10 Hardest Drumming Songs In Hard Rock

There won't be too many people debating that Neil Peart is one of the greatest drummers to have ever walked the Earth. While Rush were already on their way to great things with John Rutsey in the group, the idea of them succeeding at all without Peart's masterful attention to detail behind the kit feels inconceivable nowadays. Given that Peart has become known as the Professor in fan circles, La Villa Strangiato stands as his most advanced lesson.

Being subtitled an Exercise in Self Indulgence, this 9 minute piece is one of the most technically complex pieces to ever perform on the drums, even giving greats like Buddy Rich a run for their money in the process. Spanning almost 9 different sections unto itself, Peart gives the ultimate showcase of both strength and stamina behind the kit, having the mental capacity to keep up with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson while also making the entire song breathe without anything getting too mechanical.

Even the band themselves thought that this track was almost beyond them, eventually recording it in 3 parts to make sure they nailed each hit perfectly for the final record. Being the benchmark of drumming for everyone from Vinnie Paul to Mike Portnoy, La Villa Strangiato is the reason why you should never discount the power of having a good drummer behind the kit. It might seem like a thankless job, but the person with the sticks is a lot smarter than they look.