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Artist News: Rush's Founding Drummer John Rutsey Passes Away

Posted on Saturday, May 17 @ 21:39:07 UTC by nightowl

According to Q107.com, John Rutsey, a founding member of Toronto rock band Rush, passed away the weekend of May 10, according to Rush management company Anthem Entertainment. He was 55.

Rutsey was famous for playing on Rush's 1974 debut album, including the song "In The Mood," before deciding to leave the group due to health concerns. Rutsey suffered from diabetes and was unable to go on extended tours with the group.

Rutsey was replaced by dummer Neil Peart, which marked a turning point in the band's sound towards progressive rock. Rush formed in 1968 in Toronto and was originally composed of guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist Jeff Jones (who shortly thereafter was replaced by Geddy Lee) and Rutsey.

According to a 1989 interview with Alex Lifeson on the Rockline Radio program quoted by Wikipedia.org, Rutsey, "gave up playing (drums) shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years."

As of Monday afternoon [, May 13], no official statement has been released on a cause of death, nor plans for a memorial service. [However, on May 16 a message was posted by the band at their website:



"Our memories of the early years of Rush when John was in the band are very fond to us. Those years spent in our teens dreaming of one day doing what we continue to do decades later are special. Although our paths diverged many years ago, we smile today, thinking back on those exciting times and remembering John's wonderful sense of humour and impeccable timing. He will be deeply missed by all he touched.

Alex & Geddy

Donations may be made in John?s memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 7100 Woodbine Avenue, Suite 311, Markham, ON, L3R 5J2 (online: www.jdrf.ca, by phone: 905-944-4631).]

[Source: Robert, Rock N Roll Cola; Rush website]

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)