Posted on 01/12/2020 7:21:28 PM PST by DoodleBob
Members of BLACK SABBATH, KISS, MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND are among the rock musicians who reacted on social media to the passing of RUSH's Neil Peart. The iconic drummer passed away on Tuesday (January 7) in Santa Monica, California after having been diagnosed with brain cancer.
A statement posted on the band's official Twitter page said: "It is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and bandmate of over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three and a half year battle with brain cancer..."
The statement went on to ask for privacy for Peart's family "from friends, fans, and media alike" and requested that mourners make a donation in Peart's name to a cancer research group or charity of their choice."
"Rest in peace brother," the band's statement concluded.
RUSH had been completely inactive since completing its "R40 Live" tour four years ago. Peart previously said that playing concerts at his age caused too much painful wear and tear on his body and he'd rather call it quits before the performances start declining in quality.
His survivors include his wife Carrie and daughter Olivia.
He was also the author of numerous books, including a number of memoirs exploring his life and travels.
In 1997, Peart and his bandmates became the first rock musicians to be inducted into the Order of Canada.
They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.
(Excerpt) Read more at blabbermouth.net ...
I did.
Nice tribute, sad news. I don’t like all the bands from that era, but Rush never did anything I didn’t like. And Neil was in the top tier of drummers by any measure.
Rush was technically very good, and made some fantastic early albums, but I lost interest the album after Moving Pictures. And now as a Christian I take issue with lyrics and messages in most modern rock music. The fact that King Diamond (an overtly Satanist band) is posting tributes should give pause to parents. Neil Peart was a left-libertarian but the other two members were lefties.
He was a proponent of Ayn Rand's philosophies
And Wagner was a virulent anti-Semite. Does this mean we should not listen to his music? Same logic going on...
I never heard of King Diamond. But if they’re anything close to Black Sabbath, I’m not surprised. I wasn’t very deep into that brand of Rock & Roll. Black costumes, angry stage presence and fright makeup. Many others were.
The closest I ever got was to enjoy Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water.
Musicians will generally always pay tribute to each other. It is not a reflection on Neil Pert that King Diamond is paying tribute to him. And it’s not like there are many kids or even young people listening to King Diamond anyway so I’m not sure whose “parents” need to be concerned.
I’m not a fan of that genre of music, but brain cancer sounds like a nasty way to go.
RIP
Dude. Give some respect.
He is a towering icon. This “oh he was alt -left” is such garbage.
It was truly classy.
He moved left after the days of songs like “Anthem” and “2112”. Still, those were great sovs, and was always a great drummer.
But he was always atheist, as was Ayn Rand.
For some reason I don’t remember Rush! What hit songs did they do? Maybe one will ring a bell, but I doubt it!
Dreamline might be top 3 Rush songs. Beautiful poetic lyrics that guy wrote.
Too many to count. Tom Sawyer, Red Barchetta.... Give Dreamline a listen. Peart was a genius song composer.
Neil Peart gone. A Farewell To Kings well he was one of the ‘Kings’ of drumming.
I wouldn’t say he was a good friend but he was always nice to me and friendly. People think of Neil as stern he was completely the opposite when I used to deal with him. I was in Europe and he was warming up with his ‘Security’ blocking the room I asked him to ask him if I could shoot it. ‘No way’ came the reply. ‘Ask Neil’ I don’t care what you think. He begrudgingly went in the tune up room came out and looking very pissed off said ‘ ‘Neil says fine’.
So every night I was with Rush I’d photograph Neil warming up and talk to him. He told me his favourite drummer was Keith Moon ( If you listen to Neil he’s a more precise version of what Keith Moon does, odd fills and snare work ), he saw the Who at the Oval in 1971, so did I my first Who show - I gave Neil Tom Wright’s excellent book, Tom was the Who’s first Tour Manager.
Neil lived in Colliers Wood a mile from where I grew up in the glorious south of London. He worked as a jeweller at the Great Frog in Covent Garden the now very hip jeweller to the rock and fashion world.
He was trying to get a job drumming gave up and went back to Toronto and thought he’d try auditioning one last time, the band were RUSH. Neil’s now left the building may he ‘Fly By Night' and find ‘Xanadu'.
Second, Geddy's mom is a Holocaust survivor and he avoids politics. Alex's politics are allegedly leftish.
Third, and I think this is key, Rush was (at least when I was younger) NOT the band to be a fan of, if you wanted to be "cool." Rush was the choice of nerds, dweebs, and band geeks. Nowadays, everyone is rushing to praise Neil (no pun intended). Many of us found solace in Rush's lyrics which championed individuality, eschewed collectivism, and their music which mere mortals couldn't play. While I don't like speculating on what music God would like, it is hard to listen to La Villa Strangiato and hear God.
Is Rush a Christian band? Not at all. Would people turn away from God because of the influence of their lyrics? Maybe a few people. May some people see the Hand of the Lord in Rush's technically proficiency and (dare I say) bitchin' music? Probably more people than those who'd turn away from God due to the lyrics.
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