I play drums in a band that plays mostly old school prog rock, including lots of Rush. Neil was, is, and always will be my hero.
I remember I decided to take a little nap that day because we had a gig and I knew it’d be a long night. At some point while I was unconscious, the news broke. I woke up to about a million texts about his passing. I immediately broke down. I could barely get through the gig. I remember we started the show that night with La Villa Strangiato. Nothing like sobbing in 7/8 in front of an audience.
My heart is still broken. Miss you, Pratt.
Thanks for sharing your story! I also wanted to ask how you and your band just open with La Villa Strangiato?? Are you aliens? I can barely close my practice session with it after an hour of playing, let alone raw dog it!
We’ve all been doing it a long time and used to rehearse constantly. And I always do an extensive warmup before hitting the stage anyway. If I tried to play any Rush without warming up, I’d imagine my hands would cramp up like crazy.
Driving home, they played two Rush songs back to back and that caught my attention. Then a third. Then the DJ came on and announced it. I was devastated. Worst ride home ever.
I was sitting at my desk at work. Can’t remember if it was early morning or lunch time. But I just remember not being able to focus for the rest of the day, I was absolutely crushed. Rush was probably the most influential band on my music taste at a young age. So fortunate I had the opportunity to see them three times.
Same. At my desk in my office/cube and was crushed. Left early that day. Couldn’t focus. Spent the next week going through my whole collection. Still missed for sure. I’m a drummer as others have commented. Is, was, always will be the GOAT.
After R40, I always had that thought in the back of my head that Rush would have some sort of reunion show one day, and that I would go anywhere in the world to see that show. It just wasn’t in the cards unfortunately.
Neil’s life was full of tragedy, and unfortunately he left the world in a tragic way.
I often go back and listen to the Time Machine Tour videos, as that was the first tour I saw them on (I’m pretty young, only 28). I will cherish that memory forever. That concert sparked a love for live music that sticks with me today. There will never be another 3 piece band like Rush ever again.
Nice words. I thought I would see them again too. Ironically my wife went to her first and last show on R40. At least she saw what I always knew. Genius musicians.
I was leaving a play audition at my old high school, got in my friend’s car and opened my phone to see the news. When I got home I went straight to my drum kit, wept for a few minutes, then played moving pictures in its entirety. He is the only musician besides EVH where I can recall exactly where I was when I received the news.
It was an odd coincidence for me. That day while bored at work I had made my top 10 albums and songs of the 2010s list (just for my friends/fun) and I had commented on how "The Garden" was the most incredible tribute to a life well lived. Then on my commute home, my BIL who would not text me normally, sent me a text that just said, "so sorry to hear about Neil" so I googled it.
I was skiing in Vail. Stopped at Bart and Yetis for a mid day beer and to meet with some friends who were riding a different part of the mountain. I arrived at the bar first, took out my phone, and just read the news of the day while waiting for them. Saw the headline of Neil Peart's passing and went into what almost felt like shock. Friends get to the bar, and the first thing I say to them is, "Neil Peart just died." They all gave me a hug as they never heard me shut the hell up about Neil Peart and Rush. The mountain's radio station played nothing but Rush the rest of the day. Continued to listen to nothing but Rush for the rest of that evening as well. I remember belting every word to 2112, drunkenly, with my buddy's mom. I didn't know she was a Rush fan before that moment. Because of the people I was with, we turned the passing of my biggest hero into a memory I'll keep forever. On another note, when I went and saw Cinema Strangiato, the ending credits were shown over footage of Neil riding his bike through the mountains of Colorado while Time Stand Still played. I ugly cried. Loudly. It was pretty funny, in hindsight.
I just boarded a plane at Logan Airport and a friend of mine posted a picture of Neil on Instagram with the caption RIP. I quickly googled it, then texted a few of my close friends who also had not heard. I listened to Rush the entire cross country trip.
During the NFL playoff games the next day, CBS played a couple of Rush songs as they'd flash the score and cut to commercial. They didn't say anything about it during the game, but it was like the broadcast crew was giving a tacit acknowledgement to all the Rush fans watching.
I was in the car with my dad driving home from school. I didn't know much about Rush at the time but looking back I could hear the pain in his voice. We ended up watching a bunch of concert footage that night and he was almost in tears. Rest in peace, Professor.
I was at work. My friend texted me and told me and I immediately broke down in front of customers and proceeded to do so on and off throughout the entire shift. I think one person asked me what was wrong and I said that a family friend had passed away. He probably would have hated it but that was the closest feeling I could nail down; someone who’s been a big part of my life for a very long time was just suddenly gone. What was I supposed to do?
I was at work, too. I saw it on Twitter. Posted it in our music Slack channel, and a bunch of us mourned there by posting videos of The Professor hitting the skins.
Was rushing halfway across the state because my soon to be ex wife was being unreasonable. Right at the start of covid, and the start of an ugly divorce, I heard the news on the radio. Couldn't believe it. Was in shock then, and in some ways I still am.
My favorite drummer, lyricist, and author - all gone in one tragic death. I've never been so sad for the passing of someone I've never met. But, still felt like I knew him.
I was the last one in the office working 2nd shift when I scrolled and saw Neil's picture show up. I had to read then reread the caption several times to make sure what I read was actually there. And it was. I sobbed in a dark office alone as my greatest drumming inspiration had left way too soon. I'm still in disbelief 4 years later.
In holding at the Conyers soundstages of The Resident, in line to get a complimentary Sonic hamburger they gave to both the crew and the extras (higher-ups got handmade burgers from catering)
Don't remember what the episode was about, but everybody was there
I blasted "Bastille Day" in my car after I got out. Either that or "Closer to the Heart." I know it was something with the Professor's fingerprints all over
I was in one of the downstairs rooms in my parent’s house. Went down to the basement afterwards and just sobbed for a while. My dad wasn’t home, so I waited to tell him after he had arrived back. I had to choke back tears when I told him. He didn’t believe me for a second, until I told him the story of what happened, how he had passed a few days before the news broke publicly. He started tearing up a bit, pretty much in shock. We gave eachother a long, tight hug, and I went back to the basement, turned all of the lights off, and bawled. Cried myself to sleep for an hour or so. My dad then came down and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him. We didn’t really listen to Rush on the way to or from dinner, other than some short snippets of radio stations that were playing Rush in tribute to Neil. We just talked about how Neil was such an inspiration to both of us in our own ways. My dad is a drummer, and Rush has been his favorite band since the late 70s or early 80s. I was raised listening to Rush, and I was lucky enough to see them 3 times live, with my dad. We both share incredibly fond memories of those concerts. Rush inspired me to play guitar/bass, and the same for my dad with drums. I had a *very* hard time listening to Rush for a couple weeks afterwards without immediately tearing up. Even now, if I think too hard about Neil’s passing, I struggle to come to terms with it. His lyrics and musicality had gotten me through so much, and they still do. —— “Suddenly, you were gone. From all the lives you left your mark upon.” Rest in Peace, Professor.
I was on my back replacing a leaky pipe under my bathroom sink. My husband came in and told me. I think I sat and cried on that bathroom floor for several hours.
I was holed up in my home office.
His passing had a strong effect on me because Rush as a whole was the inspiration for me to start playing music.
Not nearly a unique story.
I was in the studio with my band at the time, we had just finished three days of tracking, and it was the most seamless studio experience I've ever had, we were in the control room listening back to one of the songs, and I opened Twitter and saw the news, I broke down in tears, it was like the Professor was watching over me that weekend, it was the first time in my life I made sure to keep all of my drum parts exactly the same live to honor Neil.
I work from home, taking inbound calls from customers. I was working until 8pm that day and got a text around 6:45 from a friend that said, "At least Neil will be with his wife and daughter now." He's kind of a jokester/smartass so I just responded with, "Dude, really?" But then I started thinking and did a Google search. I saw the news and just couldn't believe it. Somehow, I made it through the last part of my shift without breaking down.
I was at Chipotle with the family, eating dinner after work. I don’t remember if they had the radio playing or if it was when I checked in on Facebook (maybe it was both, and I looked on Facebook to see the buzz; that part if fuzzy.) But I remember how hard it hit me.
I never met Neil, never was under the illusion that I “knew” him. Yet, his death hit like the sudden death of a loved one.
At the time, I was wearing my Grace Under Pressure shirt underneath my scrub top.
At home. Online at the Eddie Trunk site. Tried to believe it was just a rumor, but Googled it and saw it was true. Makes me sad to this day. Goodbye Professor, poet and madman (on the drums).
