Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Documentary about Niagara's Rock Music History: "The Big Story of Small Potatoes"

2009-11-07T20:11:00.001-08:00

A new documentary, The Big Story of Small Potatoes, by filmmaker Paul Miilm "explores the roots of the lost music scene of Niagara, circa 1964-1974," of which Neil Peart was a musician. While the film doesn't contain an interview with Peart, Jimmy Johnson, who became a guitar tech for Alex Lifeson, is interviewed.

One of Neil's bands, JR Flood, also has a song "Giant Killer" on the soundtrack. (Not sure if Neil is playing on this song.)

On the website for this documentary is an "incomplete" list of bands from the Niagara music scene. Here are the bands that Neil played in according to this site (some of these are new to me):

Mumblin Sumpthin circa 1967 (St. Catharines micro-band)
Strength circa 1967-68 (micro-band) (Neil possibly sat in)
Wayne and the Younger Generation circa 1966-67 (falls band) was called The Devil's Diciples (sic) early 1966
The Younger Generation circa 1967
The Majority circa 1967- Dec 69 (falls/St. Catharines band) From The Younger Generation Rick Jones creation. There was a line-up of The Majority previous to this one, but no one remembers who.
David circa 1970 (after Skinner's version of The Majority for a couple gigs -- micro-band)
JR Flood circa 1968 - July 1971; Aug 1971 - Dec 1971 (different lineup) (St. Catharines/Falls band)
Hush circa 1971-74

The documentary is expected to be available in Mid-November 2009.

Thanks to SRAWRATS in the ~~Rush Forum~~ rushtour.com for the head's up.

New NEP News Update: "Autumn Serenade"

2009-11-02T23:21:00.001-08:00

Neil has posted an update to his website called "Autumn Serenade - November 2009."

Ari Gold interviews Neil Peart on Drum Channel

2009-10-30T23:40:00.001-07:00

There's a new video on DrumChannel.com of Ari Gold (from the film Adventures of Power) interviewing Neil Peart.

Click to watch the video on Drum Channel

Win "The Masked Rider" signed by Neil Peart

2009-10-30T16:06:00.001-07:00

The Rush Backstage Club has a new contest this week. You can win a signed, hardcover copy of "The Masked Rider."

Enter contest here.

This contest closes on November 12, 2009.

Good luck!

Producer Paul Northfield talks about recording Neil Peart's drums

2009-10-30T15:45:00.001-07:00

Paul Northfield has worked with Rush as a recording engineer, mixer, and producer on many albums, including Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Exit Stage Left, Signals, Grace Under Pressure, A Show of Hands, Different Stages, and Vapor Trails.

Recordinghacks.com has a fascinating (if somewhat technical) interview with Paul about recording Rush and in particular Neil Peart's drums. Also discussed is Paul's recording of Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree.

Read the article here.

Excerpt:

"It's hard to believe that, when you listen to Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves, that there's very rarely two songs that have the same mics on the drum kit. I mean, the tom mics might have stayed the same for most of the time, but the kick drum mic would be changed all the time, and yet you wouldn't necessarily know, because you always end up kind of re-EQing and fiddling. Which kind of gives you an idea that the thing that gives things consistency, with recording drums, has more to do with the nature of the room and the player, and the way his kit is tuned."

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Matt Scannell talks about Neil Peart

2009-10-23T20:35:00.001-07:00

Neil Peart plays on three songs on the new Vertical Horizon CD, Burning the Days. Here's an article about the new CD, as well reflections on his early days as a Rush fan.

Music links friends and heroes

Via Counterparts message board (mystress aynn)

Neil Peart's first Slingerland kit update

2009-10-23T20:16:00.001-07:00

As reported back in August, Neil Peart's first Slingerland kit sold on eBay for $25,100.00. At that time, Michael D.F. Lowe of NeilPeartDrumsticks.com, who knows the new owner, hinted at plans to display the kit where people might even be able to play kit!

Well, Michael has just released details, which you can read about at NeilPeartDrumsticks.com.

Neil Peart remembers Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson

2009-10-22T01:33:00.001-07:00

Neil Peart remembers how Blue Cheer influenced him as a 16-year-old. Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson died on October 12, 2009.

Louder Than God: Rush's Neil Peart Remembers Blue Cheer's Dickie Peterson

Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill Updates

2009-10-21T00:12:00.001-07:00

There are a few changes to the Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill section of NeilPeart.net that are worth noting:

Brutus (Neil's friend and long-time riding partner) is now the manager of Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill, and will also be helping with other website duties. Read more about Brutus' management philosophy here. Neil writes about Brutus taking over as manager, "It just seemed right. Brutus is enthusiastic about most everything, and is organized and unflappable. He loves people, and they love him. He's a great cook in his own right and I've got to admit I'm awfully fond of his martinis."
You can now buy official Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill merchandise.
You can register for Neil Peart website updates (click through this link).
If you haven't been to Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill in a while, there are lots of new recipes and stories about how Neil got those recipes.

