Neil Peart -- The Latest News

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

As if the premiere of "Headlong Flight" wasn't enough today, I just noticed on the Rush.com website that the new tour 2012 dates are up:

7-Sep
Manchester, NH
Verizon Wireless Arena
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

9-Sep
Washington, DC
Jiffy Lube Amphitheatre
On Sale Soon

11-Sep
Pittsburg, PA
CONSOL Energy Center
On Sale Soon

13-Sep
Indianapolis, IN
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
On Sale Soon

15-Sep
Chicago, IL
United Center
On Sale Sat. Apr. 28

18-Sep
Detroit, MI
Palace of Auburn Hills
On Sale Sat. Apr. 28

20-Sep
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Arena
On Sale Soon

22-Sep
St. Louis, MO
The Scottrade Center
On Sale Soon

24-Sep
Minneapolis, MN
Target Center
On Sale Soon

26-Sep
Winnipeg, MB
MTS Centre
On Sale Soon

28-Sep
Saskatoon, SK
Credit Union Centre
On Sale Soon

30-Sep
Edmonton, AB
Rexall Place
On Sale Soon

10-Oct
Bridgeport, CT
Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard
On Sale Soon

12-Oct
Philadelphia, PA
Wells Fargo Center
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

14-Oct
Toronto, ON
Air Canada Centre
On Sale Soon

18-Oct
Montreal, QC
Bell Centre
On Sale Soon

20-Oct
Newark, NJ
The Prudential Center
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

22-Oct
Brooklyn, NY
Barclays Center
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

24-Oct
Boston, MA
TD Garden
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

26-Oct
Buffalo, NY
First Niagara Center
On Sale Sat. Apr. 28

28-Oct
Cleveland, OH
The Quicken Loans Arena
On Sale Soon

30-Oct
Charlotte, NC
The TIME Warner Cable Arena
On Sale Soon

1-Nov
Atlanta, GA
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
On Sale Soon

3-Nov
Tampa, FL
1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
On Sale Soon

13-Nov
Seattle, WA
Key Arena
On Sale Soon

15-Nov
San Jose, CA
HP Pavillion
On Sale Soon

17-Nov
Anaheim, CA
Honda Center
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

19-Nov
Los Angeles, CA
Gibson Amphitheatre
On Sale Fri. Apr. 27

23-Nov
Las Vegas, NV
MGM Grand Garden Arena
On Sale Soon

25-Nov
Phoenix, AZ
US Airways Center
On Sale Soon

28-Nov
Dallas, TX
American Airlines Center
On Sale Soon

30-Nov
San Antonio, TX
AT&T Center
On Sale Soon

2-Dec
Houston, TX
Toyota Center
On Sale Soon

Labels: Clockwork Angels, Clockwork Angels tour 2012

Go to Rollingstone.com to listen to the full version of "Headlong Flight."

Exclusive Stream: Rush Return with Heavy 'Headlong Flight'

Labels: Clockwork Angels, Headlong Flight single

You can now hear the full version of "Tom Sawyer" from XYZ - A Tribute to Rush. This is one of five tracks on the EP, which also includes "Red Barchetta," "YYZ," "Limelight," and an original, "Trifecta."

Pre-order Sonic Elements XYZ - A Tribute to Rush featuring Neil Peart Drums EP

• Download version (pre-order)
• Physical CD (pre-order)

Musicians:

• Vocals, Guitar - John Wesley (Porcupine Tree)
• Keyboards - Dave Kerzner (Simon Collins Band, Thud)
• Bass - Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa)
• Drums - Neil Peart* (*Neil Peart Drums by Sonic Reality)

Read my interview with Dave Kerzner about Neil Peart Drums:

Everything you wanted to know about Sonic Reality's Neil Peart Drums

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Neil Peart Studio Profile, Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

The single "Headlong Flight" from Clockwork Angels will be available to download from Amazon on April 24. According to the listing, the song clocks in at 7:20! Click the image to go to the Amazon page.

