11 things we learned from the Neil Peart documentary | CBC News

Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple spotlights the late, legendary Rush drummer

Drummers often get short shrift. Hidden behind the kit, they remain mysterious, even anonymous.

Not so for Neil Peart, who was a tour-de-force for the Canadian rock band Rush and is widely considered one of the best drummers of all time.

In Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple, co-directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn celebrate Peart's life, extraordinary musicianship and lasting influence through interviews and musical performances.

Bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, along with Peart’s fellow drummers and friends — including Stewart Copeland of the Police and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers — share insights into the wizard behind the kit and perform Rush songs together as a tribute to his enduring legacy. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 16. Here are 11 things we learned:

"It's not 'Pert' like the shampoo," says Dunn, correcting a mispronunciation that has even appeared in films such as School of Rock and I Love You, Man.

After leaving high school, Peart moved from St. Catharines, Ont., to England determined to become a musician. He lived in cheap rooms and shared flats, experiencing what he later described as "anonymity and poverty" — an early test of the focus and stubbornness that would define his career.

When his bandmates first met Peart, he was reading "five or six books a day," according to Lee, who said it soon became obvious that their new drummer should also be writing lyrics.

Peart’s imagination was shaped by fantasy, mythology, science fiction, comedy and classical music — influences that found their way into Rush’s songs and lyrics. His love of J.R.R. Tolkien influenced songs such as The Necromancer and Rivendell.

Peart studied, practised and took lessons throughout his career, always approaching the drums as a student.

"I think it matters for me to play better all the time," he says in archival footage, "to play my best all the time, to keep it fresh and changing. It’s kind of my responsibility."

He would rehearse for at least an hour by himself before rehearsing with the rest of the band. As the filmmakers put it, he was continuously trying to get better — even after becoming one of the best in the world.