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Donna Halper's latest blog, re: Neil


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Blah blah blah.... old boring news. I am surprised Donna wasted her time with this blog............

 

 

YYZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

She loves to hear herself rant. Her eternal 15 minutes continues...

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If he retires, people get pissed because he "didn't do it correctly."

 

THIS is the worst crime of all, IMO. We fans know nothing about how Neil Peart retired, and how he communicated his retirement to his band mates. We have never been privy to their personal communications. It is shameful to state or imply that Neil somehow did his bandmates wrong.

 

 

 

We know enough to know that the day after Neil mentioned his daughter calling him a retired drummer, Ged was doing damage control in the press stating it wasn't true. I think that says something about how Neil communicated it to his band mates.

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Ya know what ?? .. Neil is an asshole sometimes ... so what ...

 

We are no different than Neil Peart.

I'm an asshole sometimes.

You're an asshole sometimes.

Joe Schmoe across the street is an asshole sometimes.

Geddy and Alex are assholes sometimes.

 

Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

I don't disagree PM, however, I think more people read this forum than some of Neil's crappy books !!!

 

 

;)

 

 

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

 

How about... you do you, and Neil does Neil, and you don't judge him one way or the other?

 

....which would be great. Except that Neil is publishing books about this. Put your feelings out there on paper, and you open the door for discussion.

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

 

You've been playing in bands for 35 years now so let me ask you this. Have you been touring as extensively that entire time as Neil did during his years with Rush?

 

By "touring extensively", do you mean having a crew set up my equipment, haul it to gigs, while I travel on a beautiful bus and the only obligation I have is to show up for 45 minutes of soundcheck and 2.5 hours of playing?

 

No....a typical Friday gig for most of us is putting in a full day at our day job, setting up at the venue for a couple hours, playing a four hour show, packing up, and getting home at 3:00 am. Then up at 6:00 to get the kids to sports. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

 

You've been playing in bands for 35 years now so let me ask you this. Have you been touring as extensively that entire time as Neil did during his years with Rush?

 

By "touring extensively", do you mean having a crew set up my equipment, haul it to gigs, while I travel on a beautiful bus and the only obligation I have is to show up for 45 minutes of soundcheck and 2.5 hours of playing?

 

No....a typical Friday gig for most of us is putting in a full day at our day job, setting up at the venue for a couple hours, playing a four hour show, packing up, and getting home at 3:00 am. Then up at 6:00 to get the kids to sports. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

You get home after gigs. Peart didn't. Being away takes its toll obviously.

 

Playing in front of dozens or maybe hundreds as you do can't compare to playing in front of 10,000-50,000 as Peart did. That must take its toll too.

 

To write it off as if Peart had it easy all those years just isn't reasonable.

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Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

You're exactly right. So here's the thing: if you're getting ready to retire with some modicum of class, when you do publish your book, do you go out of your way to bag on fellow musicians, your fans, and every decision your partners have made for the last ten years?

 

No. you say thanks for the well-wishes and you sail off into the sunset.

 

And herein lies the problem that the people some are referring to as "Neil-haters" have. It's not like he just retired and sailed off. The book effectively read like a manifesto, distancing himself against everything the Rush Organization did for the last ten years, with him as the pseudo-unwilling hostage. Now if that's how he really felt, then great. But putting that out there opens him up to being called a "jerk."

 

And if you read "The Middle Eight" section of his last book, that's really how he comes off. It has NOTHING to do with him ending Rush or not. It's how he expresses himself about it that matters here.

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Ya know what ?? .. Neil is an asshole sometimes ... so what ...

 

We are no different than Neil Peart.

I'm an asshole sometimes.

You're an asshole sometimes.

Joe Schmoe across the street is an asshole sometimes.

Geddy and Alex are assholes sometimes.

 

Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

Maybe it takes a special kind of asshole to publish one's negative opinions for the entire world to see.

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Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

You're exactly right. So here's the thing: if you're getting ready to retire with some modicum of class, when you do publish your book, do you go out of your way to bag on fellow musicians, your fans, and every decision your partners have made for the last ten years?

 

No. you say thanks for the well-wishes and you sail off into the sunset.

 

And herein lies the problem that the people some are referring to as "Neil-haters" have. It's not like he just retired and sailed off. The book effectively read like a manifesto, distancing himself against everything the Rush Organization did for the last ten years, with him as the pseudo-unwilling hostage. Now if that's how he really felt, then great. But putting that out there opens him up to being called a "jerk."

