Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Neil Peart's latest book, Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon to Me! is scheduled to release on September 13, 2016.

In September 2015, Peart wrote the following about this book on NeilPeart.net, BubbaGram™ #1:

In recent months it became apparent that my experiences on the R40 tour in 2015 were much too vast and deep to fit into a couple of website stories. Plus I had far too many scenic and narrative photographs to fit in my usual format here. It would have to be a book.

Yet I did not want to neglect this forum and its audience — just "go dark" on everybody for the year or so it might take to put together a book. A fun solution to that conundrum might be . . . this! During the tour I had been sending occasional images of the day’s travels to my circle of friends under the BubbaGram™ title, so I will continue that theme here. At semi-regular intervals I will post a photograph or two and an anecdote, to represent the work in progress.

From the Publisher's description:

35 concerts. 17,000 motorcycle miles. Three months. One lifetime.

In May 2015, the veteran Canadian rock trio Rush embarked on their 40th anniversary tour, R40. For the band and their fans, R40 was a celebration and, perhaps, a farewell. But for Neil Peart, each tour is more than just a string of concerts, it’s an opportunity to explore backroads near and far on his BMW motorcycle. So if this was to be the last tour and the last great adventure, he decided it would have to be the best one, onstage and off.

This third volume in Peart’s illustrated travel series shares all-new tales that transport the reader across North America and through memories of 50 years of playing drums. From the scenic grandeur of the American West to a peaceful lake in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains to the mean streets of Midtown Los Angeles, each story is shared in an intimate narrative voice that has won the hearts of many readers.

Richly illustrated, thoughtful, and ever-engaging, Far and Wide is an elegant scrapbook of people and places, music and laughter, from a fascinating road — and a remarkable life.

Labels: books, Far and Wide, written by NEP

Neil Peart has posted a September 2015 update to his website entitled "BubbaGram #1."

The big news in this update is right at the beginning:

In recent months it became apparent that my experiences on the R40 tour in 2015 were much too vast and deep to fit into a couple of website stories. Plus I had far too many scenic and narrative photographs to fit in my usual format here. It would have to be a book.

Yet I did not want to neglect this forum and its audience--just "go dark" on everybody for the year or so it might take to put together a book. A fun solution to that conundrum might be . . . this! During the tour I had been sending occasional images of the day's travels to my circle of friends under the BubbaGram^TM title, so I will continue that theme here. At semi-regular intervals I will post a photograph or two and an anecdote, to represent the work in progress.

My guess is we'll see quarterly updates from Neil.

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil Peart has posted a June update to his website entitled "Backstage Byways."

There's a lot of great stories in this one, including his daughter Olivia's first Rush concert in New Orleans!

It was also Olivia's first Rush concert, and she loved it. I had thought she might last a song or two, but she danced and air-drummed right to the end. Manager Ray arranged a "box" for them, high up over everything, and Olivia couldn't get over all the people.

"There must be two-thousand-and-eighteen people," she said.

Ray laughed and told her, "Actually there are about eleven thousand!"

Olivia looked puzzled, "Are they all here to see my dad and Uncle Alex and Uncle Geddy?"

When Ray assured her they were, she said, "That's too silly."

Then she wondered, "Do they know he's my dad?"

Ray laughed and said, "They probably do."

There are also a lot of photos, including this one of Neil and his two drum kits for the R40 Live tour:

Labels: neilpeart.net, News updates, R40, written by NEP

Neil Peart posted a March update to his website entitled "Miracle in Colorado."

This installment follows the 11-year odyssey of finding a lost motorcycle luggage case and its contents. (The incident was originally reported in Peart's book, Roadshow: Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour by Motorcycle.)

Kevin J. Anderson, who's also featured in this story, tweeted this summary:

Strange but true Neil Peart stories, with me, a castle, and lost luggage. http://t.co/lSwrhlRpHp

- Kevin J Anderson (@TheKJA) March 28, 2015

Above: Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart in Colorado, June 2004. Photo by Rebecca Moesta

Here's an excerpt:

Then I began to add up the irreplaceable items, like my shaving kit and medicines, my phone and address book, a copy of Traveling Music with all of my proofreading notes in it, the little Zeiss birdwatching binoculars Jackie had bought for our East African safari in 1987, and--worst of all--the Patek Philippe watch Carrie had bought me for my fiftieth birthday and the Cartier engagement ring she'd given me in 2000. I didn't wear them when I was riding or drumming, but I liked to have them with me, in what ought to have been a safely locked case.

