Neil Peart - The Professor

"You can choose from phantom fears

And kindness that can kill.

I will choose a path that's clear,

I will choose free will......."

- Neil Peart

I have always been a music fan, particularly of rock and roll. But as ironic or perhaps even hypocritical as it might be, I was never a huge fan of the drums. Maybe it was because I could never develop the necessary rhythmic timing to actually play the drums. But whatever the case, percussion just wasn't my thing. I grew up with a lot of talented drummers and I always admired their abilities. However, my interest limit on a drum solo was about 30 seconds.

But like with most things, there are exceptions......

The first time I heard Neil Peart play a solo on Rush's first live album ("All The World's A Stage"), he pleasantly exceeded my personal 30-second time limit. As bassist Geddy Lee introduced "The Professor of the Drum Kit", Neil proved to be exactly that. He was clearly a unique and brilliant percussionist. He and his impressive drum kit gradually became one. It was a rhythmical metamorphosis. He actually made me want to pick up a set of sticks and give it go (for the benefit of anyone within earshot, I never did).

If you want to treat yourself to some ear candy, listen to the song "YYZ". It's one of my favorite instrumentals ever. It oozes with energy and showcases the the talents of the whole band. (A bit of trivia.....Toronto is the hometown of Rush. YYZ is the airport code for Toronto's airport).

Aside from Peart's percussive talents, he was also the illustrious penman behind most of Rush's lyrics. I can remember listening to "2112" as youngster. As the title track progressed, I followed along with the lyrics which were printed on the inner sleeve of the album cover. I was intrigued by the story of this distant future civilization who was introduced to music by a nameless man. I remember listening to the entire first side and then, being so fascinated, I played it again. It was my introduction to the "concept album". It still remains my all-time favorite Rush album.

Peart's lyrics, not surprising, also had a rhythmic flow to them. He was gifted storyteller who made you eagerly anticipate the next line. His ability to organize a bunch of random words into something magical was pure genius. The fringe benefit to all of this for me personally was that it made me smarter. Yes, that's right. Any time I came across a word that I didn't know, I would flip open the nearest dictionary and look it up. So, in additional to being the professor of the drum kit, Peart could also be considered to be a professor of diction and vocabulary. In addition to all of the great Rush lyrics, Peart also authored several books.

Although Peart spent the last few decades performing in packed arenas, he ironically wasn't very fond of the spotlight. He usually left the Rush interviews to bassist/singer, Geddy Lee and guitarist, Alex Lifeson. Neil's take on being "cast in his unlikely role" can probably be best summarized in the song "Limelight". 

With Neil's recent passing, a huge void was left in the music world  He left behind countless admirers who were inspired by his prolific catalog of work. The recent outpouring of comments and tributes on social media is a testament to how much Neil Peart meant to music lovers everywhere. His legacy will no doubt carry on....

kw