Neil Peart, the renowned drummer and lyricist from the influential Canadian band Rush, has died. He was 67.
His representative, Elliot Mintz, said in a statement Friday that Peart died at his home Tuesday in Santa Monica. The band posted a message on Twitter also confirming the news.
B次元官网网址淚t is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and band mate over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three and a half year battle with brain cancer,B次元官网网址� the band wrote. B次元官网网址淩est in peace brother.B次元官网网址�
Peart was revered for his drumming skills, and was the bandB次元官网网址檚 key songwriter, known for his fantastical lyrics. The respected musician placed fourth on Rolling StoneB次元官网网址檚 list of 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time, just behind Ginger Baker, Keith Moon and John Bonham.
Peart, alongside bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, were inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and honoured for combining B次元官网网址渢he signature traits of progressive rock with a proto typical heavy-metal sound.B次元官网网址� Their most known songs include B次元官网网址淭om Sawyer,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭he Big MoneyB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭he Spirit of Radio.B次元官网网址�
Peart was born on September 12, 1952 in Ontario.
When Rush formed in 1968, its original lineup included Lifeson, bassist Jeff Jones and drummer John Rutsey. After a few weeks, Lee replaced Jones, and in 1974 Peart replaced Rutsey weeks before RushB次元官网网址檚 first U.S. tour.
RushB次元官网网址檚 first album with Peart B次元官网网址� now the bandB次元官网网址檚 principal songwriter B次元官网网址� was 1975B次元官网网址檚 platinum-seller B次元官网网址淔ly by Night.B次元官网网址� They released a second album that same year, B次元官网网址淐aress of Steel,B次元官网网址� which reached gold status.
But in 1976, the band marked a major breakthrough with the album B次元官网网址�2112,B次元官网网址� which sold three million units in the U.S. RushB次元官网网址檚 most successful album was 1981B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢oving Pictures,B次元官网网址� which sold four million copies and featured the rock hit B次元官网网址淵YZ,B次元官网网址� helping the band earn its first-ever Grammy nomination (they earned seven nominations throughout their career).
RushB次元官网网址檚 1990B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淐hroniclesB次元官网网址� was a double platinum success, while 11 of the bandB次元官网网址檚 albums were certified platinum and 10 albums reached gold status.
The band was heavily influential and fans of Peart and Rush paid tribute on social media.
B次元官网网址淭oday the world lost a true giant in the history of rock and roll. An inspiration to millions with an unmistakable sound who spawned generations of musicians (like myself) to pick up two sticks and chase a dream. A kind, thoughtful, brilliant man who ruled our radios and turntables not only with his drumming, but also his beautiful words,B次元官网网址� Dave Grohl, who inducted Rush into the Rock Hall, said in a statement Friday.
B次元官网网址淚 still vividly remember my first listen of B次元官网网址�2112B次元官网网址� when I was young. It was the first time I really listened to a drummer. And since that day, music has never been the same. His power, precision, and composition was incomparable. He was called B次元官网网址楾he ProfessorB次元官网网址� for a reason: We all learned from him.B次元官网网址�
Jack Black tweeted, B次元官网网址淭he master will be missed B次元官网网址� Neil Peart RIP #RushForever.B次元官网网址�
Gene Simmons called Peart B次元官网网址渁 kind soul,B次元官网网址� while Chuch D of Public Enemy recalled being inducted into the Rock Hall on the same night as Rush, saying backstage he and Peart shared B次元官网网址渁 unique moment without much word. Rest in Beats my man.B次元官网网址�
Peart is survived by his wife, Carrie and their daughter, Olivia Louise Peart. He was also an author and published six books.
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