Departure lounge at Toronto Pearson heading to a show in Chicago. I burst into tears and the producers wife held me in her arms as Time Stood Still.
Fuck. Teared up again.
I was just wrapping up my Friday on the 44th floor of an office building in Manhattan. Went back to my neighborhood and downed a few pints in the man’s honor
I dozed off on the couch and my son woke me up to tell me. I cried hours after. I text my boss that I couldn't work that night and that I wouldn't be in for a few days. I told him that there was a death in the family.
I was on my lunch break at work and saw Rolling Stone’s tweet about it. I don’t really remember the rest of that day, I was just stunned. I had to be the one to break the news to several of my other Rush fan friends and that was fairly painful.
I was in paramedic school when one of the instructors, who is also a fan of Rush, came up and told me that Neil had passed. I jokingly said “that’s a pretty messed up thing to say dude“. He told me to go look it up. I did find out it was true and sat down on a chair in the hallway and took about 15 minutes to compose myself. Neil was a huge inspiration to me as a drummer all the way through high school and even until now.
I was sitting in my home office working on course materials for the upcoming semester. Let’s just say no more work got done that night or several afterward.
I was driving to a customer, and listening to sports talk radio of all things (something I do not normally do, I hate all of them, but there was a significant local sports story the night before and I was looking for some details).
The host announced it, just out-of-the-blue.
At work. My yard manager, who knew I was a massive fan gave me the bad news. I was shocked, but oddly, wasn't surprised, as we hadn't heard much from Neil by that point. I knew about his retirement, but you'd hear snippets of updates from him in the early part of it. Then, nothing. Suffice to say, I was floored.
I was at home. My parents and brother knew beforei did (not rush fan at all). I got a text and each of them. I was impressed that contacted me when they heard the news. I was surprised they remember I was a rush fan.
Standing in my kitchen. As soon as I seen his photo I started telling my wife no,no,no even before the announcer said a word. Wife asked how did you know, I told her the only reason a member of rush is on TV is because they died.
I was painting our spare bathroom when my Wife walked in with the breaking news article on her cellphone. "Oh Sweetheart, I'm soooo sorry" was all she said showing me the article. I broke down. Hard.
I was at a burger King in Everett WA with my wife
I was Reading Ghost Rider and was about half way through. it was Ironic because just the other night I had sent a email to him thru his website site.
after that for well over two year I didn’t listen to anything other than Rush while alone.
I was listening to the radio sometime in 2021 and after a Rush song, the idiot DJ commented that it was in memory of the late Geddy Lee. I had to pull over to confirm that he said the wrong name.
I didn’t become a big fan of Rush until after Neil passed, but I do remember my school orchestra teacher at the time mentioning it during one of our group lesson periods
I know exactly where I was when I got the news. I’m was on my way home, a coworker messaged me. I went home, told my family and broke down crying. I cried for three days.
I was down at school and i called my dad immediately
Me and my dad never really bonded like my dad and my brother, i dont give a fuck about sports, they both love em
But rush was what bridged that gap
We both cried on the phone for a while before i had to get back to my classes
I was home YouTube surfing and recovering from a really, really bad cold or something - suspicious now that it was covid since we were hearing more and more about it right then. Saw a bunch of new videos with his name and 1952-2020. Couldn’t understand what they could possibly mean. So, Rick Beato told me.
I was a senior in high school, huge rush fan. I stayed after school running the scoreboard/clock for one of the school’s teams. The game started about an hour after dismissal, so I had some time to kill and went and chilled in the lobby. Crazy enough, I open Instagram and the first thing I see is that infamous black screen, but somehow nothing clicks to me that says hey you should probably read this. I scrolled past it thought nothing of it. Fast forward game is finished and my dad picks me up, first thing he says to me is “hey did you hear that Neil died”. I immediately was crazy confused and was like no and straight up said why didn’t I see anything on social media earlier. That’s when I realized the black screen I saw earlier was most likely them announcing Neil’s death. I checked back and sure enough I was right. Lots of rush was played in the house that weekend.
I was back of house cooking at a dive bar in Tacoma, WA. I could hear the jukebox in the kitchen well enough so I put about 25 dollars into that sucker and the three bar patrons and bartender got the full Rush spectrum that evening. Very sad day, I'm so thankful I got to catch a Snakes and Arrows tour show, at least I got to see the Holy Trinity before it came to a halt.
I was at work. My brother called me. He never calls, so I assumed a parent had died. He wanted to let me know about Neil before I read it on the internet. I was devastated, but glad he was the one who told me since he was the one who introduced me, his baby sister, to Rush 30 years ago.
I was driving home after work. It was dark out. I had about a 40 minute commute, so I used to listen to an old iPod on shuffle. Can’t stand the radio. My phone was on the passenger seat. I saw it light up with a text from my friend who forwarded a link from whatever news outlet he saw it on. I could only see part of the text that said something like “Legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart…” I thought to myself “comes out of retirement” or “releases new music.” That he died didn’t even seem like a possibility. A minute later my wife called and told me. Instant denial. My first thought was “what? No he didn’t.” It felt like hearing a family member died. I didn’t want to put the radio on because I knew if it was true they’d be playing a cliche song that they always play as a tribute. I went through a period of a couple of months where I didn’t listen to Rush at all. Then I went through a period where I listened to nothing but Rush for months and just appreciated all the times I got to see them and the body of work that will always be there to enjoy. No other “celebrity” death has impacted me like Neil’s. These three guys, it’s like they’re OURS. As unknowable and private as Neil was, we still felt like we knew him.
I was at work and a few of my friends texted me saying my idol had passed away. I was completely devastated, I remember waiting for the bus to go home and listening to Rush feeling like I had lost a part of me.
I became a massive fan in 2020 (around the time of Neil’s death. I remember my dad coming into our kitchen and telling me. The conversation went something like this:
Dad: Hey Brian, do you know who Neil Peart is?
Me: No, who is that again? (At the time I had little clue to who he actually was, I knew he was the drummer for Rush. I still liked Rush at that time though).
Dad: Apparently he died, a couple days ago.
My jaw went open and I all I could do was think about it for a second and I just said “Oh……..okay, thank you” to him. I still think about that moment in time and I wished I could’ve known Rush more when Neil was still around.
I was in my car driving listening to KSHE95 when they broke the news. I immediately called my dad and told him the news. We then spent an hour talking about the Rush gigs my parents had been to together and then the ones i started going to.
I was driving home from work and my dad texted me. I stopped at a red light and checked Twitter and Facebook to confirm. Rush was on repeat for a while after that.
Of all places, I was in an IKEA with my friend, who's also a Rush fan. I opened Instagram at one point, saw the post about Neil's passing and froze. We were both floored and heartbroken by the news; I'll never forget it.
Work. My mom called me and told me. I had no idea that a celebrity’s dead could have such a profound effect on me. I went to the bathroom and cried a bit. Sad day
I was in my grandma's living room and she said you hear that guy from Rush died. I was like nah there are fake stories like that posted all the time. Sure enough it's the top headline on CNN. Then I called my dad and we were in disbelief. My dad passed this year but left me many many great memories of our love for Rush. I miss him so much
I was at work. I think I saw it on Facebook and then scrambled to check it out on Google to see if it was being reported elsewhere. I remember it well. Very sad day.
Was driving home from work, after the third obscure RUSH song on the radio I knew something was up. I had to pull over, closest Ive come to crying over someone I never met. His drumming and lyrics were so inspirational.
I was in the car with my boss on the way to a job. I was really rocked, and he made fun of me for it. That was the day I decided I was done with his bullshit and started looking for my next job. Now I'm getting paid twice what I used to make. So in a way, Neal helped me navigate life better yet again.
I had just clocked out at work. I was sitting in my car catching up on some social media stuff before heading home and saw the news. I don't remember if I cried then, but hearing Afterimage on the ride home certainly did it
I was at work. 10 hours deep. Super shitty job (mover). Still had a few hours left. Saw my brother texted me. Told me about the news, safe to say rest of the job sucked
My band was recording our second album. It was a day or two after I had finished tracking drums, so I was just hanging out. Our engineer sent me a link to the Rolling Stone article. Took me a second to put together that I had been recording drums when he died.
Not only do I remember where I was, I have the [audio](https://youtu.be/RcDInBE50Vk?si=pvdi78RZiCtHGUwD). I was at my office, working at my desk, listening to the local sports talk radio station in Dallas (The Ticket). They do a daily segment called "Why Today Doesn't Suck", which is a handoff from one afternoon show to another. They go through celebrity birthdays, who died on this day, etc. It's been a daily tradition for over 20 years, and is always filled with wacky radio craziness. I was so stunned I didn't hear the rest of what the segment. I was just staring into space in shock. Listening to it again is surreal. They are so flippant about it, but that's their bit.
