Rush formed as early as 1968 with original drummer John Rutsey and when John left the band Neil Peart auditioned for the band in July 1974 and by July 29 of that year Peart was asked to join the band a mere two weeks before the group’s first US tour.
Peart purchased a silver Slingerland drum kit from the local music store Long & McQuade that he used on his first show with the band, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on August 14, 1974. This set was used on Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, and 2112, and the band’s first live album All the World’s a Stage. The Slingerland kit had been on the road for 5 consecutive US and Canadian tours. Neil retired the kit placing it in storage where it sat until it was brought out a decade later as a prize in Modern Drummer’s “Neil Peart Drumset Giveaway.”
This set awarded to New York drummer Mark Feldman in the October 1987 Modern Drummer issue and with a Letter Signed (“Neil Peart”) informing Feldman that he was the contest winner.
The Slingerland drum kit includes 2x 22-inch Bass Drums with chrome wrap including original head; blue resonant heads each with large silver Rush logo and “Neil” on one and “Peart” on the other (originals and additional replicas); 2x 13-inch Tom Toms with chrome wrap; 14-inch Tom Tom with chrome wrap and with original head SIGNED by Peart, latter 3 Toms with Set-O-Matic mount; 16-inch Floor Tom with chrome wrap; Set of 4x Concert Toms with copper wrap in 6, 8, 10 & 12-inch. All with 3-ply shells of maple, poplar and mahogany.
The kit is extended with generally period-correct replacements: 14-inch Slingerland Artist Snare with copper wrap; 2 Zildjian 8-inch Splash Cymbals; Zildjian 13-inch New Beat Hi-Hat Cymbal pair; 2 Zildjian 16-inch Medium Crash Cymbals; Zildjian 18-inch Medium Crash Cymbal; Zildjian 20-inch Medium Crash Cymbal; Zildjian 18-inch pang cymbal; Zildjian 22-inch Ping Ride Cymbal; Ludwig 4-inch Gold Tone Cowbell, model #129; LP Standard Agogo Bells; LP Black Beauty Cowbell; Pearl Tri Bells; LP Rock/Bongo Cowbell; Spectrasound Mark Tree with 35 brass bar Chimes; LP Bell Tree with 28 brass bells; 5-piece Temple Blocks; 2 Ludwig Speed king bass drum pedals; Ludwig Seat Case; Rogers Stick Tray Assembly and with all associated hardware.
This is undaughterly a piece of drumming history and if you are able to afford such a set, you should consider it.
Here is the link to the site: HERE
