Neil Peart -- The Latest News

XYZ - A Tribute to Rush, featuring the drums of Neil Peart, is now available. There are two versions you can buy:

• Download version 
• Physical CD

If you'd like to find out more about this project, as well as Neil Peart drums, I recently interviewed Sonic Reality's Dave Kerzner. Click here to read the interview. 

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: Neil Peart Drums, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

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