Neil Peart

Neil Peart was not the greatest rock drummer of all time. I know, starting something, but hear me out.  Was he a great drummer?  Absolutely. He was innovative and inspiring; His technical genius and spiritual sensitivities got me through a great number of trials and challenges early in life – they still do.

When I first heard the words “and the men who hold high places….” I was hooked.  Along the way the musical collaborations and lyrical insights of compositions like Subdivisions brought hope to my troubled mind. The final song on their final record – The Garden provided me a mantra to live by in my old age: “The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect. So hard to earn, so easily burned.”

But, for all that RUSH has meant to me over the years, I can honestly say that Neil was not the greatest rock drummer. 

There is no such thing.

Only Neil Peart could be Neil Peart and he was the greatest Neil Peart of all time.  RUSH would not have been RUSH without him. Is Neil Peart high on my list?  Oh, for sure.  Especially with how he focused on being more musical and less technical on the last few albums.

I miss hearing from Neil Peart the last several years both musically and lyrically – he will be forever ingrained in my personal musical and spiritual psyche.

May he continue to rest in peace.