Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Here's a new interview with Neil Peart with the Canadian Press about Rush's upcoming induction into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

"Being in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, that's 10 times - 100 times - more (important) than being in some critics' list."

The Canadian Press: Rush say Canadian songwriters' hall induction means more than Rock hall snub

Via John at Cygnus-X1.net.

Labels: interview, web article

Here's an in-depth article about Neil's drum tech Lorne Wheaton, who has recently been working with Jimmy DeGrasso of Alice Cooper:

Lorne Wheaton: Drum Tech with Jimmy DeGrasso and Alice Cooper

Excerpt:

"With Neil, the upper three toms are cranked up quite a bit, because we have to bring the old concert toms into play with Rush and he has his sound. You take these eight-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch toms out of the box, and we crank them up quite a bit from what they're pitched to at the factory. But that's only because that's Neil's sound from when he used to have the smaller six-inch, eight-inch and 10-inch concert toms in the old days. He's just got that sound and we have to reproduce that for him, especially when we start playing the old stuff."

Labels: drums, web article

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!

Labels: drums, recording, web article

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.

Labels: NEP favorites, web article

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!

Labels: neilpeart.net, web article, written by NEP

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 Peart has posted a new Latest News to his website. This time, he writes about a quest in the Laurentian Mountains to find "The Eye of Satan."

The Quest for the Phantom Tower - March 2009

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

Neil has updated both the Latest News and Bubba's Book Club. To read these updates, click the links:

A Winter's Tale of Summers Past - Feb 2009

Issue 12: February 2009

A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

Late Nights On Air - Elizabeth Hay

Man Talking - Mike Heppner

Labels: Bubba's Book Club, neilpeart.net, News updates, web article, written by NEP

Neil has posted two new updates to his website:

News: The Drums of October - November 2008

Bubba's Book Club: Issue 11 - November 2008

Reviews include:

The Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, World of Wonders, The Manticore by Robertson Davies

Barney's Version by Mordecai Richler

Deer Hunting with Jesus by Joe Bageant

Greasy Rider by Greg Melville

Labels: Bubba's Book Club, drums, News updates, web article, written by NEP

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

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

When the Road Ends - June 2008

Labels: neilpeart.net, Snakes 2008, web article, written by NEP

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 Peart has penned a new article called "The Heart and Soul of a Drumset." The first chapter "Bass Drum Heartbeat" is available on the DW website.

In addition, there's a great video of Neil talking about the DW "X shell" and hybrid kit. In the video, there's a time-lapse sequence of Lorne Wheaton setting up the Snakes kit. Pay close attention to the song playing in the background.

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up.

Labels: Drum Workshop, drums, videos, web article

There is an official e-petition in the UK to add Neil Peart's work to English literature courses. This petition is part of a beta program where British citizens can create electronic petitions for the Prime Minister to consider.

The details from the petition creator, Ian Coley:

"Neil Peart, one of the finest wordsmiths still alive to-day, would be one of the finest authors for young British students to study. His works makes such works as Ayn Rand, Shakespeare, Dickens and other great writers more accessible to a new generation."

If you're a UK citizen, you can sign the petition (link below). At this point, there's only one signature.

Petition to: to encourage the study of the works of Neil Peart within English literature courses.

Labels: web article

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

A new article about Neil Peart called Rollin' with Rush is available on Sabian.com. The article was written by Chris Stankee, who is Neil's artist rep at Sabian. There are lots of great pictures and information in this article, so be sure and check it out.

Labels: Rush SnakesArrows, Sabian, web article

• Afterimage -- A new section where fans reflect on their Snakes & Arrows concert experiences (if you have a story you want to share, send it to me)
• Articles, reviews, and news about the tour (available as an RSS feed here)
• CD reviews (available as an RSS feed here)
• Photo gallery - Pictures of Neil on this tour
• Merchandise - Check out the new Snakes & Arrows merch
• Set list - Don't click unless you want to know the Snakes & Arrows set list!

Labels: CD reviews, fan stories, merchandise, pictures, Rush SnakesArrows, web article