Four Years Ago, I Lost a Friend
Neil Peart, the Canadian progressive rock band Rush’s drummer, passed away on January 7, 2020. He had aggressive brain cancer and lived to age 64. When I learned about his passing, it felt like somebody had punched me. That was an incredibly sad day for me.
I will be honest. I daydreamed of being in line at a store and running into Neil. We would talk for hours about music, writing, life, and our dreams. Even though we never met, I consider him a dear friend.
At an early age, I knew there was a band named Rush, but I did not appreciate their music because they did not get much airplay on the local radio stations. I distinctly remember the day I heard the song, Tom Sawyer. I was nineteen, in college, and setting up speakers for an event. To test the system, my friend put on a tape (CDs were available, but portable players were not), and suddenly, this incredible music started blaring out. I was utterly stunned and demanded, “Who did this?” He looked at me like I had been hiding underneath a rock all my life. He answered, “Rush,” and then shook his head. From that moment, I immediately connected to the band’s music, philosophy, and style.
What makes them so unique? Before launching into an epic 30-page answer, I must take a step back and acknowledge the existence of other great musicians/bands. Each one has a unique story, talent, hook, and sound. We are fortunate to have many musical choices, but my dear readers would likely not appreciate gushing over this single band, so I will keep this short.
Plus, I know that not everybody likes the band. They have been famously described as “tragically un-hip.” Side note: Harsh! The haters complain about preachy lyrics, loud notes, muted style, and long drum rifts. I suppose this is true, but I do not care what other people think.
How does music influence a person? It provides inspiration, a distraction, and something to put us in a better mood. At the very least, music gives us something to dance to and sing in the shower. Side note: I am more of a sing in the car without passengers. Yes, I do get amusing looks from the other drivers.
Neil was the band’s “chief lyrist,” meaning that he wrote almost all of their songs and music. If I were to choose a word to describe the overall message, it would be inspirational. Creating a song is significantly different from writing a book. Each word is incredibly important, scrutinized, and meaningful. For example, the song Beat It by Michael Jackson has 399 words. Yet, those words made a #1 hit that continues to dominate the airwaves.
When writers create a 100,000-word book, they apply a broad focus, beginning in the first sentence and continuing until the last one in the book description. We spend hours trying to achieve the best flow, character development, plot, and facts. Authors toil late into the night, ensuring every aspect of their books is flawless. The same could be said for Neil’s creations. The songs were close to his heart, meaningful, and unique. Like me, he strived to create a perfect gem. And that is my point. We were both perfectionists.
There is one bright spot. Neil left behind a wealth of music, writing, and interviews. Even my daughter likes a few Rush songs. Nice. I hear their passionate music, read the words that touch my heart. Did I end this article with a Rush quote?
P.S. This is my 100th blog. Yay. I dedicate this blog to Neil. You have proven to be a true inspiration.
You’re the best -Bill
February 19, 2020 Updated November 30, 2024
I will be honest. I daydreamed of being in line at a store and running into Neil. We would talk for hours about music, writing, life, and our dreams. Even though we never met, I consider him a dear friend.
At an early age, I knew there was a band named Rush, but I did not appreciate their music because they did not get much airplay on the local radio stations. I distinctly remember the day I heard the song, Tom Sawyer. I was nineteen, in college, and setting up speakers for an event. To test the system, my friend put on a tape (CDs were available, but portable players were not), and suddenly, this incredible music started blaring out. I was utterly stunned and demanded, “Who did this?” He looked at me like I had been hiding underneath a rock all my life. He answered, “Rush,” and then shook his head. From that moment, I immediately connected to the band’s music, philosophy, and style.
What makes them so unique? Before launching into an epic 30-page answer, I must take a step back and acknowledge the existence of other great musicians/bands. Each one has a unique story, talent, hook, and sound. We are fortunate to have many musical choices, but my dear readers would likely not appreciate gushing over this single band, so I will keep this short.
Plus, I know that not everybody likes the band. They have been famously described as “tragically un-hip.” Side note: Harsh! The haters complain about preachy lyrics, loud notes, muted style, and long drum rifts. I suppose this is true, but I do not care what other people think.
How does music influence a person? It provides inspiration, a distraction, and something to put us in a better mood. At the very least, music gives us something to dance to and sing in the shower. Side note: I am more of a sing in the car without passengers. Yes, I do get amusing looks from the other drivers.
Neil was the band’s “chief lyrist,” meaning that he wrote almost all of their songs and music. If I were to choose a word to describe the overall message, it would be inspirational. Creating a song is significantly different from writing a book. Each word is incredibly important, scrutinized, and meaningful. For example, the song Beat It by Michael Jackson has 399 words. Yet, those words made a #1 hit that continues to dominate the airwaves.
When writers create a 100,000-word book, they apply a broad focus, beginning in the first sentence and continuing until the last one in the book description. We spend hours trying to achieve the best flow, character development, plot, and facts. Authors toil late into the night, ensuring every aspect of their books is flawless. The same could be said for Neil’s creations. The songs were close to his heart, meaningful, and unique. Like me, he strived to create a perfect gem. And that is my point. We were both perfectionists.
There is one bright spot. Neil left behind a wealth of music, writing, and interviews. Even my daughter likes a few Rush songs. Nice. I hear their passionate music, read the words that touch my heart. Did I end this article with a Rush quote?
P.S. This is my 100th blog. Yay. I dedicate this blog to Neil. You have proven to be a true inspiration.
You’re the best -Bill
February 19, 2020 Updated November 30, 2024
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