Paul Rudd, Jason Segel Pay Tribute To Neil Peart
Actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, who played Rush loving pals in 2009’s I Love You, Man, (which featured a cameo by the band) have weighed in on Neil Peart, paying tribute to the Rush drummer who died earlier this week.
Segel told Rolling Stone, “I’m so sad to hear about Neil Peart’s passing. Drumming to ‘The Spirit of Radio’ was one of my happiest moments. Getting to know Neil even the tiniest bit, and gush with Rudd about our love for Rush, will be something I remember forever. He was an amazing talent and a good man. We will miss you Neil.”
Rudd added, “When I first met Neil, I was intimidated as I certainly knew him to be a serious and private person. Within two minutes, we were cracking up and quoting lines from Team America. I’m missing him as I write this. Being the greatest drummer on the planet was only a part of Neil. He was a thunderbolt of a human being, and he’ll live forever.”
In I Love You, Man, Rudd’s character needed to find a friend to the best man at his wedding; he meets Segel’s character, and hijinks ensue. But their characters bond over their shared love for Rush, and a Rush concert provides an important scene in the film.
They later reprised their characters for a Funny or Die video where they actually meet the members of Rush after the show.
Years later, they appeared in footage that Rush used during their performances of “Roll The Bones” during their final tour (along with Peter Dinklage, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Les Claypool of Primus, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others).
https://youtu.be/xfU27DSrACI
