Jump to content

Members of Rush do drugs? (Real ones, not pot)?


LedRush
 Share

Recommended Posts

Cheers, everyone, looks like we have sorted the problem/misunderstanding. Nice to speak to you all, hope this has left you satisfied, and not even more confused.

 

Think all has been covered so, take care, and thanks for the chats.

 

Peter Brockbank ( Legends of Brocklehurst )

 

PS

 

In case you are wondering where the Brocklehurst comes from, when I was roadie for English Rose ( The band Neil was in London in 1971 ) I got various versions of my surname including being called Brocklehurst by Robin, and Neil. When Neil was editing my earlier roadie stories he named them Legends of Brocklehurst.

 

PB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who thinks Rush never took drugs better re-watch that Permanent Waves interview on the R30 disc. My friends and I call that the Cocaine Interview. There is another interview I read with Alex where he mentions hanging out with Ace Frehley and Steven Tyler in the late 70's and ended up taking off because he "couldn't keep up..." as someone had taken the mirrored door off a hotel closet to cut lines on. Tyler and Frehley were doing lines the length of the door. They are far from choir boys. Neil mentions taking acid in England before joining Rush in one of his books (Traveling Music?) and being wary of falling into the temptations of "a bag of white powder" in Ghost Rider. Oh, and his best friend is not allowed in the US because of being a pot smuggler. Also mentioned in Ghost Rider (or Traveling Music or Road Show; they are all starting to blur together) as to why Brutus can't ride with him in the US.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

CVAK

 

Glad you posted as you point out the few times drugs have been mentioned by Rush themselves Brutus ( not his real name ) was arrested in the US for the third time when Neil was writing the " Letters to Brutus " referred to in Ghost Rider. He in fact was treated as a three time loser, but managed to get repatriated to Canada to serve his sentence. Once there he only did a few more months as Canada don't have make their citizens complete any sentence given by US courts. I have a very close friend currently serving 30 years for cocaine importation here in England. He is Irish, and both countries have agreed to let him return to Ireland to finish that sentence. Hopefully he will then get an early release. Anyone interested Google Brian Brendan Wright to read a remarkable story. Brian rings me weekly, and how he sounds normal with that amount of jail time is beyond me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My name is Peter Brockbank, and I wrote Legends of Brocklehurst..

I would be pleased to read your thoughts on this, and will answer any questions.

 

Peter, I read that blog post of yours in late November or early December. Sounds perfectly legit to me. I think the honesty in it is a surprise to Rush fans for some reason. Neil has some very interesting friends and he is quite loyal...accepts friends worts and all.

Edited by hogtown
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My name is Peter Brockbank, and I wrote Legends of Brocklehurst. I joined The Forum when, by accident, I came across this discussion. First I want confirm I did drive NEP on both '88 and '92 legs of the European Tour. I am not some internet wannabe pretending to be someting I am not. Everything I wrote in my story is true as far as my aging memory can tell. I had no idea that the mention of certain matters while visiting Neil in The Savoy Hotel would cause to much distress. After reading comments about that post, I removed the " offending " words.

The reason I mentioned that in the first case was to prove Neil is in fact human, not a machine, a lot of you fans have this set idea that he is unfriendly, uncommunicative, and generally is a dour character. I have always maintained, as Chris Lea does in the part he wrote, Neil is a very funny, humane, caring guy. I never could have guessed at your reaction. I really think some of you are very naive when I read your comments. As well as brilliant musicians, do your heroes also have to be paragons of virtue ? No one is saying anyone is a drug addict, over doing various chemical stimulants. It is a fact at certain times all rock groups have indulged. There was no slur meant on anyone's name. If I said I got drunk with one of the band, would that be wrong ? How the fact that one, or all, of Rush have taken drugs, now and then, can alter the way you think about them is amazing, and almost unblievable to me.

I can't speak for the USA but over here half the people under 40 ( and plenty over ) are using recreational drugs at leat once a week. The other half can't afford to !.

I would be pleased to read your thoughts on this, and will answer any questions.

