Written by Brooke Champine

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On January 10th it came to light that legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart had passed away just three days earlier on January 7th in Santa Monica, California, after a several year battle with brain cancer. Peart was 67. 

Rush made an official statement on January 10th. “It is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and bandmate of over 45 years, Neil, has lost his incredibly brave three and a half year battle with brain cancer”.

Since the news of his passing, tributes have poured in from fans and musicians of all aspects of the industry. Among them was Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, who took to Instagram to share his appreciation for the fellow drummer. “Thank you Neil. Thank you for inspiring me and for all your help and advice along the way, especially in the early days when you took the time to talk to a young green Danish drummer about recording, gear and the possibilities that lay ahead…” he wrote. “Thank you for what you did for drummers all over the world with your passion, your approach, your principles and your unwavering commitment to the instrument! Rest In Peace.”

Foo Fighters members Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins each shared their condolences on the Foo Fighters Instagram page, thanking Peart for making such a lasting impact on their lives. “Neil Peart had the hands of God.” Taylor Hawkins wrote. “End of story.”

Other statements and tributes have also been shared by various musicians in the scene. A notable mention to the band Tool, who played a cover of Rush’s “A Passage to Bangkok”  in tribute to Peart in San Diego just three nights ago, the day that Peart’s passing was revealed to the public.