John Rutsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Rutsey
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Rutsey in 1974
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Howard Rutsey |
| Born | July 23, 1952 |
| Died | May 11, 2008 (aged 55) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1963–1974 |
| Labels | Mercury |
| Associated acts | Rush |
John Howard Rutsey (born July 23, 1952 – died May 11, 2008) was a Canadian musician. He is best known as a founding member and the first drummer for the famous rock band Rush. He played drums on the band's first album, released in 1974.
John left the band soon after their first album came out. This was because of health issues that made it hard for him to travel and perform. Another drummer, Neil Peart, then joined Rush. Neil Peart became the band's drummer for all their future recordings and throughout their long career.
Contents
About John Rutsey
His Early Life
John Rutsey's father, Howard Rutsey, was a reporter for a newspaper in Toronto. John had an older brother named Bill and a younger brother named Mike. Mike later became a writer about baseball. After their father passed away, their mother, Eva, raised the brothers.
John went to St. Patrick’s School. There, he met Gary Weinrib and Alex Zivojinovich. These friends later became known as Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. While Geddy and Alex liked bands like Yes and Pink Floyd, John was more inspired by harder rock bands like Bad Company.
How Rush Started
John Rutsey and Alex Lifeson became good friends at St. Paschals School. They often played street hockey together in their neighborhood. Both of them loved rock music and often talked about starting a band.
They first played in bands called The Projection with other friends. Later, their school friend Geddy Lee joined them. This was how the very first version of the band Rush was formed.
Many people say that John's dedication helped guide the band in its early days. He took the band very seriously and always made sure they practiced regularly. According to Ian Grandy, who worked with the band early on, "There would have been no 'Rush' without John."
John even suggested that Rush start as a glam rock band. This meant they wore flashy jackets, pants, and tall boots. John's brother, Bill, came up with the name "Rush" for the band in 1968. This happened during a practice session in the Rutsey family's basement.
His Music Career
When Rush first formed, John was on drums, Alex Lifeson played guitar, and Jeff Jones sang and played bass. After their first concert, Jeff Jones left. Geddy Lee then took over as singer and bass player.
During these early years, John played drums on the band's first single, ""Not Fade Away" / "You Can't Fight It". He also played on their first album, Rush.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have said that John was supposed to write the lyrics for their first album. However, when it was time to record, John didn't have any lyrics ready. He was not happy with what he had written and had torn up his lyric sheets. So, Geddy Lee quickly wrote all the lyrics before they recorded the singing parts.
Soon after the Rush album was released, John left the band. This was due to different musical ideas, health issues related to diabetes, and not liking to tour. John's last show with Rush was on July 25, 1974, in London, Ontario. Neil Peart then became the new drummer for Rush.
Later in Life
Alex Lifeson mentioned in an interview in 1989 that he still saw John often. After leaving the band, John started bodybuilding. Alex said John competed as an amateur for a few years. He continued to work out, and Alex sometimes worked out with him at a gym in Toronto. However, by 2005, Alex Lifeson said he had not seen John since about 1990.
His Passing
On May 11, 2008, John Rutsey passed away in his sleep. It appeared to be from a heart attack, which was related to his diabetes. John's family wanted his funeral to be private. They asked for donations to be sent to a diabetes research foundation in Markham, Ontario.
After John's Death
After John Rutsey passed away, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson released a statement. They said their memories of the early years with John in Rush were very special. They remembered those times as teenagers, dreaming of becoming musicians. They said that even though their paths separated, they smiled thinking back on those exciting times. They also remembered John's great sense of humor and perfect timing. They said he would be deeply missed by everyone he touched.
John's important role in the band's early history is shown in the 2010 documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. You can hear tape recordings of him in the film. The DVD version includes two performances with John on drums as bonus features. Another performance is a bonus on the Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland home video.
John Rutsey is buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.
Discography
Single:
- 1973: "Not Fade Away" / "You Can't Fight It" (with Rush)
Studio album:
- 1974: Rush (with Rush)
See also
In Spanish: John Rutsey para niños
