Published: August 9, 2026 · 5:07 AM EDT
The CBC documentary from Banger Films premieres September 23 and includes Rush bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson alongside Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey
Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple, a new documentary about late Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, will premiere on September 23, 2026 on CBC as part of The Passionate Eye.
The film profiles one of rock’s most enigmatic musicians through rare archival footage, personal reflections and performance material connected to Peart’s life, discipline and influence.
For Rush fans, the documentary carries major weight because it includes intimate interviews with Peart’s bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, along with appearances and performances involving several of the most recognizable drummers in rock.
Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple explores the life and legacy of Neil Peart, who became one of the defining drummers in rock history through his work with Rush.
The documentary looks at Peart not only as a technical drummer, but also as a writer, thinker and private figure whose lyrics and musical choices helped shape the identity of the band.
The film uses archival material to bring Peart’s own voice into the story.
In one archival interview featured in the documentary, Peart says:
“I think it matters for me to play better all the time, and to play my best all the time, to keep it fresh and changing. It’s kind of my responsibility, I see it, as a drummer.”
The film includes interviews with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, placing Peart’s story inside the emotional and creative history of Rush.
That connection is essential. Peart was not only the drummer of the band, but also Rush’s primary lyricist, helping define the philosophical, science fiction, fantasy and literary themes that became central to the group’s catalog.
Through Lee and Lifeson, the documentary gives viewers access to the personal side of Peart’s role inside Rush, beyond the mythology of the drum kit.
Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple also features reflections and performances involving major drummers influenced by Peart’s work.
The film includes Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stewart Copeland of The Police and Danny Carey of Tool.
According to the announcement, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are also featured performing Rush classics with those drummers.
That gives the film an added musical dimension: it is not only a biography, but also a tribute built around musicians physically engaging with Peart’s legacy.
The documentary was directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn.
The film was produced by Banger Films and Elevation Pictures. Republic Pictures has acquired the film outside of Canada.
At this stage, release details outside Canada, including the United States, have not been confirmed.
Neil Peart died in January 2020 after a private three-and-a-half-year battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers in rock history, known for technical precision, elaborate drum arrangements, large-scale percussion setups and a distinctive style that combined power, discipline and composition.
Beyond drumming, Peart was central to Rush’s identity as a lyricist. His writing brought literature, philosophy, science fiction, fantasy, individualism, travel and reflection into the band’s music.
He was also an author, writing travel memoirs and co-authoring the Clockwork Angels novelization with Kevin J. Anderson.
Rush effectively ended their touring life in 2015 after the R40 Tour, with their final performance taking place at Kia Forum in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015.
Peart retired from performing due to chronic pain and tendinitis, closing a touring career that had lasted more than four decades.
In 2026, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returned to the stage with the Fifty Something Tour, joined by drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold.
The tour celebrates more than five decades of Rush music while honoring the legacy of Peart.
The timing of Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple is significant.
The documentary arrives during a renewed Rush moment, with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson back onstage, fans revisiting the band’s catalog and Peart’s legacy continuing to define how people understand Rush.
Rather than presenting Peart only as a technical icon, the film appears positioned to explore the larger figure: the drummer, lyricist, reader, traveler, private thinker and musician who never seemed fully comfortable with the myth built around him.
That makes the documentary important not only for drummers, but for anyone interested in how Rush became one of the most respected bands in progressive rock history.
Title: Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple
Subject: Neil Peart
Band connection: Rush
Premiere date: September 23, 2026
Network: CBC
Program: The Passionate Eye
Directors: Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn
Production: Banger Films and Elevation Pictures
International rights: Republic Pictures outside Canada
Featured Rush members: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Featured drummers: Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey
At the center of Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple is the rare challenge of documenting a musician who became larger than life while remaining deeply private. Through archival footage, reflections from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, and performances involving Chad Smith, Stewart Copeland and Danny Carey, the film places Peart’s legacy back where it belongs: inside the music of Rush, inside the discipline of drumming and inside the imagination of generations who still hear his words and rhythms as part of their own lives.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
PHOTO CREDIT: PolyGram
Watch Rush ’s Official video for “Tom Sawyer (Live From The Montreal Forum / 1981)” below:
