Writer/poet Paul Woods - aka Pye Dubois - passed away last week at the age of 78. Woods was the unofficial 5th member of Rush's labelmates Max Webster, where he was the band's primary lyricist. He also collaborated with Rush's Neil Peart on the lyrics for Tom Sawyer and had co-writing credits on Force Ten, Between Sun and Moon and Test for Echo. This was the latest of several tragedies for Max Webster, as keyboardist Terry Watkinson passed away in February, and drummer Gary McCracken passed just a couple of weeks ago. Rush posted the following message to Instagram after learning the news, along with a few photographs:

It's been an unbelievably tragic year for Max Webster founder Kim Mitchell and all those who knew that band personally. In late February, Max keyboardist Terry Watkinson passed away, and now, a mere 7 days after the death of drummer Gary McCracken, news has reached us that Max Webster lyricist Pye Dubois (Paul Woods) has suddenly left the planet. For those who aren't aware, over a span of 20 years, Pye and Neil collaborated on the lyrics for four Rush songs : Tom Sawyer, Force 10, Between Sun and Moon, and Test for Echo. We send our most heartfelt sympathies to the bandmates, friends and families of those three stellar musicians. RIP boys.

(Here are a couple of photos I took on a bus trip with Max Webster through Germany in 1979, whilst on tour with Rush. A happy gang in front of the tour bus, and Pye's broad smile)

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