RUSH - Natural Science - Drum Cover - Adam Johnston

WOW! This song was a lot of work. 4 takes and I think I got pretty close. So many drums parts to remember but what a blast to play. Definitely one of the harder ones by Rush. RIP Neil! You are so throughly missed.
This was recorded with Sennheiser mics, a 421 on the floor tom and RODE M3 on the Hi Hat. Mixed live through a 16 ch Mackie Mixer with a stereo output to a sound devices. Mastered and compressed with original track in Protools and edited in IMovie.
Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute.
Tom's 2x 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, 18" Tom’s
Kick 22” x 19”.
Tama superstar 14” x 7” Snare.
6” , 8” roto Tom’s.
Cymbals right to left...
14” Paiste hi-hats (I've had for 40 years)
14” Zildjian crash
16” Zildjian crash
17” Zildjian China boy pang
10” HHX Splash
5 1/2” Bell (Lathed from old 14" Camble hi hats)
14” Zildjian fast crash
8” Zildjian transformer sound effect splash
18” HHX Crash
8” AAX Splash
18” Zildjian Ride
12” Paiste thin China
10” Zildjian ZBT splash
16” China Boy Pang
Pearl double bass pedals.

[@213.marcionunes]

Igualzinho! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@mauricesalce21sttheaaandan48]

Fantastic excellent

[@AeroDude73]

The iconic fill at 3:37 was Executed Flawlessly!!

[@dhewton1966]

I've seen a lot of drum covers of Neil from kids and adults alike; but you are the first person I can honestly say has Neil's "touch". I can't tell the difference between you both. Thank you for your efforts towards authenticity. It really shows, and you honour him.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Wow! Thanks so much. You’re too kind. Neil is such an icon of talent. Im lucky if I get close to what Neil does.

[@dhewton1966]

@@adamjohnston2311 I don't believe you are lucky. I suspect you work hard. Keep up the good work.

[@dominicdoyle2895]

I would agree on your styke

[@skparkes1969]

I agree - most drummers simply don’t realise how hard Neil went at those drums.

[@stevestruthers6180]

I noticed the same thing too - that I couldn't tell the difference between Neil and the guy in the video in terms of performance. This was an exact, note-for-note reproduction of the original performance with no errors. Amazing.

[@ConstantineIsslamow]

Incredible cover Adam. I'm totally blown away by the accuracy of your playing. I'm not a drummer but it sounds like you were note for note with Neil. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@idlaberynth]

WOW simply WOW, incredibly well done....

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much. And thanks for watching.

[@favio302]

It sounds like Neil s performance. Amazing job. One of my favourite Rush s song. Congratulations from Argentina.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much Favio. So glad you liked it.

[@steviebrule8872]

SUPER solid technique, sound, and relaxation across the board! Very good rhythmic accuracy as well! You can definitely tell the maturity of drummers by how we play! Loved every second of this, killer cover!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much Stevie! This was a fun song to cover a lot of challenging moments. Glad you liked it.

[@jonagib8827]

Flawless simply flawless 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Jona.

[@zcustomcarnesi]

Neil is the whole reason why I started playing drums in the mid 70s . This is one of the best covers I've seen on KZbin . For some reason you came in my algorithm because I've been watching a lot of Rush videos the last few days . I'm glad I took the time to watch a video... Great job 💪

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks for your kind words and thanks for watching. Neil is why I started playing too. 2112 did it for me. I studied and played to that album everyday after school when i was 14.

[@loveja1]

you my friend, are a bad ass!

[@adamjohnston2311]

LOL! Thanks so much you made my day : )

[@Fishyneil]

Didn't want to click on this video but glad my gut kicked in. Nice job, Adam.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Fishy! Glad you liked it.

[@NogginPower]

It's not difficult enough just to mic your drums and mix with the original track, but to study Neil's style and feel and then apply that knowledge to your style and then make it public is inspiring. Well done brother baterista...

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks for noticing. It took a while to dial in the drum sound for these mixes. And thanks for your kind words. I appreciate it.

