Neil Peart’s unequaled legacy will be celebrated in a new feature documentary arriving this fall.
Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple will premiere Sept. 23 on CBC, with Republic Pictures handling distribution outside Canada. Directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn and produced by Banger Films and Elevation Pictures, the film explores the artistry and enduring influence of Rush’s late drummer and lyricist through rare archival footage, intimate reflections and live performances.
Rush bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson appear throughout the documentary alongside an all-star lineup of drummers who take on Peart’s famously demanding compositions. According to CBC, the roster includes Tool’s Danny Carey, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and the Police’s Stewart Copeland, all of whom also played with Lee and Lifeson at memorial concerts for Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022.
Smith and Hawkins also participated in a Peart tribute in September 2020, with proceeds benefiting brain tumor research at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Peart, who also served as Rush’s primary lyricist, is routinely cited as one of rock’s greatest drummers. Known for his technical precision, irregular time signatures and extremely elaborate drum kit, he is responsible for some of the most complex percussion work in the classic rock canon. Mastering Rush hits such as “Tom Sawyer” has long been a rite of passage for young drummers looking to demonstrate their ability.
“I think it matters for me to play better all the time, and to play my best all the time, to keep it fresh and changing. It’s kind of my responsibility, I see it, as a drummer,” Peart says in one of the doc’s archival interviews.
The documentary arrives during an unlikely renewed period of activity for Rush. As previously reported, Lee and Lifeson returned to the road in June for the Fifty Something tour, their first performances under the Rush banner since Peart’s death in 2020. They’re joined onstage by former Jeff Beck drummer Anika Nilles and former the Who keyboardist Loren Gold.