 

And if you read "The Middle Eight" section of his last book, that's really how he comes off. It has NOTHING to do with him ending Rush or not. It's how he expresses himself about it that matters here.

 

THIS. :goodone:

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

 

You've been playing in bands for 35 years now so let me ask you this. Have you been touring as extensively that entire time as Neil did during his years with Rush?

 

By "touring extensively", do you mean having a crew set up my equipment, haul it to gigs, while I travel on a beautiful bus and the only obligation I have is to show up for 45 minutes of soundcheck and 2.5 hours of playing?

 

No....a typical Friday gig for most of us is putting in a full day at our day job, setting up at the venue for a couple hours, playing a four hour show, packing up, and getting home at 3:00 am. Then up at 6:00 to get the kids to sports. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

You get home after gigs. Peart didn't. Being away takes its toll obviously.

 

Playing in front of dozens or maybe hundreds as you do can't compare to playing in front of 10,000-50,000 as Peart did. That must take its toll too.

 

To write it off as if Peart had it easy all those years just isn't reasonable.

 

Besides that...I'm sure Neil had his share of loading and unloading, setting up and tearing down, late nights and early mornings in his career. He just ended up being part of the small percentage that "made it".

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Geds voice is just fine, his problem starts when he tries to sing songs from 20 years ago. New songs will be in a key that suits him. I for one can't wait!

 

Make sure you tune in for the stunning interview with Geddy on the new Dan Rather Show.

 

I would "Rather" skip it.

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I just don't get why some people are taking Peart's choices so personally . . . or it seems that way.

 

In spite of the wealth and adoration and perks of being a superstar, it must really suck sometimes. Dude makes a decision and suddenly every fan is on the spectrum between "he's a f***ing idiot" and "he's earned his retirement."

 

Maybe it really wasn't an easy decision to make?

 

Isn't this a "damned if you do, damned if you don't situation"? If he retires, people get pissed because he "didn't do it correctly." If he tries to keep going the best he can, he gets shit for leaving out drum fills and for exercising his rights to privacy like he has for the last thirty or so years.

 

There must be some perfect way he could have retired. Unfortunately, he's a fallible human being and could only come up with lame excuses like I'm in pain and I have a family I'd like to spend time with.

 

Yeah, some people are just greedy and/or short-sighted with their hobbies and other things they enjoy. And, for some Rush fans, this unfortunately includes the band.

 

Whatever way Neil was going to retire, it was going to bother some folks. "He could've kept going", "I wish he had done it another way", "True artists and musicians never stop", etc.

 

Gene Simmons will endorse your post JB for 5000 USD.

 

Gene knows about overly obsessed fans. Why else would there be Kiss coffins and toilet paper for sale?

 

"...you like my 7-inch leather heels and going to all of the shows BUT..."

 

Yep!

 

I surprised they don't market a 7 inch "Love Gun" strap on or dildo. Even GHOST has Papa dildos and anal plugs for sale!

 

 

What do KISS, RUSH and GHOST all have in common? MARKETING GENIUSES!

 

The Alex Lifeson golf club set.

 

The Neil Peart drummer/biker gloves combo.

 

Geddy Lee sunglasses.

 

Are these things on the market? I'm joking of course but I wouldn't doubt that one or all of these could sell.

 

I could see Alex marketing his own golf clubs! That would sell!

 

There was a bag for sale on backstage club at one time.

 

That's true! I remember now!

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

if that's your passion and you want to die with 'your boots on', then great. But for many people, the last thing they want to be doing while they're retired is doing the same thing they did while working. As much as Neil has traveled I could totally see him not wanting to travel and to be a bit of a home-body. As uncomfortable as it is to say, some musicians are just too old to perform (charlie watts) and need to hang it up.

 

After 40 years...seriously...what musical challenges are left for any of the guys in Rush?

 

just because you're a good soldier doesn't mean you have to die a soldier.

 

True, but there's another side of it for musicians that involves passion for music and loving what you do. Let's face it, Neil hasn't enjoyed the process of touring for quite a while and his love for drumming has probably lost out to how much pain he's in while doing it and how incredibly difficult it must be for him to perform at such a high level now.

