Today, we got the unfortunate news that drumming legend Neil Peart of the Progressive Rock band Rush has passed away of brain cancer. He passed on January 7th, 2020, and it was announced three days later. This post is dedicated to his memory.

I was getting ready to pack up my drum set to being to school to perform at a Basketball game as part of the Pep band. Before I started loading up, my mom told me the news. I was in shock, as I just realised why our local Rock Radio was playing 2112 (of which I didn't get to keep the car on to listen to). A part of ke just broke for a moment, but I didn't want this to dampen the night. So I decided that tonight, I would honor him.

At the end of the game, as the rest of the band is getting off the bleachers, my friend Jordan, on guitar, and I, on drums, did a mini-performance of Tom Sawyer. He really only knew how to play a the first minute of the song, but I carried on through most of the main beats in the rest.

Afterwards, a parent came up to be, asking me to play One by Metallica, of which I was happy to do a bit of. When that was done, we were talking for a bit and they brought up that they have a friend whose kid's favourite drummer is Neil Peart. I told him why we played the song, and he hadn't heard of his passing yet, so that shocked him.

In the future, I want to try and record a full drum cover of Tom Sawyer, as it is one of my favourite songs to play on set. This record is clearly not good quality at all. My lense was dirty and I couldn't find anyone to hold my phone to record it, so I had to set it on a door handle and press record.

For a future cover, I may do that pretty soon, but if not, I'll have to wait another week or so. Neil Peart has been a major inspiration of mine and I am truly going to miss his presence. 

Neil Ellwood Peart
September 12, 1952 - January 7, 2020
May he Rest in Peace

[B]-Queen Out