2112 Makes Gibson's "10 Greatest Concept Albums of All Time"

"Prog-rock and heavy metal were fused more brilliantly than ever on this conceptual effort, which proved to be Rush’s breakthrough album. Spanning one full album-side, the 20-minute title track presented a harrowing portrait of a world in which individual expression is crushed at every level. Alex Lifeson’s metal riffs gave the music a hard edge that distinguished it from the flighty tendencies of Rush’s British prog-rock counterparts. Today, many of the album’s themes seem prescient." - Gibson.com, December 30, 2010 - Thanks to B-man for the headsup!

Tom Sawyer Sampled In "The Peacemaker: L.A. Gang Wars"

On December 16 "The Peacemaker: L.A. Gang Wars" premiered on the A&E network. A five-part series chronicling times of tense street gang mediation in South Central, Los Angeles, the series is executive produced by rapper/actor Ice-T, who also recorded the series' theme song which includes a sample of Rush's "Tom Sawyer". For more info click here and here. - Thanks to B-man for the headsup!

Neil Peart Master Class: Free Lesson Online

DrumChannel.com has made available a free video drum lesson from the Neil Peart Master Class; this is the 9th of 10 total classes with Neil,which range from Beginner to Advanced over 10 lessons. - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!

"Watch Neil as he performs his warm-up routine in Lesson 9 from his Drum Channel Master Class, Frontiers of Composition and Articulation." - DrumChannel.com

Documentary about Niagara's Music Scene "The Big Story of Small Potatoes" Now On Youtube/Free Download

Last year you might recall a documentary about Niagara's music scene was released titled The Big Story of Small Potatoes which "explores the roots of the lost music scene of Niagara, circa 1964-1974." The documentary includes Neil Peart along with one of his early bands JR Flood performing the song "Giant Killer".

The director, Paul Miil, has graciously posted the full documentary on Youtube and as a free download for your Blackberry or Smartphone. - Thanks to Paul Miil, Andrew Olson and RushFanForever for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson on His and Geddy Lee's Wine 'Internships'

Alex Lifeson is one of the many celebrity wine lovers to be profiled in Mark Oldman’s book, Oldman's Brave New World Of Wine, released back on September 9th.

Oldman has posted another short video feature to his website:

"In an exclusive interview inside his home wine cellar, RUSH's legendary axeman Alex Lifeson tells Mark Oldman about the week-long winemaker internships he and bandmate Geddy Lee did at Joseph Phelps Winery and at Turley Wine Cellars. He fondly recalls how during crush he and Geddy were so covered in grape juice that they were mistaken for Napa locals at a nearby eatery" - MarkOldman.com, December 17, 2010 - Thanks to Laura Romain for the headsup!

This is Oldman's second video feature with Alex Lifeson; previously Oldman shared the following:

"Mark takes off to the Great White North to visit with Rush’s Alex Lifeson, the legendary rock guitarist and one of the wine-passionate 'Bravehearts' featured in Oldman’s Brave New World of Wine. We learn how Alex’s wife accidentally swipes one of his cherished bottles and how the musician devises a solution to prevent future incursions — an ingenious idea Mark dubs a 'Lifeson Ledge'. This is cautionary tale for all drinkers interested in discouraging the unauthorized removal of their favorite vino. Click here to watch the video." - Mark Oldman, November 3, 2010

Alex is one of the many wine lovers featured in the Mark's book, Oldman's Brave New World Of Wine, where he discusses his favorite wines, wine-based experiences, and a few tricks he’s picked up over the years:

"Bandmate Geddy Lee and I went to California’s Turley Wine Cellars in late September of 1998 to spend a few days working the harvest. We pulled all of the leaves and spiders and all that stuff out of the bins, and so we were covered head-to-toe in grape juice. Later, Ged and I stopped at this restaurant for lunch. Our shirts and fingers were all purple—we were so proud! People were like, 'Yeah, you guys are locals, aren’t you? We’ll get you some service right away, sir.'" - Alex Lifeson

Alex's comments join those from dozens of other notable wine lovers, including actors Hilary Swank and Matthew McConaughey, novelist Jay McInerney, designer Zac Posen, and even Bill Nye, the “Science Guy.” Oldman's Brave New World Of Wine was released September 6th. For more information, view the book’s official trailer (www.markoldman.com/videos/brave_trailer) or visit MarkOldman.com.

