Rush
Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for prog rock trio Rush, has passed away at the age of 67. In a statement, his bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson said, “It is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and band mate of over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three-and-a-half year battle with brain cancer (Glioblastoma). We ask that friends, fans, and media alike understandably respect the family’s need for privacy and peace at this extremely painful and difficult time. Those wishing to express their condolences can choose a cancer research group or charity of their choice and make a donation in Neil Peart’s name.”
Peart was a highly influential drummer, whose complex style inspired countless musicians over the years. He also wrote the lyrics for Rush’s songs, inspired by science fiction and a wide variety of other sources. Peart joined Rush in 1974, replacing their original drummer John Rutsey, and began penning their lyrics on their sophomore release Fly by Night. The band became superstars in their native Canada and had a number of hit songs on rock radio both in the U.S. and back home, including “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight” and “The Spirit of Radio.”
In 1997, Peart’s daughter was killed in a car accident, then his wife passed away less than a year later from cancer. Peart took time away from Rush to mourn his family and spent his time riding his motorcycle around North America. He returned to the group in 2002 and the band recorded and toured steadily for the next 13 years. The group joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Rush’s final tour was in 2015, when Peart had decided he was tired of the road and wanted to retire to spend his time with his family.
