Neil Peart, longtime Rush drummer, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer dies at 67

Rush drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Peart has died, according to reports Friday.

The 67-year-old drummer, considered one of the greatest in rock and roll, died Tuesday after battling brain cancer for three years. His representative, Elliot Mintz, said in a statement Friday that Peart died at his home in Santa Monica. The band posted a message on Twitter also confirming the news.

Glioblastoma is one of several types of tumors known as glioma that start in the glial — or gluey — cells that form the structure of the brain. Glioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor, meaning tumors that begin and generally stay in the brain. Glioblastoma is the highest grade of glioma, and its most malignant form.

Rush was formed in 1968 in Canada; Peart joined the rock band — consisting of Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards) and Alex Lifeson (guitars) — in 1974. The drummer was also the talent behind most of the band’s song lyrics, fueling their greatest hits including “Tom Sawyer,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Limelight,” “Freewill” and New World Man,” among others. Peart retired from performing in 2015 following the group’s final official show.

Peart was born in 1952 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1952 and grew up in the Port Dalhousie neighborhood of St. Catherine’s.

Peart was known for his extensive live drum solos in concerts, and for his massive drum kits on stage, featuring everything from dozens of drums, cymbals, bells and more.

The band was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and honored for combining “the signature traits of progressive rock with a proto typical heavy-metal sound.”

Peart was known for his introspective — and occasionally geeky — lyrics that endeared him to a generation of high schoolers who came of age ‘70s and ‘80s — some of them stoners, some of them regular players of “Dungeons and Dragons.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said ”we’ve lost a legend.”

”But his influence and legacy will live on forever in the hearts of music lovers in Canada and around the world,” Trudeau tweeted about his fellow Canadian. ”RIP Neil Peart.”

In their official statement, Rush instructed those looking to pay tribute to Peart to “choose a cancer research group or charity of their choice and make a donation in Neil’s name.”

Contributing: USA Today

RANDY JOHNSON PHOTO