Nov

23

Neil Peart, the drummer, frontman, and principal lyricist for the Canadian rock band Rush, is the quintessential rock and roller. However, in addition to his excellent musical chops, he is also a staunch Libertarian with his core beliefs coming out in many of his lyrics. A lifelong drummer, Peart believes in multi-tasking while playing the drums, often playing other instruments while maintaining a very complex beat on his insanely cool drum set-up.

Peart has been very strongly influenced by the likes of jazz drummers Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, but has proven to be at least as good as his idols. As far as rock drummers go, a strong case could be made that Peart blows the socks off any drummer in rock and roll. He's certainly better than drummers like Ginger Baker, John Bohnam, or Keith Moon. Peart strongly believes in hard work, continuously reinventing his style and revisiting new drumming methods. He still takes drum lessons from jazz coach and drummer Freddie Gruber, always perfecting his craft and staying ahead of the curve. While I can talk all day about how good of a drummer Peart is, as the old saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words and here is a 9 minute drum solo. If this doesn't blow you away after the first five minutes, then nothing will.

Sifting through Neil Pert's lyrics, one finds a great deal of Objectivist/Libertarian philosophies entwined in the prose. In fact, Rush's biggest album of the 1970s 2112 was dedicated to Ayn Rand.

Here are some lyrics from his song, The Trees:

There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.

The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.

There was trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads

So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.

Here are some lyrics from his song, "Something for Nothing" from the album 2112:

You don't get something for nothing,
you can't have freedom for free.
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes,
no matter what your dreams might be.

Peart's song "Free Will" from the album Permanent Waves:

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill.

I will choose the path that's clear, I will choose free will.

Peart has been the drummer for the band Rush since 1974. I first discovered them when I was in high school and was blown away by the Objectivist lyrics on many of Peart's songs. For me, Rush changed rock music altogether. Many musical styles have come and gone since 1974, but Rush's complex style of rock is still going very strong. Their concerts are always sold out and tickets are always traded at a premium. Peart believes strongly in giving the audience a good show, with the band performing at the highest level. They are the tightest band in rock, and their hours of practice and deduication to their craft does not go unnoticed. Furthermore, there is no three man band that puts out such an amount of pure music on stage than Rush. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Rush is constantly stretching new boundaries in rock. One will never see Rush perform and not be blown away by their dedication, expertise, and fine music. Their Objectivist lyrics are a bonus. I consider them to be the icing on the cake.


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2 Comments so far

  1. Alex on November 23, 2010 4:11 pm

    Never expected to find such a precise description for Peart’s magnificent work in a finance related blog that I regularly follow.

    Here goes an excerpt from Witch Hunt, one of my favorite songs (from Moving Pictures):
    “Those who know what’s best for us
    Must rise and save us from ourselves.”

  2. Ed on November 23, 2010 9:40 pm

    That dude is in the zone! Must be an incredible feeling!

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