Richard Schickel
American film scholar
Neil Peart, the legendary drummer and lyricist of the rock band Rush, was known for his technical proficiency, exacting live performances, and diverse musical influences. From his humble beginnings in Ontario to his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, Peart’s remarkable career and contributions to the world of music are celebrated in this engaging biography.
Table of Contents
About the Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart was a Canadian and American musician, known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. He was known to fans by the nickname ‘The Professor’, derived from the Gilligan’s Island character of the same name. His drumming was renowned for its technical proficiency and his live performances for their exacting nature and stamina. Peart earned numerous awards for his musical performances, including an induction into the Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame in 1983 at the age of thirty, making him the youngest person ever so honoured.
Peart was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in Port Dalhousie (now part of St. Catharines). During adolescence, he floated between regional bands in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer. After a discouraging stint in England, Peart returned home to concentrate on music where he joined Rush, a Toronto band, in mid-1974, six years after its formation. Together they released nineteen studio albums, with ten exceeding a million copies sold in the United States. Billboard lists the band third in “most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band”.
Early in his career, Peart’s performance style was deeply rooted in hard rock. He drew most of his inspiration from drummers such as Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and John Bonham, players who at the time were at the forefront of the British hard rock scene. As time passed, he began to emulate jazz and big band musicians Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. In 1994, Peart became a friend and pupil of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber. It was during this time that Peart revamped his playing style by incorporating jazz and swing components.
In addition to serving as Rush’s primary lyricist, Peart published several memoirs about his travels. His lyrics for Rush addressed universal themes and diverse subjects including science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy, as well as secular, humanitarian, and libertarian themes. Peart wrote a total of seven nonfiction books focused on his travels and personal stories. He also coauthored with Kevin J. Anderson three steampunk fantasy novels based on Rush’s final album, Clockwork Angels. The two also wrote a dark fantasy novella, Drumbeats, inspired by Peart’s travels in Africa.
Peart announced his retirement from touring in an interview with Drumhead Magazine in December 2015. In January 2018, bandmate Alex Lifeson confirmed that Rush had disbanded also due to Peart’s health issues. During his last years Peart lived in Santa Monica, California, with his wife, Carrie Nuttall, and daughter. After a three-and-a-half-year illness, Peart died of glioblastoma on January 7, 2020, at age 67.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neil Peart was known to fans by the nickname ‘The Professor’, which was derived from the Gilligan’s Island character of the same name.
Early in his career, Peart’s performance style was deeply rooted in hard rock, drawing inspiration from drummers such as Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and John Bonham. As he progressed, he began to emulate jazz and big band musicians like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.
Peart was inducted into the Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame in 1983 at the age of thirty, making him the youngest person ever to receive this honor.
In addition to serving as Rush’s primary lyricist, Peart’s lyrics addressed universal themes and diverse subjects including science fiction, fantasy, philosophy, as well as secular, humanitarian, and libertarian themes.
Together with Rush, Neil Peart released nineteen studio albums, with ten exceeding a million copies sold in the United States.
During his last years, Neil Peart lived in Santa Monica, California, with his wife, Carrie Nuttall, and daughter.
After a three-and-a-half-year illness, Neil Peart died of glioblastoma on January 7, 2020, at the age of 67.