Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Walmart.com has 30-second samples of all Clockwork Angels songs. Click here to listen to the samples.

If you're like me, you're going to want to hear more. So, you've been warned!

Thanks to Blabbermouth.com via Paul for the head's up!

Labels: Clockwork Angels

Great interview with one of my favorite drummers.

Stewart Copeland on The Police, drum solos, Rush, double bass pedals and more | MusicRadar.com

Here's one of the most interesting passages:

By the way, just curious: What did you think when Rush added some Police-type elements to their music in the early '80s?

"I had only heard of it. I didn't actually listen to Rush albums, and I couldn't tell you one from the other -- although Neil is a good buddy. [laughs] We agreed to disagree on certain things, and it is a measure of his greatness as a human being that he is completely over whatever my feelings might be about Rush.

"This truly is the case: He's never heard me say a wonderful thing about his band. He's read a few comments that I wish he hadn't read. In unguarded moments, things tend to slip out. Musicians tend to be snippy about one another, and I'm generally not. I generally love all music and all players.

"There was a time when bands like Rush were the epitome of what The Police were theoretically against, which was an overemphasis on musicality. Our ethos in the early days was about the primal scream and that musical technique was a distraction from that mission. There may have been a few comments that I might have made regarding Rush's position on that debate, and it is really, really to Neil's credit that he's over that debate. And we get along great."

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: Stewart Copeland

There's an official press release about Clockwork Angels: The Novel on co-author Kevin J. Anderson's blog.

Also included in this release is that the audio book version will be narrated by co-author Neil Peart.

CLOCKWORK ANGELS: The Novel - Official Press Release! | Kevin J. Anderson's Blog

Labels: Clockwork Angels Novelization

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

Update: 7/21/12 - Rush's acceptance speech is now online.

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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