Today it’s the origin story of rock’s greatest drummer Neil Peart and how a failed pilgrimage to England brought him face-to-face with his destiny. Namely, a force of nature that defined classic rock excellence forever... Rush. After returning to his Canadian hometown, Neil auditioned for Rush, but he felt his tryout was a complete disaster. It’s proof that 1st impressions aren’t always accurate, especially in rock and roll. Not only did he step into Rush as the final piece to their musical puzzle he also became the most compelling drummer lyricist on the planet. Coming up, the story of the rise of the great ones and the song that is now a 70s standard Fly Ny Night, that paid tribute to his struggle to find his place. The high school dropout who became the smartest lyrics in rock and the backbeat of rock’s most complex band… one who the Rock Hall of Fame passed over for 14 years even though they are the epitome of musical perfecto.
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So, it’s time to tell the tale of how a mere mortal became Earth’s mightiest drummer… with the power of a thousand men and completed one of history’s definitive prog-rock bands, the triumphant trio of Rush. We will be discussing the criminally shortchanged ‘Fly By Night’.
The story of ‘Fly By Night’ really begins and ends with the late great Neil Peart. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, his family later moved to nearby St. Catharines. There, Neil began taking drum lessons at age 13. Throughout his teens he played with a succession of local bands, honing his skills in basements, garages, church halls, high schools, and skating rinks. By the time he was 18, Neil was ready to chase his dream of rock and roll glory as a professional drummer… in England.
For Peart, England was a destination of mythic status. This was where Cream, the Yardbirds, and The Who were born and raised. It was where progressive rock bands like Yes, King Crimson, and Genesis wrote the prologue to the burgeoning genre.
So, in July 1971, Peart followed his muse across the Atlantic, leaving behind his small-town, Canadian life. Peart built a crate for his drums, packed up his record collection, and set off for England with $200 in his pocket. After arriving, he roomed with friend and fellow Canadian, Brad French, sleeping on his couch.
“Neil recalls, “I went to England … searching for fame and fortune… the first thing I did when I got over there was get auditions out of the back of Melody Maker and the other music papers.”
The only problem was, none of these auditions panned out. So hitting the pavement, he knocked on the doors of record labels, only to be repeatedly turned away. No one was interested in this unknown Canadian import. Although Neil did manage to land a few gigs, he didn’t make enough to pay the bills. This led to a life of relative poverty and often, he went hungry.