Neil Peart -- The Latest News

You can now download Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 from http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums, including a limited time offer of an additional FREE set of 72 loops taken from "YYZ."

If you'd like to find out more about Neil Peart drums, I recently interviewed Sonic Reality's Dave Kerzner. Click here to read the interview. I've also had the opportunity to use Neil Peart Drums (Volumes 1 and 2) for about a month, and I can say that if you write music and want to add Neil Peart's loops to your songs, you should definitely check out Volume 2. I'll have some examples available soon of my "experiments" -- but you can also hear a cover of "YYZ" that uses Neil Peart drum loops.

Here's the press release from Sonic Reality:

"Sonic Reality Releases Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves plus a FREE exclusive sample pack download on eSoundz.com/neilpeartdrums"

May 8^th, 2012, Sunrise, Florida - Legendary drummer of Rush Neil Peart and Grammy-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz have teamed up with music software developer Sonic Reality to create the new "Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves" sound collection. Over 600 grooves performed by Peart are now available in a variety of loop formats such as Rex, Apple Loops, Acidized Wave, R.A.W., Stylus RMX and more to come. Musicians can use these drum grooves to write their own music, practice, jam or play Rush covers inside their computer recording software or iPads and mobile devices.

"When we did the Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1 Series we wanted to present a digital recreation of Neil's amazing DW kit so it could be played from any midi controller such as a keyboard or an electronic drum kit" says Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner "But for Vol. 2 we now also have the isolated drum tracks of Rush songs performed by Neil and cut up into 1-2 bar patterns that can be re-arranged and used in new music made by any musician or songwriter."

Offering the first "virtual reality drum session" with one of the top rock drummers in the world, Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves gives musicians an opportunity that's not only a dream come true for Rush fans but anyone looking for album quality rock drum loops for their music.

THE NEIL PEART DRUMS FREE SAMPLE PACK
For a limited time Sonic Reality and eSoundz.com are offering an additional FREE set of 72 loops taken from the Rush song "YYZ" in their R.A.W. series Rex, Apple Loops and Wave formats from http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums
These exclusive drum loops are currently not available in any Neil Peart Drums products or anywhere else. You can hear these loops in action here:

YYZ:  A cover of the Rush instrumental "YYZ" done by Sonic Elements featuring Billy Sherwood of Yes, Dave Kerzner of Sonic Reality and Neil Peart Drums: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/yyz

TRIFECTA: Here's an example of the same grooves of YYZ used in a different musical context which is an original song called "Trifecta" by Sonic Elements also featuring Billy Sherwood of Yes, Dave Kerzner of Sonic Reality and Neil Peart Drums: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/trifecta-pt-1-wip

• For more info on Neil Peart Drums and a download of the Free Sample Pack go to: http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums
  For more info on Sonic Reality: http://www.sonicreality.com
  To Follow the Sonic Elements Progressive Rock Project by Sonic Reality Visit:
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sonicelements
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/sonicelementschannel

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Sonic Reality

You can now hear the full version of "Tom Sawyer" from XYZ - A Tribute to Rush. This is one of five tracks on the EP, which also includes "Red Barchetta," "YYZ," "Limelight," and an original, "Trifecta."

Pre-order Sonic Elements XYZ - A Tribute to Rush featuring Neil Peart Drums EP

• Download version (pre-order)
• Physical CD (pre-order)

Musicians:

• Vocals, Guitar - John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

Read my interview with Dave Kerzner about Neil Peart Drums:

Everything you wanted to know about Sonic Reality's Neil Peart Drums

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Neil Peart Studio Profile, Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner about the story behind producing Neil Peart Drums. It was a fascinating conversation about not only how something like a virtual drum kit gets captured -- in this case Peart's Snakes & Arrows kit -- but also how you can use it in your own drumming or songwriting. If you've been wondering how to get started with Neil Peart Drums, check out this interview:

Everything you wanted to know about Sonic Reality's Neil Peart Drums

Dave also talked about what it was like to work Neil Peart. Here's an excerpt:

Neil was totally cool. Really nice guy. Quiet and introverted for the most part, but I talked with him and he was very gracious, accommodating, and good spirited�

If you are working with someone famous you have to control the fanboy in you and chill out (laughs). I mean to a certain extent. Even Nick Raskulinecz is like a big kid who loves Rush and air drums all the fills. Neil knows we're all in awe of that stuff. But you just have to be totally pro and keep your cool. Get things done and you have his respect. Enough respect for him to let you play his kit! Apparently that rarely ever happens. But I convinced Neil and his tech Loren to let me do it so I could explain how we sample the drums, which you can see on YouTube.

Thanks to Dave Kerzner for taking the time to talk to me.

If you have other questions for Dave, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I'll try to get them answered for you.

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Neil Peart Studio Profile, Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

Sonic Reality's David Kerzner has been collaborating with other musicians on a unique project called XYZ - A Tribute to Rush. The 4 song EP, along with one bonus track (and another pre-order bonus track!), will be released on April 21, 2012. XYZ is now available for pre-order.

Pre-order Sonic Elements XYZ - A Tribute to Rush featuring Neil Peart Drums EP

• Download version (pre-order)
• Physical CD (pre-order)

I recently interviewed Dave Kerzner about XYZ and the two Neil Peart Drums products. Click here to read the interview. If you're interested in finding out how to use these products, this interview will answer all your questions.

Track list:

1. Tom Sawyer

Vocals, Guitar - John Wesley
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Billy Sherwood
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

2. Red Barchetta (featuring Rik Emmett)

Vocals, Guitar - Rik Emmett
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Matt Dorsey
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

3. YYZ
Guitar, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Guitar - Alastair Greene
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

4. Limelight

Vocals - Randy McStine
Guitars - John Wesley
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Billy Sherwood
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

5. Trifecta (Bonus Track)

Guitars, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

6. Times Gone (Pre-Order Only Bonus Track)

Guitars, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

Labels: Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

Sonic Reality's David Kerzner has been collaborating with other musicians on a unique project called XYZ - A Tribute to Rush. The 4 song EP, along with one bonus track, will be released on April 21, 2012.

This release, which is part of the Sonic Reality Progressive Rock Project, features Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality. These were samples recorded by Neil himself at the recording sessions for Neil Peart Drums a few years ago.

Here's more information about the tracks and the musicians:

1. Tom Sawyer

• Vocals, Guitar - John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

2. Red Barchetta

• Vocals, Guitar -Rik Emmett (Triumph)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Bass - Matt Dorsey (Simon Collins Band)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

3. YYZ

• Guitar, Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Additional Guitars - Alastair Greene (Alan Parsons)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

4. Limelight

• Vocals - Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance)
• Guitar - John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

5. Bonus Track: Trifecta

(Original instrumental song written with the grooves of YYZ by Billy Sherwood & Dave Kerzner paying tribute to progressive rock)

• Guitar, Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

Release date: 4-21-12 Available for download and limited edition CD.

Listen to more at Sonic Elements' Soundcloud page.

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Neil Peart Studio Profile, Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush