Tim Whalen Music

Hello friends,

This Sunday is February 13th. It’s a very important day for me, both personally and professionally.

“Tim, what’s so important about February 13th?”

Well, I’m glad you asked!
I have a story for you.

As some of you know, I’ve been a massive Rush fan since I was a kid. I’ve seen them 17 times on every tour since the Presto tour in 1990 all the way up to their R40 (final tour) in 2015. I've dissected every note on every album, and was very much influenced and inspired by them as a budding musician growing up. As my musical interests changed, their music remained constant as something I would always come back to.

The thing about Rush and me is…it’s not just about the music. The things that have really stuck with me was how they carried themselves in their career and their lives.

Three words come to mind:

Integrity
Loyalty
Love

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart, and the entire Rush organization, from management to roadies, encapsulated those values deeply, and I learned so much from their example.

Integrity
They never wavered in their musical ambitions, and never gave in to trends or outside demands, which ultimately gave them freedom to do whatever they chose.

Loyalty
Through the worst of times, they always remained loyal to one another as people and bandmates. They all have families, have been married for decades, and have stuck together through it all. Some of the key members of their management and touring staff were with them since 1974.

Love
This ties in with loyalty. These guys truly loved each other first and foremost. This was most apparent in 1997, when Neil lost both his daughter and wife within a year of each other. He went through a 5 year period of mourning, and ultimately healing. As Neil said, “those other two guys were the most stable thing in my life during that time.” (If you ever want to read a great book about this time in Neil's life, read his book "Ghost Rider.")

They built an unprecedented career for over 40 years with these three values as a bedrock. What a great example!

So, back to February 13th…

On January 7, 2020, Neil Peart, one of rocks music’s greatest drummers and lyricists, lost his battle with brain cancer. Neil was a very private person, so it was kept a total secret from the public. Needless to say it shocked the music world when it happened. It was the first time I cried when someone I did not personally know died. That reaction made me think about how much Neil meant to me growing up. Even though I never met the man, I felt like I knew him because his outlook on living life truly resonated with me. His phrase "what's the most excellent thing I can do today" is just fantastic.

I had to do something to honor him.

For me, the only way to do this was something musical. I decided to arrange a stripped down version of Rush’s song “Time Stand Still.” The key for me was NOT to highlight his drumming. That’s been covered. I thought it was important and most meaningful to highlight his beauty and humanity as a lyricist. This song has always spoken to me, and I think it gives us a glimpse into Neil’s heart. I couldn't think of a more fitting way to honor his passing.

I arranged it for piano, upright bass, and string quartet for my “day job,” The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington DC. My dear friend and colleague Chris Rettig joined me on the vocal duties. It was released in the afternoon on Thursday February 13, 2020, and reaction is something I'll never forget!

Not only did the video go viral, but another very special series of events happened...

First, I heard from Neil’s family the night of the 13th. They told me everyone saw the video, including Neil’s wife Carrie and daughter Olivia. (He remarried in 2000). For me, this means everything. 

On Friday February 14th, I was in the middle of a gig when my phone started blowing up. I think I got about 50 text messages almost all at once that all said something like this: "Have you seen Rush's Facebook account? They posted your video!" This is a big deal, because it was the first thing Rush posted on their social media since Neil's passing over a month earlier. What an honor!

Then, something else really special and unexpected happened. About two weeks after the video was released, I received a personal letter from Rush’s guitarist Alex Lifeson, telling me how much the arrangement and video meant to him and Geddy. As a fan, this is something I’ll never forget, and will always cherish. I spoke to their management, and was able to send Alex, Geddy, and Neil's wife Carrie the score of the arrangement, along with a personal note for each of them letting them know how much their music meant to me all these years. 

The experiences around this particular song have changed my life, all for the better. It further cements the beautiful healing power of music. I'll leave you with my favorite lyrics from the song, and I hope you'll take a few moments today to watch the video, now knowing what it means to me.

Summer’s going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Experience slips away

The innocence slips away...

You can watch "Time Stand Still"
HERE.

Be well, and until next time...
Tim

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