Of Course Fame Has Consequences!

Recently I was pondering the phenomenon of not only how fame changes the behavior of those who become famous but how these cope with the endless manifestations expressed by those who idolize them. Any individual's privacy should be respected regardless of who they are and what they've done. This includes celebrity and criminal alike. There's another rabbit trail, right there. Neil Peart, the drummer of the rock group Rush, now going on 36 years strong, is known for his abhorrence of fame in general. As much as I respect Neil, if I am to be completely unbiased on the subject, I have to wonder if Neil is more culpable than other drummers about bringing this on himself. He is notably famous for his stick twirls and tosses, intricate drum fills, and enormous circular drum set. All of these by nature going to draw huge interest to any audience. Rush fans are all to familiar with that surge of adrenalin and excitement experienced when Neil performs these feats of wonder. Naturally as a result of this, people are going to want to talk about it, relate to it and admire it. If Neil was akin to a Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, perhaps he wouldn't have this problem. No disrespect intended but Charlie is more or less a wall flower in the band, nothing flashy there. Additionally, Neil is without question the most well read drummer there will ever be in addition to a current published author himself. Certainly the perks and pitfalls if fame should not be a surprise to him nor should the psychology of dealing with it. I am left wondering....what did he expect?

Neil is a one of a kind, exceptional artist. But unfortunately he is in a very public profession and with it comes certain "expectations" as do many other professions like a doctor, lawyer or teacher. I am suggesting that although this by nature is unfortunate, being famous along with the consequences of living in the limelight (the universal dream) will always be forever married. Those who become famous should go in knowing this. It appears John Rusty, Rush's original drummer, wasn't up for it, departing the group shortly after recording their first album. Many people are polite and leave the few "lucky" famous alone, but some do not. These are the ones Neil needs to be prepared for. How he deals with it is entirely his decision and one the rest of us need to respect, of course. Human nature dictates that this behavior will never change. I don't believe Neil should change at all who he is, that's what makes him Neil. My hope is that he never becomes discouraged about the impossibility of changing how his audience and fans react towards him.

James