FEBRUARY 2012

Hello Rush fans, Freewill fans, drummers and drum enthusiasts.

A little bit about me…

Music is my passion. And drumming is my way of being, “in the music”. I thoroughly enjoy playing in this Rush Tribute band. It’s always quite the rush (pun?) to perform this music. Weather it’s during a practice session or in a “LIVE” concert setting, I find that learning and performing these songs to be quite challenging. That being said, I usually find it quite enjoyable too! Often I’ll discover a better technique or a new approach to my drumming when I work on a Rush song. Neil Peart is really quite the drummer! So, I figure he’s a pretty good example for me to be learning from.

For the record… I am not a ‘Neil Peart Impersonator’. But I do enjoy dressing up for the part. Over the many years I have performed in various Neil Peart attire such as: his trademark bicycle hats, or the White-collared shirt with Red Bow Tie. Sometimes I wear the black sleeve-less shirt with Dress Slacks and an exotic Vest, or go with the vintage look of a Handlebar Moustache and an Oriental Robe. It’s all part of the Tribute, all part of putting on a quality show. And as an entertainer, I like to put on a good show!

For all those who want to be ‘critics’, I don’t claim to be as good of a drummer as Neil Peart.
Nor do I claim to play all his drum parts absolutely perfect, note for note.
Let me be the first to say that I don’t. Although, I actually do try!
But really … the world already has a Neil Peart.

I am Bert Pert.
A Rush fan … a drummer … and quite often a little bit of both in one!

And of course, I always do my best to replicate Neil Peart’s drum parts exactly and correctly.

I always enjoy talking with Rush fans and fellow drummers.
If you like, leave a message or if you attend a Freewill show, introduce yourself and let’s chat.

View lots of concert photos and more information about me, or my world of drumming at:

Now let’s talk about my DRUMS…

Even though I am in a “Tribute Band”, I haven’t tried to create an exact replica of a Neil Peart’s drum set. My drum set is really more of a Tribute to all of Neil Peart’s awesome drum sets of the past; in particular his larger, double bass drum kits of the 70’s and 80’s. I especially liked his White, Ludwig Kit he used for the Hold Your Fire and A Show of Hands’ albums and tours.
(fyi … He later had the White kit painted Deep Purple for the “Presto” & “Roll The Bones” Tours)

Visually similar to Neil Peart’s White 1986 Ludwig kit, my drum set is a White 13 piece, double-kick, 1990 Tama Rockstar Deluxe. I custom ordered this kit with several professional upgrades from Tama for use in an “original” progressive-rock project. This was actually three years before “Freewill – The RUSH Tribute” came into being.

Over the years I’ve managed to surround myself with an array of cymbals and an army of acoustic and electronic percussion. Occasionally (depending on venues) this kit is mounted on it’s own custom drum riser that is also very similar to Neil Peart’s. (No, it doesn’t spin!)
This entire kit measuring in at: 8’ Wide, by 8’ Deep, by 8’ Tall … is one seriously HUGE drum set!

In 1990, when I custom ordered this drum set NEW from Tama Drums, along with the drum sizes, hardware upgrades and finish options, I was also offered a choice of the woods used. These drums were made with an Artic White finish, using 6-ply Maple shells (instead of Birch) and an inner 7th-ply of Philippine Mahogany. (A.k.a. Meranti, a select hardwood used to enhance bottom end and punch)

Drum sizes are as follows…

Big changes in the Snare drum department …

Recently, I became the proud owner of a NEW Drum Workshop EDGE Snare Drum. It is the Neil Peart “30th Anniversary” Signature Series model. I had ordered this drum brand new from the DW factory and waited 12 weeks as it was built from scratch and delivered to me.
This 24kt. Gold plated, Brass over Maple over Brass shell sounds awesome! And it’s very LOUD!

It inevitability has replaced my trusty old #1 Ludwig, vintage 3-ply mahogany snare drum.
That old Ludwig has been my main Snare drum for over 25 years. So it’s not far away!

In the digital world of Electronic Percussion and Triggering …

I am currently using:

• An Alesis Dm5 as my main tone generator used for additional percussion and sound effects…
• And a Korg X-3R, used mostly for “big brass” horns and occasionally mallet and bells sounds.