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: Clockwork Angels, Headlong Flight single

According to the person who posted this video on YouTube, a student of Freddie's from the 1970s, this speech took place on November 13, 2011, at the Sportsman's Lodge in Sherman Oaks, California. This was the memorial for Freddie Gruber, who was Neil's teacher starting in the 1990s.

Labels: Freddie Gruber

Labels: Clockwork Angels

Last night, April 11, in Los Angeles at Club Nokia, Neil Peart accepted the Revolver Golden Gods Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement award. The award was presented by Tenacious D (Kyle Gass and Jack Black).

During the speech, Neil said, "Our lifetimes aren't over. Our achievements aren't over. But this is, like, so far so good, and we'll keep trying to get better."

Go to a story on Ultimate Classic Rock.

Bootleg video on YouTube of Neil's acceptance speech.

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: awards

You can now pre-order the CD and novel at Amazon:

Clockwork Angels - CD

Clockwork Angels: The Novel

Labels: Clockwork Angels, Clockwork Angels Novelization

Eric at Power Windows has posted four new desktop wallpaper pictures from the forthcoming album, Clockwork Angels. Check it out here:

Rush News from Power Windows: Clockwork Angels - Desktop Wallpaper

Here's my favorite:

Labels: Clockwork Angels

Rush released a bunch of information about Clockwork Angels today. Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

• Rush.com press release (plus Rush.com has been updated with the Clockwork Angels theme)
• CD Release date: June 12, 2012

Pre-order the CD on Amazon: Clockwork Angels

• Pre-order Clockwork Angels fanpack (import)
• New single "Headlong Flight" on rock radio on April 19
• Play the 30-second video trailer of "Headlong Flight."

Album art:

Track list:

1.    Caravan
2.    BU2B
3.    Clockwork Angels
4.    The Anarchist
5.    Carnies
6.    Halo Effect
7.    Seven Cities Of Gold
8.    The Wreckers
9.    Headlong Flight
10.    BU2B2
11.    Wish Them Well
12.    The Garden

Press release photo:

Labels: Clockwork Angels

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner about the story behind producing Neil Peart Drums. It was a fascinating conversation about not only how something like a virtual drum kit gets captured -- in this case Peart's Snakes & Arrows kit -- but also how you can use it in your own drumming or songwriting. If you've been wondering how to get started with Neil Peart Drums, check out this interview:

Everything you wanted to know about Sonic Reality's Neil Peart Drums

Dave also talked about what it was like to work Neil Peart. Here's an excerpt:

Neil was totally cool. Really nice guy. Quiet and introverted for the most part, but I talked with him and he was very gracious, accommodating, and good spirited�

If you are working with someone famous you have to control the fanboy in you and chill out (laughs). I mean to a certain extent. Even Nick Raskulinecz is like a big kid who loves Rush and air drums all the fills. Neil knows we're all in awe of that stuff. But you just have to be totally pro and keep your cool. Get things done and you have his respect. Enough respect for him to let you play his kit! Apparently that rarely ever happens. But I convinced Neil and his tech Loren to let me do it so I could explain how we sample the drums, which you can see on YouTube.

Thanks to Dave Kerzner for taking the time to talk to me.

If you have other questions for Dave, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I'll try to get them answered for you.

Labels: Neil Peart Drums, Neil Peart Studio Profile, Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush

Sonic Reality's David Kerzner has been collaborating with other musicians on a unique project called XYZ - A Tribute to Rush. The 4 song EP, along with one bonus track (and another pre-order bonus track!), will be released on April 21, 2012. XYZ is now available for pre-order.

Pre-order Sonic Elements XYZ - A Tribute to Rush featuring Neil Peart Drums EP

• Download version (pre-order)
• Physical CD (pre-order)

I recently interviewed Dave Kerzner about XYZ and the two Neil Peart Drums products. Click here to read the interview. If you're interested in finding out how to use these products, this interview will answer all your questions.

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: Sonic Reality, XYZ - A Tribute to Rush