Neil Peart announces retirement...

ken brydson

Sad news indeed for any Rush fans. I wish him the best. A true legend as a drummer, percussionist and most importantly songwriter ...

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/12/rushs-neil-peart-says-hes-retired-from-music/

MrBuhl

Not surprised but sad as a Rush fan. Glad especially now that I went to an R40 show. Happy for him tho, certainly everyone deserves to do what they enjoy and as they see fit.

Nightfall

Daaaang. One of the greats. I'm sure they'll do a show here and there though.

dromunds

Not convinced

tophatjohnny

Indeed a great decision. And long, long overdue!

MrBuhl

dromunds wrote: »

Not convinced

I don't know Don, I hope you're right, but I think if anyone in the music biz means what he says, it's Peart. He's never been a big fan of being famous or the legend that he is.

Remember his motorcycle sabbatical after his wife and daughter died - he never had two-way communication with the band - and that was open ended, this is anything but. I think he's a pretty definitive guy.

Still - one can hope!

heiney9

Sad, but well deserved.

H9

steveinaz

Probably wise. Geddy's voice is toast---best to bow out on top.

dromunds

Mr. Buhl, it's the motorcycle episode that I was primarily thinking about, as it looked at that time like he was done. Its too soon after R40 to come to conclusions and after they have some very well-deserved time off .... who knows .... Its the press who's labeling this as a retirement announcement. Neil couched his words. I don't believe they'll be another tour like R40 but .... Just saying you never know and Rush are consumate professionals and its in their blood. And I'm being an eternal optimist on this score. Lol.

MrBuhl

I hope you're right!

FTGV

dromunds wrote: »

Mr. Buhl, it's the motorcycle episode that I was primarily thinking about, as it looked at that time like he was done. Its too soon after R40 to come to conclusions and after they have some very well-deserved time off .... who knows .... Its the press who's labeling this as a retirement announcement. Neil couched his words. I don't believe they'll be another tour like R40 but .... Just saying you never know and Rush are consumate professionals and its in their blood. And I'm being an eternal optimist on this score. Lol.

Seems your take is similar to Geddy's http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/08/rushs-geddy-lee-neil-peart-hasnt-retired

gudnoyez

They all deserve retirement as big of a rush fan that I am, after seeing them a couple of years ago for the umpteenth time and recently having viewed the R40 bluray it's due time, Geddys voice is shot and the band is not firing on all cylinders.

They have entertained us for so many years, and I own everything they have released except for a few of the many live lp's that they have put out recently. I will still enjoy listening to them but it's time for them to enjoy themselves and call it a very successful career.

George Grand

tophatjohnny wrote: »

Indeed a great decision. And long, long overdue!

Seconded. Right after the first album would probably have been best.

Toolfan66

George Grand wrote: »

tophatjohnny wrote: »

Indeed a great decision. And long, long overdue!

Seconded. Right after the first album would probably have been best.

LMAO!!! HAHAHAHA..

FTGV

George Grand wrote: »

Seconded. Right after the first album would probably have been best.

The original drummer did just that.Neil did'nt play on that first one.

Toolfan66

FTGV wrote: »

George Grand wrote: »

Seconded. Right after the first album would probably have been best.

The original drummer did just that.Neil did'nt play on that first one.

Ah I knew that, good catch..

decal

tophatjohnny wrote: »

Indeed a great decision. And long, long overdue!

I second,third and fourth that motion.

obieone

If Charlie Watts can still tour at 112 years, then Neil can keep going at 63!

Gatecrasher

Too bad John Rutsey the original Rush drummer isn't still alive. They could bring him back for a stint. I never liked Neil Peart nearly as much and think he is waaay overrated.

IMO the band peaked at their debut. They never recaptured the unadulterated straight-ahead hard rock clarity they had after that. Their following albums are OK even if they are muddled with Peart's quasi-progressive self indulgence but their 1st album is an absolute masterpiece of rock. I'd rather have it than all the rest in their discography combined.

I can still remember when their debut album was released. I was about 13-14 years old riding in the back of my friend's big brother's 1968 Buick Skylark and we heard "In the Mood" come on the radio. We were one our way to the mall to play pinball in the arcade there (back then every mall had at least one arcade). As soon as we arrived at the mall I headed over to one of the record stores and purchased the 8-track tape. Back then every record store was also a head shop too so my friend's older brother had to pick up some new paraphernalia. lol

We must have played that 8-track a million times. Every song was good. No filler. No duds. No boring or ridiculous drawn-out BS like their subsequent albums had at times.

ken brydson

Peart overrated? Wow...

Gatecrasher

ken brydson wrote: »

Peart overrated? Wow...

He ruined Rush IMO. They were better before they canned Rutsey and changed direction from an awesome and exciting hard rock band into a semi-boring attempt at progressiveness. I was never one to give a dam about what the magazines or any of the so-called "experts" said. I like to develop my own preferences and opinions. I am not alone in this one though.

Their first album was by far their best.

gudnoyez

Although the first album was pretty good when it came out Rush wouldn't of made it past a couple of albums with the dwindling intrest in hard blues based rock they new that, hence the reason Peart was brought in, Rutsey was pedestrian at best.

txcoastal1

Rutsey, good drummer...but didn't have the drive nor ambition

Peart was also involved in creating and writing the songs

Gatecrasher

I'm sorry. The follow-ups to Rush's debut were pretentious attempts at best. Like a lot of bands, they never could recapture the artistic magic of their debut with anything more than commercialized success.

gudnoyez

Gatecrasher wrote: »

I'm sorry. The follow-ups to Rush's debut were pretentious attempts at best. Like a lot of bands, they never could recapture the artistic magic of their debut with anything more than commercialized success.

At least you won't have a hard time picking one out when your in the mood ( no pun Intended) for some Rush. I have a hard time myself however, I do find myself grabbing the Debut sometimes it's a great album, but they have a lot of better ones.

Gatecrasher

I'm not saying that the later Rush albums totally-suck but their debut flat out rules and it's the one I grab the most. It's one of those albums where every song is great. It's rare where a band releases an album with zero filler and every song is great.

There have been numerous bands who's 1st album was their best and were hard acts to follow. Others evolved more slowly and peaked at different times in their careers. Some more than once.

Artists have their entire lives up to that point to draw on for the content of their first album and they usually give it their all. After that they have a much shorter time for the creative juices to flow between albums.

Some of the quintessential rock albums that come to mind from bands that went on to make some great music afterwards but never quite seemed to match their debuts were:

• Rush - Rush (1974)
• Boston - Boston (1976)
• Van Halen - Van Halen (1978)
• Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love (1981)
• The Cars - The Cars (1978)

There are others I've missed and there are also a lot of awesome debut albums from bands that went on to surpass or equal them later on. Of course this is all just my opinion. You all have your own I'm sure.

tophatjohnny

Gate is correct, but still like some of the other music that came from the bands mentioned. Van Halen was the first of three bands in concert where Journey headlined and Montrose was in the middle. Van Hallen just killed the other 2 bands, I mean KILLED em! I felt sorry for Montrose and ever sorrier for Journey as The VH brothers just sucked all the energy out of the room in their 65 minutes of steaming in your face R&R set they delivered. Next several times I saw VH in concert they was never the same..?? Rush is an acquired taste and I happen to appreciate their arrangements, but never have I considered Peart to be anything more then he is. He was much better as a young man, and he's had so much heartache in his life it saddens me to see him play now, as he is not the same player anymore. Still love Rush and respect for Neil's decision to leave it alone.

Now how about ZEP talking about a tour with Jason on the drums?? Guess if they can book it and cash in, why not. They's ain't getting a nickle from me!! That same nickle would be better saved up to buy something new for my stereo addiction!! lol

MrBuhl

It is a matter of opinion for sure, though I don't think Neil's drumming prowess is really a matter of debate, that's pretty much a fact, might not like it, but the guy is an amazingly skilled drummer, and he writes all of the lyrics to boot!

I saw them on R40 and I have to tell you, that's still one very very talented dude, probably just as good as when I saw them on the Bones or Grace tours moons ago.

I totally get it though, there are those bands out there that just don't strike a chord with all folks, and that's what makes all music so all-engrossing to me, when it speaks to you, it speaks to you. Rush is one of those bands that always has for me. To each his own though!

Gatecrasher

MrBuhl wrote: »

I totally get it though, there are those bands out there that just don't strike a chord with all folks, and that's what makes all music so all-engrossing to me, when it speaks to you, it speaks to you. Rush is one of those bands that always has for me. To each his own though!

You obviously didn't read my post. Either that or misinterpreted it.

Never did I say or infer that I didn't like Rush. Quite the contrary. I simply stated that their 1st album is by-far their best (and Neil Peart had zero involvement with it).

MrBuhl

I didn't mean to misinterpret, and I did read all of your posts - but in your prior posts, you really are less than complimentary of any efforts past the Rush debut - My bad if I misunderstood what you were trying to say.

[Deleted User]

My wife likes the 81-96 era rush. No use for the first LP. I've been there from the beginning as they hit BIG in Cleveland. Lost interest towards the end so good job and havefun Mr. Peart.
Before and After is one of my fav Rush songs all time BTW