Originally published in Rhythm magazine 293 · January 2020
Mike Portnoy comments on La Villa Strangiato
ArticleMike Portnoy2 min read
‘La Villa Strangiato’
Hemispheres (1978) – Rush
Drummer: Neil Peart
“I was in high school when I first heard Hemispheres and was floored by the virtuosity and level of musicianship on it. It was the ultimate, progressive, technical achievement and, at that time, you just didn't expect music like that from a rock band... Neil Peart subsequently became one of my biggest influences, and I was lucky enough to discover his drumming at a point in my career when I wanted to get better, play more complicated things and explore odd time signatures.
“‘La Villa Strangiato’ was my Olympic drum challenge! Up until then, my heroes had been more 4/4 pocket groove guys – like Ringo, Moonie and Bonham – but this is the track that taught me how to play long, progressive figures and untraditional arrangements, and pushed me in a whole new direction. Back then, of course, we listened to records and there is something to be said for using your imagination to work out what a drummer is playing. You couldn't just click on something and watch them like you can today. We had to work harder to learn – especially when you are talking about a 10 minute instrumental track like this! – but I relished the challenge.
“At that time, no other drummer had a kit as big as Neil’s and I was fascinated by the concert toms, percussion, and all the other knick-knacks that he had in his set-up. Neil was a Tama guy in the ‘80s and, when I had finally saved up enough money, I remember modelling my first Tama Imperial Star kit after him!
“Drumming is all about the evolution, the inspiration, the personality, and the passing of things to the next generation. Discovering Rush and Neil Peart at that point in time put me on a course with Dream Theater that would change my life, and define my career. We are friends now, but I didn't actually meet Neil until 2007, when I interviewed him for a guest editorship I was doing with Rhythm. If I had met him under any other circumstances, I think I would have been afraid to bring up drums, or Rush, but I can't tell you how great it was to have an excuse to be the ‘fan boy’ and ask him all the questions I ever wanted to!”