QUEBEC, CANADA – 1st SEPTEMBER: Drummer Neil Peart from Canadian progressive rock band Rush recording their album ‘Permanent Waves’ at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec, Canada in October 1979. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)The impact Neil Peart had on the world is pretty amazing. I know I’m in a social media bubble with musicians, music lovers, and decent human beings. But that guy LIVED.
Every story I ever heard about him from such as the Jedi act of tearing apart his technique, and studying Jazz masters, at the top of his game, is legendary. And unlike most Rock legends, it’s the truth.
You get the sense he was the guy that is in an argument for the best EVER because he reached his potential and pushed it as far as he could.
His life is no tragedy. Those 67 years were bad ass. I’ll take 66 of those over 101 of being afraid and living for nothing.
I’m not the biggest Rush fan. But someday I might be a big fan. They left a big body of work. They fell in and out of love with Ann Rynd. They left behind a legacy and made Canada and Buffalo NY proud. One DJ who believed got them climbing.
…and they pretty much stayed at the best kind of top of the game. Their game. And when Neil thought he couldn’t stay there at that level as a musician, he stopped.
You get the sense that his respect for the music and the expectations was bigger than the money.
Because when a lot of people get that money, they start acting funny. But the best ones keep their eyes on the prize. And you salute them when they die.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. Davin’s recent song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube: Tuff Gong Television. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
