
Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for the groundbreaking Canadian band Rush, has died at 67 of brain cancer, the band said in a statement Friday.
鈥淚t is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday, our friend, soul brother and band mate of over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three-and-a-half year battle鈥 with glioblastoma, .
Glioblastoma is the same form of brain cancer that killed Sens. Edward Kennedy and John McCain.
The band said anyone wishing to express their condolences could donate to a cancer charity of their choice.
Neil Peart September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020
鈥 Rush (@rushtheband)
Peart joined Rush in 1974, after their first album, and quickly became one of the most idolized drummers in rock music for his ability to not only keep the best over the odd (sometimes very odd) time signatures, but play flourishes atop them that managed to feel natural. Despite the music鈥檚 complexity, 鈥渉e keeps the throb, which is the important thing,鈥 Police drummer Stewart Copeland told , the year of Rush鈥檚 final tour.
Peart told the magazine that he kept his 16-year-old self in mind when making decisions in life. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being your own hero,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 set out to never betray the values that 16-year-old had, to never sell out, to never bow to the man. A compromise is what I can never accept.鈥
Peart, alongside bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and honored for combining 鈥渢he signature traits of progressive rock with a proto typical heavy-metal sound.鈥
Their best-known songs include 鈥淭om Sawyer,鈥 鈥淭he Big Money鈥 and 鈥淭he Spirit of Radio.鈥
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