I've also added links to all of the recipes under the Explore this site menu on the home page of my site:

Adventures of Power Los Angeles release party on 10/13

2009-10-12T21:14:00.001-07:00

If you live in the Los Angeles area, consider attending the Adventures of Power Los Angeles release party.

Details:

When: Tuesday, October 13, 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Where: El Cid, 4212 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

What to bring: It's free, but bring $10 for kids' music education

Click the image below for information:

Power vs. Peart video

2009-10-11T22:58:00.001-07:00

The video of Power (Ari Gold) and Neil Peart is now on YouTube:

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Adventures of Power now in NYC

2009-10-11T11:17:00.001-07:00

Adventures of Power opened in AMC Loews Village 7 on 10/9, and will continue to open in theaters throughout October and November.

Go to IMDb page

Information © IMDb.com

Adventures of Power is about a man on a quest to become the greatest air drummer in the world, and features a cameo by Neil Peart.

See the official website for other theaters and dates.

Watch the trailer here.

See Neil Peart's Snakes & Arrows kit

2009-10-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

Guitar Center will be displaying Neil Peart's Snakes & Arrows tour kit at the Percussion Arts Society show in Indianapolis, IN. The show runs from 11/11 - 11/14, and the kit will be displayed in Booth #620. Go to www.pasic.org for more details about the show.

Here's the Guitar Center flyer:

If you go to the show and take pictures, please send them to me and I'll post them for you.

Thanks to Rushisband for the head's up and the flyer image.

Neil Peart's favorite top 10 Atlantic Canada books

2009-10-11T10:11:00.001-07:00

Stephen Clare and Trevor Adams of Halifax Magazine are holding a web poll to find the top 100 Atlantic Canadian books ever written. The results will be published in Spindrift: The 100 Greatest Atlantic Canadian Books Ever Written.

As they write on their website:

By way of methodology, we are polling over 1,500 writers, readers and literary people of all sorts across the country to submit their "Top 10" list of fiction/non-fiction works from the East Coast.

According to QuillandQuire.com, one of the writers polled was Neil Peart, who weighs in with his top 10:

Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams: A Novel by Wayne Johnston

The Custodian of Paradise: A Novel by Wayne Johnston

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie Macdonald

The Way the Crow Flies: A Novel by Ann-Marie Macdonald

The Republic of Nothing by Lesley Choyce

An Avalanche of Ocean: The Life and Times of a Nova Scotia Immigrant by Lesley Choyce
Shipping News: A Novel by E. Annie Proulx

Architects Are Here by Michael Winter

The Wreckage by Michael Crummey

Thanks to Kjmastaw for the head's up.

Power and Peart

2009-10-02T20:14:00.001-07:00

This was posted a week or so ago, but here's a picture of Power (Ari Gold) and Neil Peart after filming a video together at Drum Channel headquarters. Neil Peart has a cameo in the movie Adventures of Power.

Here's what Ari wrote about Neil on his blog:

September 24, 2009
There are few people I've met in my life that are as generous and soulful as drummer, lyricist, writer, and proud new father Neil Peart. Last week I was on tour with my band in Los Angeles, and Neil took five hours out of his schedule to drive up to Drum Channel in Oxnard and shoot an interview with me about the power of music to change lives. "Adventures of Power" is running a charity to support music education and Neil's a part of it. Afterwards I got in costume as Power and we shot an air-drums-versus-drums video. Drum Channel is editing it all right now and it'll be ready soon!
If you're looking for lessons on how to live a good life, how to ride the ups and downs, pick up his book "Roadshow".

Full-concert R30 Blu-ray and DVD coming November 17

2009-09-27T19:31:00.001-07:00

When the R30 DVD was released in 2005, it was missing 8 songs from the original concert (evidently, the band didn't want R30 to be too similar to Rush in Rio). On November 17, the R30 concert will be released in its entirety, in both Blu-ray (Hi-Def) and DVD formts. Both of these versions are available for pre-order:

R30 [Blu-ray]

Rush - R30 [DVD]

Also releasing on November 17 is a compilation DVD, featuring video from Rush in Rio, R30, and Snakes & Arrows Live. It's also available for pre-order.

Working Men

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up on these releases!

Burning the Days available on 9/22/09

2009-09-21T22:54:00.001-07:00

The new Vertical Horizon album, Burning the Days, is available to purchase on Tuesday, 9/22.

Neil wrote about his work on this album in this News, Weather, and Sports update from 2006. He collaborated on the lyrics for one song and played drums on three songs.

Go to the Vertical Horizon website for more information

The tracks include:

"All Is Said and Done"
"The Lucky One"
"The Middle Ground"
"I Believe in You"
"Save Me From Myself" drums by Neil Peart
"Carrying On"
"Back to You"
"Can You Help Me"
"Afterglow"
"Here"
"Welcome to the Bottom" drums by Neil Peart
"Even Now" Lyrics and drums by Neil Peart, Music by Matt Scannell

Win Neil Peart autographs

2009-09-20T11:00:00.001-07:00

There are two new contests to win Neil Peart autographs.

The Five Star Drum Shops Big Beat multi-city drum set event

One lucky winner in one of the 11 cities will get a bass drum head with the Rush "Snakes & Arrows" artwork, autographed especially for this occasion by iconic drummer Neil Peart!