Where was it?

One corner of my mind knew this wasn't the worst that could happen--my imagination always allowed for the possibility of extreme, fatal disasters. But at the same time, having barely survived some tragedies that weren't imaginary had left me permanently fragile. I lived and functioned inside a thin armor of "adaptation" that was easily pierced, and I was feeling bad about this lost case, near tears. I stopped at the side of the road, lit a cigarette with shaking hands, and tried to think what to do.

Definitely worth reading!

Labels: Kevin J. Anderson, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

This week, Neil Peart posted a story about driving in the July racing event, "24 Hours of LeMons," in Tooele, Utah. You can read the story at Neil's website,  July 2014: "Bamm Bamm and the Lemon Slug".

photo by Craig M. Renwick

Here's an excerpt:

Your reporter poses with his full-face helmet and fireproof gloves, wearing his fireproof suit, socks, long underwear, and shoes (I know--red; they were out of black, see, and I thought, "Okay-I will rock those red shoes"). I am about to take my first driving shift in the "24 Hours of LeMons," in Tooele, Utah. (Pronounced "Too-ill-uh.") The endurance racing series, punning on the famous 24-hour race in Le Mans, France, was conceived around 2006 by journalist Jay Lamm. His mission was to give low-budget enthusiasts an opportunity to race--safely and humorously.

Labels: cars, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

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

Neil has updated his website with a new three-part story. You can read it here:

August 2014 - "Magnetic Mirages"

Neil writes about the eight Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California, including two recent trips to multiple islands. In the picture below, Peart had been "bombed" by some gulls on Anacapa Island.

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

I had last stood on that summit almost fifteen years before, in October, 1999. All unexpectedly, that place and time had marked a major turning point in my life--a hinge of fate, as it were. In writing my story of that time, in Ghost Rider, I came to realize that the hike up Telescope Peak was an important "plot point." Dramatic. Symbolic. 

Five-and-a-half years later, in April 2005, I planned a second attempt on Telescope Peak, but was warned by the park rangers that the higher elevations had too much snow and ice to climb without winter mountaineering gear--crampons and ice axes and such. I didn't have any of those on my motorcycle. (Note to self: a man of your age and station ought to possess an ice axe.) So that day I hiked up nearby Wildrose Peak instead, at only 9,064 feet, and still had to work around or through a fair amount of snow.

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil Peart wrote the foreword for Gavin Harrison's new Hudson Music drum book, Rhythmic Composition. Here's more info from Hudson Music's website:

Rhythmic Composition documents Gavin's work with the popular progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. The book includes 20 highly detailed drum transcriptions by Terry Branam and in-depth commentary from Gavin Harrison taking you through the concepts of each song. Included are some of Gavin's most legendary drum parts, including "Blackest Eyes," "Trains," "The Sound of Muzak," "Futile," "Halo," "Anesthetize," "Nil Recurring," "Cheating the Polygraph," and others.

Following an enlightening foreword by drumming legend Neil Peart of Rush, Gavin discusses the drum parts of each song, and often details the recording process and the source of his ideas for the drum parts and songs themselves. Overall, the book provides a fascinating and educational look at the conceptual, creative, and technical  sides of Gavin's drumming.

Labels: foreword, Gavin Harrison, written by NEP

Neil has updated his website with a new story (two months in a row now!). You can read it here:

March 2014: "Not All Days Are Sundays"

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil has updated his website with a new story. You can read it here:

February 2014: "Bubba and The Professor"

Thanks to West Side Beemer Boyz for the head's up!

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil has updated his website with a new story. You can read it here:

Angel's Landing - November 2013

Update - 11/11/13

I finally had a chance to read through this update. As always, there's a lot of great stuff here. The story focuses on a road trip through southwestern Utah, where Neil hikes and takes spectacular photos.

Neil's visits through Zion and Bryce National Parks give him time to reflect on the U.S. government shutdown and how it might look to someone visiting from another country:

These foreign visitors, like the American seniors who also visit the national parks outside the summer months, might have waited all their lives for this one opportunity. And there are tens of thousands of Americans, especially in the West, whose livelihoods are tied to the national parks. (One county in Utah, San Juan, claims seventy percent of its residents depend on the parks for their family income.) As one Utah official said, "It's not like we can miss October and make it up in January."

