Roadshow

Landscape with Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle

By: Neil Peart

Narrated by: Brian Sutherland

Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

For 30 years, drummer, author, and songwriter Neil Peart had wanted to write a book about "the biggest journey of all in my restless existence: the life of a touring musician." Finally, the right time, and the right tour.

In the summer of 2004, after three decades, 20 gold albums, and thousands of performances spanning four continents, the band Rush embarked on a celebratory 30th Anniversary World Tour. The "R30" tour traveled to nine countries, where the band performed 57 shows in front of more than half a million fans. Uniquely, Peart chose to do his between-show traveling by motorcycle, riding 21,000 miles of back roads and highways in North America and Europe - from Appalachian hamlets and Western deserts to Scottish castles and Alpine passes.

Roadshow illuminates the daunting rigors of a major international concert tour, as well as Peart's exploration of the scenic byways and country towns along the way. His evocative and entertaining prose carries the listener through every performance and every journey, sharing the bittersweet reflections triggered by the endlessly unfolding landscape. Observations and reflections range from the poignantly, achingly personal to the wickedly irreverent.

Part behind-the-scenes memoir, part existential travelogue, Roadshow winds through 19 countries on both sides of the Atlantic, in search of the perfect show, the perfect meal, the perfect road, and an elusive inner satisfaction that comes only with the recognition that the journey itself is the ultimate destination.

The inner workings of the tour, the people Peart works with and the people he meets, the roads and stages and ever-changing scenery - all flow into an irresistible story.

©2011 Neil Peart (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Great insight into an amazing person

Living in the limelight!
It’s great to understand that being great at anything is extremely hard work. Even when they make it look so easy.
I loved the care taken to bring this story to life.
Loved this from start to finish !

Classic Neil

A simply brilliant account of the R30 tour as TD by the Professor. A must for true Rush fans!

Experiencing life in the eyes of the Professor

My 1st experience listening to a Neil Peart book. As a fan of Rush for many decades, being heartbroken at his loss, and now understanding his life and losses, I am even more captivated by his stories.

I find myself remembering similarly traveled roads and places. Wanting to ride by his side, and at the least, follow his path of soul searching and redemption.

Neil, I wish I had actually known you, you represent the undying true spirit of the pioneer and explorer. I would have loved riding motorcycles with you on Mars, making our way to the summit of Olympus Mons, just to get that "National Park Stamp" in our travel journals.

Rest in peace Professor, even more than your lyrics and music, your words and print will live on thru the duration of humanity.

Johnny

What a great book. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Loved it. Neil has a great way of painting a picture with words. Highly recommended.

Excellent

Well told and interesting from start to finish. Listening to Neil's travels, I never fail to come away with a new song to hear, book to read, or place to visit.

Love the premise..could've been shorter

Am an average Rush fan but am also a drummer who likes to travel so this AudioBook appealed to me. I really loved the travelogue and specific show notes throughout the tour. Other parts about interactions with friends and acquaintances were too many for too long. At one point thought I would abandon the last 3 hours but things got interesting again for the second half of the European tour.

Great Read

Roadshow: Landscape With Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle was a great read by Neil Peart. Drummer, author, and songwriter Neil Peart has wanted to write a book about "the biggest journey of all in my restless existence: the life of a touring musician." Finally, the right tour, R30. They traveled to nine countries and preformed 57 shows. Peart traveled between shows on his motorcycle. He rode 21,000 miles on back roads and highways in North America and Europe. This great book travels through 19 countries on both sides of the Atlantic. Peart is in search of the perfect show, perfect meal, perfect road and the ultimate destination. I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by the author.

Motorcycle touring.

I was lucky enough to tour Italy in June of this year. I can’t even imagine how amazing it would be to tour all of Europe in America. Rest in peace Neil and thank you for sharing and teaching.

A WONDERFUL READ...

Neil Pearts ability to take the reader to far away places with such descriptive and sophisticated language is unparalleled. A well balanced text alternating between tales of the authors journeys on motorcycle as he travels from city to city and country to country while on tour with his band Rush,his strugles with fame resulting from said band, and wonderful anecdotes from decades of intimate friendship with his bandmates.

Loved it on so many levels!

Needless to say I’m a Rush fan. I came to the table a bit late on full appreciation of all eras of Rush, but I’m there now. It lead me to finding this and Neil’s other books. As a business traveler who loves to find adventure in every new city, the tales of the road felt familiar and comfortable. As a musician recently retired from playing the crappy bar scene, I feel the dilemma of giving up something you’ve loved for so long due to the monotony and feeling of fulfillment that fades over time. As a shy person by nature, the stories of Neil’s social encounters allowed me to feel the same anxiety and discomfort he felt at times. I too dash out of the dive bar when the music is done. Finally as a writer, the story is woven together in a way that makes you feel like your there with him...although that would be creepy and he’d likely not appreciate it. A better description would be to say his writing style allows the reader to share the experience of the North American and European tour in a way that feels real. Loved it and just bought the Book describing the R40 tour.