Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Here's the first "Photo of the Night" for the Time Machine 2011 tour, taken by John Arrowsmith (Rush pyro tech and photographer). I'll be posting at least one from each show. Click the photo to go to the entire set from Sunrise, FL. You can also purchase these photos.

Looks like Neil's still wearing the headphones -- most likely to prevent the ear problems he experienced on the 2010 tour.

Photo by John Arrowsmith

Labels: photo of the night, pictures, Time Machine tour 2011

Check out the new Rush.com design:

Rush | HOME

Via Rushisaband.

Labels: Rush.com, Time Machine tour 2011

Rush will be kicking off the 2011 Time Machine tour in Sunrise, Florida, tonight. Rush has stated that the setlist will be the same, but I'll post any surprises that I hear about.

Also, watch for Photo of the Night posts for each show. Have fun if you're attending the show!

Labels: Time Machine tour 2011

GREENSBORO & TOLEDO DATE CHANGES! - New Tour Gear - RUSH Juno!

From Rush.com:

RUSH TIME MACHINE TOUR 2011 GREENSBORO & TOLEDO DATE CHANGES!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Live Nation announced today that due to unforeseen circumstances the Rush performance previously scheduled for this Friday, April 1st in Greensboro has been postponed one day and will now take place on Saturday, April 2nd at the Greensboro Coliseum. Doors remain 6:30 pm with show time at 7:30 pm.

After much consideration, as the Toledo performance would have been the 4th show in 5 days the decision was made to delay the show rather than move forward as previously scheduled. The added time between shows will ensure that fans in Toledo are treated to the best performance that Rush can deliver. As a result, the Toledo performance previously scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th will be postponed one week and will now take place on Wednesday, April 13th at Huntington Center.
Tickets for both of the previously scheduled performance will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Fans requiring a refund may do so at point of purchase.

For complete tour and ticket details visit: www.livenation.com and www.rush.com

Labels: Time Machine tour 2011

At the 40th Juno Awards in Toronto this evening, the Rush documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage won for Music DVD of the Year. Click here for a list of all the winners.

Congratulations to filmmakers, Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Pegi Cecconi, Noah Segal, Shelley Nott, John Virant, and RUSH Alliance.

Rush has received other seven Juno awards since 1975:

• 1975 Most promising group of the year
• 1978 Group of the year
• 1979 Group of the year
• 1990 Artist of the Decade (80's)
• 1991 Best Hard Rock/Metal album - Presto
• 1992 Hard Rock album of the year - Roll the Bones
• 2004 Music DVD of the year - Rush in Rio

Labels: awards, Beyond the Lighted Stage, Juno award

From the article:

"It's nearly 30 years since Rush had a UK hit single. How, then, are they more popular -- and, whisper it, cooler -- than ever before? By Rob Fitzpatrick"

Rush: 'Our fans feel vindicated' | Music | The Guardian

Via Rushisaband.

Labels: Beyond the Lighted Stage, newspaper interview

In the first issue of iDrum online magazine, Neil Peart is featured in a great 55-minute video interview, conducted by drummer Jamie Borden. You can check out the interview in this unique interactive magazine here:

iDrum: Edition 1 

There's also a contest to win some NEP gear:

As if that wasn't enough the first issue will also feature a massive competition, giving readers the extraordinary opportunity to win the ultimate Neil Peart package. Worth in excess of $15,000, this piece of drumming history includes a set of four of Neil's favourite DW touring snares in a red velvet lined road style display case, plus a set of Sabian Paragon Cymbals and a brick of Neil's custom designed ProMark sticks. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own some seriously collectable Neil Peart signature products, all you need to do to enter is subscribe for FREE!

Also check out the short interview with Lorne Wheaton in the NAMM section of the magazine.

Thanks to Power Windows for the head's up!

Labels: iDrum, interview, videos

A few years ago, Ari Gold interviewed Neil Peart at the Drum Channel studios. The interview eventually ended up as an Extra on the Adventures of Power US DVD release (it will be available as a download for people outside the U.S. in a few weeks). The interview is now available as a transcript on Ari's website.

It's a fascinating interview, where Ari and Neil cover many topics, including the importance of music education in schools, karma, perseverance, filmmaking, travel, the Grateful Dead, the importance of not reading reviews of your work, and Neil's advice for parents whose kids want to become drummers.

Read the full interview


If you're interested in more, I interviewed Ari before the release of Adventures of Power on DVD, where he goes into more detail about working with Neil. Making Something Out of Nothing: An interview with Ari Gold

Labels: Adventures of Power film, interview

Update: Neil didn't appear on the March 21 show. Not sure when this is happening now, but I'll send out another update when I find out. More info on Rushisaband.

-----------------

According to Rushisaband, Neil Peart is scheduled to be interviewed with Bruce Cockburn on CBC's Strombo (formally "The Hour"). This is not reflected on the Strombo website yet, but was confirmed by a few Rushisaband readers.

More information as I get it.

Labels: interview

You can still bid for some great auction items, including a one-of-a-kind Neil Peart autographed snare drum.

http://PowerSavesTheMusic.com

Roster of donors:

ADAM CAROLLA SHOW

ADRIAN GRENIER

AEROSMITH

AMANDA PALMER

ANNIE GOLDEN

ARI GOLD

BAD COMPANY

BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

CHIU CHI LING

DAVID POE

DAVID WAIN

DRESDEN DOLLS

GARFUNKEL & OATES

GOGOL BORDELLO

JANE LYNCH

JIMMY JEAN-LOUIS

JOHN MAYER

JOHN WATERS

JUDAS PRIEST

KE$HA

MARKY RAMONE

METALLICA

NEIL HAMBURGER

NEIL PEART

NICK KROLL

OZOMATLI

PHISH

PINK MARTINI

RINGO STARR

SAMANTHA MALONEY

SHOSHANNAH STERN

SIMON KIRKE

SOKO

STYX

TERRY BOZZIO

THE HONEY BROTHERS

TIFF RANDOL

TIM & ERIC

WEEN

WEEZER

WILCO

Please bid at http://PowerSavesTheMusic.com Thank you.

Labels: Adventures of Power film, auctions

While Neil can't win "Drummer Of The Year" anymore, because he was inducted into Drummies Hall Of Fame, you can still vote for him in other categories. Here's the press release:

http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/the-2011-drummies-voting-is-now-open/

Drummies voting site

Labels: awards, DRUM magazine, drummies

Lorne Wheaton, Neil's drum tech, posted a photo of Neil rehearsing in SoCal on his MySpace page.

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: pictures

A limited edition Sabian Paragon Cymbal Pack is now available, which includes a splash cymbal autographed by Neil Peart.

You can order the cymbal pack at Musician's Friend.

Quick facts about this cymbal pack:

• Includes the complete Paragon line of cymbals
• Each cymbal features a brilliant finish
• Free flight case features custom "Time Machine" artwork

• A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pack will benefit Little Kids Rock

Here are the details about this cymbal pack from Sabian:

The Neil Peart Paragon Complete Cymbal Pack comes with an 8" and two 10" splashes (including one to be autographed for you by Neil Peart), two 16" crashes, 18" crash, 20" crash, 22" ride, 19" and 20" Chinese, 20" Diamondback Chinese, and 13" and 14" hi-hat sets. Each cymbal features a brilliant finish.

The Paragon series blends 2 styles of lathing for a very balanced cymbal tone. Pinpoint lathing creates a narrower groove for a fast, lively response on the top, while the traditional AA lathing creates a wider groove for a fuller, richer tone on the bottom side.

The cymbal pack is shipped in a free flight case featuring custom "Time Machine" artwork from the Rush album and tour of the same name.

Designed in collaboration with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart, Paragon is a range of cymbals that - although designed for Peart's hard hitting, high powered style -- deliver full, musical responses across a wide volume spectrum.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pack will benefit Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in our public schools. For more information, visit www.littlekidsrock.org.

Labels: cymbals, Sabian

The Words and the Pictures is a two-volume book published in England around 1979. I believe it was a supplemental tour book for the Hemispheres tour. In this book are pictures of Rush, along with facsimiles of Neil Peart's original handwritten lyrics sheets for select songs.

Labels: Link of the Day, lyrics