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John Howard Rutsey (July 23, 1952 – May 11, 2008) was a Canadian musician best known as a founding member and original drummer of Rush. He performed on the band's 1974 debut album, but left shortly after its release due to health problems which limited his ability to tour with the band.
May 16, 2008 · John Rutsey, who played drums with Rush from 1968 to 1974, passed away in 2008 at age 55. He left the band due to diabetes complications and was replaced by Neil Peart.
- 'Moving Pictures' (1981) Whether you stand by the band’s classic ‘70s period or anything that followed, there's very little dissension regarding Moving Pictures, which melds art-rock invention with mainstream appeal.
- '2112' (1976) The paradigm-shifting 2112 finally broke the band, even though it contradicted commercial common sense with the side-long, seven-part title suite that marries far-flung science fiction, Objectivist philosophy and mind-blowing musical progression.
- 'Fly by Night' (1975) On the band's second album, founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson welcomed new drummer (and formidable lyricist) Neil Peart into the fold.
- 'Permanent Waves' (1980) Rush confidently turning the page on the ‘70s to embrace the new decade, essentially asking themselves: Now what? The result is a fluid album that relentlessly explores new musical highways, from the persistently cerebral but remarkably radio-friendly songs like "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill" to side-by-side prog masterpieces like "Jacob’s Ladder" and "Natural Science."
May 13, 2008 · John Rutsey, who played on RUSH's 1974 debut album, died in 2008 due to diabetes. He was replaced by Neil Peart, who changed the band's style to progressive rock.
A rare Rush clip featuring the late John Rutsey on drums. Filmed in the spring of 1974. Rutsey was forced to leave the group later that year due to health reasons. His replacement was Neil...
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- 676K
- stoneyripley
Nov 5, 2021 · Rush’s original drummer John Rutsey was 55 at the time of his death in 2008. Following his departure from the band in 1974, after the release of their first album, Rutsey would be out of the ...
- 6 min
- 170.6K
- Rock N' Roll True Stories
May 21, 2008 · John Rutsey left Rush in 1974 due to health issues and was replaced by Neil Peart. He was remembered by his bandmates as a friend with a great sense of humor and timing.
