On the Loss of Neil Peart

Rock and roll lost its greatest drummer.  You can have your Bonham and Moon - nobody was better than Peart, period.  

Neil's playing was far from rote - sly notes and drops were added, making the drum kit not just a beat-keeper, but a true band instrument.  Here's a great example featuring Rush's biggest hit.  Beyond the above, also note what he's doing with his feet:

Beyond his drumming, Peart was the lyricist for the band, and two generations of marginalized youth owe him for the belonging he provided them through his words.  He was an incredible poet in the true definition of the word. 

There are a lot of reasons why getting old sucks.  It seems like beloved people are dying on me on a nearly weekly basis.  That certainly applies in this instance.  

Given the nature of music, we'll not have another talent like this for a long time, if perhaps ever again.  I feel fortunate that I was able to see his craft live, and that his songs were a soundtrack for a good chunk of my life.