Rush Didact, your facebook post was eerily similar to the one I posted on facebook, which I will also share. Here's my "tldr" post -- it's how i dealt with Neil's passing. . . You don't have to read this if you don't want to. It's long and it's personal and probably self-indulgent. So be it. I never met Neil personally, and never felt a need to. In my late teens as I began to explore the theories behind rhythm and drumming I kept finding myself in awe of Neil Peart. Drums. He had the power of the best rock drummers, but the discipline to hold back. Speed, cross sticking and technical ability of the best jazz drummers. An understanding of melody and form and time and rhythm and the knowledge to know how to balance ridiculous ability and the musicality of a song. His solos were works of art unmatched in their time. He rewrote the musical vocabulary of drumming, and his influence is all around. Words. Those who don't fully appreciate philosophy and science and art and love and beauty and how it applies to the best in humanity will never appreciate the words he wrote. He avoided the cheap rhyme, never took the easy word, always thought in layers and concept. There is a crisp and distinct difference in my lyrics pre and post-Rush influence. I loved his books -- yes, he's an author. I have several signed copies of his travel log books. Life. I can't explain the depth of his influence on me. Obviously, things like the sticks I use to play, the DW and Roland drums I chose, the snare sound I prefer, the lyrics I write. But there's much more. The philosophy I've read. Numerous friendships and friend circles directly and indirectly caused by a shared love of Rush's music, or Neil's words. Including some of you. Late night discussions over the real meaning of a song like "Grand Designs" or what we would say to him if we ever did meet him. "Driven" was my theme song in the mid-90's and it fueled some permanent changes in my life. There's no way you can truly know me and say you haven't heard me mention Rush (or Toto). Journey and Heart taught my musical heart. Toto taught my musical soul. But Rush taught my musical brain. Rush taught me not only to break typical formulas, but that we should create our own. Neil was the mentor I never met. My sensei. Thank you, Neil. Goodbye.