Neil also reflects on his Ghost Rider time, when he visited this area of the U.S. 15 years ago:

The date of my climb to Angels Landing was October 15, 2013, exactly fifteen years less a day since my one previous visit to the national parks of Southwestern Utah, on my Ghost Rider travels. As part of my planning this time, I reread those passages in the book, especially the letters to Brutus and Mendelson Joe from Zion and Bryce Canyon. I had not looked at those pages for many years, ever more unwilling to relive those times, so I was hesitant.

Oh, and Neil talks about his new car, an Aston Martin Vanquish.

I always avoid showing, or writing much about, the material possessions I have been fortunate enough to acquire. Part of that is native Canadian modesty--not wanting to seem to brag--but part of it is the wish not to arouse envy.

Unfortunately, he has more problems with, um, wildlife running out in front of him.

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil Peart has posted an article he wrote for a British motorcycling weekly. Because he was writing for a new audience, Neil explained many more details about his daily routine on the road:

Since 1996 I have been traveling on Rush tours by motorcycle, riding to virtually every concert in the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. Hundreds of shows, tens of thousands of miles, and a million memories -- almost all good, and many spectacular, like the American West, the Brazilian rainforest, the Stelvio Pass, and the Yorkshire Dales.

A more-or-less typical example of my touring life would be the U.K. part of our Clockwork Angels tour in May, 2013. Here's how it works...

Drummer with a Singletrack Mind

Labels: motorcycling, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil posted a blog entry on his website covering the final leg of the 2013 Clockwork Angels tour. It's a good one!

Read "It's Not Over When It's Over"

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2013, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil has posted a new update to his website for June 2013: "Shunpikers in the Shadowlands."

There's so much to like about this long update. Among the subjects Neil discusses:

• His friend Brutus, with whom he traveled on this leg and is recovering from "stupid" cancer. I was happy to read that Brutus is feeling better and that this "crucial test" of touring with Neil went well.
• A new story that Neil wrote during this leg for Motorcycle News called "Drummer With a Singletrack Mind"
• A review of the definition of "shunpiking"
• A visit to Amsterdam
• A visit Rothenburg
• Surviving the Cuban Missile Crisis
• A long discussion about the Rush song, "Heresy"
• A visit to Neuschwanstein
• Trying to keep up on the Autobahn
• Flooding in Southern Germany
• Fine dining in Dresden

• "Bone-jarring" roads in Poland
• A discussion of the Rush song "Red Sector A"
• Waiting in ferry lines and "The Yellow Vest" man

• Driving standards of Europe vs. North America
• Visiting southern Sweden and playing for 35,000 people
• Chatting with his daughter Olivia on an iPad (in the ferry line)
• Visiting Finland

And, as they say, much more.

Labels: neilpeart.net, News updates, written by NEP

Labels: neilpeart.net, News updates, written by NEP

Labels: neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Neil Peart wrote an article for DW Edge magazine Issue 10, entitled "Gearing Up for The Road." Neil writes about how he prepared for the "Clockwork Angels 2012 Tour." There's also an interview with Neil's drum tech Lorne Wheaton.

Edge Magazine (main site)

Issue 10 web version (18 MB PDF)

If you want the high-quality version (important: 110 MB download!)

Issue 10 print resolution version (110 MB PDF)

Labels: drums, written by NEP

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

Neil Peart has posted a new story to his website. You can read it here:

Neil Peart.net: Witness to the Fall

In this update, Neil writes about seeing his first drum teacher, Don George, whom he hadn't seen in 45 years!

In recent years Don and I had been in touch by mail and email, and he sent me videos of his current teaching ideas and methods. I was pleased to see that he was obviously still a gifted and dedicated teacher. For his part, when talking about this long-ago student, Don was once quoted, "Neil didn't have another teacher for thirty years, so I must have done something right."

And he did -- Don gave me a strong enough direction toward what I needed to know that I could follow it through those decades. Most of all, he gave me the encouragement that I could be a drummer, if I worked at it. Essentially, Don kept me climbing that mountain for three decades, until I needed Freddie Gruber and Peter Erskine to guide me to higher elevations.

Labels: neilpeart.net, News updates, written by NEP