Rush’s surviving members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson paid emotional tribute to their late bandmate Neil Peart at the premiere of the documentary Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple. The premiere was held on September 16 as part of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Footage of the moment was captured in a fan’s video of Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson’s speech.
Speaking to the audience, Lee reflected on what viewers could expect to learn about Peart from the film, describing a more personal and lesser-known side of the late drummer.
“Tonight you’re gonna see a very interesting look at this guy that you think you know,” Geddy Lee said. “You’re gonna see the depth of his musical legacy, and you’re gonna learn about friendship and how it runs both ways between the people he loved in the drum community and how they loved him back, which is really cool, and the wider circle of friends and what impact he had on their lives. I’m very grateful that this moment has arrived where this stuff can be shared, so, thank you for coming.”
Lifeson followed with his own reflections, echoing his bandmate’s sentiment and adding further insight into Peart’s character.
“I’ll just echo what Ged said—he encapsulated everything about the film, what an amazing person was. There’s a whole side of him that a lot of you don’t really know,” Alex Lifeson said. “He was very, very funny. He was a sweet friend, and he was extremely loyal. And hopefully you’ll get to see a little more of that.”
The documentary offers fans a closer look at Peart’s life beyond his musical career. It explores his relationships within the drumming community and among his wider circle of friends.
That closer look comes together through the vision of two filmmakers who know Rush’s story intimately. It also features a lineup of collaborators who bring Peart’s musical legacy to life on screen.
No One’s Disciple is directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, the same filmmaking duo behind the acclaimed 2010 Rush documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage. Their return to Peart’s story brings a familiar sensitivity to the band’s history, paired with a deeper focus this time on the man behind the drum kit. The film features four of rock’s most respected drummers—Stewart Copeland, Danny Carey, Chad Smith, and Gavin Harrison—alongside Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, appearing in tribute to Peart’s influence and technical mastery.
The film blends rare archival footage with personal reflections and live performances. This blend paints a fuller picture of the musicianship that made Peart one of rock’s most distinctive and revered drummers. This mix of concert-style tribute and intimate documentary storytelling sets No One’s Disciple apart from a typical retrospective. It gives audiences both the emotional and technical dimensions of Peart’s artistry.
The screening began at 9:30 p.m. in the VISA Screening Room, drawing an audience eager to see the tribute unfold on the big screen. A second public screening followed on September 19, giving Toronto audiences another opportunity to experience the film during the festival run.
Beyond its theatrical premiere, No One’s Disciple is set for a wider release soon after. CBC plans to bring the documentary to Canadian audiences on CBC Gem starting September 23. This will extend the tribute well beyond the festival circuit and into homes across the country.
