Here is what Wikipedia has on John Rutsey: a former drummer, most recognized for being a co-founding member of Rush along with Alex Lifeson and Jeff Jones (who was shortly replaced by Geddy Lee). He was the band's drummer from summer 1968 to July 1974. Rutsey played on the "Not Fade Away"/"You Can't Fight It" single and the eponymous debut LP, after which he quit the band, citing creative differences and health concerns related to his diabetes that may have posed potential problems with extended tours.

Rush's self-titled debut album was released in March 1974, and Rutsey left soon after in July 1974. Neil Peart joined that same month, and played his first show on August 14, 1974. In a 1989 Rockline interview, Lifeson remarked, "John's still around. I see John quite often. He gave up playing shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding.