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RIP Neil Peart

The Prisoner

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So one of my friends from high school reminded me of a funny story from back in the day. It was 1984 and I was a Freshman in AP English. I was a pretty average student...and when I say average I mean C+ at best, at least in English. One day the teacher gave us an assignment to write some poetry before the end of class. Me being a slacker I couldn't think of shit but being a Rush fanatic I new every word to "The Trees"...so I wrote down the lyrics to The Trees.

When I turned in the assignment I thought my hard ass teacher was damn near going to shed a tear...I think she thought she had discovered the next Edgar Allan Poe. To say she was impressed was an understatement. So impressed she started sharing it with other teachers around school. It turns out that one of those teachers was also a Rush fan.:eek: For about a week I knew what it felt like to be a teachers pet...and then it went south. She was so embarrassed and pissed at me that it took everything I had to even pass the class.
Could have been a song by Body Count. Would have been expelled from every school in the state. :p Their first album is a masterpiece.​
 

78Southwind

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So one of my friends from high school reminded me of a funny story from back in the day. It was 1984 and I was a Freshman in AP English. I was a pretty average student...and when I say average I mean C+ at best, at least in English. One day the teacher gave us an assignment to write some poetry before the end of class. Me being a slacker I couldn't think of shit but being a Rush fanatic I new every word to "The Trees"...so I wrote down the lyrics to The Trees.

When I turned in the assignment I thought my hard ass teacher was damn near going to shed a tear...I think she thought she had discovered the next Edgar Allan Poe. To say she was impressed was an understatement. So impressed she started sharing it with other teachers around school. It turns out that one of those teachers was also a Rush fan.:eek: For about a week I knew what it felt like to be a teachers pet...and then it went south. She was so embarrassed and pissed at me that it took everything I had to even pass the class.

Nice job...but AP English and a C+...That was probably the last year you had AP English, huh?
Did she say the work had to be original?:D
 

78Southwind

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It's kind of funny, I was listening to some of the Rush music you might not find on the radio much, like The Big Money and Distant Early Warning. So I decided to check out some of the comments on youtube after listening to the music and I found this one that made me laugh.

I don't always listen to Rush, but when I do, SO DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD...

The comment reminded me of the times I would ride through the neighborhood on my way to the park on my golf cart blaring "The Spirit of Radio" CD (Greatest Hits). Once in a while I would get a nod or a right-on from a neighbor...


 

welldigger00

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My brothers were old like grads.[emoji12]I remember playing the signals album on vinyl when it first came out when they’d go to school. The cover always made me laugh as a little kid...


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YumaRivernaut

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Neil was Rush.
Hear me out.
This is not to denigrate or put down Geddy or Alex in any way. That is not possible.
The first album was two extraordinary musicians finding their way with a good, but very limited drummer John Rutsey. Not to denigrate him either.
When they brought Neil in, it was when what is now Rush became.
Without him, there is no Rush.
Period.
He is irreplaceable.
For me at the time, as aspiring artist in percussion I was always was fascinated with the huge over the top drum kits and like Neil, was a huge Keith Moon fan. It always baffled me these dudes with huge sets but never played all of the drums or every now and then hit them a few times. It was still mostly Bass, Snare, hi hat/ride with a fill here and there and basic time signatures. Even the drum solos were basic for the most part. It struck me as odd and more like a just a prop and kind of made me respect them a bit less because of it. i always thought, you gonna play those things or what? Keith Moon's style was wild and unhinged brilliance, but he was erratic. When he was on game, nobody could touch him. He beat the shit out of his drums, literally, which at times did not lend to the flow of the song or songs but he did use ALL of his drums ALL the time for the most part. It's kind of why i believe he was branded as "crazy" because of his willingness and audacity to use a huge kit and play it ALL.
I know I am not the only one to feel this way minimalist drummers with huge kits.
When Neil came along, it was complete game changer. He played THEM ALL and in almost EVERY SONG on EVERY ALBUM! And he did it with consistency, precision, complexity and power every single time he played. His time changes were something that most people could not fathom (most people can only comfortably take 4/4 timing because that all they've ever heard) yet he wove them into the art of the song masterfully that one really didn't know it was being done.
This along with the genius and stellar musicianship of Alex and Geddy formed Rush and took them to a level that only THEY will EVER occupy. His talent was a huge kit that he used and it drew attention! Especially from fellow musicians! He inspired countless to emulate him (including me) and his kit to this day, everybody, whether a drummer or not, will air drum at Rush concerts and albums. Why is that? You know why. Think about it.
He did this up until the 80's when he kinda backed off the heavy use and blended a more mellow approach in later albums with Geddy's keyboards. Some prefer the old stuff. I know I do. Love it all don't get me wrong here people, but kicking out Bytor and The Snow Dog, The Necromancer, Xanadu or LaVilla Strangiato and the old shit make my juices flow to this day man. It's mind, soul and body workout!
Doubt me? Think of if they got another Jon Rutsy to replace him.
I'll tell you we would probably not even know of the band Rush and they would have most likely faded into obscurity within a few albums save for maybe the tune Working Man off the first album. They surely would have never achieved what they did over time. I dunno. Could be wrong but I don't think so.
Neils lyrics and poetry were another huge part of Rush's genius. Far apart from the same sex drugs, rock and roll, teen angst, unrequited love songs that bored most us, when we heard them we craved more from his creative mind and eloquent wordspelling. His wisdom and intelligence resonated with the fans and we couldn't wait to get more.
As an Author he has wrote some of the best literature I've ever read. Crushing. The critics didn't get it, the industry didn't get it, a lot of "musicians" didn't get it, the suits and ties didn't get it and most other people didn't get it either.
But we got it.
The fans got it.
We all recognized the talent in a gifted soul that is blessed upon us ever so rarely and completed a triad of sheer genius and we all embraced it as an intricate part of the memories and soundtracks of our lives. I for one am blessed to have lived at the time I am living and to have integrated it onto my mind and soul. He will always be a part me. Rush will always be a part of me.
Thanks Neil.
No, There absolutely would have been no Rush as we know it without Neil Peart.
Period.
 

welldigger00

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Absolutely, and completely well said. There’s one drummer that comes close to him I think. Carter Beaufort with the DMB. But as to the rest of what Neil was, beyond drumming, there is, and will never be anyone that was on his level. Di Vinci level shit.


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brgrcru

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the first time I heard Rush . Might of been 1980 , as I was 15 at the time
I thought they had at least two different drummers .
He was that good .

Pretty much all I have been playing. In my truck the last 3 days .
Damn they could rock . Always enjoyed the deep tracks , the ones you never heard on the radio.
 

riverroyal

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I started listening to them about permanent waves time. Jr high school i think. I never really discussed this with others at school. I surfed, skated, had jock friends. Rush was not the group i hung out with.
It was kook music, nerd, drama class stuff back then.
This last weekend i listened a lot. For some reason rush is best enjoyed alone. Maybe its to complex to be shared while listening
 

YumaRivernaut

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I just read an with Carl Palmer commenting on Neil.
They are STILL dissing and take cheap shots at Rush and Neil!
Hey Carl, FUCK YOU and FUCK Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Yeah, how long did your gig work out fucker?
How many albums, concerts, books did you sell out? How many gazillions of fans do you have?Hmmm?
You snobby english motherfuckers and ones like you are the ones that gave rise to Punk Rock and put your sorry over rated arses in the dust bin of history where you belong. Thank god.
"ew ew what a lucky man he was".
No fucking asshole, no luck, sheer brilliance and you couldn't shine his fucking shoes.
Read it if you can stomach it. Snobby bitch :mad:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8547919/carl-palmer-neil-peart
 

YumaRivernaut

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I started listening to them about permanent waves time. Jr high school i think. I never really discussed this with others at school. I surfed, skated, had jock friends. Rush was not the group i hung out with.
It was kook music, nerd, drama class stuff back then.
This last weekend i listened a lot. For some reason rush is best enjoyed alone. Maybe its to complex to be shared while listening
If you ever find a chick who loves Rush, marry her. I have one. :);):cool::D
 

Kailuaboy89

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Rush never left anything out, never left each other and remained faithful, faithful to each other, faithful to the formula of their success, and Faithful to the fans....forever an immovable rock Neal Peart will be, for one for all and for eternity...Rest In Peace to the greatest percussionist and human Metronome I have ever known...\…/
 

The Prisoner

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I just read an with Carl Palmer commenting on Neil.
They are STILL dissing and take cheap shots at Rush and Neil!
Hey Carl, FUCK YOU and FUCK Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Yeah, how long did your gig work out fucker?
How many albums, concerts, books did you sell out? How many gazillions of fans do you have?Hmmm?
You snobby english motherfuckers and ones like you are the ones that gave rise to Punk Rock and put your sorry over rated arses in the dust bin of history where you belong. Thank god.
"ew ew what a lucky man he was".
No fucking asshole, no luck, sheer brilliance and you couldn't shine his fucking shoes.
Read it if you can stomach it. Snobby bitch :mad:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8547919/carl-palmer-neil-peart
Jesus. Carl should go Palm himself. What a toolbag.
 

flat540

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Not sure I've shed a tear over a musician or celebrity before, so today was a first. I knew something was up when my phone started getting flooded with text messages. It's really hard to put into words how much these guys meant to me. Today the world lost the best drummer ever.
I RARELY reply, or post, But you say that you are a Rush Fan.....don't you realize that they have Been writing and Singing Songs About the the Rejection of Their Oppression and Rejection to Socialism, Thier entire Careers
........yet you support it GREG?.... typical....HIPPOCRATE.......
 

GRADS

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I RARELY reply, or post, But you say that you are a Rush Fan.....don't you realize that they have Been writing and Singing Songs About the the Rejection of Their Oppression and Rejection to Socialism, Thier entire Careers
........yet you support it GREG?.... typical....HIPPOCRATE.......
:rolleyes:
 

Looking Glass

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I RARELY reply, or post, But you say that you are a Rush Fan.....don't you realize that they have Been writing and Singing Songs About the the Rejection of Their Oppression and Rejection to Socialism, Thier entire Careers
........yet you support it GREG?.... typical....HIPPOCRATE.......


The Spell Check Police are saddeling up as we speak
I RARELY reply, or post, But you say that you are a Rush Fan.....don't you realize that they have Been writing and Singing Songs About the the Rejection of Their Oppression and Rejection to Socialism, Thier entire Careers
........yet you support it GREG?.... typical....HIPPOCRATE.......

The Spell Check Police are Saddeling Up as we speak.:p
 

The Prisoner

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upload_2020-1-20_21-59-26.jpeg

I think this is a hippocrate.:D
 

bowtiejunkie

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SiriusXM is running Rush Tribute Channel on #717 through 2/11/20.
 

The Prisoner

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SiriusXM is running Rush Tribute Channel on #717 through 2/11/20.
I see what they did there.:D I’m not near my radio but wasn’t the channel 27 or something like that? At least it was.
 
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