Neil Peart -- The Latest News

You can read Neil Peart's full Clockwork Angels bio/essay at the Roadrunner Records website (click the Biography tab, which is below the band photo). This is, presumably, the essay that will used at the beginning of the Clockwork Angels tourbook.

Here's how it starts:

Certainly at this point, after being together for almost thirty-eight years (and being around a decade or two before that), Alex, Geddy, and I have reached our "mature years." However, we have arrived there hot and sweaty, sliding into third, as a working, touring band. Like our well-tempered friendship, our dedication and inspiration remain strong, combined with hard-won experience and knowledge -- acquired over twenty studio albums, and perhaps most of all by playing thousands of live shows.

Labels: Clockwork Angels, Clockwork Angels tour 2012, written by NEP

In addition to the 2012 North American tour, Rush has announced the following dates for 2013 in Europe (with more dates to be announced):

Also, it appears that a second Toronto show has been added for October 16, 2012.

Go to Rush.com for more details.

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, Clockwork Angels tour 2013

You can now download Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 from http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums, including a limited time offer of an additional FREE set of 72 loops taken from "YYZ."

If you'd like to find out more about Neil Peart drums, I recently interviewed Sonic Reality's Dave Kerzner. Click here to read the interview. I've also had the opportunity to use Neil Peart Drums (Volumes 1 and 2) for about a month, and I can say that if you write music and want to add Neil Peart's loops to your songs, you should definitely check out Volume 2. I'll have some examples available soon of my "experiments" -- but you can also hear a cover of "YYZ" that uses Neil Peart drum loops.

Here's the press release from Sonic Reality:

"Sonic Reality Releases Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves plus a FREE exclusive sample pack download on eSoundz.com/neilpeartdrums"

May 8^th, 2012, Sunrise, Florida - Legendary drummer of Rush Neil Peart and Grammy-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz have teamed up with music software developer Sonic Reality to create the new "Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves" sound collection. Over 600 grooves performed by Peart are now available in a variety of loop formats such as Rex, Apple Loops, Acidized Wave, R.A.W., Stylus RMX and more to come. Musicians can use these drum grooves to write their own music, practice, jam or play Rush covers inside their computer recording software or iPads and mobile devices.

"When we did the Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1 Series we wanted to present a digital recreation of Neil's amazing DW kit so it could be played from any midi controller such as a keyboard or an electronic drum kit" says Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner "But for Vol. 2 we now also have the isolated drum tracks of Rush songs performed by Neil and cut up into 1-2 bar patterns that can be re-arranged and used in new music made by any musician or songwriter."

Offering the first "virtual reality drum session" with one of the top rock drummers in the world, Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves gives musicians an opportunity that's not only a dream come true for Rush fans but anyone looking for album quality rock drum loops for their music.

THE NEIL PEART DRUMS FREE SAMPLE PACK
For a limited time Sonic Reality and eSoundz.com are offering an additional FREE set of 72 loops taken from the Rush song "YYZ" in their R.A.W. series Rex, Apple Loops and Wave formats from http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums
These exclusive drum loops are currently not available in any Neil Peart Drums products or anywhere else. You can hear these loops in action here:

YYZ:  A cover of the Rush instrumental "YYZ" done by Sonic Elements featuring Billy Sherwood of Yes, Dave Kerzner of Sonic Reality and Neil Peart Drums: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/yyz

TRIFECTA: Here's an example of the same grooves of YYZ used in a different musical context which is an original song called "Trifecta" by Sonic Elements also featuring Billy Sherwood of Yes, Dave Kerzner of Sonic Reality and Neil Peart Drums: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/trifecta-pt-1-wip

• For more info on Neil Peart Drums and a download of the Free Sample Pack go to: http://www.esoundz.com/neilpeartdrums
  For more info on Sonic Reality: http://www.sonicreality.com
  To Follow the Sonic Elements Progressive Rock Project by Sonic Reality Visit:
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sonicelements
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/sonicelementschannel

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Sonic Reality

Over the weekend, all three members of Rush were in Ottawa to accept the Governor General's Award for Performing Arts: 2012 Lifetime Artistic Achievement (Popular Music).

Congrats to Rush and all the other recipients!

Photos, video, and more:

The Toronto Star

The Canadian Music Scene

Film: Inner Rush

Winnipeg Free Press: MPs, ministers get a Rush from award-winning band's Commons visit

Thanks to Rushisaband and Power Windows for the head's up.

Labels: awards, Governor General Award

XYZ - A Tribute to Rush, featuring the drums of Neil Peart, is now available. There are two versions you can buy:

• Download version 
• Physical CD

If you'd like to find out more about this project, as well as Neil Peart drums, I recently interviewed Sonic Reality's Dave Kerzner. Click here to read the interview. 

Track list:

1. Tom Sawyer

Vocals, Guitar - John Wesley
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Billy Sherwood
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

2. Red Barchetta (featuring Rik Emmett)

Vocals, Guitar - Rik Emmett
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Matt Dorsey
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

3. YYZ
Guitar, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Guitar - Alastair Greene
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

4. Limelight

Vocals - Randy McStine
Guitars - John Wesley
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Bass - Billy Sherwood
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

5. Trifecta (Bonus Track)

Guitars, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

6. Times Gone (Pre-Order Only Bonus Track)

Guitars, Bass - Billy Sherwood
Keyboards - Dave Kerzner
Drums - Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

The single "Headlong Flight" from Clockwork Angels is now available to download. Click the image to go to the Amazon page.

Labels: Headlong Flight single

Here's the official video from Rush that includes the lyrics for "Headlong Flight."

Labels: Headlong Flight single

Here's the official press release for the Clockwork Angels tour.

Rush Announces Clockwork Angels Tour -- LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Here's an excerpt:

Drummer and lyricist Neil Peart explained, "In late 2011, my drum teacher Freddie Gruber, towards the end of his long and adventurous 84 years, was reminiscing among friends and former students. Often he would shake his head and say, 'I had quite a ride. I wish I could do it all again.' That is not a feeling I have ever shared about the past -- I remain glad that I don't have to do it all again. While working on the lyrics for 'Headlong Flight,' the last song written for Clockwork Angels, I tried to summarize my character's life and adventures. My own ambivalence colored the verses, while Freddie's words inspired the chorus 'I wish that I could live it all again.'"

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up.

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012