In Memoriam
Neil Peart
September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020 · aged 67
Progressive Rock · Hard Rock
Neil Ellwood Peart was the stoic, hyper-precise rhythmic engine and the primary lyricist for the Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Born in Ontario in 1952, Peart possessed a staggering technical mastery of the drum kit, turning odd time signatures and impossibly complex fills into a rigorous, athletic art form. Behind a massive, 360-degree drum set, his playing on tracks like 'Tom Sawyer' and 'YYZ' became the absolute gold standard for aspiring drummers worldwide. Equally important was his role as 'The Professor'—he penned the band's literate, philosophical lyrics, heavily inspired by science fiction, mythology, and individualism. Despite enduring unimaginable personal tragedies in the late 1990s, losing his daughter and wife within a year, he courageously returned to music and completed multiple final world tours. Peart died quietly from brain cancer (glioblastoma) on January 7, 2020, at the age of 67. The drumming world lost its greatest professor.
Milestones
Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, 2112
Also remembered in 2020
- Bill Withers (1938–2020)
- Eddie Van Halen (1955–2020)
- Kenny Rogers (1938–2020)
- Little Richard (1932–2020)