Neil Peart -- The Latest News

It's been quite a year for Rush fans, so please take a moment to celebrate the all-important 21.12 day (aka International Rush day!). This is a special one, thanks to this being the 2112 pre-centennial (in one hundred years my children or grandchildren will, hopefully, be celebrating that one).

What are you going to do to celebrate? Of course, you'll be playing Rush's 2112 -- preferably the entire album (in glorious 5.1 surround sound) But listening to the isolated drums for "Overture" isn't a bad idea either. Reading the handwritten lyrics by Neil Peart is probably required -- especially if you've never seen these.

Or you could listen to Rush talk about making 2112.

Other celebrations and info

Eddie Trunk: Friday Night Rocks: 3 hours of Rush!

Join Eddie This Friday As His Q104.3 Show Is Dedicated To 3 Hours Of Rush
Friday Night Rocks, on Q104.3 in New York City, is proud to announce it's first ever The Holiday Rush with Eddie Trunk airing live this coming Friday, December 21st.

Eddie as he will be dedicating his entire three hour radio show to nothing but the music of Rush. Making this show even more special will be an all new interview with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who will be checking in during the broadcast. So Rush fans alike, please join Eddie as he celebrates the holidays and Rush FINALLY getting into the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame LIVE this Friday night on Q104.3 New York City starting at 11PM ET. Those outside the NYC listening area can hear the show live on the stations stream at www.q1043.com or by using the free iheartradio app and dialing up Q104.3 under New York, Classic Rock. This show airs on all broadcast and online affiliates at it's usual day and time the following weekend. That list can be found here.

From Twitter:

Tomorrow nights all @rushtheband special just got even bigger! Happy to announce my friend @MikePortnoy will sit in as guest co-host!

USA Today story on Rush Day

In the Studio with Redbeard: 2112 Deluxe Edition Giveaway

Rushisaband 21.12 Day coverage

Today is the 21st day of the 12th month of the year 2012; 21/12/12 or 12/21/12 depending on what part of the world you live in. It's the Winter Solstice and the occasion has also become a sort of unofficial Rush holiday in recent years. The fact that 2012 also happens to be the 2112 pre-centennial along with Rush's recent Rock Hall induction announcement makes the occasion extra special this year.

Power Windows 21.12 coverage

Happy Rush Day!

Today is Rush Day, and to celebrate Geddy Lee will be appearing live on the UK's Planet Rock from 9-10am EST.  In addition, Alex Lifeson will be appearing on Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" show which starts at 11pm EST on Q104.3 in New York City; Friday's entire show has been dubbed The Holiday Rush and will be dedicated entirely to Rush.

Labels: 2112 Day

I've been following a lot of Rush tours over the years -- both as a concert-goer and, for the past 8 years, on this blog. The Clockwork Angels show was definitely Rush's most elaborate spectacle to date.

So much happened during this tour, I thought this was a good time to look back at the highlights (some of them for Rush, and some for me). Enjoy.

Sep 7, 2012: Opening night in Manchester, NH

As I followed along on Twitter, I was genuinely surprised with the changes to the show, including:

• Deep cuts from Power Windows, Grace Under Pressure, and Roll the Bones for the first time in many years
• A small orchestra joining the band onstage as they played through much of Clockwork Angels and a few other songs.
• Three (yes, three!) drum solos by Neil Peart (still playing his Time Machine kit)
• Neil Peart firing T-shirts from a cannon!

Sep 9: Washington, DC - More set changes

Rush changed the set again, swapping out multiple songs. This trend would continue until they settled on essentially two main sets. To see how many sets Rush played on this tour, check out this handy table at Power Windows. (In case you were wondering, there were 12 different sets.)

Neil Peart interviewed as part of New York Times article about drumming and fitness.

Sep 10 - Rush receive "Album of the Year" from Progressive Music Awards for Clockwork Angels

Sep 11 - Neil Peart cover story in DRUM!

Sep 12 - Neil's 60th birthday

While Neil celebrated this major milestone on the road, there was also a virtual party in the Twitterverse with Rush fans, friends, and colleagues wishing the Professor many happy returns.

Sep 17 - Clockwork Angels the Novel debuts at #18 on the New York Times bestsellers list

Oct 5 - Rush nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I was actually pretty stunned by this one. I never thought they'd get nominated (let alone get inducted).

Oct 11 -  Tour Update #1 from NEP: "The Better Angels"

Oct 15 - Taking Center Stage companion book released

Oct 15 and 17 - Rush plays two nights in Toronto

Neil Peart meets Don George, his first  drum teacher, for the first time in over 45 years.