 

Like others, I am shocked he continued as long as he did. I think it was partly doing it for Alex and Geddy and partly the financial part of it. I think Neil would have retired from touring much sooner if not for the fact that Rush's popularity really took off in the last decade. Prices have gone up more and more and they were selling out more and more arenas. It was probably tough for Neil to walk away from the million dollar + incomes that came with doing a tour.

 

I doubt anyone in the band was expecting Rush to be even bigger in the 21st century than they were in the 20th century.

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Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

You're exactly right. So here's the thing: if you're getting ready to retire with some modicum of class, when you do publish your book, do you go out of your way to bag on fellow musicians, your fans, and every decision your partners have made for the last ten years?

 

No. you say thanks for the well-wishes and you sail off into the sunset.

 

And herein lies the problem that the people some are referring to as "Neil-haters" have. It's not like he just retired and sailed off. The book effectively read like a manifesto, distancing himself against everything the Rush Organization did for the last ten years, with him as the pseudo-unwilling hostage. Now if that's how he really felt, then great. But putting that out there opens him up to being called a "jerk."

 

And if you read "The Middle Eight" section of his last book, that's really how he comes off. It has NOTHING to do with him ending Rush or not. It's how he expresses himself about it that matters here.

 

THIS. :goodone:

 

Yeah man, you read that chapter and you get insight into Ellwood. Great musician but a brat who's ability has afforded him an amazing lifestyle but who acts like an insufferable teenager when asked to do something that isn't exactly what he wants...sure he'll do it but he'll sulk and make everyone else uncomfortable. He wanted the respect and $$$ of being a great drummer but none of the responsibility of being in a successful band. It would be something to see if he had 1% of Nicko's personality...he manages to come out from behind the drum kit each show and somehow the sun still comes up.

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Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

You're exactly right. So here's the thing: if you're getting ready to retire with some modicum of class, when you do publish your book, do you go out of your way to bag on fellow musicians, your fans, and every decision your partners have made for the last ten years?

 

No. you say thanks for the well-wishes and you sail off into the sunset.

 

And herein lies the problem that the people some are referring to as "Neil-haters" have. It's not like he just retired and sailed off. The book effectively read like a manifesto, distancing himself against everything the Rush Organization did for the last ten years, with him as the pseudo-unwilling hostage. Now if that's how he really felt, then great. But putting that out there opens him up to being called a "jerk."

 

And if you read "The Middle Eight" section of his last book, that's really how he comes off. It has NOTHING to do with him ending Rush or not. It's how he expresses himself about it that matters here.

 

If he's uncomfortable with the fame/celebrity aspect of it. I can understand it, but that's just me.

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Every single one of us has said or done something rude, condescending, or deserving of being called an asshole. The only difference between us and Neil Peart is that we've never published our inner thoughts and negative opinions for the entire world to read.

 

You're exactly right. So here's the thing: if you're getting ready to retire with some modicum of class, when you do publish your book, do you go out of your way to bag on fellow musicians, your fans, and every decision your partners have made for the last ten years?

 

No. you say thanks for the well-wishes and you sail off into the sunset.

 

And herein lies the problem that the people some are referring to as "Neil-haters" have. It's not like he just retired and sailed off. The book effectively read like a manifesto, distancing himself against everything the Rush Organization did for the last ten years, with him as the pseudo-unwilling hostage. Now if that's how he really felt, then great. But putting that out there opens him up to being called a "jerk."

 

And if you read "The Middle Eight" section of his last book, that's really how he comes off. It has NOTHING to do with him ending Rush or not. It's how he expresses himself about it that matters here.

 

If he's uncomfortable with the fame/celebrity aspect of it. I can understand it, but that's just me.

 

I think I can speak for others when I say that this ^^^^^ is not why Neil rubs fans the wrong way ..

 

It's this, taken from Ghost Rider and his travels across the USA

 

.. crowds of fat ugly people, the lousy food, lousy service, and cheesy hotel just drove me nuts. I was awful glad to escape from there this morning

 

.. for the most part I look around at ugly, mean spirited people and think "WHY ARE YOU ALIVE?" ... And more: sometimes I have a strong urge and take a machine gun and mow all the bastards down.

 

This was brought home to me sharply last week when I was in Las Vegas for a few days. In the past I've always found the place moderately amusing ( or at least that other guy did ), but this time it was unbearable" Pigs! Scum! Cows! Low life beasts! Die die die!

