A Farewell To A King

Last night a heard the sad news the Neil Peart, the drummer from the band Rush had died after a 3 year battle with cancer at the age of 67. Rush were probably my first favourite band over 40 years ago (eek) as a mid teen and I have 18 of their 19 studio albums, why don't I have their 2nd last? I was obsessed with them for about a decade and although I don't tend to listen to them now, I still really enjoy them when I do.

Neil is widely acclaimed as probably the best drummer in the universe but he also wrote the lyrics for Rush songs. During his drum solos the other 2 in the band went off for a break and his drum kit surrounded him 360 degrees. In 1997 he lost his 19 year old daughter in a car crash (his only child) followed by his wife from cancer a year later, retiring from the band and touring by himself  on his motorbike. After remarrying he returned to the band in 2001 until they really retired in 2015. His illness was not public knowledge until his death so came as a shock to many and tributes from people whether fans of the music or not are plentiful. Given most of this is already in the news I am not quite sure why I feel the need to write about it too, but I do, I guess I am getting to the age where more of my idols are being lost.

All the world's indeed a stage 

And we are merely players 
Performers and portrayers 
Each another's audience 
Outside the gilded cage
Rush - Limelight