On January 7th, 2020 the world lost an incredible musician in Neil Peart. Peart, best known as the drummer in a Canadian band called Rush, died after a three year battle with brain cancer. Throughout the years, NHL arenas would play sections from various Rush songs, such as YYZ and Tom Sawyer. Subdivisions is a very popular one to be played at TD Garden, because the arena comes with an organ. 

Being the main lyricist for Rush, Peart was able to publish several memoirs about his travels, as well as several other books.

Peart also contributed to Hockey Night in Canada by putting together a new version of “The Hockey Theme” in 2009. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Neil said “I was a monomaniac about drumming. I was physically awkward. My ankles were weak, so I couldn’t play any sports. I couldn’t skate and I couldn’t play hockey, which in Canada is like football is in the U.K. And that makes you a pariah as a boy”. (Source) 

---

Growing up, Rush was always present in my household. My father has attended almost all of their tours in the USA, some even more than once. His love of drumming was passed down to my older brother, who can crash out an Rush tune on the drums.

I also remember watching their live tour DVD, “Snakes and Arrows” and during “The Spirit of Radio” a man wearing a chicken suit came out on stage, which had rotisserie chicken machines and just messed with the band. Being a young girl, who sadly would rather be interested in Justin Bieber, Rush’s music didn’t interest me as much, although I loved watching that “Snakes and Arrows” DVD.

When Rush decided to retire from music in 2015, Peart was starting his private dealings with brain cancer. A quotes that stands out to me that sums up Peart was that he “didn’t want to be like everyone else. He just wanted to be Neil. He loved being a rock drummer, but he also loved literature. He loved poetry. He loved the outdoors. He didn’t care what society thought a rock star was ‘supposed to be’ — he wasn’t afraid to be himself, and he didn’t really care about fame”. (Source)

If you would like to express your condolences, please choose a cancer research or charity and make a donation in Neil Peart’s name.

Until Next Time

∼RJ