 

Well, I didn't realize that I post that I started on a forum would attract the original author. I would not have been surprised that Neil and the boys dabbled in coke and harder stuff back in the day. I know, and approve of, their copious pot use. However, I was surprised that Neil still did coke like a champ at age 52. That doesn't dramatically alter my view of their music, but it does alter my view of his character. Maybe it's not fair, but part of the attraction of the boys is that they are not only top level musicians, but top level people. Of course, different people will have a different definition of what that means, but for me it doesn't mean doing coke like a champ.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The reason I mentioned that in the first case was to prove Neil is in fact human, not a machine, a lot of you fans have this set idea that he is unfriendly, uncommunicative, and generally is a dour character. I have always maintained, as Chris Lea does in the part he wrote, Neil is a very funny, humane, caring guy. I never could have guessed at your reaction.

 

But you can tell just by looking at Neil that he is all of that - his sensitivity is written all over his face. I can even see the pain at times when he plays certain songs. And all this I got just from watching one DVD of one concert.

 

 

I am glad about this discussion, because when I was watching the Rush In Rio documentary and Geddy had a hissy about leaving his stage shoes in the van, I was disappointed in him. Then I thought to myself that I would probably be the same way after thirty plus years of fame and adulation, of being pampered and fawned after. But, then, my next thought was: "Lorraine, you are already like that without fame, fortune, the adulation of fans, etc. etc." :LOL: :lol: :LOL:

 

I don't suffer fools well either - which makes it difficult to be me. ;)

 

Yes, I remember watching that part in the Rush in Rio doc, but I was heartened by how mild of a hissy fit Geddy was having! :D That was one laid-back and easy-going tantrum!

I was more startled by his use of f-bombs, in breaking his nail and describing his love of soup! :D Oh, the soup.

 

I thought the same thing, until I thought of what I wanted as a security blanket before going into a stressful situation. And then I thought about how much more stressful that situation is than mine. It was a very mild hissy fit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No offense, but the header of this thread silly. To assume—or want to believe-- they haven't is ludicrous.

 

The bigger question: WHO CARES?

 

To think there is some virtue in not drinking, smoking (eating meat, avoiding sweets...ad nauseum) is just plain silly. Anything used in moderation should not pose any problems to a stable individual. In fact, it probably will enhance their experiences, if not their life.

 

I think you need to re-read the title.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who thinks Rush never took drugs better re-watch that Permanent Waves interview on the R30 disc. My friends and I call that the Cocaine Interview. There is another interview I read with Alex where he mentions hanging out with Ace Frehley and Steven Tyler in the late 70's and ended up taking off because he "couldn't keep up..." as someone had taken the mirrored door off a hotel closet to cut lines on. Tyler and Frehley were doing lines the length of the door. They are far from choir boys. Neil mentions taking acid in England before joining Rush in one of his books (Traveling Music?) and being wary of falling into the temptations of "a bag of white powder" in Ghost Rider. Oh, and his best friend is not allowed in the US because of being a pot smuggler. Also mentioned in Ghost Rider (or Traveling Music or Road Show; they are all starting to blur together) as to why Brutus can't ride with him in the US.

 

Again, it's not that they used drugs. It's that Neil continued to use coke through age 52.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who thinks Rush never took drugs better re-watch that Permanent Waves interview on the R30 disc. My friends and I call that the Cocaine Interview. There is another interview I read with Alex where he mentions hanging out with Ace Frehley and Steven Tyler in the late 70's and ended up taking off because he "couldn't keep up..." as someone had taken the mirrored door off a hotel closet to cut lines on. Tyler and Frehley were doing lines the length of the door. They are far from choir boys. Neil mentions taking acid in England before joining Rush in one of his books (Traveling Music?) and being wary of falling into the temptations of "a bag of white powder" in Ghost Rider. Oh, and his best friend is not allowed in the US because of being a pot smuggler. Also mentioned in Ghost Rider (or Traveling Music or Road Show; they are all starting to blur together) as to why Brutus can't ride with him in the US.

 

Again, it's not that they used drugs. It's that Neil continued to use coke through age 52.

