Latest news with #Peart
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Big Money: Viability of St. Catharines' Neil Peart memorial being assessed
A memorial honouring legendary Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart at Lakeside Park has only reached a fraction of its fundraising goal, prompting Mayor Mat Siscoe to ask what's going on. The city launched a $1-million fundraiser last September for an art installation to honour Peart, who grew up in St. Catharines, and the volunteer task force behind the project had hoped to have funds secured by now. But Phil Cristi, director of community, recreation and culture services and staff liaison on the task force, told council that hasn't happened. 'The memorial that was supposed to be at Lakeside Park has hit a bit of a standstill, unfortunately,' Cristi said. 'We've raised about just over $120,000 towards the $1-million project budget but, unfortunately, we've not been able to secure any more funds after that and it's proved to be quite difficult to get meetings arranged.' The project is being led by a volunteer task force struck in 2020 and facilitated by the city with the understanding it would be entirely paid through fundraising. David DeRocco, a Rush fan who has been the driving force behind the memorial for five years, said in an interview he knows support is out there for the project, but it needs a sustained fundraising campaign, a new chair who can bring in money and more commitment from the city to make it a priority. DeRocco was chair of the task force since its inception, but informed the city in January he was resigning as its head. He said he thought it would be a good idea to get a new person at the helm with financial and fundraising connections to move the project forward since they hadn't reached their benchmarks. He said he expected the city to replace him quickly and call a task force meeting, but the next one isn't planned until September. The last time the task force met was as a subcommittee last November. 'I really don't want this to disappear because once it's built, it's going to bring people to the city who would not normally come to the city and it's a worthy cause,' said DeRocco, who remains an active task force member. 'Neil is a worthy person to have a memorial in St. Catharines, so I think we're just stalled. The artist is still behind the project. We just need to get awareness of the need for donations a lot faster.' The city has released a video that depicts a rendering of the planned Neil Peart installation at Lakeside Park in St. Catharines. The concept includes two bronze sculptures of Peart in his younger and later years connected by a pathway with interpretive panels. Peart, a recipient of the Order of Canada and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time. Born in Hamilton, he grew up in St. Catharines during his elementary and high school years and worked at the former midway in Port Dalhousie's Lakeside Park. The Rush song 'Lakeside Park' was written by Peart and inspired by that time. Peart died Jan. 7, 2020, at age 67 from brain cancer. City council established the Neil Peart Commemorative Task Force in April 2020 to look into commissioning a public work of art in his honour. It also named a new pavilion in Lakeside Park after Peart in June 2020. After holding a bidding process, the task force announced in November 2022 Morgan MacDonald of the Newfoundland Bronze Foundry had been selected to create the memorial. The $1-million installation will include two bronze sculptures depicting Peart in his younger and later years, connected by a pathway of interpretive panels about his personal and professional legacy. A soft campaign to pay for a memorial began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the official fundraising campaign launched in September 2024. Cristi said the artist hasn't been paid and won't be until the budget has been raised as part of the agreement. DeRocco said Rush fans, if they know about it, will give money to the memorial. He's been spreading the word as much as possible, speaking with fans, the media and on Rush podcasts. He's now working with 97 Rock in Buffalo, N.Y., where the station's morning show hosts Shredd and Ragan are holding 'The Great North American Rush Off.' Bands are submitting cover tunes of Rush songs that will be part of a compilation to be sold, with proceeds going to the memorial in St. Catharines. But there's no equivalent on the Canadian side. DeRocco said there's never been a sustained awareness campaign and there's no active fundraising other than the presence on the city website . DeRocco, who has a full-time job and publishes a 20-page newsletter for Port Weller Residents Association, said the task force needs someone who can build a plan to generate money faster, including holding auctions and gathering sponsorships from music industry corporations to honour Peart. 'He's international and scandal free and homegrown and revered and is iconic a musician as you can possibly get, internationally recognized as the best at his craft,' DeRocco said. 