1981 Rock Hit Named Among Greatest Drum Solos of All Time

The greatest rock songs of all time are led by iconic guitar riffs and solos, but bolstered by the best percussionists of their time.

Among those is Neil Peart, the drummer of Rush, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest drummers of all time. Many of the lists of the greatest or most iconic drum solos of all time point to Peart's work on YYZ as the gold standard.

Thomann listed Peart's solo on YYZ among the greatest drum solos of all time.

"This legendary rock drum solo by Neil Peart, which appears on the live album 'Exit… Stage Left' by the Canadian trio Rush, has influenced generations of drummers to this day, thanks to its varied structure and the combination of flawless technique, musicality, and inventiveness," Thomann wrote.

"Embedded in the song 'YYZ', the three-minute solo is characterized by Neil's tasteful and dynamic tom fills, in which he uses the entire range from the small 6-inch concert tom to the mighty 22-inch gong tom. He also makes effective use of his cowbells."

'YYZ' Emerged Out of Rush's Busy Travel Schedule

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson revealed the genesis of the song came from the group flying out of a small airport, "And on the way back, they tuned in the identifier for Toronto airport, which is YYZ."

Peart recalled, "The rhythm stuck in my head and I said, ‘Guys!' So then, thematically we said, ‘We'll let's use that airport – so much a part of our lives in those days and after – let's use that as a metaphor in a sense."

"In our lives, airports were rich with symbolism. Departures and comings and goings; departures and arrivals. Separations and meetings. That was kind of woven into the song. The exotic nature of travel, too, and Alex's guitar solo for sure too. He wove in that kind of eastern mode."

The song went on to be nominated for a Grammy and land Peart among most of the lists regarding the best drum solos of all time.

Related: 1980 Rock Classic Named Among Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 6:59 AM.