Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times

Neil Peart

Sep 2004 · ECW Press

About this ebook

Neil Peart decided to drive his BMW Z-8 automobile from L.A. to Big Bend National Park, in Southwest Texas. As he sped along “between the gas-gulping SUVs and asthmatic Japanese compacts clumping in the left lane, and the roaring, straining semis in the right,” he acted as his own DJ, lining up the CDs chronologically and according to his possible moods.

“Not only did the music I listened to accompany my journey, but it also took me on sidetrips, through memory and fractals of associations, threads reaching back through my whole life in ways I had forgotten, or had never suspected…. Sifting through those decades and those memories, I realized that I wasn’t interested in recounting the facts of my life in purely autobiographical terms, but rather … in trying to unweave the fabric of my life and times. As one who was never much interested in looking back, because always too busy moving forward, I found that once I opened those doors to the past, I became fascinated with the times and their effect on me. The songs and the stories I had taken for granted suddenly had a resonance that had clearly echoed down the corridors of my entire life, and I felt a thrill of recognition, and the sense of a kind of adventure. A travel story, but not so much about places, but about music and memories.”

Ratings and reviews

While each of Neil Peart's other books shed light on some personal aspects of his life which fans will find intruiging, his most recent "Traveling Music," turns out to be more autobiographical in the sense that the reader actually learns more about Neil through flash backs to his childhood, his early band days (including those early years with Rush), and his recent past, all the while enjoying a fun trip around the southwest United States in his BMW Z-8 listening to music that jogs those memories. As a Rush fan from back in the day (well, maybe not THEEE day, but since 1977!) I can tell you that this book holds many treasures. He shares many entertaining insights into his youth, road life, and family life, along with enough wise cracks to keep you chuckling as you turn each page and uncover ever more about the life and times of Neil Peart. You will learn about his early years, spent in London, working in a small souvenir shop, trying to break into the music scene as a drummer, still learning the ropes and developing his skills. And you'll gain new insight as he shares his many influences, both musical and literary.

I knew and Lived with Don Brunt for 20 years. He spoke often about the band and was flattered that Neil Remembered Him. He spoke alot about Neil and them growing up together and how Neil would work with disadvantaged children to help their drumming careers and how he got his start in a marching band and thats why he is so disciplined and wild now because of this foundation.

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About the author

Neil Peart was the drummer and lyricist of the legendary rock band Rush and the author of The Masked Rider, Ghost Rider, Roadshow, Far and Away, Far and Near, Far and Wide, and, with Kevin J. Anderson, Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives.