24 PLANET ROCKIT SEEMS OUR WORLD HAS COME UNDONE
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
How heartbreaking to hear the sad news of Neil Peart’s passing.
I can’t have been the only Planet Rock reader to have spent
countless hours online since the conclusion of the R40 tour talking up the possibility of
Geddy, Alex and Neil somehow finding a way to say a proper goodbye to their loyal UK
fans, and all this time we were unaware that Neil was battling that dreadful disease in
silence, with a dignity that’s so typical of the man. I was privileged to have seen Rush
from the Permanent Waves tour at Hammy O through to the Clockwork Angels shows at
the O2 Arena, and the passing of the years only seemed to intensify their personal bonds
and remarkable on-stage telepathy. Those memories, just like Rush’s music, will never
fade, but it feels like a little bit of my youth died on January 7 too. Rest in peace Neil
and condolences to all who shared his life and are devastated by his loss.
Rory Coulter, LondonSING ME A SONG,
YOU’RE A SINGER
Bloody Hell, Glenn Hughes has lived,
hasn’t he? Reading his interview in
the latest issue (PR18) I realised that
there’s a ton of his stuff I’ve never
even heard, so I’m trying to rectify
that now! I got to see Glenn on his
recent Deep Purple revival tour and
in my opinion his voice has held up
better than that of any of his peers,
Coverdale, Plant and Paul Rodgers
included. How he’s kept that in such
good nick given all the madness in
his past is a miracle. Actually, looking
forward to the new Dead Daisies
album now, a sentence I never
imagined writing!
Stewart Parkes, via emailTHE LOVER OF LIFE’S
NOT A SINNER
Is it just me, or does the loss of
Lemmy feel more painful with each
passing year? Maybe it’s because I
read it during the Christmas season,
now one of those increasingly rare
occasions for family to gather
together, but I found Mark Blake’s
excellent writing on the making of
the Ace Of Spades album in PR 18
unusually poignant. Motörhead were
a gang, but Lemmy always made usregular oiks feel included in their
(mis)adventures, and never looked
down on anyone. How ironic is it that
this bad-ass outlaw ended up being
more of a role model for us all than
any of our slimy, self-serving,
charlatan politicians? RIP Lem.
Anton Hunter, Kings HeathIT’S THE ONLY ROAD
I KNOW
Just a quick note to say thanks to
you lot, and all at the station, for
introducing me to some many
excellent new British bands. My
gig-going days are long behind me,
and I’ve been guilty of wallowing in
nostalgia when it comes to rock
music, but thanks to Planet Rock
I’ve been turned on to the likes of
Kris Barras, Piston, Those Damn
Crows, Mollie Marriott and more.
Keep it coming!
Luke Williams, BoltonI’LL GIVE YOU A STAR
I thought you almost nailed it with
your Top 20 albums for 2019
(PR18), and there were loads of
great albums to choose from... what
a year! However, to my mind there
was a glaring omission in your list.
I’m talking about The Up Rising byLast Crack. Not only is it a
spectacular album, it’s also a great
story. It’s been 28 years since their
last album (the criminally overlooked
Burning Time) and yet they returned
with boundless originality, consistently
great songs, wonderful musicianship
and a line-up that’s almost entirely
original members. If a magazine such
as Planet Rock doesn’t rally behind
such a great story, who the hell will?
How about a Last Crack feature in
2020 to make amends?
Andy Callaghan, ChicagoTHINGS THAT MAKE
YOU SMILE
This is Jon Pinder from Chorley,
winner of the Saxon box set, issue
17’s Crossword prize. Congrats too to
Chris Bruce, from Lancashire, winner
of The Cult box set from issue 16.RE: WHO THE HELL
ARE THESE GUYS?
That is the wonderful If Only. Sadly
only one album, No Bed Of Roses,
but they did feature future Cats In
Space mastermind Greg Hart.
Gary Wallder, Beckenham
Quite correct Gary. Congrats also
to Howard Thorpe, who correctly
identified If Only.UUUUppppffffrrrroooonnnntttt
GETTYHEAVEN AND MAIL
YOUR LETTERS PRINTED! INCLUDES YOUR THOUGHTS ON NEIL PEART (R.I.P),
THE VOICE OF ROCK’S COLOURFUL LIFE AND A HIDDEN GEM FROM 2019... [email protected]LETTERS
Farewell to a
king: the great
Neil Peart.Planet Rock
Xword comp
winners
(left) Chris
Bruce and
Jon Pinder.
Cheers!