Neil grew up near Toronto and played in a series of high school bands before moving to London during the early 70's in order to try and further his musical career. While there he worked as a salesman at a shop called The Great Frog in the tourist district of Carnaby Street. Disillusioned by the British music scene he later returned to Canada where he eventually hooked up with Geddy and Alex. He became a member of Rush in June, 1974.
Neil likes to read and his lyrical influences stem from some of his literary heroes - Ernest Hemmingway, John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dos Passos, Barth, Rand, and Gabrial Garcia Marquez.
Neil has also written articles and editorials, and in 1994 coauthored a short story "Drumbeats" with Kevin J. Anderson for the horror anthology Shock Rock II
Neil's wife, Jaqueline Taylor, passed away from cancer in June of 1998; his only child, Selena, also passed away in August 1997 from a tragic car crash.
What Niel has played/done over Rush's History:
writer, drums/percussion, electronic percussion, cymbals, tubular bells, temple blocks, cow bells, wind chimes, bell tree, triangle, vibra-slap, tympani, gong, crotales, gong bass drum, glockenspiel, hammer dulcimer, plywood
