CNN reported it today and I couldn’t believe it when I read the post
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/entertainment/neil-peart-rush-drummer-death-trnd/index.html
He was the brains in the lyrics and the rhythm in the music. Not necessarily more important in the band than Geddy or Alex, but it’s hard for me to imagine anyone else behind that kit.
I have had a long long history with Rush. On again, off again. When they went to keyboards my high school mentality didn’t get it and I dropped them. However I came back to the fold eventually and found that I really dug those albums.
My post on The Rush Paradigm explains it all and I won’t rehash it all.
https://auralretentive.com/2012/02/11/the-rush-paradigm/
There is no doubt in my mind that Neil is one of the all time rock drummers. It’s just a fact. I’m glad I was able to get to see him live and doing his magic back in the day with Dalton on the Vapor Trails tour. It was a great show.
I am going to go look over my Rush vinyl collection with a new sense of melancholy but a smile that I have all this fantastic music. I have all the early albums and my absolute favorite is “Rush – Caress Of Steel”. I got them from Dalton when he passed so they have a special connection with me. I have also subsequently picked up a replacement copy of my very first Rush album “Archives”
https://auralretentive.com/2019/09/02/rush-archives/
Neil Peart has always been the yardstick by which I measured all other drummers. Does that not say it all. THE Yardstick.
You will be missed Neil.
The Aural Retentive 