He's a rock star under, I imagine, a considerable amount of pressure who has also had some terrible, tragic events hit him in his mid-late 40s. It's not a shock that he would've used coke up to the age of 52. I'm not condoning or dismissing the usage, I'm simply saying that it shouldn't be THAT big of a surprise or letdown.

Edited by JohnnyBlaze
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who thinks Rush never took drugs better re-watch that Permanent Waves interview on the R30 disc. My friends and I call that the Cocaine Interview. There is another interview I read with Alex where he mentions hanging out with Ace Frehley and Steven Tyler in the late 70's and ended up taking off because he "couldn't keep up..." as someone had taken the mirrored door off a hotel closet to cut lines on. Tyler and Frehley were doing lines the length of the door. They are far from choir boys. Neil mentions taking acid in England before joining Rush in one of his books (Traveling Music?) and being wary of falling into the temptations of "a bag of white powder" in Ghost Rider. Oh, and his best friend is not allowed in the US because of being a pot smuggler. Also mentioned in Ghost Rider (or Traveling Music or Road Show; they are all starting to blur together) as to why Brutus can't ride with him in the US.

 

Again, it's not that they used drugs. It's that Neil continued to use coke through age 52.

He's a rock star under, I imagine, a considerable amount of pressure who has also had some terrible, tragic events hit him in his mid-late 40s. It's not a shock that he would've used coke up to the age of 52. I'm not condoning or dismissing the usage, I'm simply saying that it shouldn't be THAT big of a surprise or letdown.

 

I agree. I'm sure there are many people who have a line or two the way others have a drink or joint at the end of a day. There is no difference, usage is usage. It is not good or bad but the personal choice a person makes with their time. How people respond to usage is what creates/doesn't create problems.

 

Let's really break through the hypocrisy. If I eliminate people here who either have caffeine, alcohol or pot at some point during a month I might not find many left to complain about the habits of others. And for those left over I'm sure there is someone who can't go through a day without something sweet or fattening. We all have some form of vice, When I was young I got into booze, weed, coke, and meth..............and oh yeah cigarettes. Except for drink once and awhile I quit the other things many years ago. I'm not proud of doing those things in my young years but it is still part of my history and.......so what? If Neil has a better day after having a couple of lines then so be it.

Edited by calirush
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i am not surprised that Neil was taking drugs, hows do you think he can be in this shape at 60 years old.

 

What??

 

What kind of 'shape' do you mean?

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me totally naive, and I know I'm going to get a :bitchslap: for this, but I'm having a lot of trouble imagining Ged, Alex and Neil doing this. I can imagine pot in the 70s, but not coke...
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me totally naive, and I know I'm going to get a :bitchslap: for this, but I'm having a lot of trouble imagining Ged, Alex and Neil doing this. I can imagine pot in the 70s, but not coke...

 

Coke is not so bad, today they make some diet coke or some energy drinks under a new name...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me totally naive, and I know I'm going to get a :bitchslap: for this, but I'm having a lot of trouble imagining Ged, Alex and Neil doing this. I can imagine pot in the 70s, but not coke...

 

Coke is not so bad, today they make some diet coke or some energy drinks under a new name...

 

Think I should've said 'Cocaine'... :blush:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me totally naive, and I know I'm going to get a :bitchslap: for this, but I'm having a lot of trouble imagining Ged, Alex and Neil doing this. I can imagine pot in the 70s, but not coke...

 

I agree completely. And if you read the article it definitely didn't sound like someone doing a line of coke once and a while. And equating doing cocaine to eating a Bon Bon is just silly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Call me totally naive, and I know I'm going to get a :bitchslap: for this, but I'm having a lot of trouble imagining Ged, Alex and Neil doing this. I can imagine pot in the 70s, but not coke...

 

Coke is not so bad, today they make some diet coke or some energy drinks under a new name...

 

Think I should've said 'Cocaine'... :blush:

No Cocaine! Pepsi!

 

No fries! Chips!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's nice that they are open minded enough to smoke a little weed now and then, or even coke on occasion, they are obviously so in control of themselves and always have been, especially on stage.

 

I don't think age matters too much either, I think it's more important to be healthy and stable when it comes to drug use..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...