'I need the city to get serious about supporting this, not waiting for it to happen.' Siscoe wants something to happen, too. He asked city staff on July 14 to convene a meeting of the task force to discuss next steps for the project and report back to council as soon as possible. In an interview, he said because the project is being done outside of council with the city as a facilitating body, he doesn't know what's been going on with it in terms of planning, advertising or capacity for fundraising. 'I'd like to know exactly what's going on because we don't want to keep using city resources if we're not moving forward. But if we are moving forward or if there's a plan to move forward, well then let's move forward … I don't like things just languishing,' Siscoe said, adding he feels the same way about city assets. 'You shouldn't just let things sort of fall apart. I don't want this to fall apart. We're either going to do something with it or we're going to disband it. I don't know what the case is. I'm looking forward to the report.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Influential? Absolutely. Here are some drummers inspired by St. Catharines' Neil Peart
'You can't play drums and not love Neil ...,' Lars Ulrich Neil Peart served as Rush's drummer and lyricist for four decades, selling millions of albums and being inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Peart was born in Hamilton but grew up in St. Catharines, and many of his songs were influenced by his experiences here. Neil Peart at work during the Rush concert at Hamilton's Copps Coliseum in July 2013. Peart died in 2020 from brain cancer at the age of 67, and it wasn't long before there was discussion of a local memorial. Niagara Region Coun. Kelly Edgar from St. Catharines was one of the early advocates, and a fundraising campaign was launched for a proposed memorial in Lakeside Park. The campaign is struggling, however. Artist Morgan MacDonald of the Newfoundland Bronze Foundry was selected to create a St. Catharines memorial in Neil Peart's honour by an evaluation committee. Fundraising for the Lakeside Park project is faltering, however. Aside from Peart's impact on Canadian rock fans, there is also the impact he left on the music industry as a whole. 'He was called 'The Professor' for a reason: We all learned from him,' Dave Grohl Multiple drummers have credited Peart as being an inspiration and influence on their own work. Here are some drummers who have called Peart one of their inspirations: Dave Grohl with Nirvana. Before fronting Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl was the drummer for Nirvana. Hearing Rush's '2112' album 'changed the direction ' of Grohl's life and motivated him to become a drummer. Peart was 'as influential as any religion or any hero or any person in someone's life,' he said in a 2013 story with Rolling Stone magazine. Dave Grohl of the band Foo Fighters performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2019. Grohl got to perform with Rush in 2013 as part of the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he describes it as 'one of the most special nights of my life. 'He was called 'The Professor' for a reason: we all learned from him ,' said Grohl in an article in Far Out. Taylor Hawkins, who drummed for Foo Fighters until his death in 2022, also cited Peart as an influence during Rush's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013: 'This guy spawned a generation of air-drummers … There can never be another Neil Peart.' Taylor Hawkins, left, and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters react as they induct Rush into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bassist Flea and drummer Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton in 2017. The drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers believes 'it's a prerequisite for all rock drummers to go through a Neil Peart phase,' in the Far Out article . According to Smith, a good portion of his sophomore year in high school was spent listening to '2112.' Drummer Lars Ulrich of Metallica performs live at U.S. Bank Stadium in August 2016 in Minneapolis. According to Ulrich, getting advice from Peart early on in his career was like hearing from 'the god of gods.' Ulrich fondly recalls talking to Peart for the first time on the phone in 1984. Peart was happy to give Ulrich, who was 20 at the time, info on everything from gear to technique. 'You can't play drums and not love Neil,' he says. Lars Ulrich drums as Metallica visits Toronto's Rogers Centre in July 2017 during the band's WorldWired Tour in support of its 10th studio album 'Hardwired To Self-Destruct.' After Peart's death, Ulrich posted on Instagram: '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.' Drummer Danny Carey with Tool at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton in May 2017. After winning a Grammy for best metal performance in 2020, Tool's Danny Carey discussed the influence Peart had on his drumming style, in a story on which cited his 2020 Grammy Award comments. Carey aimed to replicate Peart's precision with his style, listing the Rush drummer in a trifecta of influences, along with Led Zeppelin's John Bonham and jazz drummer Tony Williams.
