Neal Peart retires from music

*The best drummer announces retirement. 

Can't say I'm surprised. But good to see it official I suppose.

The headline for this story on Fark is "Neil Peart goes Galt".

Sad, but not too surprising. I wonder if Rush will continue without him, but either way I'm thankful for him and the rest of the band for bringing some of my favorite albums! 

Shame, but we knew it was coming. He has more than earned his retirement, although I suspect Rush may pop up now and then for a festival or something.

Davesax1965 wrote: Would it be musical heresy to say that - as a musician - I thought he was.... a good technician but lacked that spark of greatness ??? Would other non musicians rally around to defend his ability when they didn't know a flam from a paradiddle ? (He did some excellent flams, by the way.) Should I just not mention it ?

I can see where you're coming from, I think someone hit on this earlier when he said Peart tended to replicate his studio drums parts in concert. Sometimes I wish he'd change things around a bit.
Still a great drummer though.

If this is true, since the band have not released anything official, it will be a sad day in rock music for sure. Although I expect a more detailed answer/reply in the future, I mean it seems he is only making a comment about what his daughter has maybe said in class at school.

He's only retiring from touring. Geddy just mentioned that it was taken semi out of context. Seems like they still may do another album or albums and he may still perform one-off shows with them.

Well like I said, nothing has come from the band as a formal statement.....I think they are the only ones I will listen to. Not people/reporters who do not work for the band, but merely are trying to sell magazines and gossip.

Atavachron wrote: He deserves it.   The question is will he miss it and someday return? Mr. Peart, though a strictly by-the-numbers player who replicated his drumlines verbatim in concert, was an enormous presence for those who were coming of age in the late 70s/early 80s, particularly rock musicians.   Even non-musicians understood his thrilling contributions, and many a pimply-faced drummer swooned over his chops and technical prowess.

and let's not forget and give full credit for perhaps Peart's greatest lasting contribution ... helping establish one of the great tennants of prog rock. Not great drumming... Carl Palmer years before smokes this guy.. but something just as important.

the perfect example of a prog lyricist who should have NEVER put pen to paper.... pure sh*tty prog lyrics. Embarrassingly bad. One of the things all know prog for!

and thank God for him.. I'll be playing an enjoying the Necromancer as long as I am around and kicking.  I love my D&D prog.. so should you all...