R30 Lithograph signed by Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson (closes 9/28/09)

Win this Signed R30 Litho. This litho is 16" X 22" and is signed by Geddy, Alex and Neil!
This contest closes on September 28th, 2009. Our system only accepts one entry per email address.

Thanks to PowerWindows and Rushisaband for the head's up!

Isolated Neil Peart drum tracks

2009-09-10T18:18:00.001-07:00

Recently, I was surfing around on YouTube and found something really interesting. MasterTracks18 has isolated Neil's drum tracks on many Moving Pictures songs and posted them to YouTube.

What makes these so interesting are the details the isolated tracks reveal (check out the timbale fill on YYZ during the guitar solo). MasterTracks18 has also posted isolated tracks for guitar, bass, and vocals that are just as interesting.

I highly recommend you check these out.

MasterTracks18 Rush tracks

There are also isolated tracks for many other bands on this site.

Thanks, MasterTrack18!

NEP News: The Ballad of Larry and Suzy

2009-09-09T14:07:00.001-07:00

In the September 2009 edition of News, Weather, and Sports, Neil recounts his growing fascination with a hummingbird nest in his backyard as his daughter's due date approaches. This is a great read.

The Ballad of Larry and Suzy

Thanks to Tony Stiles via Power Windows for the head's up!

Available for pre-order: Ultimate Drum Play-Along Rush: Authentic Drum (Book and CD)

2009-08-31T23:22:00.001-07:00

Just got a mail from Amazon about this title coming out on September 13. It's now available for pre-order. My understanding is these are "cover" versions of the Rush songs, not the actual Rush tracks. I'll review this when it comes out.

Ultimate Drum Play-Along Rush- Authentic Drum (Book & CD) (Ultimate Play-Along)

Product Description
Learn to play your favorite Rush songs with these terrific transcriptions and play-along tracks. The CD contains two version of each song: a complete version for demonstration and a play-along version without drums so you can play with the rhythm tracks. Plus the CD contains embedded software that allows you to slow down, loop and even transpose keys! Plus, there are matching guitar and bass editions available!

Titles:
* Anthem
* Closer to the Heart
* Spirit of Radio
* Temples of Syrinx
* Tom Sawyer
* YYZ.

Replica kit updates

2009-08-31T23:09:00.001-07:00

For this round of updates, there are five new kits and one updated kit posted to the Replicas and drum kits inspired by Neil Peart page. Thanks to all the drummers for sending in their photos!

Also, feel free to leave comments or questions at the bottom of the replica pages for the drummers.

Roman Dino's DW "Broken Glass" kit

Nereu's RMV kit

Angelo's Ludwig Kit

Uncle Bob's Ludwig Super Classic kit

C.J.'s Ludwig Accent CS Custom kit

S. Rorke's Sonor kit (and many other kits) (Updated)

Welcome Olivia Louise Peart

2009-08-24T20:11:00.001-07:00

Rush.com just posted an official announcement about the birth of Neil Peart and Carrie Nuttall's daughter:

The RUSH family congratulates Neil and his wife Carrie on the birth of their healthy, beautiful daughter Olivia Louise Peart.

Congratulations, Neil and Carrie!

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up.

Rare Alex Lifeson letter on eBay

2009-08-24T20:00:00.001-07:00

If you're interested in a hand-written letter from Alex Lifeson, which was written in 1977, here's an auction on eBay (ends on 8/25!).

The person selling the letter is a friend of mine, so I can vouch for the authenticity of the letter.

Site Updates - 8/23/09

2009-08-23T16:42:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone is having a great summer. I've added a few updates to the site that I wanted to tell you about:

Twitter - Yes, I finally jumped on the Twitter bandwagon. If you want to receive notifications for Neil Peart News Updates via Twitter, go to Neil Peart News on Twitter and click Follow. If you're wondering what Twitter is all about, it's a social networking tool that allows you to send short "microblog" updates. I've found it's a unique way to read what's going on with things and people I'm interested in. While you're at it, you can also follow Rush (official), Rushisaband, and Power Windows on Twitter, too.

Neil Peart setup - I added the DW kit that Neil used for his Master Class on Drum Channel. This is also updated in the history of his drumkits.

Building the kit - I added some pictures of the Snakes & Arrows kit being set up, taken by John Arrowsmith. This page also includes pictures of Larry Allen setting up the Power Windows kit, and some screenshots of Neil's kit being assembled for the A Work in Progress instructional video.

Upcoming Releases - I updated the dates for upcoming releases for Neil. Next up: Vertical Horizon's Burning the Days, which includes three tracks with Neil as guest drummer.

1970s photos - Added 5 new photos.

1980s/1990s photos - Added 15 new photos.

Delicious bookmarks - When I find links to interviews or other bits that don't fit neatly into a "Neil Peart News Update," I add it to my Neil Peart bookmarks on Delicious.

New postcard - Lamb Saag sent me a postcard from Neil a while ago, but I just posted this recently. Thanks, Lamb!