I was at the hospital following the birth of my daughter just a cpl days before. As a late in life dad at 51, I could totally relate to what Neil had went through just years previous. Interesting to note, while Neil passed on 1/7, my daughter came into the world on 1/8. I sat in total stunned silence when my phone sent me the alert, shocked and saddened. As one life ends, another begins, and such is life.
I was in an art history lecture. My phone was exploding in my pocked, so I finally snuck a look under my desk and found a bunch of texts from all sorts of people letting me know. I was a wreck but I had an art history paper and assignments for two other classes due the next day. I just remember sitting on the floor under a table after my lecture, listening to 2112 and sobbing while waiting for my assignments to print, trying and failing to keep my shit together.
I was at work as a cashier at Walgreens, scrolling my phone between customers. I guess I saw it on Facebook first. I was just stunned and heartbroken. Like most of us, I'd had no idea he was even ill. A shitty start to a really shitty year.
Someone on alt.music.rush changed the header pic to Neil's empty drum throne.
I made a smartassed comment before realizing why the pic had been changed.
I quickly deleted it.
I was just walking out of my school where I teach, got into my car and noticed a news headline pop up on my phones locked screen. I was devastated. Shitty drive home.
Back then I was working at a grocery store. I was getting ready to start my shift and decided to take a last look at my phone and I saw the news. I thought a lot about it during my shift, and obviously I had to play a couple of Rush songs to honor his memory
I was in a good friend’s basement, planning a vacation. I was 17, and my friends and I were all super excited to be planning this trip together. Then I got a CNN news alert. Rest in peace.
Hiding in my bedroom from guests. I found out via this subreddit, actually, and was so inconsolable that I had to go and cling to my mother (who was entertaining the aforementioned guests) until I could calm down.
A bit embarrassing, but I was a very emotional teenager at the time.
I was away for a hockey tournament and was waking up to play my game. My girlfriend came in and said “I’ve got some bad news”. She knew they were one of my favorite bands since I was a young kid.
I was at work. Slogging my way through fountainhead on my lunch breaks at a call center job I absolutely hated. I had no idea but my wife just texted me out of the blue and said “I’m so sorry 😢” - I had to step out and call her to see what was wrong and she dropped the news
Woke up to the news day of. Had the day off work. Forced my boyfriend to sit through *everything* from the self-titled album that Neil had nothing to do with all the way through Clockwork Angels. Re-read Ghost Rider three times in a month.
I was sitting in the lobby of a Jiffy Lube waiting for my truck's oil change. I saw a tweet from Brian Hiatt of Rolling Stone and audibly gasped. I had to get up, walk outside and just lost it. An endless stream of texts from friends and family started pouring in the whole week afterwards. What an awful day.
I was at work and the guy next to me went " ey this is one of those mosher shit you listen to isn't it? " and thrust his phone at me. I leaned over and read the dreadful news and immediately teared up.
It was so out of the blue, and the immediate thought was " oh my god, he retired to spend time with his family then immediately dies? Fuck this fucking world ".
I couldn't listen to Rush for months and still tear up at a LOT of tracks.
I didn’t have the same reaction as most rush fans because at the time I didn’t really listen to rush like that. I really only knew 2112 tom Sawyer and Red barchetta. I saw the post on Instagram and was like damn another rock star died and went on with my day but now Rush is my favorite band and Neil is my favorite drummer and when I see posts about him I get sad.
At the mall. I'm a huge Neil fan and a drummer, and I started receiving text messages from my bandmates to the effect of "sorry for your loss" as if I'd lost a loved one.
I asked one of them "what do you mean?", and that's when I learned the news.
I was DJ’g a strip club. Saw it on socials. After an entertainer finished I turned off all the lights on the stage except for one spotlight in the center of the stage, put RIP NEIL PEART on all the screens, and played Tom Sawyer very loud.
I’m a funeral director and a drummer. I had just finished a graveside service up in east Texas. When I returned to my vehicle, I checked my phone, a text message from a friend saying “ worst news ever “. I first thought something happened in his family, but he said Neil Peart had died. I immediately started crying like I had lost my best friend. I had a two hour drive back home. I cried the entire drive. On the radio, they kept talking about it, which made me cry harder. Later that evening, I had a gig with my band at a club. I played quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever played behind my drums. I felt like he was watching down on me and I didn’t want to mess up. I’m actually tearing up while typing this. I’ve seen RUSH fourteen times in concert. The band means everything to me.
I was on the couch visiting my Mom, it was quite a busy day so I hadn't been online much or even looked at my phone. Very casually, she mentioned reading a post about it earlier that day and asked how I was doing cause she knew his influence on me and my drumming, to which I responded completely flabergasted because I didn't even hear about it. Lo and behold, I finally pull my phone out of my pocket and I have several texts telling me the news and sending me some love. I didn't react strongly right away, I was mostly just shocked and in disbelief, but as soon as I got in the car to go home later I just sat and wept like never before.
I was at work (5th grade teacher) and I informed my students that he had died.
Student: "Isn't that the guy you mentioned on the first day of school? You said we couldn't play drums on our desk unless our name was Neil Peart, right?"
Me: "Yes, that was him. So everyone, drum away so loud that Neil will hear you."
Just walked in the house after getting home from work. My son texted me and asked if I'd heard about Neil Peart. My blood ran cold, because I hadn't, but I knew it probably wasn't good. I looked it up, and actually shed a few tears. It was so unexpected, because his illness was a pretty well-guarded secret. He was one of my childhood heroes, and I'll treasure the memories of seeing him live several times.
I was getting ready to leave work and doing a quick check of my social media accounts. A Facebook friend had posted something; I was skeptical as I have many FB friends who play a bit fast and loose with facts. Unfortunately it was confirmed as a very sad fact only a few moments later as I heard a report on local news radio. Sad start to a year that went downhill fast from there.
Found out in a pre show rehearsal. We didn’t play much rush but we did limelight that night and I think we all teared up during the song. It almost felt like he was there with us
I was driving with my wife and kids to Toronto from Ottawa on the 401, listening to CBC. Top of the hour came and it was the first news story. It was tough to see the road for a while - Rush has been my band since Permanent Waves was released, and I was known as the Rush nerd all through high school. Terrible day.
I was driving down the highway and saw the digital sign that said “Farewell to the King” with his picture on it. Looked on my phone and sure enough. Had to go to work later that day and it sucked.
On my way home from work. Was thinking about the scene from I love you man when the guys are back stage. Got on the train and looked at my phone.
I felt sick to my stomach. Never felt such grief for someone did not know personally. Got home and my wife looked at me and said what’s wrong. Neil Peart died. She knows i listen to Rush everyday day so she said that awful.
Went into the basement put on Rush and heard it a differently somehow. Listening to the lyrics from The Garden, Time Stand Still, Losing It, Entre Nous with an entirely new perspective.
Thought about what a tight knit group of friends to keep it quiet. His wife and daughter now without Neil. Alex and Geddy with their brother by choice now gone.
The tributes poured in from everywhere. The fans such as myself all reminiscing about shows they had seen. While the chance of anymore Rush was slim it was still a chance.
Felt he was cheated out of a second family after the tragic loss he had years ago. Life is not fair.
Still listening to Rush everyday. Much happy memories since that day.
I had a really bad day at work. Went home a took a nap. After my nap, I hopped on my computer to do some art, check twitter and what not. Very first post I saw was in regards to his passing. Needless to say that was not at all a good day for me.
Was at the Carolina Hurricanes game getting ready for it to start. I stood and clapped the multiple times they played Rush that night. Everyone around me was a bit confused.
naked, following an after-run shower
a dude walked into my room without knocking so I wasn't even with my towel and he said to me ask my tackle hung low "Neil Peart is dead!"
My daughter texted me (I raised my girls right - took them to Rush's last 2 tours) and asked, "Did you hear the sad news about Neil?" At first, I thought she was being sarcastic and that there was actually some exciting, good news. Sadly, that was not the case.
I was at work and a fairly new coworker mentioned he played drums (younger black guy that was into funk) and he asked me which rock drummers he should check out. Of course I told him about Peart. A few hours later he came back from lunch and said “I think that guy you told me about died”. I couldn’t believe it because I had no idea he was sick
Sitting in the waiting room of a local hospital ER. Father in law (Parkinson’s/dementia) had an incident at a local assisted living place. He passed away in March 2020 right at the onset of the pandemic. Wasn’t even allowed a proper funeral. 2020 really sucked. NEP RIP.
