Your favourite Rush albums?

That’s an interesting post about the November,1981 Florida concert. I don’t think it matters whether it’s Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney or Neil Peart. If you are putting on a concert (and getting paid), you need to be there. Late is bad, not showing up is unforgivable. No one could take his place. How many people were looking forward to the concert for weeks? Seems pretty arrogant to me. You can read about the chaos that resulted. I still like Rush, but Yikes!

tonykay,

Did you not read the circumstances causing Peart to be late?  Weather problems and unforseen issues that you aren't aware of, and the problem with the telegram.  That isn't 'arrogant," that's someone missing a show he wanted to play!

Rush is known for their dedication to fans - one of the hardest working bands of all time and that was an anomaly amongst a record showing great professionalism and dedication.

Given this context it's silly to declare the situation was due to "arrogance."

prof,

You're entitled to your opinion. You should probably ask the opinion of the fans who were waiting for the show. I don't think it matters whether Peart was on his sailboat or riding his motorcycle, he should be there for the soundcheck and everything after. It isn't silly to expect that, and loyal Rush fans deserve it. 

I said you are entitled to your opinion, now you know mine.

tonykay

You may as well have written "it doesn’t matter where Peart was, he should have been in control of the weather so he could arrive on the scheduled time."

Everyone "should be" at work on time all things being equal.

But not all things are equal.

You do understand that we live in a world where not everything is under our control, right?

Every airplane, boat, or even rocket launch "should" happen or arrive on time. But there’s this little thing called "The Weather" - among many other possible influences, that can make achieving good intentions impossible.

If you have somehow managed to predict every possible weather condition, and every other chain of causation such that you’ve never been delayed by anything in your life, time to write a book about it and become a millionaire. Until then, your critique of the Neil Peart situation seems rather petty.


You’ve also ignored that Peart managed to actually get another flight which would get him there on time, but since his telegram didn’t make it to the organizers they couldn’t know he’d be there on time, so they cancelled the show.

Upon encountering difficulties Peart DID everything he could to get to the show on time, but of course he was not in control of the weather, or of telegrams getting lost.

You may have the opinion that the show was cancelled due to Peart’s "arrogance" and indifference to the fans, but given the evidence of Rush’s track record as dedicated pros, and the details given of what happened, well, some opinions are sillier than others. :)

I imagine Neil was the most upset person in the whole situation.