Neil Peart RIP

[mcq]

I was profoundly saddened to hear of the recent death from brain cancer at 67 of Neil Peart.

Rush were a band I loved in my teenage years. They were never a cool band, with a lot of mockery directed at Geddy Lee’s high pitched vocals in particular, but still, I loved their music. I only saw them once in 1992 in London on their Roll The Bones world tour and, despite having a seat near the back of Wembley Arena, enjoyed every moment. I always regretted missing their performance in Dublin a few years ago. The footage I saw from that tour showed a band at the height of their powers and one that eclipsed utterly the version of the band I saw in London in 1992. I had a feeling that I had missed my chance and they would never come back to Dublin and I was right.

In addition to the music, there was always a sense of chemistry and respect between Lee, Lifeson and Peart who appeared to remain genuine friends throughout the many years they toured together. And Peart will be remembered, I feel, as one of the great rock drummers. A man deeply inspired by big band drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, who used his virtuosity as a vehicle to serve the song and never to merely indulge himself. He will be missed.

[cybot]

I was profoundly saddened to hear of the recent death from brain cancer at 67 of Neil Peart.

Rush were a band I loved in my teenage years. They were never a cool band, with a lot of mockery directed at Geddy Lee’s high pitched vocals in particular, but still, I loved their music. I only saw them once in 1992 in London on their Roll The Bones world tour and, despite having a seat near the back of Wembley Arena, enjoyed every moment. I always regretted missing their performance in Dublin a few years ago. The footage I saw from that tour showed a band at the height of their powers and one that eclipsed utterly the version of the band I saw in London in 1992. I had a feeling that I had missed my chance and they would never come back to Dublin and I was right.

In addition to the music, there was always a sense of chemistry and respect between Lee, Lifeson and Peart who appeared to remain genuine friends throughout the many years they toured together. And Peart will be remembered, I feel, as one of the great rock drummers. A man deeply inspired by big band drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, who used his virtuosity as a vehicle to serve the song and never to merely indulge himself. He will be missed.

Ah no! A teenage fan too and I still have all of their early albums. They were cool where I came from as nobody ever heard of them back then. I clearly remember my first time working in Dublin and the dingy flats I existed in. But all that was offset somewhat with a poster of Jimi on the crumbling wall and a tape of "Permanent Waves" to keep me company.
RIP Neil.....