Neil Peart, Champion of Individualism; The late drummer left behind a legacy of unparalleled musicianship and freedom-celebrating lyrics.

Reason ^ | January 13, 2020 | Christian Britschgi

[DoodleBob]

Neil Peart, the longtime drummer for the Canadian band Rush, died last week of brain cancer, leaving behind a legacy as one of rock's most technically accomplished percussionists and perhaps its most articulate libertarian lyricist. The 67-year-old songwriter regularly championed individualism, choice, and freedom over soul-crushing conformity.

Early Rush songs are saturated with such messages. The song "Freewill," released on 1980's Permanent Waves album, puts self-determination at the root of the human experience: "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

In "The Trees," released two years earlier, Peart tells a fable about a forest where the maple trees demand to be made equal with the taller oaks. It doesn't go well:

So the maples formed a union
and demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy.
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression
for they passed a noble law.
And the trees are all kept equal
by hatchet, axe, and saw.

Sometimes Peart's individualism could be compressed into a single line, as in Rush's 1981 hit "Tom Sawyer": "No, his mind is not for rent/to any god or government."

Rush's 1976 album 2112, which Peart dedicated to the "genius of Ayn Rand," tells the story of a futuristic theocracy that outlaws individualism and creativity, including the electric guitar. Rand's novel The Fountainhead had a particularly heavy influence on Peart, who described the affinity he felt for the book's protagonist in a 1997 interview with Scott Bullock for Liberty magazine:

Howard Roark stood as a role model for me—as exactly the way I already was living. Even at that tender age [18] I already felt that.

[Openurmind]

Cool that he actually had two different sets there in 360. :)

[Fledermaus]

He seemed more an agnostic like myself.

[Rastus]

He was actually kind of a dick. In his Ghost Rider memoir, recounting his motorcycles travels across all of North America, he lavishes praise on the people of Canada and Mexico and heaps scorns on Americans. Why, the gorgeous people of Mexico didn’t even look at him twice, while the fat, stupid American sloths had the audacity to recognize him. Some even asked for his autograph, the pigs.

[Big Red Clay]

Thanks Megan, now I know that you can get a song stuck in your head just by reading the lyrics on Freep. Had to get out the bluetooth headphones and jam out this tune (one of my favorites of theirs).

I am pretty bummed out from the news of Neil passing away. What a talent and in my opinion the best rock drummer ever. I am so glad I was able to see Rush on the R40 tour. I was holding out hope that maybe they would make one last studio album. Neil was one interesting and quirky dude. If you want to learn more about him and the other guys in Rush, check out “Beyond the Lighted Stage” on Netflix. It is awesome and one of my favorite rock documentaries.

RIP Mr. Peart. Hope you are riding your bike across the endless highways of eternity.

[Openurmind]

Have you ever become extremely proficient in a complicated instrument like lead guitar, drums, or piano? There is indeed an energy out there you can tap and it flows through you. You can call it what you like, and use it for what you think it should be used for... But it is real, and it is very spiritual.

[Openurmind]

All very extraordinary musicians are egotistical dicks... lol

This is why it is hard to keep a good group together. Just look at Roth as an example. Very few were just “real” like Hendrix and Marley.

[DoodleBob]

I had a teacher who, in retrospect, was clearly a libertarian. When announcements would come over the intercom, she'd say "shhh...let's listen to Big Brother."

She had us read "Anthem" by Ayn Rand. I was just getting into Rush and "Fly by Night" was my album...my teacher let me play the first song from that album, " Anthem," for the class:

Know your place in life is where you want to be
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward...no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down

[Chorus:]
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
We marvel after those who sought
The wonders of the world, wonders of the world
Wonders of the world they wrought

Live for yourself...there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will only cry out for more

[Chorus]

Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yet it was for me, not you, I came to write this song

[Chorus]

World Wrought

Looking back, this was a downright subversive act on the part of my teacher.

Of course, when I got All the World's a Stage and heard 2112, everything came together. When I finally caught Anthem live via the Overture on their R30 Tour, one of my bucket list items could be checked off.

I can't help but imagine that a YUGE proportion of Deplorables were turned toward the Light via Rush's lyrics, notwithstanding Neil's atheism.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Lots of great drummers such as Ginger Baker, Stuart Copeland, John Bonham, Buddy Rich, etc..

[Don W]

Mozart is what the angels play.

BACH is what G_d listens to.

[DoodleBob]

That’s because Billy Cobham is his own genre.

[DoodleBob]

Mozart is what the angels play.

BACH is what G_d listens to.

The Holy Trinity used Beethoven to compose what we know as his 9th Symphony.

[Bell Bouy II]

One of my all time favs from Spectrum,got it around here somewhere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ej1-q4n9w8

[L,TOWM]

You & I could probably hang out in the same church, FRiend.

[dfwgator]

Heavy rock has always been a bastion of liberty.

Speaking of, one of my favorite drummers is Liberty DeVitto, who played for years with Billy Joel, he's probably the biggest reason I was a fan of Billy Joel. Just listen to him on "Songs in the Attic", an absolute beast on the drums.

[Kush]

...and yet, Keith Richards still lives.

Kush

[dfwgator]

[Manuel OKelley]

I literally cannot remember how many Rush concerts I’ve been too since the 80s but it’s closer to 20 than it is to ten

The funny thing is had to drag my wife to see them she was not excited about going....she had some time off and she and her sister went the following week driving around and saw them two more times

I’m confident in saying we own every album, video, compendium, and bootleg that has ever been available

[Phillyred]

Best drummer is subjective. He’s my absolute favorite and inspiring drummer and his songwriting and poetry is incredible. First time i think I weeped a bit due to a celebrity death...he inspired me as a kid and drummer, musician. Time Stand Still!!!

[Phillyred]

“Time Stand Still”

I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath
Before I start off again
Driven on without a moment to spend
To pass an evening with a drink and a friend

I let my skin get too thin
I’d like to pause
No matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim
Who learns to transcend
Learns to live as if each step was the end

(Time stand still)
I’m not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Time stand still
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
Time stand still

I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes
Let my defenses down
All those wounds that I can’t get unwound

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around

(Time stand still)
I’m not looking back
But I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Freeze this motion a little bit longer
The innocence slips away
The innocence slips away
Time stand still
Time stand still

I’m not looking back
But I want to look around me now
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Time stand still

Summer’s going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away
Experience slips away
The innocence slips away

[Phillyred]

He lost his daughter and wife within 10 months. I hope to God I never have to feel such pain. I pray for mercy on his soul as he gave great joy to mine.