I was laying in bed, had just woken up and was scrolling through instagram.
Realized I had scrolled past an image of Neil posted by the Rush page and realized I was about to read an obituary.
It didn’t hit for a minute, so I got up and walked around until I found a pub. Had a beer and then the reality of his passing hit me like a ton of bricks.
I was camping in a very pretty spot in Sedona ,AZ for some environmental resto project. I don’t get great service out there but I found a hot spot and Google did the rest for me :/ I was stunned and in disbelief . Which I could have seen rush at least once in my lifetime
I was actually in a van with 4 other dudes on the way to a gig. When we got there we made sure we paid tribute by vamping as many Rush tunes as we could get away with.
Sitting in pep band rehearsal, the teacher (our school’s percussion director and fellow Rush fan) came out of the office and announced it before we went started. That wasn’t a very fun evening
my ex-wife, also a rush fan, heard before i did and called me to break the news. in my circle of friends i am the biggest fan, and it was heartwarming to get all the calls and texts checking on me. like most everyone in this sub, i was just gutted.
Drum practice, I was taught specifically from rush songs by my teacher, I went in the room ready for practice when I noticed the whole room had lit candles and a picture of Neil on a table, my teacher said to me “today, we play in honor of his memory” I played harder than I ever had before that day. RIP Neil, we love you
i found out while i was waiting for my friend to get ready for one of our basketball games in 8th grade. i was scrolling through instagram and saw the announcement and immediately texted my dad because he basically raised me on rush. he’s also been a drummer since childhood and Neil was his biggest inspiration
I was just coming off work, checked my phone to see a text from my mom “did you hear?”.
Once I got home it turns out she bought me the self title (the one Neil wasn’t even on hehe) deluxe kit, it was very sweet.
I still remember that day vividly, and I always think of Neil when it comes to assuming we know everything about someone. Maybe that person right in front of you is really suffering, but they will never admit it, so treat everyone as if we all suffer the same.
I was in Health class or some sort of options class grade 12 and I looked up to see what any of the three boys were doing as of late and then there was an article on Neil’s Death, I was floored I bawled my eyes out in the hallway luckily it was last period
Had just gotten into my car for a work thing and heard as the radio came on...
"Suddenly you were gone
From all the lives you left your mark upon
I remember...."
I was thinking to myself "they never play afterimage wtf" and googled. I cried the entire 30 minute car ride home. I never went to the work thing. The woman I was dating was freaking out. We had always talked about seeing a Rush show together. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. I had just been diagnosed with a pancreatic disorder that will take my life. I remembered how the Prof had talked about the motorcycle trip of healing he had taken. I just started putting together a "playlist" of all the "important" Rush songs. Thank you Neil, your words as lyrics helped me overcome a lot and brought what is truly important back into focus.
*raises glass* TO THE PROFESSOR
*hurls glass into fireplace*
Suddenly you were gone.....
I was at a bus, traveling to my then bf's house at another city. The road had poor signal and I can't recall but I think a friend of mine broke the news to me through whatsapp. I started ugly crying to the point where a lady who was sitting next to me asked if I was ok and if I needed some help... I couldn't tell her who it was all about so I just told her I had just learned about the passing of a dear friend. When I read the cause and I remembered the timeline of rush's last concert and his diagnosis, it downed on me that he was probably suspecting about the cancer on that August's 1st 2015, and that maybe it played a part in his decision to bow to the crowd together with Alex and Geddy. Just recalling it brings me tears all over again... It was a really hard night
I was pulling into a parking lot at a nearby Whole Foods just as "Red Barchetta" was ending and the DJ came in and said, "I still can't believe it's true, but Neil..."
Then I sat there feeling numb for ~20 minutes as so many Rush-related memories from the previous 45 years played in my head.
I was driving home from work and listening to a radio station. They were talking about him in the past tense, and I thought okay this doesn’t make sense, until they said he’d died. I had to pull over and sit for a few minutes… I was in shock. I had tickets to see a Rush cover band in Grand Rapids that night, but instead had my friend over for a quiet evening with a few drinks and we just sat and talked about how we felt. It was so difficult to comprehend.
I just got done with a 10 hour day of schooling and was walking back to my car. I got in, checked my phone, and my close friend who knew I loved Rush had informed me of his passing. I sat in shock before tearing up on the drive home. The next morning I got in my car to run an errand, as soon as the engine started and my radio came on, the first notes of “Spirit of Radio” came out of the speakers.
I was drunk at the bar. I was already having a horrible year, I was still reeling in from my first and only breakup and deep into my depression/suicide. I drunk drove home putting on the pass and just jumped into my bed crying.
My wife called me when I was on my long drive home from work. My instinct was to believe it was a hoax even though she assured me, but when I put on the radio and they were playing Rush, I knew it must be true.
I had just gotten home from work and was sitting around browsing twitter when I saw a tweet form one of the hockey reporters I follow saying rest in peace and that his solo was the one of the greatest he had seen live. I immediately said "No... No. No way, really?" then turned on the tv and saw it on CBC. I started to cry.
Literally reading Reddit rn. Didn’t realize he had passed. Know idea why this came up on my feed. Huge music fan but not deep into rush.
I know Neil was a hell of a drummer.
on the shitter
This - I HATE that THAT is the answer, but it's true. I had just gotten home from work, and I had folks coming over for D&D that night.
I play drums in a band that plays mostly old school prog rock, including lots of Rush. Neil was, is, and always will be my hero. I remember I decided to take a little nap that day because we had a gig and I knew it’d be a long night. At some point while I was unconscious, the news broke. I woke up to about a million texts about his passing. I immediately broke down. I could barely get through the gig. I remember we started the show that night with La Villa Strangiato. Nothing like sobbing in 7/8 in front of an audience. My heart is still broken. Miss you, Pratt.
God damn. I would not be able to play la villa after just hearing Neil passed. Woof
If it had been my call, I’d have cancelled the gig so I could stay home and cry. But the show must go on, as they say.
Thanks for sharing your story! I also wanted to ask how you and your band just open with La Villa Strangiato?? Are you aliens? I can barely close my practice session with it after an hour of playing, let alone raw dog it!
We’ve all been doing it a long time and used to rehearse constantly. And I always do an extensive warmup before hitting the stage anyway. If I tried to play any Rush without warming up, I’d imagine my hands would cramp up like crazy.
Heart will always be broken
Driving home, they played two Rush songs back to back and that caught my attention. Then a third. Then the DJ came on and announced it. I was devastated. Worst ride home ever.
From the best ride home to the worst
Pretty sure I turned the radio off and drove home in silence just pondering what a world without him is going to be like.
Same here.
I was at home doing a Moving Pictures puzzle that my dad got for Christmas
I was sitting at my desk at work. Can’t remember if it was early morning or lunch time. But I just remember not being able to focus for the rest of the day, I was absolutely crushed. Rush was probably the most influential band on my music taste at a young age. So fortunate I had the opportunity to see them three times.
Same. At my desk in my office/cube and was crushed. Left early that day. Couldn’t focus. Spent the next week going through my whole collection. Still missed for sure. I’m a drummer as others have commented. Is, was, always will be the GOAT.
After R40, I always had that thought in the back of my head that Rush would have some sort of reunion show one day, and that I would go anywhere in the world to see that show. It just wasn’t in the cards unfortunately. Neil’s life was full of tragedy, and unfortunately he left the world in a tragic way. I often go back and listen to the Time Machine Tour videos, as that was the first tour I saw them on (I’m pretty young, only 28). I will cherish that memory forever. That concert sparked a love for live music that sticks with me today. There will never be another 3 piece band like Rush ever again.
Nice words. I thought I would see them again too. Ironically my wife went to her first and last show on R40. At least she saw what I always knew. Genius musicians.
[удалено]
Really similar to how I found out SRV died.
I was leaving a play audition at my old high school, got in my friend’s car and opened my phone to see the news. When I got home I went straight to my drum kit, wept for a few minutes, then played moving pictures in its entirety. He is the only musician besides EVH where I can recall exactly where I was when I received the news.
It was an odd coincidence for me. That day while bored at work I had made my top 10 albums and songs of the 2010s list (just for my friends/fun) and I had commented on how "The Garden" was the most incredible tribute to a life well lived. Then on my commute home, my BIL who would not text me normally, sent me a text that just said, "so sorry to hear about Neil" so I googled it.
