SAN JOSE, Calif., — Neil Peart’s lucky number may just be three. He can definitely play in three; he has been part of a highly successful trio, Rush; and, he has now garnered his third consecutive victory as “Drummer Of The Year” in this year’s Drummies. Additionally, he won “Best Progressive Drummer.” Enter Music Publishing, the publisher of DRUM! magazine, conducts The Drummies every year with voting open to anyone from February to May. This year 5,310 votes were cast in 41 drum/percussion categories ranging from “Best Drummer” to “Best Drum Advertisement.”
While Peart has successfully demonstrated his popularity in the last three Drummies, his margin of victory was less than in the last two years, according to Phil Hood, publisher and co-founder of Enter Music Publishing. Runner-up Travis Barker gave Peart a serious run and had been the most frequent winner (three victories) prior to Peart’s popularity.
Winners: Drummer Categories
Drummer Of The Year Neil Peart
Runners Up: Travis Barker, Gavin Harrison, Aaron Gillespie
Rising Star Thomas Pridgen
Runners Up Bob Bryar, Zac Farro, Ronald Bruner Jr.
Progressive Rock Drummer Neil Peart
Runners Up: Mike Portnoy, Gavin Harrison, Thomas Pridgen
Metal Drummer Lars Ulrich
Runners Up: Joey Jordison, Mike Portnoy, Chris Adler
Jam Band Drummer Carter Beauford
Runners Up: Mickey Hart, Jon Fishman, Butch Trucks
Funk Drummer Chad Smith
Runners Up: Zoro, John Blackwell, Dennis Chambers
Mainstream Pop Drummer Bob Bryar
Runners Up: Zac Farro, Teddy Campbell, Daniel Adair
Alternative Rock Drummer Chad Smith
Runners Up: Taylor Hawkins, Josh Freese, Shannon Leto
Punk Drummer Travis Barker
Runners Up: Tré Cool, Josh Freese, Brooks Wackerman
R&B;/Blues Drummer John Blackwell
Runners Up: Daniel Glass, Aaron Spears, Steve Jordan
Jazz/Fusion Drummer Steve Smith
Runners Up: Dave Weckl, Peter Erskine, Brian Blade
Country Drummer Jim Riley
Runners Up: Billy Mason, Paul Leim, Shannon Forrest
Drum Clinician Todd Sucherman
Runners Up: Zoro, Johnny Rabb, Jojo Mayer
Studio Drummer Josh Freese
Runners Up: Keith Carlock, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta
Live Performer Mike Portnoy
Runners Up: Travis Barker, Aaron Gillespie, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan
Percussionists
Percussionist Of The Year Sheila E.
Runners Up: Giovanni Hidalgo, Eric Velez, Cyro Baptista
Rising Star Jocelyn Alvarez
Runners Up: Danny Couto, Carmelo Torres, Marcie Chapa
Latin Percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo
Runners Up: Eric Velez, Richie Flores, Fausto Cuevas
Jazz/Fusion Percussionist Airto Moreira
Runners Up: Alex Acuña, Munyungo Jackson, Daniel Sadownick
Rock/Pop Percussionist Taku Hirano
Runners Up: John Mahon, Terry Santiel, Mark Quiñones
World Percussionist Kalani
Runners Up: Carlinhos Brown, Mamady Keita, Mickey Hart
Percussion Ensemble Blue Man Group
Runners Up: D’Drum, Slamm!, Nexus
Studio Percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo
Runners Up: Jocelyn Alvarez, Luis Conte, Lenny Castro
Live Performer Eric Velez
Runners Up: John Mahon, Giovanni Hidalgo, Sheila E.
Mallet Percussionist Evelyn Glennie
Runners Up: Julie Spencer, Victor Mendoza, Gary Burton
Industry Awards
Drum Set W Collector Series X Shells
Runners Up: Pearl Limited Edition Reference Series, Yamaha PHX drum set, Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive
SSnare Drum Ludwig Black Magic
Runners Up: Tama Limited Edition Artwood Custom, Pearl Morgan Rose Signature, Gretsch Full Range Rosewood
Custom Drum Maker SJC
Runners-Up: Pork Pie, C&C;, Precision Drum
Cymbals Sabian APX
Runners-Up: Zildjian A Custom Rezo Crashes, Meinl Byzance Series Traditional Finish 24” Medium Ride, Zildjian K Crash Ride Brilliant and Sabian Vault Crossover Ride (tie)
Hardware Tama Iron Cobra Pedals with Cobra Coil/Bonus Pack
Runners-Up: DW 7000 Series Hardware, Pearl BC 100S Convertible Flat Base Stands, Yamaha Hexrack
Percussion Product LP Drum Set Timbales
Runners Up: Toca Eric Velez Signature Congas, Bucket Drums, Meinl Foot Cabasa
Drum Stick Pro-Mark Jason Bonham Signature
Runners Up: Vic Firth Vinnie Paul Signature and Vic Firth Andrew Hurley Signature (tie), Regal Tip Keith Carlock Performer, Vater Derek Roddy Model
Drum Head Remo Vintage A
Runners Up: Remo Black Suede and Evans G-Plus (tie), Remo Black X, Aquarian Hi-Velocity
Electronic Percussion Roland TD-9 SX
Runners Up: Roland TDW-20 Expansion Board, Yamaha DTXTREMEIII, Alesis Surge Cymbals
Drumming Accessory Aquarian Tru-Bounce Practice Pad
Runners Up: Blow-it Personal Cooling System, HQ Sound-Off Mutes, Kelly Shu Microphone System
Media
Drumming Book Commandments Of Early Rhythm & Blues Drumming by Zoro and Daniel Glass
Runners Up: Blink-182 Play-Along, On The Beaten Path: Progressive Rock by Rich Lackowski, Essential Drum Fills by Peter Erskine
Drumming DVD Drum Legacy by Steve Smith
Runners Up: The Master Series by Steve Gadd, Eastern Rim by Chad Smith, Methods And Mechanics by Todd Sucherman
Drumming Web Site Drummerworld
Runners Up: Drumchannel, Sabian, Vic Firth