The late Neil Peart, legendary drummer and lyricist for the iconic rock band Rush, shares one last love letter to “Silver Surfers,” his beloved classic car collection (sold at auction by Gooding & Company in 2021.) In this never-before-seen piece written before his untimely passing in 2020, Neil writes about the joy of collecting these exquisite, rare, and essential sports cars, the exhilaration of taking them out on the open road, and even the happiness he derived from simply seeing them lined up in the beautiful space he created to store them.
Cars were a lifelong passion for Neil, and in “Silver Surfers,” he first traces the roots of his auto obsession, taking us back to where it all began, with a 1969 Lotus Europa, through the cars he bought when the band first made it big, and even his first “family car,” before taking us on a tour of the Silver Surfers themselves; a rare collection of the most coveted sports cars from the 1960s. From a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 to a classic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, each is a gorgeous silver except for one: a black 1964 Shelby Cobra whose patina Neil loved so much that he wrote, “I am not going to paint it!”
Gorgeous images of the cars (curated by Neil himself and later by his wife Carrie) accompany his warm, personal story of building the collection, the friends he made along the way, and what it was like to be behind the wheel of these classics. Neil’s final work is a heartfelt tribute to the cars that meant so much to him and the passion for the road that fueled his life.
About the Author
Widely considered one of the most innovative drummers in rock history, Neil Peart (1952-2020) was the backbone of the legendary Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame band Rush. Neil’s virtuosity behind the kit was equaled by his talent as the band’s lyricist. Affectionately dubbed “The Professor” by the fans, he tapped into his love and deep knowledge of poetry, literature, philosophy, and science to pen such classics as “The Spirit of Radio,” “Free Will,” and the self-described autobiographical “Subdivisions” and “Limelight.”
Neil’s talent for the written word, passion for the open road, and desire to chronicle milestones in his life led to the publication of seven memoirs, including Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Roadshow: Landscape with Drums, and Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times. Collaborating with Kevin J. Anderson, Neil also wrote the novel Clockwork Angels, a fictionalization of Rush’s 2012 album of the same name, and a sequel, Clockwork Lives. Silver Surfers is the final work of Neil’s long and prolific writing career.
On January 7, 2020, Neil passed away after a private, three-and-a-half-year struggle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife, Carrie, and daughter Olivia.
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Above content © 2024 Silver Surfers/Neil Peart, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee
Neil Peart Interview