Selina Martin Covers "The Spirit Of Radio"

As previously announced, Selina Martin's Disaster Fantasies was released June 29th, including a "thoughtful cover" of "The Spirit Of Radio (click here for a sample).

"Toronto singer-songwriter Selina Martin, whose upcoming album Disaster Fantasies will include a thoughtful cover of the 1980 Rush hit Spirit of Radio talks about the gender disparity among the band’s fans." - Globe & Mail, June 5, 2010

Martin teamed up with the BidiniBand (fronted by Rush fan and ex-Rheostatic Dave Bidini) to perform the song two weeks ago at a Juno anniversary show at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern to celebrate Juno-winning music from the 1970s (click here to view the performance). When discussing the song, Martin said:

"I was never a huge Rush fan, but when I was a preteen growing up in Kanata [a suburb of Ottawa], I remember having some kind of epiphany while they were playing that song at the roller disco, with the lights flashing and the music really loud. And later, I’d be in these campfire sing-along situations, and someone would say, 'Selina, why don’t you sing something?' I just hated that, and it was always uncomfortable, so the way to kill the campfire sing-along was to do 'The Spirit of Radio', because nobody could play along!" - Selina Martin, The Globe And Mail, November 30, 2010 -Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson To Join Andy Kim's Xmas Concert Tonight

Just a quick reminder, tonight Alex Lifeson will be one of the featured artists to perform at Andy Kim's Christmas Show at the Mod Club in Toronto:

"Once again, legendary singer-songwriter Andy Kim has rounded up an impressive line-up of talent to join him at his annual charity concert in Toronto. This year’s Andy Kim Christmas Show, at the Mod Club Dec. 15, will also feature Rush’s Alex Lifeson, Ron Sexsmith and Platinum Blonde. More guests are still to be announced. The evening is being presented by Sentry Investments, Long & McQuade and CP24. Tickets are on sale now for $25 at all Ticketmaster outlets, Rotate This, Soundscapes or call 416-870-8000 to charge by phone. Doors open at 7 p.m. The Mod Club is located at 722 College St." - SamaritanMag.com, November 23, 2010 - Thanks to SquintyT4E for the headsup!

Neil Peart App Free Download From Promark

"The Neil Peart application and mobile website has been available to anyone who purchases a pair of his limited edition Time Machine Tour PW747W, but we’re in the Christmas spirit, and want EVERYONE to join in on the fun!...Use your smart phone to scan this QR code and get access to the app! The Neil Peart App Home Page is your portal to everything Neil on the Time Machine Tour!" Click here for more details from Promark.com - December 13, 2011 - Thanks to AndyO and RushIsABand for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson Signs Carparelli Guitars For Charity

Back in 2009, Toronto's Carparelli guitars donated a guitar signed by Alex Lifeson to raise funds for an auction supporting Autism Speaks Canada at the Richmond Hill Gold Club on September 16, 2009.

Last month, Alex signed a Carparelli S3 guitar which was donated to Autism Speaks Canada for a future auction. In addition, Alex has signed the Jim Warren Freedom Guitar for Carparelli; the guitar has been signed by various artists including the Beach Boys and Kris Kristofferson and will receive additional artist's signatures before being auctioned off for charity in February of next year. Details for both auctions are still unannounced, stay tuned for more info.

Geddy Lee Featured On December's "Classic Rock" Magazine

Geddy Lee is on the cover of the December issue of Britain's Classic Rock magazine. The bulk of the feature includes Geddy's memories of the making of Moving Pictures, but he also briefly discusses the current Time Machine tour and playing Moving Pictures live in its entirety. For this long time fan of "The Camera Eye", I was pleased to see Geddy discuss the track at length:

"'The Camera Eye' was the last really epic song we wrote. It's 11 minutes long. At the time, we really didn't appreciate it. Back then we though it was too long and repetitive. We didn't understand the mood it generated...it was a song we never thought worked. But the way we revamped it made this come alive. One thing the tour did for us was to make us aware of how good 'The Camera Eye' always was. I'm so glad we've become friends with it again."

