Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Clockwork Angels: The Novel charted at #27 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list for September 23 - Oct 7.

Clockwork Angels: The Novel debuted at #18 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list for September 16.

I've been listening to Neil Peart narrate the audio version of the novel, which has been quite a treat. I always knew Neil had a great voice for reading, but he's also a natural storyteller. It helps that he he came up with such a rich story, and Kevin J. Anderson filled out the story with some really beautiful writing, descriptions, and characters. 

You can order the audio version on Amazon/Audible by clicking the picture below:

Labels: Clockwork Angels Novelization, New York Times

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Update: 7:15 p.m. - 9/27/12

Finally had a chance to watch the entire video, and it's definitely one of the best I've seen in a while. In some ways, this is a tour of Neil's obsessions: drums, performing, writing, travel, motorcycling, and cymbals. There are also some great new shots of Neil playing "Subdivisions" (for Clockwork Angels tour rehearsal, I'm assuming) and riding his motorcycle. Highly recommended.

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Neil talks about touring, writing, and cymbals in this 10-minute interview:

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: cymbals, interview, Sabian

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

My friend Paul took these awesome photos of Rush from close to the front row on Geddy's side. These were taken at the Clockwork Angels show in Chicago on September 15. Thanks for sharing, Paul!

Here are a few of Geddy:

And Alex:

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

As Kevin J. Anderson recently tweeted, Clockwork Angels: The Novel debuted at #18 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers list for September 16.

Congrats to Kevin and Neil!

If you haven't picked up yours yet, here are some buying options:

Clockwork Angels: The Novel - Kindle Edition

Clockwork Angels: The Novel - Hardcover

Clockwork Angels: The Novel - Audiobook, MP3 Audio - CD - Narrated by Neil Peart

Clockwork Angels: The Novel - Audible Edition - Narrated by Neil Peart

Read an Interview with author Kevin J. Anderson

Labels: Clockwork Angels Novelization, Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

For those Rush fans still in the Chicago area who want to see Neil Peart's first drum kit, you can see it at this location.

Amvets Post 103
1194 Jericho Road , Aurora, Illinois 60505

You can also make donations for Samantha Garcia here.

More info:

"Chromey" will be on public display to help benefit Samantha Garcia. "Chromey", is the 1974 chrome Slingerland drum kit that was once owned and used by Neil Peart of Rush from 1974 to 1977, and used on the recordings and tours of the albums Fly By Night ('74), Caress of Steel ('75), 2112 ('76) and All The Worlds A Stage ('77). Come and get your photo taken with this iconic and historic drum kit for a donation.

Samantha is a 17 year-old high school student who was recently involved in a car accident. She was severely injured, hospitalized, and is currently undergoing therapy. Medical bills are expected to be high, and the family is asking for our help.

She suffered severe head trauma and was flown to Loyola in Maywood where she was in critical condition. Samantha has made great progress and is now in rehab at Marian Joy. Samantha's mother, Lisa, has been unable to work as she attends to her daughter during recovery, and the medical bills are expected to be very high and not fully covered by insurance. Samantha will be a senior this year at Kaneland High School where she competes in softball and enjoys running.

There will be food and beverages that can be purchased, a bags tournament (check in: 1pm, tournament at 2pm), live music, a silent auction, raffle, and a DJ. All proceeds go directly to the family for medical bills and daily expenses. There is an account at Castle Bank, in Sugar Grove IL under Samantha Garcias name for all monetary donations. The bank is located at 36 E Galena Blvd, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 - (630) 466-1192.

Donations can also be made here:
http://www.fundly.com/9fpdo3qq
Learn more about Samantha by watching this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj5BlFN15kM&feature=share
FaceBook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/34739029867568

Event Location:
Amvets Post 103
1194 Jericho Road , Aurora, Illinois 60505
More about "Chromey" can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/chromey

Labels: Chromey

If you're in Chicago for the Rush show, do yourself a favor and stop by Vic's Drum Shop to see the drum kit Neil Peart used on Fly By Night, Caress of Steel, 2112, and All the World's a Stage.

