The Spirit of Neil Peart

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On the one-year anniversary of Neil Peart's passing, the Rush drum god's bandmates and widow speak for the first time about his bold life and brave final years. Read our exclusive digital cover story now:

into his hard-won retirement before he started to feel like something was wrong. Words were, for once, the problem. Peart, one-third of the Toronto band, was one of the world’s most worshipped drummers, unleashing his unearthly skills upon rotating drum kits that grew to encompass what seemed like every percussive possibility within human invention. Before band rehearsals for Rush tours, he’d practice on his own for weeks to ensure he could replicate his parts.

Peart started doing newspaper crossword puzzles back in the early Seventies, when he traveled to England from his native Canada to make it as a drummer, only to end up as the manager of a souvenir shop, with time to kill on a tube commute. For the past couple of decades, he made a ritual of whipping through theSunday puzzle. In June 2016, he was baffled to find himself struggling with that task. “He couldn’t figure it out,” says Rush’s longtime manager, Ray Danniels.

Lifeson was at a golf course when he got the message. “I think I started crying right there,” he says. Peart had his own mourning process to get through, says Nuttall, “for the future he was not going to have and for everything he would miss out on with Olivia, and with me, and with life itself. If anyone lived life to the fullest, it was Neil. And there was still much he wanted to do. When everyone says, ‘Oh, he was so stoic and accepted his fate,’ and all that? Yes, he did. But it also broke his heart.

Peart never complained, Lee jokes, unless he “ran out of smokes.” “One time I arrived without any alcohol,” adds Lee, a serious wine collector. “And I’m famous for arriving at his house with what he used to call ‘your bucket of wine.’ And I didn’t bring it this one time. And he was just so appalled. So of course, the next day, Alex and I went to a wine store and made sure we arrived with a bucket of wine. And all was good again.

GHOST RIDER: Peart took to traveling from show to show on Rush’s tours via motorcycle, even at age 62.Peart spent his infancy on a family farm, before his father — who would eventually run his own auto-parts business — moved the family to Port Dalhousie, a suburb of the small city of St. Catharines, Ontario. Until his teenage years, Peart’s childhood was relatively idyllic. He spent much of his time outdoors, cultivating what became a lifelong connection with nature.

Peart’s first attempt at ordinary life lasted barely a year before he was recruited to audition for a Toronto band already signed to a major label. Peart joined Rush, and began 40 years of recording and touring. “You look at him in photographs in the early days,” says Lee, “and he had a great smile. He was very happy for a very long time. Only after years of grueling road work did that smile start to wear away a little bit.

 

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Rolling Stone dissed RUSH for decades, but something finally seemed to wake them up to the fact that RUSH were amazing. Maybe it was the Beyond the Lighted Stage doc. Maybe it was the huge RUSH fan outcry for them to get into the RRHOF, which Lemmy is STILL not in, hint hint...

Really great story. Such a master of the drums and a great bio of the man. Thank you!!

He died on January 7th.

Another Neil Peart link to check out MichelleIfIKnow

2 days late.

Thank you for posting this

One great drummer.

👏👏👏

A major influence for me

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Very powerful article

His brain cancer was so bad he couldn't strike his snare without passing out

DM me if you need a new logo

What an emotional read. 😢

rushtheband “BRAVADO” And when the music stops, there’s only the sound of the rain. LOVE remains. RIP “Neil Elwood Peart” A Devine Masterful Human 1.7.2020 - eightiesrushfan2112

FUCK CANCER

rushtheband I’m still devastated.

I’ve had lifelong friends pass away and it still hurt a year later, but it still feels like he passed away yesterday and I felt sadder on the anniversary of his death than I thought was possible. It is said that time heals all wounds but sometimes Time Stands Still.

rushtheband Great article, just wish it was longer. Not that it is short, its just good writing and I dearly love the subject. So long Neal, love always.

rushtheband Great article! Among the many things about Rush that are noteworthy to me is the enduring relationship of the triumvirate. With the number of the counting being 3, and with 2 of them being childhood friends, I could see room for a lot of acrimony.

rushtheband Just read it (had to, as my wife sent it to me) and found it to be surprisingly well written, kind, sad. I am, however, fairly certain Neil wasn't ' helping to computerize the inventory system' while working at his father's business...in 1973-'74. I mean, I could be wrong...

rushtheband

I miss Neil & Rush. I’m from Kansas City and just realized that Neil is wearing a Gate’s Barbecue shirt on your cover photo 😭 Rush NeilPeart KansasCity RushFamily

He resembled Tom Hanks but what an amazing songwriter

rushtheband Yass i'm the 100th tweet! Rush was the very first band my hairy ugalicious sister took me too in Augusta GA. That's the only nice thing she did for me (besides pick my in Baltimore from GA). Amazing how they still look young and buff. Please come to KingsTheater KingsBklyn .