The full interview is available here. - Thanks to Reed Lover and RushFanForever for the headsup!

"10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Alex Lifeson" - Guitar Player January 2011

Alex Lifeson is featured in the January issue of Guitar Player magazine. The ten page feature story is titled "10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Alex Lifeson". - Thanks to Frank Panacci for the headsup!

Second life: Newsmaker Combacks

Canada's Maclean's magazine today posted the feature story "Second life: Newsmaker Combacks" which includes:

"RUSH: The rock group has been performing since 1968, but the 2010 documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (in which Gene Simmons calls them 'crazy Canadians' for their clean-living style) introduced them to a broader audience. The film was a success on the festival circuit, inspiring the band’s Time Machine Tour, where they mostly played hits from their long career." - Macleans.ca, December 9, 2010 - Thanks to John @ Cygnus-x1.net for the headsup!

Rush On Glee

In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Glee music supervisor PJ Bloom dreams of who he would like to feature in a future episode of the hit musical television show:

"I’d also love to see the ’80s hair-band episode, the punk-rock episode and, of course, the Rush episode—but then who wouldn’t want to see the New Directions sing 'Tom Sawyer'?!" - PJ Bloom, VanityFair.com, December 7, 2010 - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!

Toronto Newscaster Mark Dailey Succumbs to Kidney Cancer

Toronto Newscaster Mark Dailey passed away Monday after a battle with kidney cancer. He was 57. Long believed by some Rush fans to be the 'spoken voice' in "Subdivisions", Dailey himself stated in 2009 that this is an "urban myth":

"That's been an urban myth for years. It's not my voice on 'Subdivisions' by Rush but I continue to get credit. I've tried to dispel it but won't go away." - Mark Dailey, Citytv.com, March 23, 2009

The voice was later confirmed to be that of Neil Peart, when he discussed Jacob Moon's cover of "Subdivisions" at Rush's induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame earlier this year:

"We all shared Jacob Moon's performance of Subdivisions quite a long time ago and sent it to each other, 'Hey have you seen this?' because it's such a beautiful cover. The imaginative way that he uses the little cassette player to get my voice in there. It's superb." - Neil Peart, Jam!Showbiz, March 26, 2010

For more on Mark Dailey, click here.

Darkstar Is Finally Here!

Darkstar, the long anticipated interactive videogame from J. Allen Williams, is finally here. The game is available for purchase for your Mac or PC from most online retailers, as well as Darkstarstore.com. and strategyfirst.com. Future platform releases are expected to follow next year.

When we first learned of the development of Darkstar back in 2004, the game's cinematics were to feature over an hour of the music of Rush.

"We are now negotiating with Universal and Atlantic to include the following songs to be featured in the feature length scifi film that serves as back-story to the project: Anthem, Bastille Day, The Twilight Zone, Cygnus X-1, Cygnus X-1 Book II, Tom Sawyer, YYZ, The Camera Eye, Witch Hunt, Vital Signs, Subdivisions, Red Sector A, The Enemy Within, Red Lenses, Mystic Rhythms, Manhattan Project, Time Stand Still, Test for Echo, Time and Motion, Limbo, One Little Victory and Nocturne. The band and their management has approved the use of all of these songs, but final negotiations must be completed with Universal and Atlantic before we can announce the final songlist. We're hoping we can include this entire list." - J. Allen Williams/Parallax Studio L.L.C., December, 2009

Unfortunately, negotiations broke down with Universal Music who control the use of most of the songs, and last summer the producers were forced to remove all Rush from the soundtrack and replace it with original music.

