September 12

 Neil Peart

September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020

Neil Peart joined Rush as their new drummer in 1974. He also took on the role of primary lyricist, meaning he wrote the words for almost all of the band's songs. He replaced original drummer John Rutsey just before the group's first American tour. His powerful playing style and complex words helped reshape the band from a basic hard rock trio into a progressive rock group. His first recordings with the band appeared on the Fly by Night album in 1975.

He remained an official member of the band for the rest of his career, recording with them until 2012. He helped create several major hit records during the late 1970s. He performed on the breakthrough conceptual album 2112 in 1976 and the successful A Farewell to Kings record in 1977. He also played on the Hemispheres album in 1978 and the Permanent Waves record in 1980. Before finding success with Rush, he played with several local Canadian bands including JR Flood.

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Tony Stevens

September 12, 1949

In 1968, Tony Stevens became a founding member of the blues rock band Savoy Brown. He played bass guitar for the group and contributed to their steady touring and recording schedule. His performance anchored major early albums like Blue Matter and A Step Further, which both came out in 1969. He also played on Raw Sienna and Looking In during 1970 before deciding to leave the lineup.

He then formed a new rock group called Foghat in 1971 alongside several of his former bandmates. He recorded four successful studio albums with this lineup, including their self-titled debut in 1972 and Energized in 1974. His final recorded work during his initial run with the band appeared on Rock and Roll Outlaws in 1974. He left the group in 1975 and later worked as a session player for various studio projects. He rejoined Foghat in 1993 and continued to tour and record with them until 2005.

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Gerald Beckley

September 12, 1952

Gerry Beckley formed the folk rock group America alongside Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek in 1970. He sang lead and background vocals, and he regularly played guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and harmonica for the band. The trio found immediate success with their debut record in 1971 and won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1973.

The group continued releasing albums as a trio until 1977, when Peek departed to pursue other interests. Beckley and Bunnell carried on together as a duo, collaborating with producer George Martin on several projects throughout the decade. He remained a permanent recording member of the band for over fifty years before choosing to retire from live touring at the end of 2023.

Gerry Beckley has also recorded multiple solo records during his career, starting with an album release in 1995 and continuing with new music through 2024.

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