Loved this article! What an interesting guy

What a great, great article. Thank you.

Brought me to tears, it did...

🥁😪 I can't find the words.

Fantastic article!

rushtheband Miss him so much....RipNeilPeart

rushtheband

Nice article! Good to hear from Lee and Lifeson on the subject. Hard to believe it’s been a year.

As I sit here reading this, it all comes back to me a 16 year old who found her group. Who helped her with being the loner, that it was ok!! I found what spoke to me! Maybe nobody really just understood them!! A truly wonderful article!!

As a lifelong Rush fan, this is a sad anniversary. This was a great article on Neil Peart. Rare insight to NP's personal and professional life. He lived it to the fullest and certainly left a Vapor Trail. RIP Professor. Rush

RockNRolla60 give this a read 🥲

RachelSteeleCLE A great story. I listes to Clockwork Angels and there is another one coming .

Thank you for that article. Well done! A fitting tribute to an elite musician and, by all accounts, an even better person.

rushtheband My heart is aching, but this memories are a blessing hand. Thank you, Neil, for everything.

Man he could Drum!!👊🏼🥁😢

rushtheband RIP Professor. I had the privilege of seeing them 3 times in the UK in the '70s .... outstanding.

This was fantastic, thanks!

rushtheband Best drummer ever

rushtheband RIP Professor

Great article Brian...well constructed, heart felt and certainly informative...thanks...

Great read!🎶👍

bredemske Omg..it’s been a year

rushtheband So good to read but also so very sad. I'm so happy his daughter is learning to play the drums. I'm also glad he never gave up smoking. 😊 He is still and always will be my hero! 🤘🙌💔🥁💔🙌🤘

rushtheband I will always feel blessed that I lived at a time where I could see Rush play on multiple tours. Their albums were, in many ways, the soundtrack of my life. Neil’s lyrics continue to inspire me to this day, more than 40 years after I first started listening to them. RIP Neil.

I'm not crying, you're crying! 😭

Amazing, fantastic read. Incredibly well done. Deep in the feels from the first words.

rushtheband Thank you for this story. He is terribly missed.

rushtheband A fantastic read, worthy of a fantastic musician. A man sorely missed..

rushtheband Well worth a read ! , Geddy mentions that Big Al & him might return to music in the future...that gives us all something to hope & pray for...🤞🙏

rushtheband Thank You RS for the story. Neil, RIP All I got.

rushtheband Can I buy this issue in print and have it mailed to my home?

Excellent excellent read!!

RealShawnMullin great read

rushtheband Amazing and heartfelt article. What a read. What a legend. Rest in peace, Pratt. Your legacy lives on.

rushtheband Been a fan for 40 years and the professor continues to teach us all though the thoughtful lyrics and incredible musicianship he created with Rush.

Great article.

rushtheband I’m not crying...you’re crying.

rushtheband Thank you Neil for providing the soundtrack to my life as well as being a major influence on me as a person. I will never forget you or your body of work NeilPeart

rushtheband Superlatives in music have no place. Unless the subject is Neil Peart.

rushtheband Well done! Thank you Rush and thank you Rolling Stone RipNeilPeart

rushtheband Great article. Missing Neil...and Rush.

rushtheband Great article. He is so missed.

rushtheband We miss u, Neil..

rushtheband

Rest In peace Grand Master. Your fans miss you. 😢❤️😢 Today my speakers will bleed YYZ. Rash Rules.

rushtheband markminervini might like to read this

rushtheband So sorely missed, my favorite band of my youth. 😭

rushtheband My goodness, the man had a whole lifetime of a career where he did NOT look like Doug Henning. Get a better picture!

rushtheband KenYuhas

rushtheband NCarusoJr

He was a hell of a drummer ..rip

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