Neil Peart
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
Pearts entrance into the band signaled that Rush would focus on more challenging material, while the drummer also took over the reigns as the groups lyricist. While it would take a few releases for Rushs new musical direction to gel (1974s Fly by Night and 1975s Caress of Steel), the band hit pay dirt with the 1976 concept album 2112. The album told the story of a young mans fight against a future world where rock music is outlawed, with Peart applying Ayn Rands writing style and philosophies to the plots story line. Rushs commercial success continued, as the band scored up more heavy metal-tinged prog rock classics: 1977s A Farewell to Kings, 1978s Hemispheres, 1980s Permanent Waves, and Rushs finest hour, 1981s Moving Pictures. The group continued to rack up hit albums and sold-out arena tours (with all three members consistently winning magazine polls for being the best at their respective instrument), as Pearts influence on rock drummers had become immense, as evidenced in the styles of Dream Theaters Mike Portnoy, Kings Xs Jerry Gaskill, and Primus Tim Herb Alexander.
In addition to his Rush duties, Peart has also found the time to become a writer himself, penning the books Radiance Over the Rockies and The Masked Rider, travel the world/sight-see between tours (Peart is an avid bicyclist), as well as organizing a Buddy Rich tribute concert in the early 90s. The future of Rush was thrust into doubt by the late 90s, however, when Peart was dealt two devastating blows in his personal life -- the tragic deaths of both his teenaged daughter and wife a year apart from each other. But by the dawn of the 21st century, it appeared as Peart was back on his feet -- he remarried and rejoined his longtime Rush mates in preparing their first new studio recording since 1996s Test for Echo. ~ Greg Prato
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