 

 

^^^^^^ This has nothing to do with Neil retiring or Neil claiming to be introverted

 

What some Rush fans have a difficult time accepting is not so much the fact that the band is done, but the fact that Neil Peart fits the definition of "asshole"

 

Retired or not

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

if that's your passion and you want to die with 'your boots on', then great. But for many people, the last thing they want to be doing while they're retired is doing the same thing they did while working. As much as Neil has traveled I could totally see him not wanting to travel and to be a bit of a home-body. As uncomfortable as it is to say, some musicians are just too old to perform (charlie watts) and need to hang it up.

 

After 40 years...seriously...what musical challenges are left for any of the guys in Rush?

 

just because you're a good soldier doesn't mean you have to die a soldier.

 

True, but there's another side of it for musicians that involves passion for music and loving what you do. Let's face it, Neil hasn't enjoyed the process of touring for quite a while and his love for drumming has probably lost out to how much pain he's in while doing it and how incredibly difficult it must be for him to perform at such a high level now.

 

Like others, I am shocked he continued as long as he did. I think it was partly doing it for Alex and Geddy and partly the financial part of it. I think Neil would have retired from touring much sooner if not for the fact that Rush's popularity really took off in the last decade. Prices have gone up more and more and they were selling out more and more arenas. It was probably tough for Neil to walk away from the million dollar + incomes that came with doing a tour.

 

I doubt anyone in the band was expecting Rush to be even bigger in the 21st century than they were in the 20th century.

 

The New World Man gone 21st Century Schizoid Man?

 

 

"I Love You Man"

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"In my former shallow, perhaps callous, world-view, I had enjoyed my life and appreciated my family and friends, but I had often been annoyed by the feeling that everyone else just wanted something from me. But now life, which I had once idealized as a generous deity offering adventure and delight, had betrayed my faith viciously, and in the aftermath it was people who had held me up and held me together with unstinting care and unimagined affection.

"With regard to 'unimagined affection,' I confess that I am one of those people who, in a deep and secret place, can never imagine why anyone would actually like them. Respect maybe, or even appreciate, but not really care for. This psychology (or psychosis or neurosis) is not about self-esteem or pride, for most people seem to possess sufficient reserves of these qualities, or some facsimile thereof, but it is more a sense of one's ineptitude in the social graces, a perceived 'disability' in what seemed to be the normal social routines of being charming, funny, entertaining, and forthcoming with another person...."

 

Ghost Rider p. 35

 

Peart was feeling absolutely gutted at the time - I know (and unfortunately too many others do as well) what he was going through. A self-professed socially awkward individual who has just lost the two people he probably loved most in the world is probably going to be pissed at life, and at other people. In grief I will confess I had those thoughts - why are so many shitty people allowed to live when my wife, the epitome of sweetness who never hurt anyone in her entire life, had to die so young?

 

If you don't think age, relentless physical decline and devastating loss will change you, will change your attitude towards people . . . well, enjoy it while you can, I guess.

 

Sorry, folks. Just feeling particularly lonely and raw tonight.

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"In my former shallow, perhaps callous, world-view, I had enjoyed my life and appreciated my family and friends, but I had often been annoyed by the feeling that everyone else just wanted something from me. But now life, which I had once idealized as a generous deity offering adventure and delight, had betrayed my faith viciously, and in the aftermath it was people who had held me up and held me together with unstinting care and unimagined affection.

"With regard to 'unimagined affection,' I confess that I am one of those people who, in a deep and secret place, can never imagine why anyone would actually like them. Respect maybe, or even appreciate, but not really care for. This psychology (or psychosis or neurosis) is not about self-esteem or pride, for most people seem to possess sufficient reserves of these qualities, or some facsimile thereof, but it is more a sense of one's ineptitude in the social graces, a perceived 'disability' in what seemed to be the normal social routines of being charming, funny, entertaining, and forthcoming with another person...."

 

Ghost Rider p. 35

 

Peart was feeling absolutely gutted at the time - I know (and unfortunately too many others do as well) what he was going through. A self-professed socially awkward individual who has just lost the two people he probably loved most in the world is probably going to be pissed at life, and at other people. In grief I will confess I had those thoughts - why are so many shitty people allowed to live when my wife, the epitome of sweetness who never hurt anyone in her entire life, had to die so young?

 

If you don't think age, relentless physical decline and devastating loss will change you, will change your attitude towards people . . . well, enjoy it while you can, I guess.

