NEIL PEART, LARS ULRICH, MIKE PORTNOY Honored At This Year's 'Drummies'

RUSH drummer Neil Peart has garnered his third consecutive victory as "Drummer Of The Year" in this year's Drummies. He was also named "Best Progressive Drummer."

Enter Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum magazines worldwide, 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 DRUM! magazine. Runner-up Travis Barker gave Peart a serious run and had been the most frequent winner (three victories) prior to Peart's popularity. Thus, Barker remains a very influential, popular drummer as well.

According to Hood, "Peart's success probably stems from the resurgence of RUSH's popularity over the same time period that he has won the Drummies. There's no doubt that RUSH's hyper drive back into mainstream success has propelled Peart to these victories," he notes.

All winners and runners-up in the 41 categories can be viewed in print in the August issue of DRUM! magazine and online at this location.

Abridged Drummies winner list:

Drummers:

Drummer Of The Year: Neil Peart
Rising Star: Thomas Pridgen
Progressive Rock Drummer: Neil Peart
Metal Drummer: Lars Ulrich
Jam Band Drummer: Carter Beauford
Funk Drummer: Chad Smith
Mainstream Pop Drummer: Bob Bryar
Alternative Rock Drummer: Chad Smith
Punk Drummer: Travis Barker
R&B/Blues Drummer: John Blackwell
Jazz/Fusion Drummer: Steve Smith
Country Drummer: Jim Riley
Drum Clinician: Todd Sucherman
Studio Drummer: Josh Freese
Live Performer: Mike Portnoy

Percussionists:

Percussionist Of The Year: Sheila E.
Rising Star: Jocelyn Alvarez
Latin Percussionist: Giovanni Hidalgo
Jazz/Fusion Percussionist: Airto Moreira