Rush Drummer Neil Peart Dead at 67(rollingstone.com)
rollingstone.com
Rush Drummer Neil Peart Dead at 67
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-peart-rush-obituary-936221/
34 comments
There was a documentary 10 years ago about the history of the band. IIRC the band's first drummer was very talented but for whatever reason wasn't working out. The drummer had an unusual role for rock drummers -- he was actually kind of the "frontman" in the sense he would handle the audience patter, introducing the band, etc.
They found Peart working in his uncle's animal feed shop out in the countryside. He was an amazing drummer, technically speaking. Unlike his predecessor, Peart seemed to be a total introvert, and also didn't seem to mesh well with Lee and Lifeson (best pals since middle school). Nevertheless, he proved himself to be a creative leader, writing many of the band's most memorable songs, and crafting lyrics with meaning that go beyond what most hard rock bands were putting out at the time (see 2112 and Moving Pictures).
He took a long hiatus from music about 15 or 20 years ago after the deaths of several family members, and toured North America on his motorcycle. I always wondered about that trip, and what he was able to discover.
They found Peart working in his uncle's animal feed shop out in the countryside. He was an amazing drummer, technically speaking. Unlike his predecessor, Peart seemed to be a total introvert, and also didn't seem to mesh well with Lee and Lifeson (best pals since middle school). Nevertheless, he proved himself to be a creative leader, writing many of the band's most memorable songs, and crafting lyrics with meaning that go beyond what most hard rock bands were putting out at the time (see 2112 and Moving Pictures).
He took a long hiatus from music about 15 or 20 years ago after the deaths of several family members, and toured North America on his motorcycle. I always wondered about that trip, and what he was able to discover.
He actually wrote a book about those travels:
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1...
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1...
Like many commenters here Rush defined so much of my teen years. Songs like Subdivisions, Limelight, both written by Peart, captured much of what I saw in my life. So sad to see Peart gone but the Rolling Stone article outlines how much sadness he had in his life. May he find some peace in the afterlife.
He was amazing.
This video is a favorite of his playing. He breaks a stick and replaces it without losing a beat. It's hard to notice!
Neil Peart Breaks a Stick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UweV2Av7RE
This video is a favorite of his playing. He breaks a stick and replaces it without losing a beat. It's hard to notice!
Neil Peart Breaks a Stick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UweV2Av7RE
While Peart was a virtuoso, breaking (or dropping) a stick is so common that decent drummers quickly get used to making up for it without raising notice among the audience.
"The treasure of a life is a measure of love and respect
The way you live, the gifts that you give
In the fullness of time
It's the only return that you expect".
- Neil Peart, The Garden
- Neil Peart, The Garden
You've taken care of everything,
The beats we feel, the words we scream,
And now you've gone to your eternal rest.
Those inclined to think and feel,
In all good ways did love you Neil,
And know you truly were among the best.
The beats we feel, the words we scream,
And now you've gone to your eternal rest.
Those inclined to think and feel,
In all good ways did love you Neil,
And know you truly were among the best.
Holy shit. I've been listening to Rush since I was 5 years old and I always thought of these guys as immortal. Just.. wow. RIP to one of the most talented drummers and songwriters of all time.
This is really sad news. RIP.
I actually learned about Rush through Craig Federighi's references to the band during Apple keynotes. I'm sure he's sad today as well.
:(
> Selena’s mother – Peart’s common-law wife of 23 years
not sure how to feel about this not-exactly-wife tidbit being thrown in there; just call her his wife - these aren't legal proceedings.
> Selena’s mother – Peart’s common-law wife of 23 years
not sure how to feel about this not-exactly-wife tidbit being thrown in there; just call her his wife - these aren't legal proceedings.
This is how the late woman was always mentioned in press coverage. That they chose to never formalize their relationship was considered a big part of that relationship.
I started listening to Rush in 1976 with the release of 2112. I was completely blown away. They've always been one of my favorite bands ever since.
What a sad day. One of rock's best drummers from one of rock's best bands. So fortunate to have seen them on their farewell tour. RIP Mr. Peart.
Sad news. RIP. I haven't listened to Rush for a few years, maybe time to pull some of the albums back out and do some air-drumming.
I'm so happy we live at a time where we can go on Youtube and pull up footage from pretty much any concert they ever played - including ones that we've been to. Which is exactly what I'm doing now!
"God, there is no fucking drummer better than Neil Peart!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQydoiDY28&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQydoiDY28&feature=youtu.be
One of the very best. Inspired countless musicians and changed the world forever.
Had the good fortune to see Rush concerts in 2004, 2007, and 2015. The scalper outside Madison Square Gardens who sold me a concert ticket was calling out, "if you've never had your prostate checked, you're too young to go to this concert!" Glad I ignored the tongue-in-cheek advice -- their shows never failed to amaze.
Very shocking news indeed. Rush is not Rush anymore without him. Definitely one of the drummers that raised the bar.
RIP Neil.
RIP Neil.
Incredible loss for the music world. Perhaps the GOAT of rock drummers. RIP.
It seems that it was only now revealed that Neil had been battling brain cancer over the last 3 years. He had always valued keeping his private life separate from his public persona.
Oh wow. He was a god to every drummer I ever played with.
Lots of black armbands.
Lots of black armbands.
RIP. One of the best drummers and lyricists of all time from one of the best bands of all time.
It’s a tragic loss on so many levels...
RIP Neil...
RIP Neil...
A major loss. One of the giants. Thanks for all the music and influencing hundreds of bands.
This is awful news. Too young.
What a loss. I’ll be listening to his music for the rest of my life.
I grew up on Rush and love Neil’s lyrics and drumming. One of the best rock trios ever. RIP.
Same here man. I remember exactly the scene when I first heard them - Subdivisions it was. On a music video, on VH1, 1992. Spent the next decade and more listening to absolutely everything they did and would do.
Happy to say I saw them in concert for their 30th anniversary tour, and another time on my birthday where they played the entirety of Moving Pictures. To this day, there hasn't been a concert experience like either of those days.
Happy to say I saw them in concert for their 30th anniversary tour, and another time on my birthday where they played the entirety of Moving Pictures. To this day, there hasn't been a concert experience like either of those days.
Sad to hear. I played the drums, and he was my hero growing up. Modern Drummer magazine had a "drummer of the year" in different categories, and eventually they made a hall of fame, so it wouldn't just be Neil.
By their reckoning, the third best drummer ever: https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/march-2014-50-greatest...
By their reckoning, the third best drummer ever: https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/march-2014-50-greatest...
Yep, same here. Had some pull-out posters from MD magazine of him hanging on my wall as a teenager.
Bonham, Moon, Starr -- and Peart -- all above Max Roach?
Umm, okay.
Umm, okay.
I was fearing the worst when I saw Buddy Rich at #1 — he's usually the token Jazz drummer on rock-oriented lists. But to my pleasant surprise, the list actually represented Jazz drummers fairly (disregarding the rankings, which are bound to be more subjective).
Holy crap! That show changed and enhanced what I appreciated in music so much. It's still easily the most technically impressive show I've seen. I don't listen to Rush as much as I used to but I think about them and that concert often.