[@apieceofdirt4681]

Getting into it on this one and not one note missed! Nice mix of your drums and Neil’s. Nice crispy high Zildjians and cutting china. The rototoms are perfect and the production quality is sweet 😉

[@paulcortese8010]

FANTASTIC!!! Love it.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks for watching. This was a fun one to play.

[@keithrubin7379]

Simply incredible. Really well done man! Thanks for sharing with all of us.

[@unclereaper33]

Damn! Sure gives one a great appreciation for how good Neil really was and that composition is 40+ years old. You're making a great name for yourself man. Can't watch enough of these. Thanks for the videos

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate your kind words.

[@clifflazenby9733]

Eh fuego. Totally nailed it.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thank you!

[@Davidjon1946]

Brought a 😢 to my eye knowing we probably will never see rush again again live and that how well you represented a true legend with flawless perfection. Greetings to you from Buffalo New York

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much! And thanks for watching.

[@jmgreenf]

Wow very tight ...u can tell a great drummer in a few seconds..bravo..impeccable timing ..the professor would be proud..r.i.p...thanks for keeping his spirit alive!!..and your kit sounds amazing!!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much for your kind words.

[@jmgreenf]

@@adamjohnston2311 u bet..you're more than welcome..it's not everyday that we see impecable drumming, echoing the professor..and i know, this is no easy task..thanks for what you do!

[@bobweber4140]

Good god man awesome

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much!

[@vinburkard2858]

Woooow nailed ! Fills are flawless so smooth drums are crisp and that snare ! Outstanding work Adam

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much Vin. I really appreciate your kind words. If I can come even close to playing as well Neil did I'm stoked.

[@FirstSergeant100]

Probably my favorite Rush song. That was as hard to say as much as this song is to play! You nailed it Adam!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thank you so much! And thanks for watching.

[@jamesburns8093]

The snare sound is so good!

[@johnharris5611]

Fantastic cover !!!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks John! It was a fun challenge.

[@giovanideparma3500]

Wow .Awsome

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks!

[@BRIZ67]

Bravisimo Adam..!

[@BrianHarrisDrummer]

Lots of intricate fills and changes (time sigs and tempos) throughout this song, and you crushed that chit! Nice job!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thank so much Brian. Glad you liked it. Super fun tune to cover.

[@BrianHarrisDrummer]

@@adamjohnston2311 Doing a Rush medley in my band with my brother and part of NS is in the medley. And that fill/solo at 3:37 was giving me grief. Mostly because of the fill Neil does leading into it. Seeing you play it gave me the visual I needed. Looks like you did it a little different with snare and floor build. I like that better, much easier! Damn that professor! haha

[@adamjohnston2311]

@@BrianHarrisDrummer Right! NEIL is a legend. He not only played so hard but he also created well thought out complicated fills and rhythms.

[@BrianHarrisDrummer]

@@adamjohnston2311 A very creative drummer for sure! That's why he's one of my faves. But his jazz on the Burning for Buddy albums was too stiff for me. Not everyone can play big band jazz fluidly. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I didn't really care for Neil's full drum solos. His independence/contrapuntal stuff was impressive for sure. But overall I didn't care for the solos (Brian ducks lol). But his drumming in all the Rush songs was tops! Rush wouldn't have been the same without him!

[@danielcutting2796]

Enjoying this song. Really kicks witha demo.

[@frankfossaceca9616]

Hi Adam Its Your Buddie Frankie Again !! That Was Phenomenal Man !!!! Love It !! Great Shirt Dude Lol !!! I See Your Wife Sitting in Front Of You Watching You Play This . That Is So Cool Man !!!!!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Right On Frank! Glad you liked it.

[@frankfossaceca9616]

@@adamjohnston2311 Oh Hell Yea Dude !!!!

[@crepanter1]

Saudações de um fã Brasileiro do Rush ...é bom ouvir e ver um grande cover sendo tocado com tanta maestria. Parabéns! espero ver mais trabalhos como este, ganhou um seguidor no canal.😊

[@RichardCole1002]

Wow brother you nailed it! Great drumming!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Richard. Thanks for watching too.

