Begin the day with a familiar voice.....Rush....favorite band always. I had just started to really get into drumming when Moving Pictures came out. I bought that album and Dream Police at NCS PX on Guam when I was still a minor living with my Dad. I remember sitting in my bedroom listening to that first side and thinking....OMG...this can't be one take. It had to be multiple tracks laid together. But, I started practicing to it and then realized it was one take. From that point on, I took all my drumming seriously. Made me much better and then got recognized for it and started getting gigs. Those gigs paid my way through college and I can 10000000% guarantee you that if it wasn't for Neil, there is no way I'd got through college. Jam drummers are a dime a dozen, but intricate and intelligent drummers are not. I went from being a jam drummer to actually realizing when drum breaks are needed, knowing when to use them and knowing when not to and the most important thing....keeping the tempo. I've seen everyone of there shows in Dallas, OKC and Tulsa. Amazed me that Neil could still play all those parts perfect. There was one tour that did recently where they played the whole Moving Pictures LP in its entirety. Wow.....just simply wow....I had known from reading other forums and interviews from Alex and the Ged that the last tour was their last. Especially when Neil went in front of the stage and waved at the audience at their very last show. He NEVER does that. He gets up and literally runs to his bus and leaves. He never did the crowd thing or the meet and greet. That's the only thing I didn't like about him was that. I mean, without us, he'd never have the financial success that he's had. But, to each his own. But still, sad they stop playing but really glad they did get back together after Neil devastating losses. Just wish I could have taken my daughter to one of their shows, she was too young back then.
