Drummer Neil Peart of Rush dead at 67
Neil Peart of Rush performs during the final show of the R40 Tour at The Forum in Los Angeles, Aug. 1, 2015. (Invision/AP file)
NEW YORK - Neil Peart, the drummer for the legendary Canadian progressive rock band Rush, died Tuesday in Santa Monica, California, of complications from cancer Rolling Stone reported. He was 67.
Peart He had been living with brain cancer for more than three years, a spokesperson for his family said.
The band confirmed the news in a post on Twitter.
"It 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 with brain cancer (Glioblastoma)," Rush said in the tweet. "We ask that friends, fans, and media alike understandably respect the family's need for privacy and peace at this extremely painful and difficult time."
Peart joined Rush in 1974, replacing the original drummer. The lineup of Peart, singer-bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson then went on to record 18 studio albums, which sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
Arguably one of the greatest drummers in rock history, Peart was also the band's primary lyricist.
Rush was known for high-concept sci-fi-inspired albums with intricate album artwork. Its best-known records include 2112 (1976), A Farewell to Kings (1977), Hemispheres (1978), and its top-seller, Moving Pictures (1981).
The trio's last tour was in 2015.
Rush was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and the U.S.-based Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.