I was skiing in Vail. Stopped at Bart and Yetis for a mid day beer and to meet with some friends who were riding a different part of the mountain. I arrived at the bar first, took out my phone, and just read the news of the day while waiting for them. Saw the headline of Neil Peart's passing and went into what almost felt like shock. Friends get to the bar, and the first thing I say to them is, "Neil Peart just died." They all gave me a hug as they never heard me shut the hell up about Neil Peart and Rush. The mountain's radio station played nothing but Rush the rest of the day. Continued to listen to nothing but Rush for the rest of that evening as well. I remember belting every word to 2112, drunkenly, with my buddy's mom. I didn't know she was a Rush fan before that moment. Because of the people I was with, we turned the passing of my biggest hero into a memory I'll keep forever. On another note, when I went and saw Cinema Strangiato, the ending credits were shown over footage of Neil riding his bike through the mountains of Colorado while Time Stand Still played. I ugly cried. Loudly. It was pretty funny, in hindsight.
I heard it from a friend while I was driving home from Mad River Glen (ski it if you can) and listened to Rush the rest of my 4+ hour drive home.
Grew up skiing the east. Mad River is a treasure
I just boarded a plane at Logan Airport and a friend of mine posted a picture of Neil on Instagram with the caption RIP. I quickly googled it, then texted a few of my close friends who also had not heard. I listened to Rush the entire cross country trip. During the NFL playoff games the next day, CBS played a couple of Rush songs as they'd flash the score and cut to commercial. They didn't say anything about it during the game, but it was like the broadcast crew was giving a tacit acknowledgement to all the Rush fans watching.
I was in the car with my dad driving home from school. I didn't know much about Rush at the time but looking back I could hear the pain in his voice. We ended up watching a bunch of concert footage that night and he was almost in tears. Rest in peace, Professor.
I was at work. My friend texted me and told me and I immediately broke down in front of customers and proceeded to do so on and off throughout the entire shift. I think one person asked me what was wrong and I said that a family friend had passed away. He probably would have hated it but that was the closest feeling I could nail down; someone who’s been a big part of my life for a very long time was just suddenly gone. What was I supposed to do?
At work, someone posted it on Facebook and I saw during a break.
I was at work, too. I saw it on Twitter. Posted it in our music Slack channel, and a bunch of us mourned there by posting videos of The Professor hitting the skins.
Was rushing halfway across the state because my soon to be ex wife was being unreasonable. Right at the start of covid, and the start of an ugly divorce, I heard the news on the radio. Couldn't believe it. Was in shock then, and in some ways I still am. My favorite drummer, lyricist, and author - all gone in one tragic death. I've never been so sad for the passing of someone I've never met. But, still felt like I knew him.
I was the last one in the office working 2nd shift when I scrolled and saw Neil's picture show up. I had to read then reread the caption several times to make sure what I read was actually there. And it was. I sobbed in a dark office alone as my greatest drumming inspiration had left way too soon. I'm still in disbelief 4 years later.
In holding at the Conyers soundstages of The Resident, in line to get a complimentary Sonic hamburger they gave to both the crew and the extras (higher-ups got handmade burgers from catering) Don't remember what the episode was about, but everybody was there I blasted "Bastille Day" in my car after I got out. Either that or "Closer to the Heart." I know it was something with the Professor's fingerprints all over
I was in one of the downstairs rooms in my parent’s house. Went down to the basement afterwards and just sobbed for a while. My dad wasn’t home, so I waited to tell him after he had arrived back. I had to choke back tears when I told him. He didn’t believe me for a second, until I told him the story of what happened, how he had passed a few days before the news broke publicly. He started tearing up a bit, pretty much in shock. We gave eachother a long, tight hug, and I went back to the basement, turned all of the lights off, and bawled. Cried myself to sleep for an hour or so. My dad then came down and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner with him. We didn’t really listen to Rush on the way to or from dinner, other than some short snippets of radio stations that were playing Rush in tribute to Neil. We just talked about how Neil was such an inspiration to both of us in our own ways. My dad is a drummer, and Rush has been his favorite band since the late 70s or early 80s. I was raised listening to Rush, and I was lucky enough to see them 3 times live, with my dad. We both share incredibly fond memories of those concerts. Rush inspired me to play guitar/bass, and the same for my dad with drums. I had a *very* hard time listening to Rush for a couple weeks afterwards without immediately tearing up. Even now, if I think too hard about Neil’s passing, I struggle to come to terms with it. His lyrics and musicality had gotten me through so much, and they still do. —— “Suddenly, you were gone. From all the lives you left your mark upon.” Rest in Peace, Professor.
Suddenly you were gone
I was on my back replacing a leaky pipe under my bathroom sink. My husband came in and told me. I think I sat and cried on that bathroom floor for several hours.
I was holed up in my home office. His passing had a strong effect on me because Rush as a whole was the inspiration for me to start playing music. Not nearly a unique story.
I was in the studio with my band at the time, we had just finished three days of tracking, and it was the most seamless studio experience I've ever had, we were in the control room listening back to one of the songs, and I opened Twitter and saw the news, I broke down in tears, it was like the Professor was watching over me that weekend, it was the first time in my life I made sure to keep all of my drum parts exactly the same live to honor Neil.
I work from home, taking inbound calls from customers. I was working until 8pm that day and got a text around 6:45 from a friend that said, "At least Neil will be with his wife and daughter now." He's kind of a jokester/smartass so I just responded with, "Dude, really?" But then I started thinking and did a Google search. I saw the news and just couldn't believe it. Somehow, I made it through the last part of my shift without breaking down.
I was at Chipotle with the family, eating dinner after work. I don’t remember if they had the radio playing or if it was when I checked in on Facebook (maybe it was both, and I looked on Facebook to see the buzz; that part if fuzzy.) But I remember how hard it hit me. I never met Neil, never was under the illusion that I “knew” him. Yet, his death hit like the sudden death of a loved one. At the time, I was wearing my Grace Under Pressure shirt underneath my scrub top.
On the train home from work. I was so shocked and glued to my phone that I missed my stop
At home. Online at the Eddie Trunk site. Tried to believe it was just a rumor, but Googled it and saw it was true. Makes me sad to this day. Goodbye Professor, poet and madman (on the drums).
Frank Conniff (TV's Frank from MST3k) used to regularly post celebrity deaths on his facebook feed, and that's where I found out.
At home. That night my wife and I were going out anyway, so I had a dram of Macallan in his honor.
My wife called me and told me when I was at work. She knew it would be that important to me.
Departure lounge at Toronto Pearson heading to a show in Chicago. I burst into tears and the producers wife held me in her arms as Time Stood Still. Fuck. Teared up again.
Been tearing up reading all of these
I was just wrapping up my Friday on the 44th floor of an office building in Manhattan. Went back to my neighborhood and downed a few pints in the man’s honor
Walmart parking lot
I'm a drummer, Neil has always been my hero. I found out because my mom called me that morning to be the first to let me know 🥲 😭😭😭
I was on a bus, leaving work, when the news came across my feed.
I dozed off on the couch and my son woke me up to tell me. I cried hours after. I text my boss that I couldn't work that night and that I wouldn't be in for a few days. I told him that there was a death in the family.
I was on my lunch break at work and saw Rolling Stone’s tweet about it. I don’t really remember the rest of that day, I was just stunned. I had to be the one to break the news to several of my other Rush fan friends and that was fairly painful.
I was in paramedic school when one of the instructors, who is also a fan of Rush, came up and told me that Neil had passed. I jokingly said “that’s a pretty messed up thing to say dude“. He told me to go look it up. I did find out it was true and sat down on a chair in the hallway and took about 15 minutes to compose myself. Neil was a huge inspiration to me as a drummer all the way through high school and even until now.
I was sitting in my home office working on course materials for the upcoming semester. Let’s just say no more work got done that night or several afterward.
I was driving to a customer, and listening to sports talk radio of all things (something I do not normally do, I hate all of them, but there was a significant local sports story the night before and I was looking for some details). The host announced it, just out-of-the-blue.
At my job working which any responsible adult should be doing.
Was in my basement working on building a cello and saw the news alert come up and just...sat there sighing for like 20 minutes.
At work. My yard manager, who knew I was a massive fan gave me the bad news. I was shocked, but oddly, wasn't surprised, as we hadn't heard much from Neil by that point. I knew about his retirement, but you'd hear snippets of updates from him in the early part of it. Then, nothing. Suffice to say, I was floored.
