Neil Peart, whose nearly five decades with prog-rock power-trio Rush established him as one of the greatest, most flamboyant, and most inventive virtuoso rock drummers of all time, died Tuesday after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. His death was first reported by Rolling Stone on Friday afternoon and confirmed by a family spokesperson. Peart was 67 years old.In a statement released Friday, Rush bassist/keyboardist/frontman Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson stated: “It is with broken hearts and the deepest sadness that we must share the terrible news that on Tuesday our friend, soul brother and bandmate over 45 years, Neil, lost his incredibly brave three and a half year battle with brain cancer. We ask that friends, fans and media alike understandably respect the family’s need for privacy and peace at this extremely painful and difficult time. Those wishing to express their condolences can choose a cancer research group or charity of their choice and make a donation in Neil Peart’s name. Rest in peace, brother.”Peart was born on Sept. 12, 1952, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and after taking piano lessons as a child, he took up the drums at age 14. At age 18, he moved to London to pursue a career as a professional musician, and while he struggled to find work in the U.K., it was there that he discovered the writings of Ayn Rand — who became a major influence on him when he later became the primary lyricist for Rush, the Toronto band he auditioned for upon his return to Canada in 1974.While Pearl enjoyed immense professional success, his personal life was marred by tragedy. In August 1997, his first daughter (and only child at the time), Selena Taylor, was killed in a car accident at age 19. Just five months later, his common-law wife of 23 years, Jacqueline Taylor, was diagnosed with terminal cancer; she succumbed in June 1998. Peart ostensibly retired from music at the time and embarked on a solo motorcycle trip across North and Central America to mourn the losses — an experience he later chronicled in the memoir Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. However, he remarried in 2000 and returned to Rush in 2001. Peart announced his official retirement in an interview with Drumhead magazine in December 2015.Upon hearing the sad news, many luminaries of the music community took to social media to pay tribute.Peart is survived by his second wife, photographer Carrie Nuttal, and their daughter, Olivia.Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
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