Reuters
30-07-2025
- Reuters
Scorching cells
At Corcoran State Prison in the arid San Joaquin Valley of central California, the average outdoor summer heat index — or how hot it feels to the human body — often exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An illustration of Corcoran State prison, showing the prison complex under a large sun during a hot summer day. In 2024, every single summer day hit a heat index of at least 85 F. An illustration of a housing unit at Corcoran State prison. Built in 1988, the prison houses nearly 2,600 men, including Andre Peart, 57, who is serving a 25-years-to-life sentence in the minimum security section. An illustration of Andre Peart sitting in his cell, looking out the window. Corcoran State Prison has air-conditioning, but Peart's experience with the heat and rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, illustrate systemic problems with how prisons are built and maintained. An illustration of Andre Peart sitting in his cell, looking out the window. 'I know we're here to do our time. We shouldn't have to worry about having a heat stroke or a heart attack,' Peart said. A close up illustration of Andre Peart. Sweat is dripping down his face.
Montreal Gazette
19-06-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Westmount residents voice concerns over controversial development plan
By About 200 Westmount residents gathered at Victoria Hall on Wednesday evening to voice their concerns about a controversial development plan for the city's southeast sector near Atwater métro. While many residents at the public consultation said they support the development plan — which aims to increase housing density and revitalize the area around Ste-Catherine St. W. and Dorchester Blvd. — many also shared concerns that proposed highrise apartments will change the city's character, which is defined by low-rise buildings and Victorian architecture. 'I think it's changing the entire essence of Westmount if we're bringing the city over on Atwater,' Alexia Winter-Reinhold, who was born and raised in Westmount, said during the meeting. 'If we wanted to live downtown, there are condos. There are buildings downtown that are available. ... If that's what we wanted, then we would move there.' The initial redevelopment proposal for the sector, produced for Westmount by architecture firm Lemay and presented in November 2024, was criticized by several architects and two former mayors of the municipality as 'a wholesale renunciation of Westmount's traditional low-rise, dense urban environment.' At a public consultation on the proposal, a handful of residents voiced concerns that the highrises with 500-square-foot single-occupancy units would be unwelcoming and undesirable for families, leading to the creation of the new plan. The public consultation on the new version of the mini urban plan Wednesday was moved from Westmount City Hall to Victoria Hall to accommodate the large turnout, with attendees spilling into the aisles and onto the second-floor terrace. Conrad Peart, the commissioner of urban planning for Westmount, acknowledged in the meeting's opening remarks that 'the plan is not perfect, but it's actionable.' Peart pointed out that Westmount already has highrise apartment buildings near downtown, and the new development would match much of the existing architecture. Near Westmount Square, he said there are buildings six to 12 storeys high, and seven-storey apartment buildings on Sherbrooke St. W. He also pointed to a 22-storey apartment building near Dawson College, noting that the new buildings will be smaller. He also said that the new developments will strive to match the architectural style in Westmount, noting that the city was designated a national historic site of Canada for its exemplary Victorian and post-Victorian architecture. According to Peart, 80 per cent of Westmount buildings were developed between 1890 and 1930, and the final 20 per cent were developed over the last hundred years. Frédéric Neault, director of the urban planning department for the city of Westmount, described the area that will be developed as 'disparate.' None of the land slated for redevelopment is residential. It includes three empty lots and multiple decaying vacant properties on Ste-Catherine St. W., as well as the Alexis-Nihon Plaza, Neault said. He added that with the new zoning, Alexis-Nihon could be preserved with apartment units built on top. One of the buildings on Ste-Catherine St. W. will be zoned up to 20 storeys high, down from 25 storeys, after residents expressed concern, Neault said. Another building in the project was originally planned to be 10 storeys, but has since been reduced to seven for the same reason. The development plan comes amid a housing crisis in Greater Montreal, as municipal-led projects are slowed by red tape and many Montrealers struggle to find an affordable home. Resident Jessica Winton, a recent urban planning graduate, noted that the 500-square-foot single-occupancy homes will not create new housing for families. 'It seems kind of discouraging to me, as somebody who wants to raise a family one day,' said Winton, adding that her studies showed the standard size for a family dwelling is 1,300 square feet. Neault said the plan to create smaller units aligns with a new zoning regulation from the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal that requires 'transit-oriented destinations' — like the urban centre near Atwater métro — to have a minimum density of 480 dwellings per hectare. Resident James Murphy, 38, welcomed the proposed change on the basis that many renters in Westmount are feeling pinched by the lack of available housing. 'I have a young family,' Murphy said during the question period, pointing out that Westmount is a diverse urban community. 'We need more housing. ... If anyone tells you that Westmount is defined by our built heritage or low-rise buildings, let me tell you, they're missing something huge.'
