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Cannot believe I wrote that title. News emerged last night that the great rock drummer and lyricist Neil Peart has died aged 67 after suffering from brain cancer being diagnosed 3 years ago on Tuesday.
I've been a fan of the Professor and Rush for almost 40 years and he and the band have been, to varying degrees and sometimes in opposition, an integral part of my development throughout my life.
One of their iconic songs
Peart came out, usually, on top of drummer polls for decades. In all time polls of rock drummers he is invariably second to John Bonham. With the regard he was held in by fans and professional peers it is no great claim to say he was at or very near the top. Rush concerts always had a drum solo. Now I love his drumming because of the textures, patterns and dynamism he brought to the songs. His solos? Not so much. I know plenty of fans would regard his solo as the highlight of the show but, the two occasion I saw them, I used these as an opportunity to hit the bar. I just don't care for Rock solo's of any sort, drums, guitar, cow bell. It's not the form for solo's. Rock is about songs, tunes, riffs. If you want to feel your life ebbing away watch Ginger Bakers "Toad". And I know Baker came from a Jazz background - it's still a load of old balls. However I do like a nice jazz solo and like all great musicians Peart had a love of all great music and was open to influences wherever he found them. Growing up he was as much a fan of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa as Keith Moon.
He was such a fan of Buddy Rich, in fact, that he organised a tribute concert, Burning for Buddy, in 1994. Here is his solo from the concert
Pearts solo that he used to perform in the mid-late 70's contained phrases he took from Rich. Here he incorporates his own elements back into his tribute to Rich (when the backing musicians break into smiles and start nodding to each other) which is a lovely way to pay back and complete the circle
Peart's lyrics were divisive to say the least having him appear on both the Best and Worst lyrics polls sometimes at the same time. Personally I think when he was good he was great
Subdivisions
Following this loss Peart told his band mates he was hanging up his sticks and took to the road on his motorbike for the next couple of years. He documented this period in the book: Ghost Rider - travels on the healing road.
After this catharsis, and having not played drums for a number of years, he reconnected with his band mates and began writing and eventually touring again. While they never truly recaptured their old songwriting form, which had already ebbed away prior to Pearts tragedy, they were still capably of blowing audiences away live as this now legendary Live in Rio performance shows
Right up to the end of Rush the band were playing 3 hour sets despite both Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson suffering from ever worsening physical aliments. Lets just leave Geddy Lee's ever declining vocal abilities aside for now
Peart married again in the 2000's and leaves a wife and daughter from that marriage.
If you can't stand the band, prog or hard rock in general, I would still recommend you watch Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage which is available on Netflix. I know I'm a fan but it's a hugely enjoyable documentary which encapsulates the band almost perfectly.
Some heavy rotation be happening this weekend
I've been a fan of the Professor and Rush for almost 40 years and he and the band have been, to varying degrees and sometimes in opposition, an integral part of my development throughout my life.
One of their iconic songs
Peart came out, usually, on top of drummer polls for decades. In all time polls of rock drummers he is invariably second to John Bonham. With the regard he was held in by fans and professional peers it is no great claim to say he was at or very near the top. Rush concerts always had a drum solo. Now I love his drumming because of the textures, patterns and dynamism he brought to the songs. His solos? Not so much. I know plenty of fans would regard his solo as the highlight of the show but, the two occasion I saw them, I used these as an opportunity to hit the bar. I just don't care for Rock solo's of any sort, drums, guitar, cow bell. It's not the form for solo's. Rock is about songs, tunes, riffs. If you want to feel your life ebbing away watch Ginger Bakers "Toad". And I know Baker came from a Jazz background - it's still a load of old balls. However I do like a nice jazz solo and like all great musicians Peart had a love of all great music and was open to influences wherever he found them. Growing up he was as much a fan of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa as Keith Moon.
He was such a fan of Buddy Rich, in fact, that he organised a tribute concert, Burning for Buddy, in 1994. Here is his solo from the concert
Pearts solo that he used to perform in the mid-late 70's contained phrases he took from Rich. Here he incorporates his own elements back into his tribute to Rich (when the backing musicians break into smiles and start nodding to each other) which is a lovely way to pay back and complete the circle
Peart's lyrics were divisive to say the least having him appear on both the Best and Worst lyrics polls sometimes at the same time. Personally I think when he was good he was great
Subdivisions
Peart suffered great personal tragedy in the late 90's when he only child died in a car crash, losing his wife shortly after to cancer. Although as Peart said "When their daughter died she just gave up. The doctors said she died of cancer but I know she died of a broken heart."
Following this loss Peart told his band mates he was hanging up his sticks and took to the road on his motorbike for the next couple of years. He documented this period in the book: Ghost Rider - travels on the healing road.
After this catharsis, and having not played drums for a number of years, he reconnected with his band mates and began writing and eventually touring again. While they never truly recaptured their old songwriting form, which had already ebbed away prior to Pearts tragedy, they were still capably of blowing audiences away live as this now legendary Live in Rio performance shows
Right up to the end of Rush the band were playing 3 hour sets despite both Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson suffering from ever worsening physical aliments. Lets just leave Geddy Lee's ever declining vocal abilities aside for now
Peart married again in the 2000's and leaves a wife and daughter from that marriage.
If you can't stand the band, prog or hard rock in general, I would still recommend you watch Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage which is available on Netflix. I know I'm a fan but it's a hugely enjoyable documentary which encapsulates the band almost perfectly.
Some heavy rotation be happening this weekend
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