RIP Professor. Neil Peart

Im sitting at work sad as fuck. Neil Peart is gone.

My two closest friends texted me within five minutes when the news broke. Dean, who has been a lifelong Rush fan hit me with the news first. We saw Rush together on their last tour in 2015. A couple minutes later Shane, my lifelong brother in life and music, texted me the news. They both knew how I would feel. They both share a deep love of music with me and an even deeper understanding of what this loss means.

Neil Peart wasn’t just a rock drummer. He is probably considered to be the greatest drummer who ever picked up the sticks. That is a debate, considering your own preference and musical interests. But any rock musician would put him in the top of their lists of influence. His methods, perfection and skill is absolutely beyond estimation. But Neil wrote all the Rush lyrics. So those words, were influenced by all sorts of fantasy and literature, who did comparisons with history and the psyche. All of it was from him. And the lyrics had substance. It went beyond just kicking ass and chasing chicks. Its not common in rock radio to be talking about integrity and honesty in a radio hit (Spirit of the Radio). Or even breaking down a love of a motor car (Red Barchetta). Or using history as a parable for a futuristic story about humans enslaves by aliens, inspired by German concentration camps that his bandmate’s family endured (Red Sector A). Or fuck, the granddaddy of them all: rebuttal of a totalitarian society who controlled and subdued creativity per potential rebellion, and it was a comment on their current state in their industry as artists (2112).

The examples go on and on. For me, i connected with lyrics about just wanting to be the cool kid in school, when I wasn’t (Subdivisions). And knowing you have to work hard to make your dreams come true (Something for Nothing). But today, i’m thinking about Neil, his life and the life of those whom I hold dear in my life and whom I share a love of music with. Its a garden to nurture and protect (The Garden).

Im sitting at work, devastated. Ive cried a lot today. Im sitting in silence. I want to turn on some Rush from my phone, but I don’t even know where to start. I’m not sure I can right now. I know it would turn me into a blubbering mess. Its yet another thing that changes for me as I grow older. You love a musician or an actor or an artist. They die, then you come back to the work and see it in a different way. Sad that its the end and you now have a complete body of their work, knowing nothing else will come from them. Amazed and sad at their work and performance, because it means so much to you. You use their art to define you and who you are. Like when I watch Star Trek now, I cry. Because I love those folks and miss them. He same it shall be now for Rush. I won’t hear it the same way again.

But most of all, I am grateful to have lived during the lifetime of those whose work spoke to me. Im grateful they gave me their art and grateful for who they were. Neil was a great man. A monster musician. A monster writer. And a humble, quiet, peaceful person. He endured the sudden loss of his daughter to a car accident, the loss of his wife to cancer and found happiness in continuing. He leaves behind a daughter who will have to find her own way now to cope without him. And he was so humble that even when he is considered the greatest, he cared enough about his craft that he re-learned how to play with teacher Fred Gruber. He changed his style and made himself better, without ego. That shows how much he cared and wanted to continue to grow and learn. He didn’t crave the attention or the limelight, in fact he ran out of the stadium after the last cymbal crash  to avoid it. He came,  he played and he gave it all to us. The best. The greatest. And he showed us how to be a great person.

This loss is incalcuable. For me on a personal level, it is devastating. I will not be the same again. RIP Maestro. The Professor. Thank you, beyond words.

“The treasure of a life is a measure of love and respect.
The way you live, the gifts that you give.
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect.
So hard to earn, so easily burned.
In the fullness of time,
A garden to nurture and protect.”

—The Garden. RUSH off of CLOCKWORK ANGELS. Lyrics by Neil Peart. RIP

Pre-Holiday Thoughts

Hey friends!

My commission sale drive continues until next week Thanksgiving! Details HERE - We've already raised an additional $250 for the Arlee Rodgers fund for her surgery and I appreciate it. Let's keep it going!

Arlee's family is on my mind this weekend. This weekend is the Days of the Dead con in Chicago. Last year this time, Arlee's dad Joe, myself, Caleb and his wife Colleen drove through the two day blizzard to get to the show for one night only. It was scary as hell but we made it. I had a great time at the show itself. You can see pics and a recap right HERE - We got drunk off our ass, danced and partied. I met some new celebs and bought some cool shit. But it was my first horror con and I was loving every second we were there. This year Joe, his wife and Colleen are going. I wish I could but I have my kids this weekend and no days off left in which to head out there as well. I wanted to go out if only to toast to my friend Caleb and celebrate his life with my friends, his friends and family. I called for a rain check on that event until March Horrorhound in Cincinnati. Still, I wish I could have gone. I've been thinking about the trip from last year a lot and how much fun it was, despite the scary snow drive. I hope to make it to many more horror shows and bring Caleb's spirit with us every time we go. I guess that makes these things even more special than they were before. So that's a good thing. I certainly will never forget that weekend last year... or him.

This weekend I have my boys and next week is Thanksgiving! We've already bought our turkey and have made plans on what we are going to do. I'll have the boys for three hours that day and a friend might be joining us. Other than that, I plan to just take it easy for a couple days. I REALLY need to relax and have some quiet time. I never get to do that and I desperately need it. We got some things to do on Saturday that will be fun, other than that, I am just going to focus on the therapy I need of relaxing. I might get productive on some artwork, but I'm not promising myself anything other than some much needed rest/relaxation... whatever form that takes.

I plotted out some new pages for Starslam 3 and scanned a bunch of new things for the Patreon.. whenever that is going to launch. I might do some inking on the pages this weekend if the kids let me. We shall see.

I'm addicted to the new Neal Morse album, THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. It might dethrone Anthrax's FOR ALL KINGS as my album of the year. Its a big musical journey, for sure. Ranks up there with some of his best. You can check out the album yourself on Itunes or order it through his website HERE - If you like prog rock, stuff like early Genesis, Yes, Floyd and other stuff, you'll certainly dig this.

I wrote a song at work the other night. Some great lyrics that I need to hone down and put music to. I know early on this year I got a new bass and wanted to do some recording. Those plans never happened. But I still desire to get something going with it. Perhaps after the holidays and I get a couple of these comic/book projects out the door, I might focus some creative energy that way. I'd like to. I got a ton of good personal songs I'd like to get done and out into the world in some form. Maybe the Patreon? Who knows! We'll figure it out.

Thanksgiving is the precursor to the big Xmas season. I've already started buying presents for the kids and Kitty D. I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Yes, even after this year of absolute shit. Right now I'm just thankful I'm awake and still here. Its all I need at the moment. And next week I'm going to cook the fuck out of a large 22 pound Turkey, Taters, Dumplings, Stuffing, Biscuits, Asparagus, Beans and more. To celebrate life and love. To think to the good days ahead.

Yeah, sometimes we're all deep in the shit. But we know the light keeps us safe and sane. We can be each others light. Let's keep striving for that.

--T