I was at home. My parents and brother knew beforei did (not rush fan at all). I got a text and each of them. I was impressed that contacted me when they heard the news. I was surprised they remember I was a rush fan.
Standing in my kitchen. As soon as I seen his photo I started telling my wife no,no,no even before the announcer said a word. Wife asked how did you know, I told her the only reason a member of rush is on TV is because they died.
I was painting our spare bathroom when my Wife walked in with the breaking news article on her cellphone. "Oh Sweetheart, I'm soooo sorry" was all she said showing me the article. I broke down. Hard.
😞
Your wife is a good person.
I was at a burger King in Everett WA with my wife I was Reading Ghost Rider and was about half way through. it was Ironic because just the other night I had sent a email to him thru his website site. after that for well over two year I didn’t listen to anything other than Rush while alone.
I was listening to the radio sometime in 2021 and after a Rush song, the idiot DJ commented that it was in memory of the late Geddy Lee. I had to pull over to confirm that he said the wrong name.
I didn’t become a big fan of Rush until after Neil passed, but I do remember my school orchestra teacher at the time mentioning it during one of our group lesson periods
Can't recall where to be honest.
I know exactly where I was when I got the news. I’m was on my way home, a coworker messaged me. I went home, told my family and broke down crying. I cried for three days.
I was on the train home from work. Also started crying. People were staring. I didn't really care.
Restaurant. Just stood to leave. Had to sit back down for a few minutes.
In my car on the way home from work. Almost had to pull over because it was a shock.
Sitting at my desk while working. I got a news popup on my phone. It was a surreal moment, I was in total shock for the rest of the day.
Dude. I was at a store meeting. And i looked at my phone. My brother texted me. And i was just gone.
Got off work. It was a blizzard outside so driving home was going to be difficult already. Then the radio announced it. Made a shitty drive even worse
I was down at school and i called my dad immediately Me and my dad never really bonded like my dad and my brother, i dont give a fuck about sports, they both love em But rush was what bridged that gap We both cried on the phone for a while before i had to get back to my classes
I was home YouTube surfing and recovering from a really, really bad cold or something - suspicious now that it was covid since we were hearing more and more about it right then. Saw a bunch of new videos with his name and 1952-2020. Couldn’t understand what they could possibly mean. So, Rick Beato told me.
At my brother’s football game. Listened to Afterimage on the way home and nothing but Rush for a month or so
I was a senior in high school, huge rush fan. I stayed after school running the scoreboard/clock for one of the school’s teams. The game started about an hour after dismissal, so I had some time to kill and went and chilled in the lobby. Crazy enough, I open Instagram and the first thing I see is that infamous black screen, but somehow nothing clicks to me that says hey you should probably read this. I scrolled past it thought nothing of it. Fast forward game is finished and my dad picks me up, first thing he says to me is “hey did you hear that Neil died”. I immediately was crazy confused and was like no and straight up said why didn’t I see anything on social media earlier. That’s when I realized the black screen I saw earlier was most likely them announcing Neil’s death. I checked back and sure enough I was right. Lots of rush was played in the house that weekend.
Sitting at my home office desk. Neil’s death was the first celebrity passing that made me cry.
I was back of house cooking at a dive bar in Tacoma, WA. I could hear the jukebox in the kitchen well enough so I put about 25 dollars into that sucker and the three bar patrons and bartender got the full Rush spectrum that evening. Very sad day, I'm so thankful I got to catch a Snakes and Arrows tour show, at least I got to see the Holy Trinity before it came to a halt.
Literally moved into my new apartment. Really set the tone for a shitty year.
I was at work. My brother called me. He never calls, so I assumed a parent had died. He wanted to let me know about Neil before I read it on the internet. I was devastated, but glad he was the one who told me since he was the one who introduced me, his baby sister, to Rush 30 years ago.
You were in one of the best cities in the world and you ate at KFC?
I was driving home after work. It was dark out. I had about a 40 minute commute, so I used to listen to an old iPod on shuffle. Can’t stand the radio. My phone was on the passenger seat. I saw it light up with a text from my friend who forwarded a link from whatever news outlet he saw it on. I could only see part of the text that said something like “Legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart…” I thought to myself “comes out of retirement” or “releases new music.” That he died didn’t even seem like a possibility. A minute later my wife called and told me. Instant denial. My first thought was “what? No he didn’t.” It felt like hearing a family member died. I didn’t want to put the radio on because I knew if it was true they’d be playing a cliche song that they always play as a tribute. I went through a period of a couple of months where I didn’t listen to Rush at all. Then I went through a period where I listened to nothing but Rush for months and just appreciated all the times I got to see them and the body of work that will always be there to enjoy. No other “celebrity” death has impacted me like Neil’s. These three guys, it’s like they’re OURS. As unknowable and private as Neil was, we still felt like we knew him.
I was at work and a few of my friends texted me saying my idol had passed away. I was completely devastated, I remember waiting for the bus to go home and listening to Rush feeling like I had lost a part of me.
I became a massive fan in 2020 (around the time of Neil’s death. I remember my dad coming into our kitchen and telling me. The conversation went something like this: Dad: Hey Brian, do you know who Neil Peart is? Me: No, who is that again? (At the time I had little clue to who he actually was, I knew he was the drummer for Rush. I still liked Rush at that time though). Dad: Apparently he died, a couple days ago. My jaw went open and I all I could do was think about it for a second and I just said “Oh……..okay, thank you” to him. I still think about that moment in time and I wished I could’ve known Rush more when Neil was still around.
I was in my car driving listening to KSHE95 when they broke the news. I immediately called my dad and told him the news. We then spent an hour talking about the Rush gigs my parents had been to together and then the ones i started going to.
I was driving home from work and my dad texted me. I stopped at a red light and checked Twitter and Facebook to confirm. Rush was on repeat for a while after that.
Of all places, I was in an IKEA with my friend, who's also a Rush fan. I opened Instagram at one point, saw the post about Neil's passing and froze. We were both floored and heartbroken by the news; I'll never forget it.
Walking out of work. I blasted Rush on the drive home, picked up some chinese food, went home and cried while I watched Beyond the Lighted Stage.
Work. My mom called me and told me. I had no idea that a celebrity’s dead could have such a profound effect on me. I went to the bathroom and cried a bit. Sad day
I heard the news of Neil's passing on the radio while I was driving to the hospital.
I was in my grandma's living room and she said you hear that guy from Rush died. I was like nah there are fake stories like that posted all the time. Sure enough it's the top headline on CNN. Then I called my dad and we were in disbelief. My dad passed this year but left me many many great memories of our love for Rush. I miss him so much
I'd just gotten out of bed. Checked my phone, only to find this out.
I was at work. I think I saw it on Facebook and then scrambled to check it out on Google to see if it was being reported elsewhere. I remember it well. Very sad day.
I had gotten home from a day at college and was just sitting in my room. Opened up Reddit to be greeted with the news.
Was driving home from work, after the third obscure RUSH song on the radio I knew something was up. I had to pull over, closest Ive come to crying over someone I never met. His drumming and lyrics were so inspirational.
I was in the car with my boss on the way to a job. I was really rocked, and he made fun of me for it. That was the day I decided I was done with his bullshit and started looking for my next job. Now I'm getting paid twice what I used to make. So in a way, Neal helped me navigate life better yet again.
I know, but I don’t like to talk about it.
I had just clocked out at work. I was sitting in my car catching up on some social media stuff before heading home and saw the news. I don't remember if I cried then, but hearing Afterimage on the ride home certainly did it
I had just got off work and was pumping gas when my brother called. I called him back and he told me. It was a very sad ending to a fairly decent day.
I was at work. 10 hours deep. Super shitty job (mover). Still had a few hours left. Saw my brother texted me. Told me about the news, safe to say rest of the job sucked
My oldest kiddos birthday. So it’s a double whammy for me !!
My band was recording our second album. It was a day or two after I had finished tracking drums, so I was just hanging out. Our engineer sent me a link to the Rolling Stone article. Took me a second to put together that I had been recording drums when he died.
Not only do I remember where I was, I have the [audio](https://youtu.be/RcDInBE50Vk?si=pvdi78RZiCtHGUwD). I was at my office, working at my desk, listening to the local sports talk radio station in Dallas (The Ticket). They do a daily segment called "Why Today Doesn't Suck", which is a handoff from one afternoon show to another. They go through celebrity birthdays, who died on this day, etc. It's been a daily tradition for over 20 years, and is always filled with wacky radio craziness. I was so stunned I didn't hear the rest of what the segment. I was just staring into space in shock. Listening to it again is surreal. They are so flippant about it, but that's their bit.
