Trivia

Lost his wife and daughter in a span of 10 months. His daughter Selena was killed in an auto accident, shortly afterwards his wife Jacqueline succumbed to breast cancer

Until the mid-90s, when he took lessons from Freddie Gruber, Neil played the drums with the "butt" ends of the sticks. This was out of force of habit from his youth when the tips of his sticks would break off and he couldn't afford to replace them.

Grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario. His song, Lakeside Park, is about his summers at the beach in Port Dalhousie, Ontario.

Rides a motorcycle (along with the band's security manager) in between each venue. In the 80s, he would do this on a bicycle.

Neil, along with other Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2013.

Dropped out of High School.

Took piano lessons as a child, but eventually started calling in sick and spending the lesson money on candy bars.

Became good friends with Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) during the time chronicled in his book "Ghost Rider." The animation team created an intro for Rush's hit "Tom Sawyer" featuring Cartman, Kyle, Stan & Kenny, which was played each night on the 2007 Snakes & Arrows tour.

Was battling brain cancer for over three years, but never let anyone know of it until he lost his battle on January 7, 2020.

On February 26, 1997, he and his bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson became the first rock musicians to be inducted into the prestigious position of Officers of the Order of Canada. This is the highest honor bestowed upon a civilian by the Canadian government. According to the Ottawa Sun, "The award was given as much for their community service as for their contribution to the arts. They have raised over $1 million for food banks and the United Way."

Performed with Rush for 450,000 people as part of the Toronto SARStock relief benefit, alongside major bands including AC/DC and The Rolling Stones. Rush was one of the few native Toronto bands to perform at this historic event to herald Toronto's graceful endurance of the SARS scare. (July 2003)

Los Angeles, CA, USA: Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band Rush. (April 2013)

In addition to drumming for Rush, he is also the band's primary lyricist.

With Rush, released "Feedback", an EP containing 8 cover songs. This marks the first Rush release wherein the band performs songs other than their own. After "Feedback", Rush embarked on a highly successful Thirtieth Anniversary Tour ("R30" for short). On this tour, the band performed some of the cover songs live -- also a first for them. (June 2004)

When Neil started traveling by motorcycle between shows, his riding partner was his best friend Brutus. However, Brutus's criminal record, which culminated in 1999 with a charge of transporting marijuana over a national border, got him banned for life from entering the United States. For this reason, Michael Mosbach, a security expert whom Neil met after moving to California, became his new riding partner in North America, while Brutus is his riding partner in Europe and other continents. (While Brutus could conveniently be his riding partner in Canada or Mexico, Rush's tour itinerary rarely includes Mexico, and if so, it's a one-off show like in 2002, while Canadian dates, as of late, are almost never strung together in a row.).

Since the death of his daughter and wife in 1997-1998, has declined to be interviewed or to appear at many meet and greets with the band.

Has played on every post-1974 Rush recording. The only album on which he didn't appear was the self-titled debut.

Suffered a motorcycle accident in September 2010 in NE Pennsylvania when he hit a patch of freshly laid asphalt and went sliding off his bike. He was not badly hurt, but was limping for a day or two afterwards and was able to perform the next night in Pittsburgh without any problems. He did not speak of the accident until five years later, when he had retired from touring, out of fear he would no longer be allowed to tour by motorcycle due to insurance reasons.

Close friends with actor Nicholas Cage.

Avid fan of BMW motorcycles.

"Overtly" Canadian, he moved his primary residence to Los Angeles, California after marrying Carrie Nuttall, and returns to Canada for writing and recording.

Has had two children; Selena Taylor (b. 1978 d. 1997), and Olivia Louise Peart (b. 2009).

Hot on the heels of their triumphant 2002 tour, 2003 DVD, and benefit performance for 450,000 at the 2003 SARS benefit, Rush has announced plans to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their current lineup with a celebratory tour. Planned shows include their first visits to Europe since 1992. (December 2003)

Has written 3 books as of April, 2005: "The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa" (1996), "Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road" (2002), and "Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times" (2004).

Is the drummer for the band Rush.

"Vapor Trails" tour with band, Rush. (October 2002)

"Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away" is released. It is an authorized biography of the band, written by Martin Popoff. (June 2004)

Touring in support of Rush's latest album, "Snakes & Arrows". (June 2007)

Neil, Alex and Geddy are in the recording studio working on Rush's new album, to be released early 2007. (November 2006)