In 1977, my best friend’s older brother bought me All The World’s A Stage for my 11th birthday. Me and my buddy absorbed that album, learning every nuance of the guitar, bass, and drums until by summer’s end we could both play all three parts interchangeably with 80% proficiency (we were mortal after all). We both became musicians, him going on to tour the world opening for Accept in the 80s, and myself playing for decades in bands in Southern California. Rush opened the door between two boys crazy about KISS to two young men who would very quickly eclipse our contemporaries in high school garage bands. Neil’s lyrics were similarly a doorway from songs about girls to reading Ayn Rand and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (among others). I honestly cannot say I would have grown to be the person that I am today if Gary hadn’t bought me that record. I saw Rush live a dozen times over the years. Neil was huge in my life. A prolific writer with an equally prolific mind. He will be hugely missed.