Neil Peart, the legendary drummer and brilliant lyricist of Canadian rock trio Rush, died in Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2020 of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67. After going strong for over 40 years and releasing 19 studio albums, Rush retired at the end 2015. Peart, meanwhile, reportedly had been quietly battling his illness over the last three and a half years.

Here’s the official statement, which was posted to Rush’s official social media accounts, from bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.

Another year of hectic times is upon us and another Black Friday looms as consumers go on a annual frenzy to find the best gifts for the best people in their life at the best prices. As always, music acts as so much more than an easy go-to gift, it’s also such a healing agent for the soul, a celebratory agent for the emotional, a fun agent for mindless loose times, and a true passionate art manifested for all, those creating it and those absorbing it. Here are some bright musical spots on the holiday radar this year, a bakers dozen to choose from.

Check out our 2018 Holiday Geek Gift Guide for Music“¦

As the seasons start getting closer and the prospect of gift giving starts to clear off the cobwebs and come front and center to everyone’s consciousness yet again, there’s always the enigma of what to get, and more importantly, will the recipient be satisfied? There are however universals that always crack the corners of the mouth for a smile, music releases and their sometimes re-released box sets being some of them. So that being said, and what remains our annual wont, here’s our picks for some great music recently released and upcoming. And as always, this one goes to eleven.

Check out our 2017 Holiday Geek Gift Guide for Music…

Now that 2016 is behind us, it’s time for me to reveal my favorite Movies of 2016. On a global level, the year 2016 will go down in history as a difficult one, where we lost a lot of talented people and there seemed to be an overall negativity in the air (thanks in part to the general election here in the U.S). On a personal level, 2016 was not only difficult, but sorrowful, as I lost my father to cancer. My dad loved movies, and every time we got together, we would discuss the films we had recently seen. Dad got sick early in the year, so we didn’t get to have our usual movie pow-wows.

My top movies are always of the blockbuster, superhero, scifi/fantasy variety, with some comedies sprinkled in, because I like to rewatch movies, so I tend to pick more uplifting titles as “favorites” — therefore, I’m not saying my list is of the “best” movies, they are just the ones I enjoyed the most and will likely rewatch to my heart’s content.

Rush – Time Stand Still
Blu-ray | DVD
Director by Dale Heslip
Narration by Paul Rudd
Rounder | 97 minutes
Release Date: November 18, 2016

Apparently, I’ve been in denial for the past year about Rush‘s retirement, because I watched the band’s new documentary, Time Stand Still, which focuses on their 2015 final major tour, and now I’m crying.

In this feature-length documentary, the Canadian trio opens up about saying good-bye to the band as they know it after 40 years of life on the road, most of which was to sell-out crowds around the world. While guitarist Alex Lifeson feels like it never seems like right time to end things, and drummer Neil Peart wants to quit while they’re ahead (and before his ability to perform is diminished), it’s clear that singer/bassist Geddy Lee was not ready to go.