We are saddened to report that Neil Peart — legendary, award-winning drummer and lyricist for the groundbreaking Canadian progressive-rock band Rush and successful author — died at the age of 67 on January 7 after a 3-year battle with brain cancer.
Born in 1952, Peart first began playing the piano but shifted to drums after receiving a kit from his parents for his 14th birthday. Later that year, he made his stage debut and began gigging with his first groups. He relocated to London to pursue music at the age of 18 but returned to work in his father’s tractor parts company 18 months later.
A friend suggested he audition for the band Rush when bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson decided to replace their original drummer. Peart later described the audition as a “complete disaster,” but clearly his Keith Moon–inspired drumming hit the right mark for Lee and Lifeson. He became an official member of the band on July 29, 1974, and held the drum/percussion and lyricist chair for the rest of the band’s more than 40-year career, beginning with the release of their second album, Fly by Night.
Peart’s highly technical approach to progressive-rock drumming earned him numerous accolades throughout his career, but his talents manifested in other artistic areas as well. He branched out from Rush to Buddy Rich big-band-jazz tributes, as well as other musical projects. In 1996, he launched a second career as an author with The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa. Numerous other books and a popular blog followed.
Countless musicians, including many of us here at Sweetwater, grew up on Rush and Neil’s virtuosic drumming and lyric writing. Many were inspired to pick up their instruments for the first time after hearing such albums as 2112, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, and other classics.
With his otherworldly chops, unique rhythmic sense, and compositional approach to drumming, Peart was a drummer’s drummer. Learning “YYZ,” “Tom Sawyer,” or “La Villa Strangiato” on drums was considered a rite of passage for many drummers the world over.
Thank you, Mr. Peart, for all the great musical memories you provided the world. We are eternally grateful. From all of us here at Sweetwater, our condolences to your friends, fans, and family.