If like me, you arrived on the splendour of Rush‘s work somewhat later than you would’ve preferred, you then, like me, will get pleasure from diving into the inception tales for among the band’s most well-known works. The Canadians could be thought-about the final word prog-rock royalty, however their songs are often rooted on the planet round them regardless of their generally fantastical method. Whether penned by Neil Peart, Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson, Rush all the time saved it actual.
Rush all the time stood out as a band for 2 causes. Firstly, they’re arguably essentially the most full trio of all time instrumentally. Lee is without doubt one of the higher bassists of the twentieth century, like for the licks of Alex Lifeson, whereas Peart is extensively thought-about one of the best drummer ever. In truth, solely Cream actually maintain a torch to their triumvirate energy. The group’s different level of distinction was that their principal songwriter was their drummer.
Peart took on the lyric and songwriting duties after he joined the band in 1974, six years after they first acquired collectively. He would slowly however absolutely make himself an indefensible a part of the Rush machine, making certain their percussion was second to none and offering a few of their most poignant and potent lyrics. However, regardless of having a deal with on two of the band’s most pivotal outputs, Peart was way more reclusive than different rock star contemporaries.
A famous introvert, Peart usually recoiled from the highlight as a substitute of hanging himself up and proceed engaged on his music. He commonly shirked the celebrity of Rush in favour of artistic endeavours. It was a perplexing mannequin for the world of rock journalism, which had change into accustomed to stars wanting their area within the sky. In maybe typical vogue, Peart would handle his introverted nature by means of a song.
‘Limelight’ is one in every of Rush’s most beloved anthems. Featuring on the 1981 album Moving Pictures, the song is a private reflection from Peart. Speaking to CBC, the drummer opened up in regards to the song and known as it: “An attempt to clarify for myself and hopefully others a thing that I learned: never complain, never explain. I try not to complain, but I can’t help but to explain.”
“That was an attempt on my part to explain myself as an introvert,” continued the genius percussionist, “feeling totally alienated by the ‘gilded cage’ of it all, and it’s been remarkable over time how many young musicians have come up to me and told me what that song means to them when they faced the same transition in their life.”
The song additionally displays on the passage of fame that Peart endured. He opened up in regards to the paradox of ‘making it’ within the music trade, explaining: “It’s supply and demand: as a young musician, you’re all about supply, and there is no demand, and then as soon as you get a little popularity, there is demand, but the supply is the same, there is still just you, and it’s a very difficult transition to weather…. You can’t complain, but other musicians will say to me, that song ‘Limelight,’ I get it.’”
Listen beneath to Neil Peart explaining his introverted nature by means of Rush’s song ‘Limelight’.