Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Once again, Neil Peart has updated the "News, Weather & Sports" section of his website: October 2014: "Science Island."

This installment focuses on Neil's summertime visit to the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec, including a return to the abandoned Le Studio building for an interview with Banger Films (working on a new documentary about Geddy Lee!). Le Studio is where Rush recorded many of their albums, including: Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, Exit... Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure, Presto, Roll the Bones, and Counterparts. 

Neil describes the experience of revisiting Le Studio:

"At the moment of arriving, and even on the way there, I felt some emotions bubbling up, but I kind of pushed them down for the moment--unsure exactly what I was feeling, or would feel. Later I realized that the experience was really just too much to process all at once--because no other place on Earth had been more important in my life. So that's big."

Neil Peart and his Z-8 in front of Le Studio. (Photo by Martin Hawkes)

Neil Peart peering into Le Studio, where his drums were once set up. (Photo by Martin Hawkes)

Thanks to PowerWindows for the head's up!

Updates:

10/6/14 - 9:45 p.m.

• Added all Rush albums recorded or mixed at Le Studio.
• Added quote from Neil about Le Studio.

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

As part of a Grapes for Humanity charity auction, Rush has donated many rare autographed items.  I've included photos and links to all items available (as of October 5).

For Neil Peart collectors, there are several items up for bid, including a DW "Hockey Song" snare and Remo drumhead and sticks used during the Time Machine tour. Good luck bidding!

1. Signed Geddy Lee Stage Worn Sneakers Used on Rush R30 + Time Machine Tours

2. Rush Signed Feedback 8x10 Promo Photo by Andrew MacNaughtan

3. Rush Signed Brown Sunburst Ovation Parlor Acoustic USED Geddy Lee Home Studio

4. Rare Rush Signed Moving Pictures Live Test Pressing 200 gram vinyl; 1 of 4 made

5. Rush Signed Different Stages 8x10 Promo Photo shot, Black and White

6. Rush Signed Tour/Studio USED Oberheim DSX Sequencer Custom - Vital Signs Sticker

Check out the "Vital Signs" sticker!

7. Neil Peart Rush Signed DW Snare Drum with NHL Logos Rare Limited Edition, 1 of 6

8. Rush Neil Peart Signed Drumhead + Used Neil Peart Signature Sticks Time Machine

9. Rare Rush ReDISCovered (1974) Signed Vinyl Test Pressing 200 g vinyl LP; 1 of 4

10. Rush Roll the Bones Backdrop/Equipment Cover - Used on 1991 Roll the Bones Tour

11. Rush Signed Rush in Rio 8x10 promo photo by Andrew MacNaughtan

12. Rush Signed Alex Lifeson Signature Gibson Les Paul Axcess - Signed by Rush

13. Vintage Rush Signed Grace Under Pressure 8x10 Promo Photo by Yousuf Karsh

14. Rush Signed Limited Edition Fender Geddy Lee Replica Jazz Bass Custom Shop Relic

15. Vintage Rush Signed Hold Your Fire 8x10 Promo Photo by Glen Wexler

16. Rush Vintage Silver Rush Road Case USED on many Rush tours (w/ Signed Letter)

Labels: auctions, grapes4humanity

Rhythm and Music Radar readers have chosen Rush's Moving Pictures as the most influential Prog album of all time.

Their story provides an excellent analysis about why Moving Pictures is such an important album and drum performance (for Prog or any other genre). Here's an excerpt:

Your winners by a country mile, Neil Peart and Rush are the prog heavyweight champions as chosen by Rhythm and MusicRadar readers.

After their progressive proclivities reached a zenith on the albums A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres, Rush showed signs of moving away from epic compositions towards more radio-friendly rock on 1980's Permanent Waves.

But it was on Moving Pictures that their new direction reached fruition as Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart proved they could write radio-friendly hits that were still musically rich and satisfyingly complex. The group recorded the album at Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec with Terry Brown who had been Rush's producer since their second album Fly By Night in 1975.

Characteristically, Peart came to the recording sessions with every groove, fill and flam meticulously planned out and rehearsed. Seeking to try to capture the sound of the drums the way Peart heard them as he was playing, engineer Paul Northfield experimented with taping a PZM microphone to Peart's chest to capture the sound from the drummer's perspective.

The album became Rush's most successful, reaching Number 3 in both the US and UK charts. It opens with a track that remains a live standard to this day - 'Tom Sawyer'. As catchy as the song is, the drumming is enormously detailed.

 Read the rest of the story here.

Also topping the list of 30 albums were:

Systematic Chaos (2007) - Band: Dream Theater; Drummer: Mike Portnoy

AEnima (1996)- Band: Tool; Drummer: Danny Carey

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) - Band: Genesis; Drummer: Phil Collins

Fear of a Blank Planet (2007) - Band: Porcupine Tree; Drummer: Gavin Harrison

Fragile (1972) - Band: Yes; Drummer: Bill Bruford

The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) - Band: Pink Floyd; Drummer: Nick Mason

In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) - Band: King Crimson; Drummer: Michael Giles

Labels: polls