I first discovered Neil Pert as the author of Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road which chronicles his travels aboard a BMW GS motorcycle after the deaths of his daughter and wife. It was only after reading that book that I began to appreciate Rush and Pert's drumming skills. RIP Neil......

Neil left a lasting legacy on this world. One of the best, period.

RIP Neil.

Wow! :eek: Same age as Squire when he died a few years ago.

Indisputable.

Still trying to swallow this one. I watched him several times in the late 70's from about 50 feet away. Those shows are "digitally" stamped in my mind.

I hadn't read his Ghost Rider, but I will be now.

This really sucks. RIP Mr. Peart.

Sad news, a really great drummer. He wrote a song about our hometown called Lakeside Park.

This one hits close to home. Glioblastoma is the disease that will soon kill my 40-year-old daughter. I'm astonished he fought it for 3 1/2 years.

When it comes to drummers, there were two elites; those who stood (sat?) above everyone else: Neil Peart and Carl Palmer. No one else has ever approached their percussive prowess...

Wow, huge Rush fan, that one stings. Thanks for all the amazing music Neil!

Godspeed and thanks for the music, Neil. Wow. Tough life to say the least.

This one is hard.

I don't usually get emotional about strangers' deaths but in so many ways Neil Peart was no stranger: Rush were massive for me when growing up and their music is part of my DNA.

Indeed, Neil was the reason I took up drums - Farewell to Kings was my first Rush album and I saw them on that tour, Feb 13th 1978 Leicester, UK. I saw them numerous times since, whenever they came to the UK.

Inspirationally, he was always seeking to improve himself. Embarassed by his performance with the Buddy Rich big band, he went off to see Freddie Gruber, re-jigged his technique, and came back a looser, more feel-oriented player. Players that reinvent themselves so successfully are few and far between. He could have sat back and enjoyed his rep as one of the world's best, but he didn't.

Cheers,
Steve

Hey Todd, I was shocked when I read the news yesterday. Growing up and in my adult life there were only two names that I ever heard regarding drummers and Neil was one of them. I've never seen Rush live though. You've got some great memories I'm sure.

Carl was the most persoable drummer I ver sever seen perform (with Asia in '82, and in the CPB in '06).

John Bonham says hello.

Keith Moon has to hang with ‘em as well.