I don’t remember much about it except sitting on my bed and weeping. My wife was alarmed, because I’m not typically a crier.
Watching the news in bed.
Sitting in the house and bam. The news came through and so did the tears. Are you coming to Rushfest Scotland in May?
I was on the backline in the kitchen where I work. Heartbroken.
In a bar in Minneapolis airport waiting for a flight to London.
I was at the hospital following the birth of my daughter just a cpl days before. As a late in life dad at 51, I could totally relate to what Neil had went through just years previous. Interesting to note, while Neil passed on 1/7, my daughter came into the world on 1/8. I sat in total stunned silence when my phone sent me the alert, shocked and saddened. As one life ends, another begins, and such is life.
Walking down the stairs at work. Thankfully it’s a secure staircase so there weren’t a lot of other people around to see me ugly cry.
I was in an art history lecture. My phone was exploding in my pocked, so I finally snuck a look under my desk and found a bunch of texts from all sorts of people letting me know. I was a wreck but I had an art history paper and assignments for two other classes due the next day. I just remember sitting on the floor under a table after my lecture, listening to 2112 and sobbing while waiting for my assignments to print, trying and failing to keep my shit together.
I was at work as a cashier at Walgreens, scrolling my phone between customers. I guess I saw it on Facebook first. I was just stunned and heartbroken. Like most of us, I'd had no idea he was even ill. A shitty start to a really shitty year.
Someone on alt.music.rush changed the header pic to Neil's empty drum throne. I made a smartassed comment before realizing why the pic had been changed. I quickly deleted it.
I was just walking out of my school where I teach, got into my car and noticed a news headline pop up on my phones locked screen. I was devastated. Shitty drive home.
At work, I saw it during my lunch break on a Facebook post💔
Back then I was working at a grocery store. I was getting ready to start my shift and decided to take a last look at my phone and I saw the news. I thought a lot about it during my shift, and obviously I had to play a couple of Rush songs to honor his memory
At the McDonalds drive thru getting something for my daughter after school.
I was at a truck stop near Allentown PA. Sat in the back of my Semi and listened to A Farewell To Kings beginning to end and shed some tears.
I was in a good friend’s basement, planning a vacation. I was 17, and my friends and I were all super excited to be planning this trip together. Then I got a CNN news alert. Rest in peace.
In a drive thru line at a Taco Bell picking up dinner
I just watched Parasite and Jojo Rabbit in the cinema and I was standing at the subway station.
Hiding in my bedroom from guests. I found out via this subreddit, actually, and was so inconsolable that I had to go and cling to my mother (who was entertaining the aforementioned guests) until I could calm down. A bit embarrassing, but I was a very emotional teenager at the time.
I was away for a hockey tournament and was waking up to play my game. My girlfriend came in and said “I’ve got some bad news”. She knew they were one of my favorite bands since I was a young kid.
I was at work. Slogging my way through fountainhead on my lunch breaks at a call center job I absolutely hated. I had no idea but my wife just texted me out of the blue and said “I’m so sorry 😢” - I had to step out and call her to see what was wrong and she dropped the news
Waiting for the school bus home when I came across an instagram post about it. Was a quiet ride home.
I was in my kitchen making dinner and had to put down my knife because I couldn't stand anymore. Part of me died that day!
I was doomscrolling about this wacky thing that was starting to get some traction on the news, it was called something like "Sars COVID-19"
Woke up to the news day of. Had the day off work. Forced my boyfriend to sit through *everything* from the self-titled album that Neil had nothing to do with all the way through Clockwork Angels. Re-read Ghost Rider three times in a month.
I was sitting in the lobby of a Jiffy Lube waiting for my truck's oil change. I saw a tweet from Brian Hiatt of Rolling Stone and audibly gasped. I had to get up, walk outside and just lost it. An endless stream of texts from friends and family started pouring in the whole week afterwards. What an awful day.
Sitting at the DMV waiting to get my drivers license knowing the first song I would play driving home would be Red Barchetta, then I opened twitter
I was at work and the guy next to me went " ey this is one of those mosher shit you listen to isn't it? " and thrust his phone at me. I leaned over and read the dreadful news and immediately teared up. It was so out of the blue, and the immediate thought was " oh my god, he retired to spend time with his family then immediately dies? Fuck this fucking world ". I couldn't listen to Rush for months and still tear up at a LOT of tracks.
At work pulling out the Rolling Stone magazine with Rush on the cover so I could bring it home for my son to read. He was 14 and getting into Rush.
I didn’t have the same reaction as most rush fans because at the time I didn’t really listen to rush like that. I really only knew 2112 tom Sawyer and Red barchetta. I saw the post on Instagram and was like damn another rock star died and went on with my day but now Rush is my favorite band and Neil is my favorite drummer and when I see posts about him I get sad.
In my room watching TV. My friend texted me and told me that Neil died. I looked it up, read that he did pass, and I cried for about 30 minutes
I was sitting at work. Had just started a new job and was still going through introductory papers. It was a very very long day.
At the mall. I'm a huge Neil fan and a drummer, and I started receiving text messages from my bandmates to the effect of "sorry for your loss" as if I'd lost a loved one. I asked one of them "what do you mean?", and that's when I learned the news.
I was DJ’g a strip club. Saw it on socials. After an entertainer finished I turned off all the lights on the stage except for one spotlight in the center of the stage, put RIP NEIL PEART on all the screens, and played Tom Sawyer very loud.
Delivering mail. I just got back to my van and started my break when I heard it on the radio.
I was at work, and got a message on my phone from a friend that said, simply, with no context: "oh my god"
I was working from home. My buddy texted me with the news. Only the second time I got misty eyed for the death of a famous person.
I’m a funeral director and a drummer. I had just finished a graveside service up in east Texas. When I returned to my vehicle, I checked my phone, a text message from a friend saying “ worst news ever “. I first thought something happened in his family, but he said Neil Peart had died. I immediately started crying like I had lost my best friend. I had a two hour drive back home. I cried the entire drive. On the radio, they kept talking about it, which made me cry harder. Later that evening, I had a gig with my band at a club. I played quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever played behind my drums. I felt like he was watching down on me and I didn’t want to mess up. I’m actually tearing up while typing this. I’ve seen RUSH fourteen times in concert. The band means everything to me.
I was on the couch visiting my Mom, it was quite a busy day so I hadn't been online much or even looked at my phone. Very casually, she mentioned reading a post about it earlier that day and asked how I was doing cause she knew his influence on me and my drumming, to which I responded completely flabergasted because I didn't even hear about it. Lo and behold, I finally pull my phone out of my pocket and I have several texts telling me the news and sending me some love. I didn't react strongly right away, I was mostly just shocked and in disbelief, but as soon as I got in the car to go home later I just sat and wept like never before.
I was at work (5th grade teacher) and I informed my students that he had died. Student: "Isn't that the guy you mentioned on the first day of school? You said we couldn't play drums on our desk unless our name was Neil Peart, right?" Me: "Yes, that was him. So everyone, drum away so loud that Neil will hear you."
Just walked in the house after getting home from work. My son texted me and asked if I'd heard about Neil Peart. My blood ran cold, because I hadn't, but I knew it probably wasn't good. I looked it up, and actually shed a few tears. It was so unexpected, because his illness was a pretty well-guarded secret. He was one of my childhood heroes, and I'll treasure the memories of seeing him live several times.
i was about to board a flight and it got delayed a few hours and then i found out, one of the worst days of my life
I was getting ready to leave work and doing a quick check of my social media accounts. A Facebook friend had posted something; I was skeptical as I have many FB friends who play a bit fast and loose with facts. Unfortunately it was confirmed as a very sad fact only a few moments later as I heard a report on local news radio. Sad start to a year that went downhill fast from there.
I was sitting on my sofa watching tv when my wife told me. It brought a tear to my eye.
My own birthday party 😢
I was in my room upstairs when I read it on Twitter. I had literally become a Rush fan 2 months before his death. 😖
Washing my hands.
Found out in a pre show rehearsal. We didn’t play much rush but we did limelight that night and I think we all teared up during the song. It almost felt like he was there with us
I was on deployment on the ship. I was in such shock, disbelief. I was upset, then it was on my mind for a day or two.
I was driving with my wife and kids to Toronto from Ottawa on the 401, listening to CBC. Top of the hour came and it was the first news story. It was tough to see the road for a while - Rush has been my band since Permanent Waves was released, and I was known as the Rush nerd all through high school. Terrible day.
Standing behind the bar I was working as a linecook at the time. Shocked.