There are 11 “triggers” on this kit from which to activate sounds on these modules…

2 Pintech triggers …

• One Pintech trigger is attached to the Timbale/Snare drum … left side of kit
• The other to a Roland T-D6 electronic hi-hat pedal … on floor, left of Hi-hat stand

5 Dauz Padz …

• Two 8” Dauz electronic drum pads … left side of kit
• One 6” Dauz drum pad … left of center Snare drum
• Two 8” Dauz electronic drum pads … right side of kit

4 Shadow Piezo pick-ups …

• One Piezo is attached to each of the 4 Chinese Temple Blocks … upper left side of kit

Using these piezo pick-ups on these Acoustic Wood Blocks has eliminated the need for (and the hassle of) using microphones.

In the ways of more traditional, Acoustic Percussion …

I am using various Bar Chimes, Wind Chimes, a Bell Tree, an 8” Paiste Bell, four assorted Cowbells, a Glockenspiel, a DST Tambourine, a 14” Timbale, Vintage Chinese Temple Blocks, a 22” Wind Gong and of course … a Triangle.

A while back, I decided to paint select pieces of my acoustic percussion a nice shade of red. A bit of a ‘tribute’ to the days back when Neil Peart painted his Temple Blocks for the Grace Under Pressure tour. The Temple Blocks, Wind Chimes, Bar Chimes, Bell Tree, Cowbells and Xylophone all received the RED treatment.

More recently, I refinished the 6” & 8” Tama Imperialstar concert toms in the same shade of red. Reminiscent of Neil Peart’s old cherry red Tama kit, these concert toms actually look a little bit more like they could be off his more recent Snakes & Arrows’ kit.

Some big changes in the world of Cymbals …

Ever since my first drum set in late 1982, I’ve been very devoted to Avedis-Zildjian cymbals.
But over the last few years, 4 NEW Sabian Paragon cymbals have entered the mix … and I like it!

Cymbal sizes, manufacturers and types are as follows …

The hardware is mostly Tama Titan

A few Latin Percussion multi clamps, a few Cosmic Percussion mini-boom arms and a polished up 6’ steel pipe from the local hardware store.

My hi-hat stand and kick drum pedals are DW-5000’s by Drum Workshop.
The kick drum pedals are equipped with Tama Iron Cobra beater shafts with wood ‘tips’.

- Note: There’s a Roland TD-6 Electronic Hi-hat pedal to the left of the DW Hi-hat stand.

On either side of me are Zildjian stick bags…
My drumsticks are Vic Firth 7A with nylon tips.
My mallets of various sizes are also by Vic Firth.

I also use (and gladly endorse) drum-tuning keys from ShellKey (visit www.shellkey.net)
- Note: the red curly cord attached to the floor tom shell (above).

Big changes for the Drumheads …

I still use only Remo drumheads. But for many years I’ve used Clear Ambassador on most of the drums with CS White Dots on the tops of the 6”, 8”, 8” & 10” toms and the Snare drum. But recently I’ve switched to using Ambassador White coated heads.

• Ambassador White Coated - on all batter sides
• Ambassador Clear - on all resonant sides

- The Batter bass drum heads are equipped with…
A Remo Muff’l ring (foam) and a Remo Falam patch (Mylar).

- The Resonant bass drumheads each feature …
One-of-a-kind custom paintings of Rush’s 2112 star/man image

Both of these drumheads were hand-painted myself, using alkyd paints and fine Chinese bristles.

For many, many more photos and information on the painting of these and other drumheads, the making of the Freewill and other backdrops, building of the custom drum riser … even more specifically detailed info about my drum equipment, types and manufactures, on performing drum solos, other drummer influences, and maybe even a few ramblings about music and life, etc. …

Please visit, www.facebook.com/bertpert

Also please visit Freewill online at: www.facebook.com/freewilltherushtribute

Playing in this Rush Tribute band is such a rewarding experience!
It is always a thrill and a privilege to perform live music.

BIG THANK YOU’s to EVERYONE … Most especially our Fans, Friends and Families.
Many thanks to our sponsors, promoters, media and venues!

Hope to see you at the next show!