you mean like 99% of all the other prog drummers?

Bruford, Collins, Mason, even technically complex guys like Brann Dailor are fine with an 8-10 piece drumset. there's only a few knuckleheads out there that have enormous sets, and a good bit of it arises from pretensions or insecurities they have with being normal. nobody needs a set like Peart's or Bozzio's, and i'm willing to bet it hampers their freedom of movement more often than not.

christ knows the asshats using dual guitars could use a poke in the side too.

Well double guitars are just for show.

But different kinds of snares, toms, cymbals, hi-hats and bass drums can add a lot of variety to the sound, and if you got it, flaunt it, Peart can mantain a huge drumset, and he makes great use of it.

I said this before, and I say it again, it doesn't aways have to be about minimalism, oftentimes minimalism is f*cking overrated.

and you think expansive sets like Bozzio's or Carey's aren't part of the attraction?

a drummer might have more control over his cymbal crashes and tom strikes but in the end he's trying to feed an ulterior purpose to his drum skills (in controlling the pitch of the resonating head), something that isn't audibly discernable to listeners anyways.

i'm not saying to be like Bobby fucking Gillespie. just exercise common sense with technique.

Exactly. I've seen plenty of musicians with huge drumkits who have little technique and use their enormous set to impress rather than their skills. But drummers like Carey and Peart make great use of their kits. You can't say they don't have any technical skill because they do, and they make use of it via the way they chose to set up their drums.

I think Neil Peart would inspire awe and amazement on a 5-6 piece drum set. His ride technique alone is jaw dropping. I've been lucky enough to see him live 5 times, and while I've never been a fan of the wanky drum solo I always look forward to his. I can also say that the man utilizes his entire set quite tastefully, and I'm definitely one to cut bait at the first sign of musical masturbation.

If Peart cut his solo time in half he would be perfect.

Pearts solo's never outlive their welcome. They are brilliant from start to finish, not to mention that he doesn't even solo that often. Maybe one 4- minute solo per show.

Neil Peart is pretty awesome.

It's the same drumsets they use in the studio.

It is depending on good of an ear you have. Of course if you're a musician, you can tell the difference.

All great drummers above in the poll, my ten would be these and in no special order.

1. Neil Peart
2. John Bonham
3. Dave Lombardo
4. Dave Grohl
5. Jeff Pocaro
6. Mitch Mitchell
7. Mike Shrieve
8. Steve Smith
9. Vinnie Paul
10. Keith Moon