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Neil Peart, Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Neil Peart talks retirement in new Drumhead magazine interview

Sun, Dec 6, 2015@12:37PM | comments

UPDATE - 12/8@10:09AM: Geddy Lee has responded to Neil's apparent retirement announcement. See this post for details.

UPDATE - 12/8@9:30AM: John at Cygnus-X1.net has provided a full transcription at this location. Note that the article is actually an essay written by Neil himself rather than an interview.

Neil Peart is featured in the November/December 2015 issue of Drumhead magazine for an interview where Neil reflects on 50 years of hitting things with sticks. In one passage from the interview Neil talks about how he now considers himself a retired drummer:

... Lately Olivia has been introducing me to new friends at school as "My dad--He's a retired drummer." True to say--funny to hear. And it does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to... take yourself out of the game. I would rather set it aside then face the predicament described in our song "losing it" ("Sadder still to watch it die, than never to have known it") ...

Wow. Hopefully Neil is only referring to retirement from being a touring drummer, and may still consider recording new songs as a part of Rush. But this definitely does not bode well for the future of the band. Drumhead is also holding a Neil Peart Tour Package Contest where one lucky winner will receive six pairs of drum sticks, a Time Machine snare, and 2 Paragon cymbals. Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net and Joe P for the heads up. John will be posting a full transcription in the coming days.

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