One of my childhood heroes.

Thanks for all the inspiration, Neil.

I'm really shocked by this. I had no idea he was sick. RIP

Well, Geddy's there, but it's because of Neil

there were hints I guess. They said it was arthritis and he couldn't play. I thought at the time it must be worse than they were saying because he was still performing magnificently on their last few tours. and they never ever even hinted that there would be any reunion shows (that I ever read) even though most of their fan-base was begging for it. Turns out the inner circle all knew he had brain cancer and he just wanted to spend the time he had left with his family.

Can't blame a fella for that I reckon. I am crying at work.

Neil always said Tom Sawyer was his favorite due its complexity.

Just queued that up now....

Rest in Peace Super Drummer!

Never saw Rush live, but WORE OUT the Moving Pictures album!

Edit -- wow...this is actually making me sad....some tears.....sheesh

I just can't believe it.

I grew up in Cleveland, and we like to think that we helped put Rush on the musical map. When "Working Man" came put, our very industrial city (automobiles, steel, iron, rubber, aluminium, railroads and every Ma and Pa shop that supported them all), went crazy WILD for this song. Clevelanders have a STRONG connection to and love of all things Rush.

I have seen Rush 12 or more times, have all their CDs. "Farewell to Kings" will always be my favorite.

Oh Neil . . .

I felt a shadow cross my heart...

I saw a very good documentary about the band, and they are all seem to be very down to earth, he was a likable guy and a great drummer. So sorry he is gone, but his life in the music World was fantastic and he will be remembered for a long time.

Rock steady in your new venue, Neil - I hear it’s a great place to play

They started their tour in south Florida at the old Hollywood Sportatorium. It was this dilapidated basketball arena out on the edge of the Everglades. All the best rock concerts were put on out there back then. Apparently Neal missed his flight and they were very late to start the sound check. They kept the gates closed and didn't tell anyone anything. People got impatient and a couple of kids on Quaaludes (apparently) jumped over the wall and went after security with some 2 x 4 scraps that they had found in the parking lot. The cops fired teargas into the crowd. My choice was to run down wind and deal with it twice, or just walk inside and find my seat. It was weird. Everyone else ran the other way. My lungs were burning the whole night, but it was a great show. RIP Neal. You made our lives much better with your music. You will be missed!

I'm glad I got to see them as many times as I did (45ish?)

What an honor.

RIP professor.

Absolutely shocking. Been listening to them since Fly By Night, have seen them so many times, starting with the 2112 tour, on the rail in front of Geddy. Man, no fucking way.

RIP Neil

Biggest loss of a real childhood hero since ... well, Chris Squire a few years back.

This is devastating news, had no idea he was even sick.

Saw them 3 times ... Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Clockwork Angels (had 4th row for that one).

Thanks for everything Professor, you made the world a much more magical place. Ye will be missed ...

And since nobody else has said it ... he was the greatest rock drummer of all time.



Gonna be a whole bunch more of these types of things in the coming years I'm afraid ...

This just gutted me.
Rush was the first band I truly LOVED. They fueled the imagination of nerdy teenage outsiders like myself, and Neil's lyrics spoke to me at a time when I was just discovering rock and roll and prog. Over the years I discovered many other bands that ended up eclipsing them (like Bowie, honestly), but I never completely let go of them, always bought their albums and I didn't miss a show from 1984 until their retirement a few years ago.

Krupa, Morello, Rich, Blakely, Papa Jo, Bonham, Moon, Baker, Mitchell, Roach, Porcaro, Blaine, Stubblefield, Peart... there's a heckuva drum battle going on somewhere.

My absolute favorite drummer growing up. I saw Rush at the Rosemont Horizon in Chicago back in '84 (Grace Under Pressure tour) while stationed at Great Lakes Naval base. What a terrible loss.

I remember Tom Sawyer.

Another one bites the dust. We should all be getting used to this by now I suppose. I mean, the "Classic" rock guys (and girls looking at you Heart!) are all getting up there in age now, just like those of us who brought them to superstardom. He was a pretty good drummer in a good band. 2112 will always be in my top 10 favorite albums from that time of my life. Everyone's taste is different of course but to me Keith Moon will forever hold the goat title. We still get to listen to him too actually, as he was one of the contributors to the programming for the first drum machines.

Anyway, rip to another bit of our past.

Peart must have had the largest, most complex drum setup in the industry. He probably had his own truck to haul it all.

Kidding.

Rest in peace.

And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality
Closer to the heart.
Closer to the heart.

The blacksmith and the artist
Reflect it in their art
They forge their creativity
Closer to the heart
Closer to the heart

- from "Closer to the Heart" by RUSH lyricist, Neil Piert


The Trees, by Neil Piert of RUSH

There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas

The trouble with the maples
And they're quite convinced they're right
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light

But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade

There is trouble in the forest
And the creatures all have fled
As the maples scream, "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights
They say, "the oaks are just too greedy!
We will make them give us light!"

Now there is no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw...


RUSH was my favorite rock band in my childhood. I saw them in 1983 and 1985 (Signals and Grace Under Pressure).
I've been a lifetime member of their fan club since 1982.

Members of the band were known for being conservative intellectuals. Note that being conservative in Canada in the 70s and 80s is quite different than what we know in the US today. Their lyricist, Neil Piert, wrote fantastic poetry, as exemplified above. His words serve as a cautionary tale to many liberals and progressives on the dangers of taking an idea about reform too far, which was a real issue back in the band's heyday. Although the words seem alarmist today, there was concern at the time that liberal ideology had gone too far. Today, we know better and recognize how conservatives were pushing this message in an attempt to recapture the government that eventually worked for them.

In spite of the political overtones, the lyrics of Piert remain poignant today and his silver tongue continues to capture our imagination in our current age.

RIP Neil Piert!