"'The band gave us a green light years ago, but tough negotiations with Universal more recently have gone nowhere - and at the end of the day, they own the RUSH masters. They simply want too much money, more than was ever talked about during this process.' commented Studio owner J. Allen Williams. 'At this point we've made the difficult decision to pull the music and produce an original score for Darkstar so we can release, and that is now in process. We wish it could have gone better for both RUSH and our project, but that's Hollywood for you. Clearance rights were our last worry as we were told repeatedly over the years that the band was behind us. Anthem encouraged us to talk about it in interviews, which we did.' said Williams. 'We are disappointed, of course, as I'm sure there will be fans who have been writing us for so long waiting to see their favorite band in Darkstar. I have a true love for RUSH and a vision that could have glorified them to a new generation of listeners. It sucks, it's sad, but that's the final word.' Darkstar began production in mid-2000, featuring the original cast of the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000, Clive Robertson (Sunset Beach), and was veteran actor Peter Graves final performance. Darkstar is back on schedule for release now that these issues are resolved." - Darkstar Press Release, July 1, 2010

As a Rush fan, the first question that came to mind was, "who replaced Rush?" Well, the old adage "if you want something done right, do it yourself" came into play as J. Allen Williams, who not only wrote, produced, directed and animated the game, also stepped up to the plate to co-write the soundtrack with musical partners Bill Bruce (guitars) and Jimmy Pitts (keyboards). As it turns out, in another lifetime the multi-talented Williams also played bass in the 80's band "Wilder". The band regrouped, and along with additional members, formed "Progressive Sound and Metal Worx" to record 38 original songs for Darkstar. The final product is a progressive metal soundscape that will satisfy any progressive rock fan. The 2CD original soundtrack is also available for purchase at Darkstarstore.com; here is the opening track of the soundtrack album, "Surfing The Velvet Abyss".

The game features the entire original cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000 as well as Clive Robertson as the captain. I have had the opportunity to take "The Westwick" (the starship featured in the game) for a test drive, and the anticipation was well deserved. The game opens with an elaborate opening film comprised of live action and CGI elements, which concludes with your character, Captain John O'Neil, waking up from hibernation after 312 years. As it happens, your character coincidentally has amnesia, so as you begin the game your first task is to learn as much about yourself and your surroundings as possible. Described as an interactive movie, the game play at first glance is similar to that of Myst, but much more cinematic in nature.

For more information, visit Darkstar.gs.

The Lost Fingers' Cover "Tom Sawyer"

The Lost Fingers is a Canadian gypsy jazz music group from Quebec City. The group was nominated for two Juno Awards in the categories of Fan Choice Award and Album of the Year based on the success of their debut release, Lost In The 80's.

This past Tuesday The Lost Fingers released their latest album, Gypsy Kameloneon, which includes their take on "Tom Sawyer". Like all clever covers, upon close scrutiny one will find that all of the intricate parts are meticulously reproduced, albeit in a "gypsy jazz" vein. - Thanks to Patric Lafortun for the headsup!

V-DRUMS ON STAGE!...exit stage left.

Roland.com has added a new article featuring Neil Peart and his V-Drums. An advertisement featuring Neil and his drums appears on page 3 of the Nov/Dec issue of Canadian Musician.

"I first introduced Roland V-Drums into my setup in 2001, during the writing and recording of our Vapor Trails album. On the subsequent tour, they became a fixture in my drum solos, as well as to trigger samples throughout our live show. I also played the V-Drums on our 30th Anniversary tour in 2004, on the Snakes and Arrows album and tours in 2006, '07, and '08 (thus they appear on the Rush in Rio, R30, and Snakes and Arrows Live DVDs and CDs), and now on our 2010 Time Machine tour. Over the years, the V-Drums have continued to improve in touch sensitivity, and in sound quality and variety, and I still find them not only fun to play, but a great creative addition to my percussion world." – Neil Peart, Roland.com, November, 2010

Website Updates: Multi-screen Smartphone Wallpapers and Firefox Personas

I've updated two features of the Downloads section of Power Windows:

Smartphone Wallpaper Update: Recently I upgraded my cel phone to a Droid which has multi-screen panning wallpaper functionality. First order of business was to update the graphically intensive Smartphone Wallpaper page to include a set of wallpapers specifically created for this wallpaper size. These images have also been tested on the HTC Sense desktop. Ideally I would like to create a Droid App with a core set of Rush wallpapers, but that's currently above my level of expertise...

Firefox Personas: Personas are free "skins" for the Firefox browser. I did some investigating and found a shortage of Rush Personas, so I took the time to create a few; the current collection contains ten album Personas (there were 11, but Firefox dropped my Hemispheres Persona due to "nudity"!). You can find my collection here.