Forbes
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Alex Lifeson Reflects On Rush's Legacy Amid A New Boxed Set Celebrating The Band's 50th
To fans of progressive rock in the last five decades, the music of Rush has been the soundtrack of their lives. The songs by the Canadian rock trio of bassist/singer Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart — among them '2112,' 'Closer to the Heart,' 'The Spirit of Radio,' 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Subdivisions' — have remained staples of rock radio and streaming services. Although the band has ceased recording and touring following the death of Peart in 2020, Rush continues to be in the public eye through archival reissue projects and the activities of surviving members Lifeson and Peart. Marking 50 years since the band's self-titled album, a new 4-CD/7-LP retrospective, Rush 50, was recently released. Consisting of both studio and live tracks (some of them previously unreleased), Rush 50 is the most up-to-date anthology of the band's career: from their first-ever single, a 1973 recording of Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away,' to their final live performance with Peart from 2015 on 'What You're Doing/'Working Man'/'Garden Road' at the L.A. Forum. On the occasion of Rush 50's release, Lifeson, now a member of his latest rock band Envy of None, says that he and Lee don't get involved much in Rush's album reissues. In the last several years, that program has seen the 40th-anniversary deluxe re-releases of such classic Rush albums as A Farewell to Kings, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals. 'We leave it up to the record company, and they always bring it to us,' Lifeson says. 'They don't have to, but they want our approvals on everything. So we know what's going on, and we look at the artwork. Hugh [Syme, who has worked on Rush's album art] Lifeson says it was up to the record company to choose the track selection for this boxed set anthology. 'But they're aware of how we work," he says. "And Andy [Curran, my Envy of None bandmate] works his main job [in A&R] there at Anthem [an indie record label whose roster included Rush]. So you know he's there looking after our interests as well.' Other never-before-heard live cuts found on Rush 50 include 'Bad Boy' and 'Garden Road,' both of them recorded from the band's early performances in 1974. Another unreleased live track, a performance of 'Anthem,' was taken from Rush's 1974 visit to Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The new anthology comes as the group recently marked the 50th anniversary of their debut album Rush, which featured their original drummer John Rutsey. In retrospect, the record reflected the influence of such groups as Cream and Led Zeppelin with songs such as 'Working Man' and 'Finding My Way.' But it wasn't until Peart's arrival as their group's drummer and lyricist on Fly by Night from 1975 that Rush forged their distinctive progressive rock sound. 'Obviously, we were huge Led Zeppelin fans,' Lifeson says. 'A lot of material from that [first Rush] album is from 1970. And they were such a big influence on us. Just listen to Ged's hooks. But when Neil came in, he brought something new and fresh. And Ged and I were already leaning towards being more progressive in our music, less bluesy rock. And Neil was definitely aligned with that way of thinking. So we naturally fell into that longer tracks, more thematic. He was certainly an influence [and] definitely part of the ride.' After a combined 30 studio and live albums — not to mention decades of touring — Rush's popularity still endures more than 50 years later. It's a milestone that Lifeson marvels at. 'Isn't it nuts?' he asks. 'It's crazy. When we first got our record deal in 1974, it was for five records. And I thought, 'This is amazing. This is going to fulfill our recording life and maybe 6-7 years of touring. This would be great.' And then 40 years later, we were doing the final show [in Los Angeles]. Who would ever thought that that would have happened the way it did? 'So it was a very unique experience for us,' he continues. 'And it blows my mind that even after 10 years of being sort of off the road and out of the scene, there's interest as keen as it was 20 years ago.' Rush 50 arrived around the same time as the release of Envy of None's second album Stygian Wavz, both involving Lifeson. 'It just so happened this record took, I don't know, a year and a bit to make,' Lifeson says about the timing of the two releases. 'So it just kind of ends up occupying the same space. But it's kind of good. There's lots of talk about stuff that I'm part of.'
