Neil Peart Wiki – Bio

He was born on September 12, 1952, in Hamilton, Canada. Neil Ellwood Peart, OC was a Canadian musician and writer best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush.

Peart received numerous awards for his musical performances, including an induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1983, making him the youngest person ever so honoured.

Neil Peart Age

He was 67 years old.

Neil Peart Family

On August 10, 1997, soon after the conclusion of Rush’s Test for Echo Tour, Peart’s first daughter (and, at the time, his only child) Selena Taylor, 19, was killed in a single-car accident on Highway 401 near the town of Brighton, Ontario.

His common-law wife of 23 years, Jacqueline Taylor, succumbed to cancer only 10 months later on June 20, 1998. Peart attributes her death to the result of a “broken heart” and called it “a slow suicide by apathy. She just didn’t care.”

Career With Rush

Peart soon settled into his new position, also becoming the band’s primary lyricist. Before joining Rush, he had written few songs, but, with the other members largely uninterested in writing lyrics, Peart’s previously underutilized writing became as noticed as his musicianship.

The band was working hard to establish themselves as a recording act, and Peart, along with the rest of the band, began to undertake extensive touring.

His first recording with the band, 1975’s Fly by Night, was fairly successful, winning the Juno Award for most promising new act, but the follow-up, Caress of Steel, for which the band had high hopes, was greeted with hostility by both fans and critics.

In response to this negative reception, most of which was aimed at the B side-spanning epic “The Fountain of Lamneth”, Peart responded by penning “2112” on their next album of the same name in 1976.

The album, despite record company indifference, became their breakthrough and gained a following in the United States.

The supporting tour culminated in a three-night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, a venue Peart had dreamed of playing in his days on the Southern Ontario bar circuit and where he was introduced as “The Professor on the drum kit” by Lee.

Cause of Death

Peart died from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, on January 7, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. The illness had been a closely-guarded secret in Peart’s inner circle until his death. His family made the announcement on January 10.

From the official Rush website:

It is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and band mate of over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three and a half year battle with brain cancer (Glioblastoma). We ask that friends, fans and media alike understandably respect the family’s need for privacy and peace at this extremely painful and difficult time. Those wishing to express their condolences can choose a cancer research group or charity of their choice and make a donation in Neil’s name.

Neil Peart September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020

— Rush (@rushtheband) January 10, 2020

Rest easy #NeilPeart ?

— Beth Hart (@BethHart) January 11, 2020

Rest In Peace Neil Peart the Drummer of Rush-

— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) January 11, 2020