Neil Peart -- The Latest News

The September 2009 article on Neil Peart that appeared in American Motorcyclist is now on NeilPeart.net.

Click here to read the American Motorcyclist article: "Rocker & Roller"

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling

Neil Peart was recently inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association. The September 2009 issue of American Motorcyclist, the official magazine of the association, includes a cover story on Neil with a great interview and photos. Ed, over at Rushisaband, has posted scans of the interview.

You can also read a digital copy on American Motorcyclist website.

Labels: NEP motorcycling, web article

Neil has posted an update to his website called "A Little Yellow Cabin on Yellowstone Lake - August 2009."

In this update, Neil writes about his last solo trip before "the Blessed Event--the birth of our baby in August. After that, I wouldn't be going anywhere for a while."

Neil has so much to say in this update, there are actually two parts. One of the most interesting for me was the section where he breaks down the history behind the lyrics for "Manhattan Project."

There are other interesting reflections on what's good about America, opinions on Ralph Nader and Jane Fonda, and new country song lyrics.

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

Neil has posted a new "News, Sports, and Weather" update for December 2008:

December in Death Valley

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

I added a page about the MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles exhibit at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Columbus, Ohio. On the page, you'll find some great hi-res pictures from reader Paul Nuzzo. (Thanks, Paul!)

Lastly, you can now buy a companion book about the MotoStars exhibit. Order your copy online.

Labels: drums, NEP motorcycling

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

Independence Day - July 2008

In this update, among other topics, Neil writes about how much he enjoys the crowds at Rush concerts and the importance of wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle.

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling, News updates, Rush SnakesArrows, web article, written by NEP

Update 7/10/08 -- Rushisaband.com has posted more pictures from the exhibit.

Update: 7/7/08 -- Power Windows has published a few photos of the exhibit from Larry Barnes II.

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A new exhibit called MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles opened on June 28, 2008, at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Columbus, Ohio. Featured in the exhibit is Neil Peart's 1994 BMW R1100GS motorcycle and his R30 drum kit (also known as "S.S. Professor").

A gala VIP event was held on June 27. Information and directions for the museum are available here.

Labels: NEP motorcycling

Chris Stankee, Neil's artist rep for Sabian Cymbals, was asked to fill in for Lorne Wheaton (Gump), Neil's drum tech, for the Moline and St. Paul shows. Gump was having an emergency appendectomy.

Chris wrote an article about the experience on Sabian.com, including some great pictures.

Here are the two parts of the story.

Part 1

Part 2 

You can read more about this event (and what it's like to be sick on the road) on ThisGigSucks.com.

Thanks to Rushisaband and MonicaZ for the head's up about this story.

Labels: drums, NEP motorcycling, pictures, Sabian, web article

Neil has posted a new update on his website. You can read it here:

South by Southwest - May 2008

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

Three magazine articles from 2007 have been added to NeilPeart.net.

Motorcyclist Magazine - May 2007

DRUMHEAD Magazine - September/October 2007

Labels: drums, magazine article, NEP motorcycling, written by NEP

Here are a few updates from the site, as well as a few NEP news items.

Site updates

• Two new postcards posted to the Postcards from Neil section.
• Four new drum kits posted to my Replicas page. These include kits from Pierre Martin, Johnny Sillers, Adam Alquist, and an R30 commemorative kit from John Buckland. As an added treat, I've included a few YouTube videos from Pierre and Johnny, and if you're a fan of Neil Peart you need to check these guys out. I've included links to their YouTube pages and websites as well. Thanks to all the drummers for sending in their kit pictures.
• New picture of Neil's S&A drum kit from Drumhead Issue 4 now on Neil Peart's Setup page.

NEP news items

• Neil and Rush were nominated for a Grammy award for "Malignant Narcissism." This is their fifth nomination. Here's the complete list of Category 19, Best Rock Instrumental Performance:

Category 19

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.)

• The Ecstasy Of Gold
  Metallica
  Track from: We All Love Ennio Morricone
  [Sony Classical]
• Malignant Narcissism
  Rush
  Track from: Snakes & Arrows
  [Anthem/Atlantic]
• Always With Me, Always With You
  Joe Satriani
  Track from: Satriani Live!
  [Epic/Red Ink]
• Once Upon A Time In The West
  Bruce Springsteen
  Track from: We All Love Ennio Morricone
  [Sony Classical]
• The Attitude Song
  Steve Vai
  Track from: Sound Theories Vol. I & II
  [Epic/Red Ink]

• Neil's motorcycle will join a new exhibit at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The exhibit is called "MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles."

Labels: awards, drum kit replicas, NEP motorcycling, postcards

Neil has posted an update to his website for December: The Hour of Arriving.

There are lots of great pictures and more stories about the European leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour.

In the story Neil mentions a sign that someone held up at the Clark County (Portland/Southern Washington) show, "NP--THIS IS YOUR LIFE." I was at that show, and I remember seeing that sign and being somewhat confused. It's interesting to read Neil's take on it.

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling, Rush SnakesArrows, written by NEP

Neil has posted an update about the European leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour, "Haste Ye Back." No mention of the 2008 leg of the tour.

This is Neil's fourth update of the tour. The other three include

• "Shunpikin' it Old Skool," posted on August 20, 2007
• "Every Road Has Its Toll," posted September 26, 2007
• "That's the Way We Roll," posted on July 13, 2007

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling, Rush SnakesArrows, written by NEP

Neil has updated his website with "Shunpikin' it Old Skool," about the last North American leg of the Snakes & Arrows Tour.

This is Neil's third update of the tour. The other two include "That's the Way We Roll," posted on July 13, 2007, and "Every Road Has Its Toll," posted on August 20, 2007.

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling, Rush SnakesArrows, written by NEP

After the first leg of the Snakes & Arrows Tour, Neil has updated his website with a news update. You can read it here:

"That's the Way We Roll!"

Labels: neilpeart.net, NEP motorcycling, Rush SnakesArrows, web article, written by NEP

Recently Neil Peart met up with Richard S. Foster, the author of the short story, "A Nice Morning Drive." As most Rush fans know, this story was the inspiration for the song "Red Barchetta." It turns out Richard is a BMW motorcycle enthusiast, and he, Neil, and Michael (Neil's security man) drove around the countryside in West Virginia -- a landscape not unlike the one in "Red Barchetta."

This is a must read with many great pictures.

The Drummer, the Private Eye, and Me (Rush Fans Take Note)

Labels: NEP motorcycling, Rush SnakesArrows, web article

Rush is a band has posted a few scans of recent NEP magazine articles that are worth checking out:

DRUM! magazine photos: I've been trying to find this issue for a while with no luck. But you can look at the accompanying photos in these scans. Subscribe to DRUM!

Motorcyclist Magazine artice: Includes some never-seen-before photos along with excerpts from "Roadshow." A nice sidebar called "Peart's Picks" catalogs the top 11 destinations from the R30 Tour. Finally, on the last page, Motorcyclist Editor-in-Chief Brian Catterson writes an interesting story about riding with Neil. Subscribe to Motorcyclist.

Labels: drums, magazine article, NEP motorcycling