As always, additional Smartphone wallpapers or Firefox Personas can be added upon request. These downloads are of course free of charge, but Tips Are Welcome!

Rush Featured In AT&T High-Speed Internet Television Commercial

In a new television commercial for AT&T High-Speed Internet which has the tagline "now everyone can explore the world from home", a man wearing a Rush tshirt featuring the logo from the debut album is shown visiting various retail stores on a giant computer mouse. The mouse represents that he is shopping online, and he eventually stops at a music store to purchase a matching Rush "onesie" for his newborn baby girl. You can see the video here.

Both the tshirt and onesie featured in the commercial are available at the Rush Backstage Club. Proceeds from the sale of this product and revenues received by Rush for the use of this product in the AT&T spots will be donated to War Child Canada in Haiti.

Bubba's Book Club - December 2010 Issue

Neil Peart has updated the "Bubba's Book Club" section of his website, where he gives his literary recommendations for your consideration. In this issue, Neil reviews The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon, and The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver. About The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Peart writes:

"The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001, and I know of no reason not to start by saying, 'I love this book'...The story brings together Sammy Klayman, growing up in Brooklyn, and his cousin Josef Kavalier, a refugee from the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia, in the late 1930s. Together they invent a superhero, 'The Escapist,' whose origins are richly woven into the pair’s youthful experiences and scars. The newly-Americanized Sammy Clay and Joe Kavalier become part of the 'golden age' of comics, in the 1940s and ’50s, and wrestle with exploitative bosses, government paranoia, confused sexuality, longing and loss, and the whirl of history in those turbulent times. The Depression, fascism, the Holocaust, World War II, the bizarre outbreaks of fear and witch hunts of the late ’40s and early ’50s, all are brought dramatically to life through the lenses of Kavalier and Clay."

This is a rare occasion in that I have actually read one of the books Neil has reviewed (not the first time, but it's not typical by any means!). I happened to read Kavalier & Clay a couple of years ago, and also give it a veritable two thumbs up. It was a novel that took me by surprise, as it was much bigger in scope than I first anticipated. I might also add that a film adaptation was in the works reportedly starring Tobey Maguire, Jamie Bell and Natalie Portman, but according to the author in 2007 the project "just completely went south for studio-politics kinds of reasons...".

The Orbit Room 16th Anniversary Party

The Orbit Room held its 16th Anniversary Celebration Party on Friday night, and as usual Alex Lifeson was in attendance (as was Terry Brown). Alex joined in with The Dave Murphy Band and The Dexter's to perform "For What It's Worth" and "White Rabbit", two songs they previously released on Second Anniversary At The Orbit Room back in 1996, as well as Kashmir, Won't Get Fooled Again, Peter Gunn, Tom Sawyer, In The Mood, and Limelight. Videos for all songs are available here. - Thanks to RushGirl for the headsup!

Rush ‘Living Legends’ At Classic Rock Awards

Rush is the recipient of this year's 'Living Legend' award at the Marshall Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards held November 10th at London's Roundhouse. The Classic Rock 'Living Legend' award is bestowed on a rock act for their enduring influence and remarkable achievements in the world of rock music. As one of rock's most influential bands, Rush joins an illustrious list of previous legendary recipients such as Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Alice Cooper and Lemmy.

"We are thrilled to receive the 'Living Legend' award from Classic Rock. It's much better than the alternative! Seriously, we are humbled and very appreciative." - Geddy Lee, ClassicRockMagazine.com, September 28, 2010

"As a Canadian, I'm slightly embarrassed. Obviously musicianship awards mean the most to us. That was the whole reason we got into it. You try not to think of yourselves in terms of legendary status - it's extremely unhealthy. I try to look at it as a thank you for a long career." - Geddy Lee, "Rush Still Living In The Limelight", BBC.com, November 10, 2010

Neil Peart Featured In "The Drummer: Classic Rock"

Neil Peart is one of the drummers featured in Modern Drummer's special collector's issue "The Drummer: Classic Rock" (November 2010 issue). - Thanks to Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!

