Neil Peart left an indelible mark on the history of modern music, but not many people know that the philosophy of Objectivism helped Rush on their path to stardom.
Rush was a Canadian band formed in 1968 by Alex Lifeson. After a few lineup changes in the early years, the band has taken its recognizable form right after their debut LP: Geddy Lee (bass and vocals), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums).
These three names still echo in the halls of rock music discussions. One of the most recognizable trios in the music industry, Rush, is still considered a benchmark in the progressive rock scene. What made them so unique and different from the other groups in that period, apart from their indisputable talent? First of all, they were one of the first acts across the Atlantic to experiment with progressive rock music – that musical territory was, until then, occupied almost exclusively by Europeans (and more precisely, the British). Second, they reinvented the genre with new, fresh ideas. Unlike various non-English groups (most notably Italian) that came later in the 70s and tended to copy their English idols (most notably Jethro Tull and Genesis), Rush had a signature sound unlike anything heard at the time. And third – they were not afraid to be different from others.
Neil Peart was an avid admirer of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, whose works he had discovered in his late teens. The Objectivist ideas have had a significant impact not only on his personal life but also on the music and imagery of Rush. While Geddy and Alex were mainly occupied with writing music for their songs, Peart established himself as a primary lyricist in the band. Even though the topics varied from mythical tales to the life of a rock star, one of the main inspirations for his lyrics was Objectivism. Individuality, rationality and independence are some of the most reoccurring themes in Rush’s lyrics.
The opening track on “Fly by Night” (the first album with Neil behind the kit) was “Anthem”. Influenced by the eponymous novella by Rand, the tune is still considered an ode to individualism and Objectivist philosophy. Lee and Lifeson were unfamiliar with Rand at the time, but Neil slowly introduced his bandmates to her ideas. Even though they never declared themselves as Objectivists, they have found Objectivist ideas exciting and valuable, which resulted in what was to become their breakthrough work: “2112”.
“2112” was released in 1976. Apart from performing very well on the charts, 2112 managed to get the attention of the American crowd for progressive rock music. It was their most commercially successful album at the time, the main reason being the 20-minute title track, which is still considered their magnum opus. Again, this track told a story of “Anthem”; Neil Peart even acknowledged “the genius of Ayn Rand” in the liner notes on the album. Rush logo, known as “Starman”, is featured on “2112” for the first time, and it has since become the band’s most recognizable visual symbol. It features a naked man in front of a red star – a naked man allegedly symbolizing an individual against the masses and the star being a synonym for any collectivist ideology, as explained by Peart.
Writing an openly pro-individualist song was bold, to say the least. At the time, most of the contemporary rock acts dominating the airwaves were not really engaging with philosophy and politics; the good old formula of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll seemed to be working out just fine. However, the ones who were expressing their opinions on social and political issues (such as Pink Floyd) were very decisively left-oriented – not to mention numerous left-anarchist musical groups in the newly emerging punk scene. Having that in mind, it comes as no surprise that “2112” started an avalanche of malicious comments by left-wing radicals, culminating in some English journalists calling them “junior fascists” and “Hitler lovers”.
Ayn Rand classified the virtue of integrity as one of the seven virtues of an Objectivist hero. “Integrity is loyalty to one’s convictions and values”, in her own words. Just like Howard Roark stayed true to his vision, Rush never gave up on their ideals. They continued to use the “Starman”. They were still performing “2112” live. And most importantly, they didn’t hesitate to write intellectually provocative lyrics. A few years later, the world saw the release of “Permanent Waves”, whose opener, “Freewill”, appeared regularly on nearly every rock radio station. Being one of their most popular songs to this day, it deals with metaphysical topics such as (yes, you guessed it) free will, the afterlife and higher forces. The words from the chorus are some of the most memorable Neil Peart has ever written:
You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that’s clear
I will choose free will.
The album’s lead single, “Spirit of the Radio”, touches on the topic of the artist’s integrity. Towards the end of the 70s, progressive rock was slowly getting out of fashion. Consequently, many artists from the genre either dissolved or abandoned prog by the beginning of the next decade. Bands like Yes, Supertramp, Genesis and Asia were adopting a more commercial, pop-rock-oriented style. Some of the listed bands returned to their roots later in their career, but some continued releasing crowd-pleasing records. “One likes to believe in the freedom of music, but glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity”, Lee sang in “Spirit of the Radio”. These lines undoubtedly stood the test of time, and they are more relevant than ever before now that music is usually regarded as a cheap time killer rather than as a form of art.
Rush disbanded in 2020 following the death of Neil Peart. During their four decades of existence, Rush has gifted us nineteen studio albums, which are still an inspiration to the upcoming generations of progressive rock artists. Moreover, Peart and his bandmates managed to stay true to their beliefs and helped spread the ideas of rationality, individualism and freedom to a broader audience. Neil was a depiction of an Objectivist Hero – with all the accompanying virtues he had shown through his songs and his life.
