John Rutsey (born 1953) is a former drummer, most recognized for being a co-founding member of Rush along with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. He was the band's drummer from summer 1968 to July 1974. Rutsey played only 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. [1] [1]

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 14th, 1974.

Rutsey's parting is considered pivotal by Rush fans, as the band's style then changed from Led Zeppelinesque blues-rock to progressive rock. Neil Peart became the primary lyricist, and contributed a very different drumming style that is one of the band's defining and popular characteristics.

In a 1989 Rockline interview, Alex 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. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years, and has sort of been in and out of that, but he still works out, and I work out with him a few times a week at a local gym - at a Gold's, here in Toronto." In a recent interview on the VH1 Classic show "Hangin' With," Alex revealed that he had quit seeing John around 1990.