[@MartyMcflyWorld]

Glad to have found your channel, Adam! Amazing skills, my dear friend! Such an inspiring performance on this legendary Rush tune! Brilliant!!!

[@AhmadNadar]

Tight playing!!

[@PatrickSherman-dg6co]

Bravo 👏 off the hook good

[@northlandg5207]

Great Job!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thank you!

[@jamesburns8093]

Nice work!

[@mr3n10]

Yessir, perfection achieved!!!

[@markusaurelius777]

Nailing NP...but that snare, it just resonates perfectly with a good CRACK as well. Nice !!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks MARK! I hit pretty hard and play on the edge of the rim to get that crack.

[@menom7]

Stumbling among this cover,Excellent job Man!!! Well done!!! : >)

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much! Glad you liked it. It was fun and tricky song to cover.

[@menom7]

Your welcome and yes,most definitely is a tricky song to cover,but if done right,the rewards are plentiful! Nice job again! @@adamjohnston2311

[@SharkHustler]

So there _are_ other 'Neil Peart's [still] out there! ... *_'Bravo!'_* - very well executed, sir! ... A very difficult track to faithfully reproduce. Being one of my favourite Rush tracks of all time (almost just for that one particular fill-in: precisely beginning at 3:36, alone), I certainly didn't expect this number sounding 'note-for-note' perfect (Hell, I doubt if [even] Neil played this 'to the note' _live._ ), considering all what one has to recall from memory [to the original track] - but getting this down in 'just' _four_ takes[!] - incredible indeed! No doubt, Neil himself would've been _very_ proud of you.

[@josecuervo1747]

I have loved this record since it came out, 41 years ago. My fave Rush record. And this is the tightest cover I’ve heard/seen of this great tune. Nice work! 👊🏻

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Jose. I’m right there with you. One of my all time favorite albums.

[@ramonlopezaguilar]

I agree 100%

Very well done sir!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thank you so much.

[@mrbarthol]

Impressive! Your timing is really good, great job!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks a lot!

[@christopherkimble8534]

Spot on sir, effortless seems to be a theme in how you make it look but we all know it is anything but! Great job bud

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks again Christopher! I appreciate it. This was a huge challenge to cover. Neil was a gifted genius.

[@johnnyfiveo]

amazing, just ran across you yesterday. how do you get the tama moving pictures tone with yamaha drums? i'm not a drummer

[@stephenwalker9313]

I am really enjoying watching your videos. Your playing is outstanding and the kit sounds great!!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks so much. Glad you’re enjoying the videos. I grew up playing this stuff and now 40 years later I’m re learning it again. A fun challenge.

[@roberthuey7134]

Holy Crap!!! That was really good!!! Nice Job Adam.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Robert Huey thanks so much. And thanks for watching. Love playing to Neil the professor.

[@Godsambassador3]

Awesome man!!! Would love to hear you play Subdivisions!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Bama! I will work on that one.

[@Godsambassador3]

@@adamjohnston2311 thank you!! I’ll anxiously await!!🤗

[@pantera31169311]

3:37 Yeah!!

[@phylodude]

Yup... dat's right.

[@sallyjohnston9800]

And yet another awesome song by Adam J!

[@woodsballer68]

Dude!

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks Man!

[@mrsayang]

Hi Adam, I miss your Drum Covers. Will there be some more coming anytime soon? Best regards from Germany.

[@adamjohnston2311]

Thanks! My ears have been ringing so I took a break from playing. I plan on getting back to it soon though.

[@mrsayang]

@@adamjohnston2311 thanks for answering. Sad to hear that you had ear problems. As a drummer it is very important to play only with ear protection. I never play drums without my protection. Looking forward to more videos. All the best.

[@adamjohnston2311]

@@mrsayang I've been wearing ear protection since I was 13. I had custom ear protection made 30 years ago but it all adds up when you play the drums and hit as hard as I do.

[@mrsayang]

@@adamjohnston2311 yes, I see. You are really a hard hitter, but that‘s your style and it looks and sounds soooo great. All the best for you and your wife.