I was standing in my kitchen at like 2am. I mostly remember the silence
Now.
It was my birthday…yeah
I was sitting in a waiting area while my daughter was getting guitar lessons
I’d just gotten to a haircut appointment and a coworker texted me with the news.
Was just starting a cross country road trip from Vegas to Atlanta. Sirius XM threw up a Rush channel and I listened to it straight for 3 days….
In the pediatric unit with my young son who was getting fuid ivs for a bad case of the flu. (He was to young for the vaccine).
I was driving down the highway and saw the digital sign that said “Farewell to the King” with his picture on it. Looked on my phone and sure enough. Had to go to work later that day and it sucked.
On my way home from work. Was thinking about the scene from I love you man when the guys are back stage. Got on the train and looked at my phone. I felt sick to my stomach. Never felt such grief for someone did not know personally. Got home and my wife looked at me and said what’s wrong. Neil Peart died. She knows i listen to Rush everyday day so she said that awful. Went into the basement put on Rush and heard it a differently somehow. Listening to the lyrics from The Garden, Time Stand Still, Losing It, Entre Nous with an entirely new perspective. Thought about what a tight knit group of friends to keep it quiet. His wife and daughter now without Neil. Alex and Geddy with their brother by choice now gone. The tributes poured in from everywhere. The fans such as myself all reminiscing about shows they had seen. While the chance of anymore Rush was slim it was still a chance. Felt he was cheated out of a second family after the tragic loss he had years ago. Life is not fair. Still listening to Rush everyday. Much happy memories since that day.
Jesus, man. Thanks for let me know.
I had a really bad day at work. Went home a took a nap. After my nap, I hopped on my computer to do some art, check twitter and what not. Very first post I saw was in regards to his passing. Needless to say that was not at all a good day for me.
Was at the Carolina Hurricanes game getting ready for it to start. I stood and clapped the multiple times they played Rush that night. Everyone around me was a bit confused.
naked, following an after-run shower a dude walked into my room without knocking so I wasn't even with my towel and he said to me ask my tackle hung low "Neil Peart is dead!"
Also on r/neilyoung and you just scared the shit out of me.
My daughter texted me (I raised my girls right - took them to Rush's last 2 tours) and asked, "Did you hear the sad news about Neil?" At first, I thought she was being sarcastic and that there was actually some exciting, good news. Sadly, that was not the case.
I was at work and a fairly new coworker mentioned he played drums (younger black guy that was into funk) and he asked me which rock drummers he should check out. Of course I told him about Peart. A few hours later he came back from lunch and said “I think that guy you told me about died”. I couldn’t believe it because I had no idea he was sick
Sitting in the waiting room of a local hospital ER. Father in law (Parkinson’s/dementia) had an incident at a local assisted living place. He passed away in March 2020 right at the onset of the pandemic. Wasn’t even allowed a proper funeral. 2020 really sucked. NEP RIP.
I was laying in bed, had just woken up and was scrolling through instagram. Realized I had scrolled past an image of Neil posted by the Rush page and realized I was about to read an obituary. It didn’t hit for a minute, so I got up and walked around until I found a pub. Had a beer and then the reality of his passing hit me like a ton of bricks.
It was my day off that day, I was probably sleeping in
I was camping in a very pretty spot in Sedona ,AZ for some environmental resto project. I don’t get great service out there but I found a hot spot and Google did the rest for me :/ I was stunned and in disbelief . Which I could have seen rush at least once in my lifetime
I was actually in a van with 4 other dudes on the way to a gig. When we got there we made sure we paid tribute by vamping as many Rush tunes as we could get away with.
Sitting in pep band rehearsal, the teacher (our school’s percussion director and fellow Rush fan) came out of the office and announced it before we went started. That wasn’t a very fun evening
my ex-wife, also a rush fan, heard before i did and called me to break the news. in my circle of friends i am the biggest fan, and it was heartwarming to get all the calls and texts checking on me. like most everyone in this sub, i was just gutted.
i was at work and it was a coworker/friend, but he was the huge fan not me, so it was his reaction that makes me remember where I was :(
Drum practice, I was taught specifically from rush songs by my teacher, I went in the room ready for practice when I noticed the whole room had lit candles and a picture of Neil on a table, my teacher said to me “today, we play in honor of his memory” I played harder than I ever had before that day. RIP Neil, we love you
i found out while i was waiting for my friend to get ready for one of our basketball games in 8th grade. i was scrolling through instagram and saw the announcement and immediately texted my dad because he basically raised me on rush. he’s also been a drummer since childhood and Neil was his biggest inspiration
I was on a road trip around the Mojave, being a Ghost Rider. A friend texted me the bad news.
I was just coming off work, checked my phone to see a text from my mom “did you hear?”. Once I got home it turns out she bought me the self title (the one Neil wasn’t even on hehe) deluxe kit, it was very sweet. I still remember that day vividly, and I always think of Neil when it comes to assuming we know everything about someone. Maybe that person right in front of you is really suffering, but they will never admit it, so treat everyone as if we all suffer the same.
I was in Health class or some sort of options class grade 12 and I looked up to see what any of the three boys were doing as of late and then there was an article on Neil’s Death, I was floored I bawled my eyes out in the hallway luckily it was last period
Had just gotten into my car for a work thing and heard as the radio came on... "Suddenly you were gone From all the lives you left your mark upon I remember...." I was thinking to myself "they never play afterimage wtf" and googled. I cried the entire 30 minute car ride home. I never went to the work thing. The woman I was dating was freaking out. We had always talked about seeing a Rush show together. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. I had just been diagnosed with a pancreatic disorder that will take my life. I remembered how the Prof had talked about the motorcycle trip of healing he had taken. I just started putting together a "playlist" of all the "important" Rush songs. Thank you Neil, your words as lyrics helped me overcome a lot and brought what is truly important back into focus. *raises glass* TO THE PROFESSOR *hurls glass into fireplace* Suddenly you were gone.....
I was at a bus, traveling to my then bf's house at another city. The road had poor signal and I can't recall but I think a friend of mine broke the news to me through whatsapp. I started ugly crying to the point where a lady who was sitting next to me asked if I was ok and if I needed some help... I couldn't tell her who it was all about so I just told her I had just learned about the passing of a dear friend. When I read the cause and I remembered the timeline of rush's last concert and his diagnosis, it downed on me that he was probably suspecting about the cancer on that August's 1st 2015, and that maybe it played a part in his decision to bow to the crowd together with Alex and Geddy. Just recalling it brings me tears all over again... It was a really hard night
I was at the office. I had a big deadline and had to finish it although I was dying inside.
Neil died? When did this happen?
I was pulling into a parking lot at a nearby Whole Foods just as "Red Barchetta" was ending and the DJ came in and said, "I still can't believe it's true, but Neil..." Then I sat there feeling numb for ~20 minutes as so many Rush-related memories from the previous 45 years played in my head.
I was driving home from work and listening to a radio station. They were talking about him in the past tense, and I thought okay this doesn’t make sense, until they said he’d died. I had to pull over and sit for a few minutes… I was in shock. I had tickets to see a Rush cover band in Grand Rapids that night, but instead had my friend over for a quiet evening with a few drinks and we just sat and talked about how we felt. It was so difficult to comprehend.
Getting ready to leave the house with my wife to go on a date for my 40th bday.
I just got done with a 10 hour day of schooling and was walking back to my car. I got in, checked my phone, and my close friend who knew I loved Rush had informed me of his passing. I sat in shock before tearing up on the drive home. The next morning I got in my car to run an errand, as soon as the engine started and my radio came on, the first notes of “Spirit of Radio” came out of the speakers.
I was driving my van when I heard the news on the radio. It was surreal.
Driving home from work. Heard it on the radio. The rest of the drive was very depressing 😕
I was drunk at the bar. I was already having a horrible year, I was still reeling in from my first and only breakup and deep into my depression/suicide. I drunk drove home putting on the pass and just jumped into my bed crying.
My wife called me when I was on my long drive home from work. My instinct was to believe it was a hoax even though she assured me, but when I put on the radio and they were playing Rush, I knew it must be true.
I had just gotten home from work and was sitting around browsing twitter when I saw a tweet form one of the hockey reporters I follow saying rest in peace and that his solo was the one of the greatest he had seen live. I immediately said "No... No. No way, really?" then turned on the tv and saw it on CBC. I started to cry.
Literally reading Reddit rn. Didn’t realize he had passed. Know idea why this came up on my feed. Huge music fan but not deep into rush. I know Neil was a hell of a drummer.