Name:
NEIL PEART
Nick names:
The Professor (on the drum kit), Pratt
Birthdate:
September 12, 1952
Birthplace:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Hometown:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Band position:
Percussionist / Lyricist
Neil's instruments:
Drums: (snare drums, bass drums, closed toms, concert toms, gong bass drums,)
cymbals: (ride cymbals, crash cymbals, hi-hat cymbals, special effect cymbals,)
acoustic percussion: (orchestra bells, tubular bells, temple blocks, melodic
cowbells, wind chimes, bell-tree, triangle, vibra-slap, tympani, gong, burma
bell, crotales, timbales, glockenspiel, plywood, hammer dulcimer,) and electronic
percussion.
Started in Rush:
July 29, 1974
Other bands:
Mumblin' Sumthin', The Majority, J.R.Flood, Seventh Wave, Eternal Triangle,
Hush
Neil's Award
Achievements in the "Modern Drummer" magazine reader's poll:
Voted to Modern Drummer
Hall of Fame: 1983
Best Rock Drummer: 1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985
Best Multi-Percussionist: 1983,1984,1985,1986
Best Percussion Instrumentalist: 1982
Most Promising New Drummer: 1980
Best All Around: 1986
Best Recorded
Performance:
1981: Moving Pictures
1982: Exit... Stage Left
1983: Signals
1985: Grace Under Pressure
1986: Power Windows
1988: Hold Your Fire
1989: A Show of Hands
1990: Presto
1992: Roll The Bones
1993: Counterparts
1986 Honor
Roll:
Rock Drummer, Multi-Percussion
a member of the Honor Roll in these categories, Neil is no longer eligible for
votes in the above categories.
Personal Profile:
Peart was born September 12, 1952. He took up drumming when he was 13 years
old. He grew up near Toronto and played in a series of high school bands before
moving to London during the early 70's in order to try and further his musical
career. While there he worked as aat a shop called The Great Frog in the tourist
district of Carnaby Street. Disillusioned by the British music scene he later
returned to Canada where he eventually hooked up with Geddy and Alex. He became
a member of Rush on July 29, 1974.
Neil has also written articles and editorials, and in 1994 coauthored a short story "Drumbeats" with Kevin J. Anderson for the horror anthology Shock Rock II. Neil's only child Selena died in a tragic car crash in August 1997. His wife Jacqueline died of cancer in July 1998.