Nov 13 - Seattle show!

• My son Drew's first Rush show
• Michael Shrieve interviews Neil Peart

Nov 17 - Tour Update #2 from NEP: "Witness to the Fall"

Nov 18 - Lorne "Gump" Wheaton's new site launches

If you haven't been to Gump's new site yet, I think you'll want to check out some of these amazing behind-the-scenes videos!

Nov 20 - Rush inducted into RockWalk in LA

Nov 26 - Phoenix show filmed for upcoming DVD

This was my second and final show on the CA tour. Rush was on fire!

Nov 28 - Dallas show filmed for upcoming DVD

Nov 30 - Randy Johnson's Phoenix show photos published

Dec 2 - Last show in Houston (show #34)

Dec 11 - Rush inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dec 13 - Tour update #3 from NEP: Adventures in the Wild West

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

In this installment of Neil's blog, "Adventures in the Wild West," he writes about his latest journeys on the Clockwork Angels tour with riding partner Michael Mossbach , including:

• Computer crashes
• Happy Camp road
• The Lost Coast (Cape Mendocino)

• Neil's new post-ride song
• Operation Mandy
• Special presents for motorcyclists at motels
• Riding with Brian Catterson
• Big Bend National Park
• Frackers in Texas
• Padre Island
• Talkin' to the orchestra during soundcheck:

• Firing a "T-shirt gun"
• Proof that Neil can run faster than Brittney Spears after a show
• Michael's names for Neil's solos

• His interview with Michael Shrieve in Seattle (one of the best interviews I've heard with Neil)

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

After being eligible since 1998, Rush was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rush joins Public Enemy, Heart, Randy Newman, Donna Summer, and Albert King, Lou Adler, and Quincy Jones in the class of 2013.

Here's the official press release from Rolling Stone.

Rush released a statement on Rush.com:

"We are honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 3 of us are especially appreciative of our loyal fans whose support and dedication has gone a long way to making this possible. P.S. And special thanks to our moms for voting 6000 times!" - Alex, Geddy, & Neil

Here's a Rolling Stone Interview with Geddy Lee about the induction.

Here's the announcement video:

It's been a long road for Rush (and many of the fellow artists inducted this year). Congratulations to Geddy, Alex, and Neil, as well as the fans who petitioned the Hall for years. 

Labels: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Here are two photos from the final Clockwork Angels 2012 show in Houston, TX.

Thanks again to Rush and John Arrowsmith for posting these photos for the fans!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Update: 12/2 - 7:50 p.m.

Just listened to Michael's interview with Neil, and I must say it's one of the best I've heard in a long time. Michael talks to Neil about drums, literature, the Pacific Northwest (and writers from the Pacific Northwest), Santana (and particularly what Michael's drumming meant to Neil), the Grateful Dead, drum teachers, Los Angeles, and many, many more topics!

Labels: interview, Michael Shrieve

Rush will play their last 2012 show in Houston tonight. This will be their 34th show on the Clockwork Angels tour.

I'll have a full write-up soon, but I think we can all agree this was a great tour!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

Michael Shrieve, Seattle-based drummer of Santana/Woodstock fame, interviewed Neil Peart as part of his Jet City Stream show Notes from the Field. The interview took place on Nov 13 when Rush played Seattle and will air on Sunday, Dec 2, @ 9 a.m. Pacific (12 p.m. Eastern).

Seattle Music Insider's Greg Roth interviewed Shrieve about the interview (thanks, Rushisaband!)

Here's an excerpt:

I asked Michael how he was able to land this special interview with an individual who typically shuns these types of affairs. Shrieve reports, "He's very difficult to get ahold of! I first contacted drummer Terry Bozzio, who put me in touch with Don Lombardi, who is head of Drum Workshop drum company, who all three of us endorse and play, and Don put me in touch with Neil's drum tech, who then spoke to Neil and from there it was set up. However, Neil's personal security guy would not allow me to have anyone in the room except myself and my producer who recorded the interview." The two drummers discuss a lot more than just drumming. "I was so impressed with Neil, and we had a great conversation about music, drums, life, and books!" Shrieve added.

Labels: interview, Michael Shrieve

Dallas - Nov 28, 2012

This show was filmed for Rush's upcoming DVD release:

San Antonio - Nov 30, 2012

In this photo, here's the look you'd receive from Mr. Peart if he caught you eating his sandwich after the show (see Time Machine outro):

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night