Vic's Drum Shop (1 on the map below) is a 5-minute drive to the United Center (2).

More info:

Saturday, 9/15, Vic's Drum Shop
First, Chromey will appear at Vic's Drum Shop on Saturday, September 15th, just hours before Rush plays at the nearby United Center. Come see this amazing piece of rock history and have your photograph taken behind it. Proceeds will go to benefit Richard "RC" McWilliams. RC is suffering with Invasive Skin Carcinoma (Skin cancer) and from deteriorating spinal discs. Outlook for this is orthopedic specialist, injections and eventually spinal surgery. RC's treatments consist of monthly IV therapy along with oral treatments; (Roughly $3,500 a month with no health insurance). If left untreated, it can be fatal. The expenses relating to treatment and surgeries have forced RC to sell everything he owns. RC was the drum tech for The Ides of March, from 1997 - 2006. RC was also an integral member of the Foghat crew but recently had to give up those duties. He is affectionately known by those close to him as "RC McFoghat" Donations can be made directly to RC, via his PayPal acct: mcfoghat@cox.net

Fans coming to the United Center for that night's Rush concert will want to make a stop at Vic's Drum Shop first. Owner Victor Salazar has been gracious enough to host Chromey and help make this charitable event a success!!
Saturday, September 15th, 11am-5pm
Vic's Drum Shop
345 North Loomis Street
Chicago, IL
(312) 770-1200

(Just a 5 minute drive from the United Center)

MAP
http://tinyurl.com/924gh9g

Sunday 9/16 Amvets Post 103 Aurora, IL
The following day, Sunday, September 16th, Chromey will be in Aurora at the Amvets Post 103. This is a fundraiser for Samantha Garcia, a 17 year old who was involved in a horrific car accident on July 1st of this year. She suffered severe head trauma and was flown to Loyola in Maywood where she was in critical condition. Samantha has made great progress and is now in rehab at Marian Joy. Samantha's mother, Lisa, has been unable to work as she attends to her daughter during recovery, and the medical bills are expected to be very high and not fully covered by insurance. Samantha will be a senior this year at Kaneland High School where she competes in softball and enjoys running.
There will be food and beverages that can be purchased, a bags tournament (check in: 1pm, tournament at 2pm), live music, a silent auction, raffle, and a DJ. All proceeds go directly to the family for medical bills and daily expenses. There is an account at Chase Bank in Montgomery IL under Samantha Garcias name for all monetary donations. Their phone number is 630-892-7290 located at 2101 Orchard Rd., Montgomery IL 60538

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj5BlFN15kM&feature=share

https://www.facebook.com/events/34739029867568

Sunday, September 16th   Time 12:00pm-8:00pm

Amvets Post 103

1194 Jericho Road , Aurora, Illinois 60505

More about "Chromey" can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chromey

Labels: Chromey

Hudson Music recently announced a companion book to Neil Peart Taking Center Stage: Lifetime of Live Performances DVD. And from what I can see, it's much, much more than a book of transcriptions (see below). The book is written by Joe Bergamini, who interviewed Neil for the DVD.You can order it here at Amazon:

Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage - A Lifetime of Live Performance (book)

It's also available at Rush shows right now. Here are some details:

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Music (October 15, 2012)
• Language: English

The book contains:

• Drum kit set up information
• Exclusive analysis and transcriptions of the17 songs from Taking Center Stage
• Photos of Neil Peart and his drum kits--including many never-before-seen photos

Here's the description from Amazon:

Originally conceived as a companion to the groundbreaking 2011 3-disc DVD set of the same name, this book combines astonishingly detailed musical transcriptions, historical writing, instructional text, and a beautiful collection of photographs to create a book that every drummer and every fan of Neil and Rush will want to add to their collection.

At the heart of the book are note-for-note musical transcriptions of 17 songs that are included on the Taking Center Stage DVD. These transcriptions are exclusive to this book, since they are taken from the performances on the DVD, documenting how Neil currently approaches the songs. Some of the tracks included are Tom Sawyer Red Barchetta. The Spirit of Radio, Free Will, Subdivisions, Time Stand Still, Marathon, La Villa Strangiato, The Trees, Caravan, BU2B, Far Cry, and many others.

