Modern Drummer in 1987. Neil was a genius.

[@Scarecrow6459]

Wouldn't it be cool if when Rush finally retires or at least takes an extensive break that Neil finally put his own solo album? I would love to hear what Neil could do rythmically and melodically with all the sorts of different percusiion he deals with. If anything it would be nice to have a offical release of stuff like this piece and "Momo's Dance Party".

[@NintendoPsycho]

+Scarecrow6459 Most likey won't be happening now that Neil is retired, at least for a long time.

[@mzmadmike]

He retired in part due to severe tendonitis.

[@mzmadmike]

He has some solo and lead work out that he managed and organized. You can find him on "Burning for Buddy."

[@luisangeljuarezmartindelca2693]

Amazing ❤️

[@briandefoe4008]

Thanks for posting!! Sounds great.

[@dorian2112]

modern drummer sound supplement black plastic "album" that came in the mag. cool shit here. to really get the full effect of this, you have to have your sub on. Neil rules. genius.

[@schnaidamateus5402]

1:17 Sounds Like Natural Science!

[@maziu27]

Because it is

[@rileysmith6674]

He incorporated this piece into a lot of his work with rush

[@nickavenoso7851]

@@rileysmith6674 Natural Science was 1980, this was 1987. So, Natural Science influenced that part.

[@arturinxo]

This piece of music was incorporated in the snakes and arrows drum solo

[@russellnorris6058]

Had the subscription and the sound supplement in high school. Recorded it to cassette. Can’t find either after many moves. Thanks for posting this!

[@mmartinez9764]

I remember buying modern drummer and seeing the vinyl, cool.

[@adaomatos6765]

O Marquinho essa música é perfeita , lembra uma parte do solo nos shows

[@vanlifeson6773]

Love it.

[@johnmcclure4983]

Sounds pretty good to me

[@theonecalledvino8165]

OMG!! Thank you! I remembered this.. I'm glad I'm not the only one who had this. Now if you have the Jonathan Mover and Tony Verderosa MD sound Supplement posted... My drumming nostalgia quest will be complete.

[@impulsivedesigns]

I have an old vhs of Tony in some old Yamaha promotional vids somewhere. What's an "MD sound Supplement"?

[@theonecalledvino8165]

That record shown in the video that came in the old modern drummer.

[@impulsivedesigns]

that's awesome.

[@timjordan6717]

"Put up or shut up" - I remember that - too cool!

[@timothycannon5512]

very creative

[@dsokodrum67]

Thanks! I enjoy it!

[@LucasHubert1994]

you're welcome, thanks for the comment.

[@mzmadmike]

RIP, Neil.

[@cristianofranco2764]

Monstro

[@brianlarsen9952]

Wow

[@LucasHubert1994]

@TheNintendoJuggalo well i have 2 versions of this, FLAC and also the MP3, just tell me the best way to upload it, i can do! thanks!

[@LucasHubert1994]

@nljuggalo oh, thanks, this took me a lot o time to improve man!

[@Dustin2112]

You've really have lost a lot of the high frequencies of this track. I did a digital recording of a virgin copy of the flexi-disc years ago. I preferred to keep it unmodified. You can also rip the audio track from the "Taking Center Stage" DVD, I believe Pieces of Eight and Momo's Dance Party are both played in their entirety. Although, if I remember correctly, one of both of them also had a background hiss or something. Should be fairly easy to remove without sacrificing the high spectrum too much.

[@NintendoPsycho]

@mcintoshamps You're welcome. Any chance you could spare an MP3 of this?

[@HanDrumsolo]

Was this only released in modern drummer?

[@maziu27]

Yes

[@apieceofdirt4681]

He's playing his Tama's right? I've got this same sound supplement but this one sounds way better than mine. This was right around the time Neil made the switch to Ludwig. It sounds really repetitive.

[@johnh5367]

This was actually his new Ludwig kit, this was his first recorded test-drive on it. He said he had one day to practice before recording it.

[@maziu27]

@@johnh5367 damnn

[@patrikrush]

Does anyone have the notes for this? I want to play it! :-D

[@dorian2112]

look up sterling drummer, he plays all the parts nicely. he kicks ass.