RUSH DRUMMER NEIL PEART SAYS HE WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE MUSIC SCENE
After a series of reports on his physical issues, Rush drummer Neil Peart said that he is retiring from music.
The band have recently wrapped up the R40 tour, with several sources citing Mr. Peart’s health and his struggle with chronic tendonitis as the top factor behind the decision.
Neil tells Drumhead Magazine, “Lately Olivia [Louise, Neil’s daughter] has been introducing me to new friends at school as ‘My dad – he’s a retired drummer.’ True to say, funny to hear.
And it does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to… take yourself out of the game. I would rather set it aside then face the predicament described in our song Losing It.'”
Bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee previously said about the possibility of Rush touring again, “It doesn’t look good.”
[Dana’s note: As always, thank you to Todd for passing this along.]
additional source: ultimate-guitar.com
Losing it sucks, not the song of course! Thank you Neil for giving us over 40 years of great music. Happy retirement. 🙂
I got peed on at a Rush concert. Front row seat. Suddenly, I felt something warm and wet on the back of my leg.
harry, it was either neil or alex. you probably didn’t read the disclaimer on the back of the ticket. just trying to help.
One of the best drummers of all time. Better know when to leave.
I will miss the air drumming Enjoy the family Neil you earned it!
Retired from music would imply no more new RUSH music ever…retired from touring was what I thought the band meant….?
That is what most of the other headlines have been reporting. However, I will try and make it a bit more general, just in case he was only referring to touring.
D 🙂
When you think of all the crazy things people say on this site, I’m surprised nobody ever said RUSH is not as good without John Rutsey. This is the perfect time for this Icon to pack it in. CLOCKWORK ANGELS is great so take a bow and enjoy a long life. Maybe he will still write songs or sell some to other artists. What a major talent and a classy individual. Lots of DVDs currently out there and I’m sure they’ll be more to come. It’s hard to imagine that this is it for RUSH, the best three piece band of all time. Maybe a radio show with Peart discussing his songs and telling RUSH stories could be in his future. I’d love to hear backgrounds on so many of these great songs.
I know, what a classy way to ‘Exit Stage Left..” (I can’t believe I got this before Doug R) and thanks for the kind words by the way.
What about my needs Shannon?
Everybody wants to be in the “Limelight.” 😉
Doug R, I may have mentioned this, but Rush was my very first rock concert, Knoxville Coliseum, Moving Pictures tour, and you know what? it bored the hell out of me. It was almost like watching a cooking show, not much about rock and roll: a big movie screen with three guys who seemed so insecure they needed a big movie screen and they needed to show that they could play bass, keyboards, and sing simultaneously, while the drummer was banging on his kitchen utensils. I hated it pretty much.
Of course, now, I appreciate what great writers they were, especially in the 80s…but at 14, I just didn’t have patience for all that fussing about.
I hear you Shannon, there are a lot of bands especially from the 70’s, that at the time I was just too young to appreciate and realize how great they are until I got older. Too many to mention and I wouldn’t know where to begin, but 1 example, well they’re actually from the 60’s, The Doors. I hated The Doors when I was a kid back in the 70’s, but over the last 10 years or so, I have come to LOVE their music! One good thing about getting older, you have more appreciation for a lot of things you didn’t have for when you were younger.