"An educated, entertaining, essential addition to every drummer's library—and to the history of modern drumming—The Drummer: Classic Rock Collector's Edition magazine builds on content from Modern Drummer's Top-selling The Drummer book with expanded coverage of drumming royalty from the golden age of rock 'n' roll. Featuring: John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Alex Van Halen, Neil Peart, Carl Palmer, Keith Moon, Ian Paice, Mitch Mitchell, Ringo Starr, Bill Bruford, Charlie Watts, Jim Keltner, Phil Collins, Russ Kunkel, John Densmore, Liberty DeVitto, Carter Beauford, Don Brewer, Robert Wyatt, Neal Smith, Clive Bunker, Danny Seraphine, Barriemore Barlow, Carmine Appice, and many more." - ModernDrummer.com

Rush Receive "Legend Of Live" Honor at Billboard Touring Awards

Rush was named this year's Legend of Live at the 2010 Billboard Touring Awards held November 4th in New York. The Legend of Live honors groups or individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to live music and the touring business, and acknowledges the recipients' commitment to the art of performing live and reaching fans through the concert experience.

"'With a remarkable body of live work over the years, altering the course of rock music and raising the bar as to what can be done onstage, along with the band's continued commitment to playing live, we think Rush are uniquely deserving of this award,' says Ray Waddell, Billboard's executive director of content and programming, touring and live entertainment. 'From the early days in the bars and clubs of Toronto to stadiums, amphitheaters and arenas around the world, Rush have epitomized professionalism and the spirit of live rock 'n roll, and they boast some of the most passionate and loyal fans in rock.'" - Billboard.com, September 29, 2010

Related News

• Rush, Jack Johnson to Receive Honors at Billboard Touring Awards - Billboard.com, September 29, 2010
• Rush: Legend Of Live, Billboard.com, November 6, 2010
  
• Neil Peart: 'A Life Of Lighted Stages', Billboard.com, November 6, 2010
  
• Rush: Steady As They Go, Billboard.com, November 6, 2010
  

"Rush: Chemistry" Paperback Now Available

Originally released in hardback in 2005, Jon Collins' biography Rush: Chemistry received a North American paperback release November 1st.

"Against a background of disinterest from the media and a refusal to compromise their music, Rush’s success was by no means guaranteed. Since the beginning, only the determined efforts and downright stamina of the band members and those around them were sufficient to counter the wall of silence. Sharing a single-minded determination to take on the system and win, Geddy, Alex and Neil have never rested on their laurels. Pushing themselves to achieve technical excellence, never avoiding the challenge of taking on new musical influences, through huge changes of fashion and major personal tragedy, the entity we know as Rush has endured. Thirty years on, the band is still creating new music and packing arenas and stadiums around the globe. Meticulously researched over three years, Chemistry draws on over 50 new interviews with those closest to the band. As the most detailed biography of Rush ever written, this book pulls together the threads and investigates the reasons that have enabled this band to succeed against the odds."

"Subdivisions" DLC for Rock Band 3

"Subdivisions" is part of the Rock Band DLC for November 2nd. With the addition of keyboards in Rock Band 3, you'll be able to play the keyboards in addition to guitars and drums! The track is the original master recording. - Thanks to Michael Ruiz for the headsup!

"Get your first taste of Rush Pro Mode-style next week when the single 'Subdivisions' comes to the Rock Band 3 Music Store! The song comes from Rush's 1982 album Signals and is one of five Rush songs inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in March 2010. The track will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii on November 2 for $1.99. The Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade expansion is $0.99." - Rockband.com, October 29, 2010

The Rush App Now Available For Android and iPhone

The Rush Time Machine App is now available for the iPad, as well as the iPhone and Android smartphones. With the app, fans can get exclusive up to the minute news, music, and more in the palm of their hands. For more info visit rushapps.com.

Nelly Furtado Covers "Time Stand Still"

Canadian pop singer Nelly Furtado performed a cover of "Time Stand Still" for the Canadian film Score: A Hockey Musical. The film premiered across Canada Friday, October 22nd, and the soundtrack album containing Nelly's cover is now available.