But this is much more than a mere transcription book. The book is divided into chapters corresponding to each and every Rush tour from the time Neil joined the band in 1975, up to the present. Each of these chapters contains extensive text discussing the musical approach of the band at the time, the construction of the drum parts, and Neil's set up. Accompanying this are exquisitely detailed diagrams of each of Neil's drumsets, produced after extensive research into the exact instruments that were used on every tour.

Tying everything together is a beautiful collection of dozens of photographs taken over the past 30 years, including exclusive shots from the archives of Fin Costello and Andrew McNauhgtan, which show Neil and his drums in vivid detail. The book also contains color reproductions of just about every drum company advertisement that featured Neil during his career.

Written, transcribed, and researched by well-known drummer, author, and educator Joe Bergamini (who also co-produced and appeared in the DVD), and overseen and edited by Neil himself, "Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance" is the most complete, accurate, and definitive work on Neil Peart's career as a drummer.

Here's a link to a sample PDF on Rushisband.com.

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: Taking Center Stage

One day after his 60th birthday, Neil Peart fires an air cannon (presumably loaded with T-shirts). This is a first, folks!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Throughout the day, Twitter and Facebook lit up with birthday wishes for Neil Peart's 60th birthday. Friends, fans, websites (this one included), colleagues, and others from around the world wished the professor well.

After a successful show in Pittsburgh with Rush last night, Neil had a day off to do whatever he wanted (which is how all birthdays should be). Next show is tomorrow in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Here's a sampling of the birthday wishes from Twitter:

From his co-writer of Clockwork Angels, Kevin J. Anderson:

From his riding partner and manager of @PraetorianX1, Michael:

From friend, riding partner, and manager of Bubba's n Grill, Brutus:

From Sabian, the folks who make his cymbals:

Including this cool picture:

From Rock journalists Eddie Trunk and Redbeard:

From Daily Show writer, Chris Regan:

Even Rolling Stone...

CONSOL Energy Center...

and VIP Nation got in on the birthday action:

Rhythm Magazine included a link to an article.

As did Modern Drummer:  Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage

eRockPhotos.com included a great picture of Neil from the Power Windows tour:

Q107 in Toronto celebrated by playing some Rush:

Hope you had a great day, Bubba.

Labels: birthdays

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Neil Peart turns 60 today, September 12, 2012. I'm sure you'll agree that he's not the same spring chicken he used to be. Talk about a transformation!

Anyway, here's something Neil wrote about the passage of time in his January, 2012, blog post, "At the Gate of the Year."

I have never liked the cliches about time racing by, because I think you simply have to keep up with that pace--live your life at exactly the speed of time. Anyone asking "Where did the time go?" obviously wasn�t paying attention! Each day, week, month or year is a vessel of fixed capacity, to be filled with memorable incidents and stories. Every day can be observed in a way that is worth sharing--a motorcycle tour in South America or a trip to the grocery store and a pleasant few words with the baggers.

Responding to a letter from a friend who claimed to have nothing to tell, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Just tell me about the events passing daily under your eyes." Properly experienced and expressed, every life is of interest to another.

Now, at the pivot of another year (my sixtieth, I am proud to crow--how foolish to regret the passing years, if you consider the alternative), I am drawn to a kind of "reckoning," a time to pause and reflect. The title phrase has long resonated for me that way: "the gate of the year."

Hope you have a nice birthday, Neil. Thanks for all the years of inspiration behind the drums -- and also behind the typewriter/computer/notebook.

Endlessly rocking

Look for Neil Peart in the October 2012 issue of DRUM! Magazine

From the Table of Contents:

34 Neil Peart Master Class

The Rush technician lets us in on the process behind the inimitable rhythmic signature of Clockwork Angels. Be prepared, be very prepared.
By David E. Libman

Labels: DRUM magazine, interview