 

Sorry, folks. Just feeling particularly lonely and raw tonight.

 

You make a great point Toymaker

 

But as you point out, suffering and loss is universal .. It is one thing to feel animosity or anger towards other human beings, but another thing altogether to write it in a book ..

 

Loss and the gut wrenching realities in life can take people into some unpleasant places, but it is up to that person to make the decision which way is out ..

 

Do I resent and despise others, or do I find the bond and spark we all share - and see life and all living things as they are - precious and to be respected ..

 

Neil has professed that over and over in his lyrics

 

We all say shit we don't mean and we all have our boiling point ..

 

As I mentioned, Neil has played a big role in a very happy and positive place in my life .. but to see him come across as he has, I have lost some respect for him ..

 

What he wrote was cowardly, and if picking on people for being overweight or typically American or being less educated is his way of coping with loss - instead of doing something positive like volunteer work or at least sympathizing with the hell that life can be for all people - then I'm not going to have a whole lot of respect for him as a man

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"In my former shallow, perhaps callous, world-view, I had enjoyed my life and appreciated my family and friends, but I had often been annoyed by the feeling that everyone else just wanted something from me. But now life, which I had once idealized as a generous deity offering adventure and delight, had betrayed my faith viciously, and in the aftermath it was people who had held me up and held me together with unstinting care and unimagined affection.

"With regard to 'unimagined affection,' I confess that I am one of those people who, in a deep and secret place, can never imagine why anyone would actually like them. Respect maybe, or even appreciate, but not really care for. This psychology (or psychosis or neurosis) is not about self-esteem or pride, for most people seem to possess sufficient reserves of these qualities, or some facsimile thereof, but it is more a sense of one's ineptitude in the social graces, a perceived 'disability' in what seemed to be the normal social routines of being charming, funny, entertaining, and forthcoming with another person...."

 

Ghost Rider p. 35

 

Peart was feeling absolutely gutted at the time - I know (and unfortunately too many others do as well) what he was going through. A self-professed socially awkward individual who has just lost the two people he probably loved most in the world is probably going to be pissed at life, and at other people. In grief I will confess I had those thoughts - why are so many shitty people allowed to live when my wife, the epitome of sweetness who never hurt anyone in her entire life, had to die so young?

 

If you don't think age, relentless physical decline and devastating loss will change you, will change your attitude towards people . . . well, enjoy it while you can, I guess.

 

Sorry, folks. Just feeling particularly lonely and raw tonight.

 

You make a great point Toymaker

 

But as you point out, suffering and loss is universal .. It is one thing to feel animosity or anger towards other human beings, but another thing altogether to write it in a book ..

 

Loss and the gut wrenching realities in life can take people into some unpleasant places, but it is up to that person to make the decision which way is out ..

 

Do I resent and despise others, or do I find the bond and spark we all share - and see life and all living things as they are - precious and to be respected ..

 

Neil has professed that over and over in his lyrics

 

We all say shit we don't mean and we all have our boiling point ..

 

As I mentioned, Neil has played a big role in a very happy and positive place in my life .. but to see him come across as he has, I have lost some respect for him ..

 

What he wrote was cowardly, and if picking on people for being overweight or typically American or being less educated is his way of coping with loss - instead of doing something positive like volunteer work or at least sympathizing with the hell that life can be for all people - then I'm not going to have a whole lot of respect for him as a man

 

People put him up on a pedestal because he's famous and they can identify with some of the lyrics he has written. But he is as human as the rest of us and with the same issues.

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Meh. Written like a non-musician describing a colleague retiring from an accounting firm.

 

You don't just quit playing music if you love it that much. You learn how to live within whatever limitations nature is imposing on you. We are allocated only so many days to create music. Sitting at home and staring out the window seems like such a waste.

 

Been playing in bands for 35 years now, and I imagine I'll do it for 35 more. Until they find me dead and someone has to pry my guitar out of my slowly rotting hands.

 

This is why Neil bagging on Charlie Watts in the R40 movie rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Stones....Charlie is out there doing what he loves. Not sitting on his front porch, carping about his arthritis.

if that's your passion and you want to die with 'your boots on', then great. But for many people, the last thing they want to be doing while they're retired is doing the same thing they did while working. As much as Neil has traveled I could totally see him not wanting to travel and to be a bit of a home-body. As uncomfortable as it is to say, some musicians are just too old to perform (charlie watts) and need to hang it up.

