More than six years after the death of Neil Peart, Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are still sharing stories about the drummer’s unique personality and the role he played in shaping one of progressive rock’s most influential bands.
In a new interview with PROG, the two musicians reflected on their longtime friend and bandmate, who passed away on January 7, 2020 after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. While the conversation carried an obvious sense of loss, both musicians also recalled the lighter moments that defined their decades together.
Looking back at Neil Peart‘s arrival in Rush in 1974 following the departure of John Rutsey, Geddy Lee admitted that the young drummer initially seemed very different from the rest of the group.
“Oh yeah,” said Geddy Lee. “We’d talk about him all the time like he was an alien, ’cos he seemed kind of like an alien. He was very different to anyone else we hung around with. His hair was too short, and he would talk about things we never talked about – big, weighty subjects. And he was reading all the time.”
According to Geddy Lee: “We read things like Lord Of The Rings. We read the fun shit. He read everything.”
Alex Lifeson added: “He was deep, all the time.”
Geddy Lee continued: “He was so verbose. He could talk about anything. And that’s when me and Al said, [conspiratorial whisper], ‘Hey, he reads books. Let’s make him do lyrics.’”
Alex Lifeson recalled Neil Peart‘s response: “He was a little reluctant, but then he said, ‘Yeah, OK, I’ll give it a try.’”
Geddy Lee concluded with a laugh: “It worked out OK, I think!”
The decision proved to be a defining moment for Rush. Beyond his reputation as one of rock’s most respected drummers, Neil Peart became the band’s primary lyricist, helping establish the identity that carried the group through decades of success. His contributions extended far beyond the drum kit, becoming an essential part of the chemistry between Peart, Lee, and Lifeson.
While Rush officially ended with Neil Peart‘s passing, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have launched their Fifty Something world tour on June 7 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, joined by German drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold.
The band also shared a message with fans alongside a new photo captured by renowned rock photographer Ross Halfin, marking another chapter for the surviving members as they continue moving forward while honoring the legacy of their late friend.
