Silver Surfers

by Neil Peart, Carrie Nuttall-Peart (foreword)

The late Neil Peart, legendary drummer for the iconic rock band Rush, shares one last love letter to his beloved classic car collection and gives readers a glimpse of his lifelong passion for cars in this extraordinary collection.For Neil Peart, legendary drummer for Rush, cars were a lifelong passion. Now, in Neil's final work—a never-before-seen piece completed before his untimely passing in 2020—he writes about his beloved Silver Surfers collection; the joy of collecting these exquisite, rare, and important sports cars, and the even bigger joy of driving them. 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 best sports cars from the 1960s. From a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 to a classic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, each is a gorgeous silver (with the exception of a black 1964 Shelby Cobra whose patina Neil loved so much he wrote, “I am not going to paint it”). Gorgeous images of the cars and photos curated by Neil himself 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 love letter to these cars that meant so much to him, and to the passion of the road that fueled his life.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

96 pages, Hardcover

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

Neil Peart (pronounced /ˈpɪərt/) OC, (born Neil Ellwood Peart) was a Canadian musician and author. He is best-known as the drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush.

Peart grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada (now part of St. Catharines) working the occasional odd job. However, his true ambition was to become a professional musician. During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band and dropped out of high school to pursue a career as a full-time drummer. After a discouraging stint in England to concentrate on his music, Peart returned home, where he joined local Toronto band Rush in the summer of 1974.

Early in his career, Peart's performance style was deeply rooted in hard rock. He drew most of his inspiration from drummers such as Keith Moon and John Bonham, players who were at the forefront of the British hard rock scene. As time progressed, however, he began to emulate the jazz and big band musicians Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Peart is also a pupil of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber. Peart has received many awards for his musical performances and is known for his technical proficiency and stamina.

In addition to being a musician, Peart was also a prolific writer, having published several memoirs about his travels. Peart was also Rush's primary lyricist. In writing lyrics for Rush, Peart addressed universal themes and diverse subject matter including science fiction, fantasy, and philosophy, as well as secular, humanitarian and libertarian themes. In contrast, his books have been focused on his personal experiences.

Reviews

[Chad Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last glimpses into the mind of the Ghost Rider. Classy, right up until the end. 🍻

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so it ends, the last words from The Professor. :(

[Missi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! So good to 'hear' Neil's voice once more 💖.

[Cynthia Guerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a car fan, I am a Neil Peart fanatic. This book is yet another look into his brilliant mind as a true Renaissance man (as described by his wife, not me). Because I am not a car person, I had to read some portions over to ‘get’ them and yet I am sure there was lingo, innuendo and insider jokes that I missed. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book nonetheless. Cars may seem like a frivolous and even bourgeois hobby, but there is a real passion and joy that Neil expresses for the cars, and there is nothing wrong with that. Thank you to Carrie Nuttall-Peart for bringing the book to fruition so soon after the passing of her late husband Neil. That must have been an emotional process, especially given all the sweet, smiling pictures of Neil she selected for the book. And an honorable mention is needed for the publisher Insight Editions for the connection with and support of Roots of Peace and their charitable work to make the world a safer and greener place.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable book on Neil Peart's car collection and what inspired each piece. The extensive series of images include various personal photos of Neil with his wife, Carrie, and friends, and of course, Neil proudly sitting in each silver (and black) surfer. Professional, full-page closeups of each car's interior and engine make apparent the love that went into creating and then caring for them over the years.

It's good to hear from Neil again.

[Mr MR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good coffee table book. It seems to me that Neil wrote this in a hurry, knowing he was running out of time. I think if he’d been able to, he would have been more thorough in his explanations of the history of each car and maybe a story or two of driving each one. Still, a good quick read with some really beautiful pictures of these gems.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given that is Peart, and, for all we know, the last of his writings, I had to give it 5 stars. Neil describes his passion for cars, gives details of each auto in his collection, and how he obtained it. Beautiful photos especially those that have him in them. It was bittersweet to read his writings again.

[David Dewata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cocok bagi peminat mobil. Bukan musick.

[Alex Stephenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coffee table book, and it certainly feels like it, but for its lack of actual text, the photos are cool, and I'm grateful that Peart's last creative endeavor was seen through its conclusion.

[James P. Streicher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and bittersweet

Even in death, his legacy carries on. Thank you, Carrie, for bringing this to us. The images and words bring just a touch of who he was.

[Joe B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Peart finally gift to his fans as a post humonous literary work on all his cars that he owned…