 

After 40 years...seriously...what musical challenges are left for any of the guys in Rush?

 

just because you're a good soldier doesn't mean you have to die a soldier.

 

True, but there's another side of it for musicians that involves passion for music and loving what you do. Let's face it, Neil hasn't enjoyed the process of touring for quite a while and his love for drumming has probably lost out to how much pain he's in while doing it and how incredibly difficult it must be for him to perform at such a high level now.

 

Like others, I am shocked he continued as long as he did. I think it was partly doing it for Alex and Geddy and partly the financial part of it. I think Neil would have retired from touring much sooner if not for the fact that Rush's popularity really took off in the last decade. Prices have gone up more and more and they were selling out more and more arenas. It was probably tough for Neil to walk away from the million dollar + incomes that came with doing a tour.

 

I doubt anyone in the band was expecting Rush to be even bigger in the 21st century than they were in the 20th century.

There is no question that Rush gets much more media exposure in the 21st century and more respect from the media in general, but there is no f'ing way Rush is bigger than they were when Moving Pictures was released.
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"In my former shallow, perhaps callous, world-view, I had enjoyed my life and appreciated my family and friends, but I had often been annoyed by the feeling that everyone else just wanted something from me. But now life, which I had once idealized as a generous deity offering adventure and delight, had betrayed my faith viciously, and in the aftermath it was people who had held me up and held me together with unstinting care and unimagined affection.

"With regard to 'unimagined affection,' I confess that I am one of those people who, in a deep and secret place, can never imagine why anyone would actually like them. Respect maybe, or even appreciate, but not really care for. This psychology (or psychosis or neurosis) is not about self-esteem or pride, for most people seem to possess sufficient reserves of these qualities, or some facsimile thereof, but it is more a sense of one's ineptitude in the social graces, a perceived 'disability' in what seemed to be the normal social routines of being charming, funny, entertaining, and forthcoming with another person...."

 

Ghost Rider p. 35

 

Peart was feeling absolutely gutted at the time - I know (and unfortunately too many others do as well) what he was going through. A self-professed socially awkward individual who has just lost the two people he probably loved most in the world is probably going to be pissed at life, and at other people. In grief I will confess I had those thoughts - why are so many shitty people allowed to live when my wife, the epitome of sweetness who never hurt anyone in her entire life, had to die so young?

 

If you don't think age, relentless physical decline and devastating loss will change you, will change your attitude towards people . . . well, enjoy it while you can, I guess.

 

Sorry, folks. Just feeling particularly lonely and raw tonight.

 

You make a great point Toymaker

 

But as you point out, suffering and loss is universal .. It is one thing to feel animosity or anger towards other human beings, but another thing altogether to write it in a book ..

 

Loss and the gut wrenching realities in life can take people into some unpleasant places, but it is up to that person to make the decision which way is out ..

 

Do I resent and despise others, or do I find the bond and spark we all share - and see life and all living things as they are - precious and to be respected ..

 

Neil has professed that over and over in his lyrics

 

We all say shit we don't mean and we all have our boiling point ..

 

As I mentioned, Neil has played a big role in a very happy and positive place in my life .. but to see him come across as he has, I have lost some respect for him ..

 

What he wrote was cowardly, and if picking on people for being overweight or typically American or being less educated is his way of coping with loss - instead of doing something positive like volunteer work or at least sympathizing with the hell that life can be for all people - then I'm not going to have a whole lot of respect for him as a man

 

People put him up on a pedestal because he's famous and they can identify with some of the lyrics he has written. But he is as human as the rest of us and with the same issues.

 

Absolutely Moon. Ironically I don't identify with any lyrics. My brain is wired to focus on Neil's drumming. I don't hero worship Neil. I love and respect him for what he has brought to my very own personal table in life. Drumming. I've been labeled a Neil Peart clone on the drum kit since I was 16. I really don't care. Playing along to Neil makes me happy. It's my own personal meditation.

I could have gone pro, but I chose marriage, children and a family business. I chose the safer path, yet I still can play my drums daily.

 

A win win for me.

 

Neil will always be my mentor and MAN until the day I die. By using the word "MAN" means he's THE ONE FOR ME in terms of drumming.

 

My father is my true hero. He's 80 going on 18. You wonder where I get it from right? I have a serious side, but I will never grow up.

 

I'm almost 50 going on 19.

 

RUSH ON FOREVER!

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