When I saw the news popped on my social media timelines, the first thing I felt was shock and disbelief. Sure, I don’t really dive into the more progressive side of Rock and Metal music, but the entire Rock and Metal community mourns the loss of a legendary musician who has been the ace behind the drum kit. He was mainly known as the drummer of a massive Canadian band (not THAT Canadian band), spanning a career from 1968 until his retirement in 2015. Today, exactly three days since the news of his death broke out, I’m writing this article in honor of the drumming ace Neil Peart.
Neil Ellwood Peart was born on September 12th1952 at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as the eldest of four. His first musical exposure came in a form of piano lessons, which later (according to the man himself) didn’t have much impact on his musical prowess. He got his first drum kit as a present for his 14thbirthday and began taking lessons at the Peninsula Conservatory of Music. He once went to London, England to pursue his career as a full time musician, but ended up having to support himself by selling jewelry at a shop called The Great Frog on Carnaby Street. Once he returned to Canada, he began playing drums for local bands before auditioning for a position as a drummer for the band Rush, at that time seeking a replacement. Despite differences on first impressions, vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson accepted Peart into the band on July 29th1974, two weeks before their first US tour. With Rush, Peart acted as the main lyricist, as two of his bandmates are uninterested in writing lyrics in the first place. The band produced the album Fly by Night, their first album with Peart onboard in 1975. His most notable example of musicianship showed in the 1976 album 2112, at that time was Rush’s answer to the least favored 1975 offering Caress of Steel, as well as a big middle finger to the band’s record label who wanted the next album to be more commercially friendly and accessible to the masses, with its title track consisted of a 20 minute number divided into seven parts. He also loved experimenting with sound elements, began incorporating electronic drums for the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure, borrowing the words from an Ernest Hemingway quote to describe their trials and tribulations (according to Peart). He went into a sabbatical following the death of his first daughter (at that time, his only child) in 1997 following a single car accident and his common-law wife to cancer in 1998. After extensive travelling and mourning, he returned to the band to record the 2002 product Vapor Trails. During his hiatus, he married photographer Carrie Nuttall, which in turn gave Peart another daughter, Olivia Louise Peart. Neil’s (and Rush as a band) final album was the 2012 releaseClockwork Angels, and announced his retirement from the music world in 2015. Rush retired from the scene in 2018. After a three and a half year battle with brain cancer (glioblastoma), Neil Peart passed away at the age of 67 on January 7th2020. The Peart Family (wife Carrie and daughter Olivia) announced his death to the public three days later.
When I read all those news and tweets sent by the members of the metal community about the legacy this man left, it is safe to say that Neil Peart went from a household name in the Rock and Metal scene into a legend. The main reason Lee and Lifeson accepted him in the first place was because of his chaotic British style of playing, implied that Peart is influenced by The Who’s Keith Moon. His other influences came from Phil Collins, Billy Cobham, John Bonham, and Michael Giles, among others. He was known for his drum solos during Rush’s live performances. His solos were characterized by the use of exotic percussion instruments and passages in odd time signatures. He was also known for his 360-degree drum kits used on performances and MIDI trigger pads for his drum solos.
As of today, tributes are continue to be posted from Rock and Metal stars like vocalists King Diamond, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, fellow drumers like Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Mike Portnoy, Alex Bent of Trivium, and former longtime Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo. Guitarists and bassists like Slash, David Ellefson, Gary Holt, Frank Bello and Scott Ian (both from Anthrax) also shared their heartfelt tribute. Comedian Brian Posehn are also among the ones mourning Peart’s passing. Former bandmates Lee and Lifeson also released a statement remembering their “soul brother and bandmate of over 45 years.” Fans around the world continue to offer support and condolences to the Peart family and Rush.
As I have said, when human died, he left two things, his name and his memories. In this case with Neil Peart, it’s his influence and insight of Rock music that would stand the test of time, even when the man is no longer with us today. For now, let’s remember Neil’s life and career in the best way that we can think of, by blasting some of Rush’s iconic albums, mainly 2112. I heard that it is a 20-minute epic masterpiece. Thank you Rush, for the music that you brought, Thank you Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and most importantly, thank you Neil Peart, for not only an amazing career, but for an equally amazing life.
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