Very sad and no age at 67. I’m not a huge Rush fan mostly because of Geddy Lee’s voice, but I watched the documentary about the band on Netflix a couple of times and really enjoyed it. I’d recommend it to the curious. Neil comes across as a fascinating bloke, deep and thoughtful and has had some terrible personal tragedy at the peak of his success which he resolved by getting on his motorbike and riding thousands of miles across the Americas to sort his head out. He relearned to play to a synth click in the 80s when the band went all synth poppy and then went back to drum school to rediscover a more human groove when they returned to being a power trio. A fantastic player and a great loss. He can play some great drum battles with Bonzo in Valhalla.
Yep. The documentary showed what a happy content band they were.
Never even remotely a cool band and tbh I only really Ioved their imperial synth period. Have to be in the right mood for their progkimono schtick but blimey they itched a scratch.
This is very sad news. Beyond The Lighted Stage is an exemplary lesson on how a band can stay together for 40 years, remain friends and not turn into complete arseholes along the way.
Skip to 1:32 for the greatest moment in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. “From Toronto…”
Very sad news indeed – an amazing drummer and a talented lyricist. Twang mentions above the epic motorcycle trip he took in an attempt to deal with his grief at losing his daughter and wife in a short period – this is chronicled in his excellent book Ghost Rider, which I would highly recommend, although all his books are well worth a read even for non-fans as they contain very little about the band.
Sad news indeed. Rush were the first band I went to see (Tour of the Hemispheres, Edinburgh Odeon, 1979) and I’ll forever have a soft spot for them. I enjoyed Neal Peart’s books, lyrics and, yes, even his drum solos.
The drum roll at the beginning of One Little Victory marked his return after his personal tragedies and I can’t hear it without the emotional force that comes with that. I’m glad he found happiness again.
Neil Peart
I remember back in the day when our sound guy Tom Oliver or maybe it was our manager Martin Mayhead told me that Neil Peart had come to see It Bites play. Neil had said we were one on his favorite new bands. It was the first time a renowned artist had said they liked us. I was over the moon. It was like a shot of adrenalin. Dude. Fuckin Neil Peart liked us. We were 19 years old. How cool is that.
I’m dreadfully sorry to hear of his passing. It reminds all of us that we have a limited time here on earth. You dont ever think of people like him dying. The prog rock world is a lesser place because of it. He was a true icon in his genre.
But perhaps instead of being sad we can celebrate his life and be thankful that he came into the public spotlight during our time and inspired so many. Like George Harrison and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and John Lennon and Michael Jackson to name but a few, we grew up with these people. In a strange way they are all family. Neil was certainly family for millions of prog rockers. And wherever he is right now, I hope there’s a set of drums.
A 40th anniversary reissue of Permanent Waves arrives late March, although it’s not that thrilling – cd1 is the 2015 vinyl remaster on cd for the first time, cd2 is a selection of live material from various shows on that tour. As with the reissues of Farewell, Hemispheres etc, there’s nothing in the way of unreleased studio material – presumably there isn’t any……?
Twang says
Very sad and no age at 67. I’m not a huge Rush fan mostly because of Geddy Lee’s voice, but I watched the documentary about the band on Netflix a couple of times and really enjoyed it. I’d recommend it to the curious. Neil comes across as a fascinating bloke, deep and thoughtful and has had some terrible personal tragedy at the peak of his success which he resolved by getting on his motorbike and riding thousands of miles across the Americas to sort his head out. He relearned to play to a synth click in the 80s when the band went all synth poppy and then went back to drum school to rediscover a more human groove when they returned to being a power trio. A fantastic player and a great loss. He can play some great drum battles with Bonzo in Valhalla.
Good example of his playing here. Those fills…
Freddy Steady says
Yep. The documentary showed what a happy content band they were.
Never even remotely a cool band and tbh I only really Ioved their imperial synth period. Have to be in the right mood for their progkimono schtick but blimey they itched a scratch.
ruff-diamond says
This is very sad news. Beyond The Lighted Stage is an exemplary lesson on how a band can stay together for 40 years, remain friends and not turn into complete arseholes along the way.
Skip to 1:32 for the greatest moment in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. “From Toronto…”
dai says
Not a fan, but naturally big news here. Apparently he wrote much of the band’s lyrics too.
Twang says
The doc is worth a look even if you’re not a fan.
Bargepole says
Very sad news indeed – an amazing drummer and a talented lyricist. Twang mentions above the epic motorcycle trip he took in an attempt to deal with his grief at losing his daughter and wife in a short period – this is chronicled in his excellent book Ghost Rider, which I would highly recommend, although all his books are well worth a read even for non-fans as they contain very little about the band.
Lando Cakes says
Sad news indeed. Rush were the first band I went to see (Tour of the Hemispheres, Edinburgh Odeon, 1979) and I’ll forever have a soft spot for them. I enjoyed Neal Peart’s books, lyrics and, yes, even his drum solos.
The drum roll at the beginning of One Little Victory marked his return after his personal tragedies and I can’t hear it without the emotional force that comes with that. I’m glad he found happiness again.
MC Escher says
That docu – is it the one with them sitting around in a restaurant, chatting? That was fab.
Sad loss
Twang says
Yes amongst other places. They all come across as modest, balanced sensible blokes who are passionate about what they do.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Very sad to have lost another of the great ones we need more than ever.
Twang says
Francis Dunnery posted this on Facebook…
Neil Peart
I remember back in the day when our sound guy Tom Oliver or maybe it was our manager Martin Mayhead told me that Neil Peart had come to see It Bites play. Neil had said we were one on his favorite new bands. It was the first time a renowned artist had said they liked us. I was over the moon. It was like a shot of adrenalin. Dude. Fuckin Neil Peart liked us. We were 19 years old. How cool is that.
I’m dreadfully sorry to hear of his passing. It reminds all of us that we have a limited time here on earth. You dont ever think of people like him dying. The prog rock world is a lesser place because of it. He was a true icon in his genre.
But perhaps instead of being sad we can celebrate his life and be thankful that he came into the public spotlight during our time and inspired so many. Like George Harrison and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and John Lennon and Michael Jackson to name but a few, we grew up with these people. In a strange way they are all family. Neil was certainly family for millions of prog rockers. And wherever he is right now, I hope there’s a set of drums.
Goodnight Neil. Good lad.
Bargepole says
A 40th anniversary reissue of Permanent Waves arrives late March, although it’s not that thrilling – cd1 is the 2015 vinyl remaster on cd for the first time, cd2 is a selection of live material from various shows on that tour. As with the reissues of Farewell, Hemispheres etc, there’s nothing in the way of unreleased studio material – presumably there isn’t any……?