RIP Neil Peart.
keets
Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
So I read yesterday evening that Rush drummer Neil Peart had died at 67, way too early for a musician who had given so much to music. Rush had the reputation of either being loved or hated, my GF couldn't stand their music!! Me, on the other hand, was the lover of all things Rush.
I was fortunate having grown up and still residing in greater Cleveland during the glory days of Classic Rock and radio giant WMMS. That station was really on the edge when 7-8 minute songs were the norm, rock-n-roll was experimenting and they'd play new stuff before the release to the general market. It's where I first heard Working Man and we adopted it as our anthem!!
I remember going to a show on June 28th 1974 at the Allen Theatre in downtown Cleveland to see ZZ Top and one of the opening acts was Rush, blew us away with new music we hadn't heard before, took the stage with "Finding My Way" and the sold-out crowd went absolutely nuts.
During the next year I saw them 3-4 times and the highlight was a show on April 7th 1975 at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, a 500+ barroom that regularly did shows on Monday Nights. Me and two friends snuck in all the ingredients to make "Harvey Wall-bangers" and had a table right in front of Geddy Lee, we actually propped our feet up on the stage for most of the show.
Neil Peart was an absolute machine, technically perfect and covering his drum kit like he had six hands. His flourishes were astounding and the way he thumped the bass drum was like thunder. I feel fortunate to have seen the band and Neil Peart when they were so unbridled by fame, playing in the moment to small crowds with an energy level that was unsurpassed.
RIP and thank you for the music and the wonderful memories.
Al H.
Comments
RIP.
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
RIP
When it came to drumming, he definately stole the "Limelight." RIP Neil, and thanks for your contributions to Rock N' Roll.
"" Rush had the reputation of either being loved or hated, my GF couldn't stand their music!! Me, on the other hand, was the lover of all things Rush.""
Interesting take, Keets.
"Fly by Night" is on my favorite rock song list. Mostly for the drumming. Beyond that I find The lead voice (I guess the only voice) of Rush to be redundant and not pleasing. Can't say that I hate the sound, but other than the song I mentioned, it is no better than background music.
Many years ago on the job we had a radio. I asked my guys if they wanted to hear some Rush. They said "Oh yeal", "you're cool boss." So I cranked up some Limbaugh. For some reason they got a little pissed.
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
i think I heard somewhere an Ohio radio station had a lot to do with Rush becoming a success
WMMS then DJ Donna Halper is given a credit by the band on their self-titled first album. she played an advance promo copy
and the song "Working Man" was grabbed onto by listeners almost immediately and it started to get hourly airplay. back in the day, around 1968-1975, WMMS was a prominent progressive station and responsible for breaking many, many groups. another DJ, Kid Leo, had good New York connections. while the road to stardom may have ended in NYC or LA it quite often started in Cleveland.
how do I know these things --- I was there, baby!!