Original Rush drummer is John Rutsey dead at 55. Rush was one of the most successful prog rock acts of the 70s and 80s. Much of this success can be attributed to Neil Peart, whose airy, transcendent lyrics and virtuoso drumming in large part defined the band. But there was another drummer--more in the heavy style of John Bonham--who gripped the rhythmic helm on their first album: one John Rutsey. Mr Rutsey left the band early after a diagnosis of diabetes. This month he succumbed to a heart attack, a common complication. Unfortunately, a discursive look at youtube revealed no live footage of Mr Rutsey in action. Here is a pic from his heyday.
posted by zorro astor on May 18, 2008 - 22 comments

Attention drummers! Want to take all the attention away from the rest of the band... then just watch this masterclass. (SLYT)
posted by fearfulsymmetry on Apr 4, 2008 - 37 comments

It may lack the hilarity of an unaccompanied David Lee Roth crooning to himself like a lunatic, but surely someone has a use for twenty three unaccompanied John Bonham drum tracks.
posted by The Straightener on Feb 14, 2008 - 72 comments

Assaf Seewi has rhythm.
posted by phrontist on May 6, 2007 - 39 comments