This isn’t for anyone in particular. I just wanted to write out my feelings about Neil Peart’s death.
Growing up, I knew of Rush. Everyone knew Rush. I knew Tom Sawyer. I knew they were a juggernaut of the days before I was born. I met my best friend when we were 15. We immediately shared so much music with each other over the years.
It wasn’t until two years ago when he really pushed me to get into his family’s band. Rush. We were driving to see my mom after her heart attack and all I remember of most of that visit is playing out 2112 in my car, even after getting to the hospital and letting it play out in the hospital parking lot. I knew this was really something. And then the moment when he played Bytor and the Snow Dog will always be ingrained in my mind as “Yes. This is for me.” Then shortly after getting back to our apartment, we kicked off one of our acid trips with 2112 and I just remember starring at the album cover on my TV watching it melt with three gods play one of the most ripping songs of all time. It was just a downward spiral from there. It gave us a whole new level of connection. It allowed me connect to his family in a whole new way. I feel like it was the start of us getting closer than we ever were before.
Neil was such an individual. A godly musician. A mystic figure that feels close like a family member but distant enough that I harbor no negative feelings for. He felt like a distant uncle. And I love him and Rush. The news today has been heartbreaking, and I’ve been crying on and off all evening. This has just been a very emotional night. Rush was, and always will be, one of the best bands ever.
