10 Hard Rock Musicians Who Outshined The Lead Singer

In the grand scheme of rock dynamics, it's nearly impossible for a drummer to have a moment to shine. Operating from behind a kit in the back of the stage, people would more often focus on the singer or the guitar player than give the percussionist the time of day. Though it may be difficult to make you presence known, Neil Peart joined Rush and turned their entire sound inside out.

From his first performance on Fly By Night, Peart has more intensity in his right foot than most modern drummers have in their entire body. Though he could have easily continued operating in that mindset, Peart managed to cover every section of the percussion spectrum, adding on to his kit everything from electronic drums to chimes to even a gong. While the band were known as a straight up hard rock band at the time, Peart took Rush to new heights by expanding their playing style until they were prog rock juggernauts.

In addition to being one of the biggest sonic presences in the band, Peart also managed to have a larger voice in the band by providing lyrics to all of the band's classic songs. Rush were already a stellar band at the start of their career, but once Neil Peart became a part of their world, they became one of the most successful hard rock acts of all time.