"She was part of a Canadian film called Score: A Hockey Musical. We got a call that she wanted to sing that song. It's really sweet of her to do that. I don't know how she came about choosing that song, but she obviously responded to it." - Geddy Lee, BBC.com, November 10, 2010

Geddy Lee Featured on October's "Musician's Friend"

The October Rhythm issue of the Musician's Friend catalog features Geddy Lee on the cover. For the online version, click here.

Rock Aid Armenia Reissue: "Smoke On The Water: The Metropolis Sessions"

Originally released in 1990 on Rock-Aid Armenia, The Earthquake Album, the all star recording of "Smoke On The Water" is being reissued as Smoke On The Water: The Metropolis Sessions on November 22 (preorder the cd or (download from itunes). A benefit for the victims of the earthquake in Armenia on December 7, 1988, "Smoke on the Water" was recorded by an all star group of performers (see below) including Alex Lifeson.

"Smoke On The Water" was recorded over five sessions from July 8th to September 24th, 1989. Neil Peart had agreed to take part but was unable due to scheduling conflicts. Alex was in attendance for only the final session on September 24th:

"The one person from Rush who thankfully was able to make it was Alex Lifeson. He felt that there was enough solos on the record so he prepared some guitar lines that would underpin the song and give it some groove. You can hear his playing at the start of the guitar solos, in the Paul Rodgers verse and he's the one playing the crash chords at the end of the song. He did it all in one take. John Brough and I [Jon Dee, Founder of Rock Aid Armenia] were producing the session that day and we were duly impressed. When Alex left the room we just stared at each other and raise our eyebrows in awe." - RockAidArmenia.com

"Smoke On The Water" includes: Lead guitarists: Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Brian May (Queen) and Geoff Beauchamp. Vocalists: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Bryan Adams, Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company). Bass guitar: Chris Squire (Yes). Keyboards: Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Keith Emerson (ELP), Geoff Downes (Asia, ex-Yes). Drums: Roger Taylor (Queen).

For more information including an extensive history of the project including and photo gallery visit RockAidArmenia.com - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Neil Peart: Fire on Ice, Making of "The Hockey Theme" DVD Now Available

Neil Peart: Fire on Ice, Making of "The Hockey Theme" is now available on DVD exclusively from Drum Channel.

"Neil Peart gives a behind the scenes tour of the making of "The Hockey Theme". Canada's TSN (The Sports Network) decided to recreate the hockey theme; they wanted to use iconic Canadians to help in the revisal. The Hockey theme is recognized as Canada's second national anthem so when they decided to recreate it, they wanted to use the best, and the first person that came to mind was Rush drummer, Neil Peart. Neil also discusses a custom drum kit made by DW Drums with all of the different hockey team logos on it. Total Content: 92 minutes" - DrumChannel.com (thanks to AndyO for the heasdsup!)

"Caravan" featured in TSN hockey opening montage

Last night TSN debuted their new pre-game video montage featuring "Caravan" as the theme song. As players talk about "thinking big" as the season begins, Geddy chimes in "I can't stop thinking big...". The video concludes with Neil Peart's recording of The Hockey Theme. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Rush's "Resist" Included On "The Rounder Records Story"

"Resist" from Rush In Rio is one of 87 tracks found on the new 4CD anthology, The Rounder Records Story, released October 12, 2010. - Thanks to Squintyt4e for the heads up!

"For forty years, Rounder Records has been on a singular mission to record the magnificent range of American roots music styles-bluegrass, New Orleans R&B, old time fiddling, singer-songwriter, blues, country, rockabilly, roots rock, Cajun and a few that cross enough boundaries to be genres of their own. The 87 songs selected for this 4CD set show the true breadth of the label's catalog, from the old time folk music of Ola Belle Reed to the Grammy sweeping triumph of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The discs are arranged by decade, and it is fascinating to hear both the underlying consistencies and the ongoing evolution of the label's vision, while the list of musicians includes many of the defining names in roots music. Includes extensive notes by Washington Post journalist Geoff Himes." - Rounder.com

Neil Peart Discusses Coleridge's Xanadu

Today's Guardian newspaper includes the story "Bard reputation: pop stars pick their favourite poets". Neil Peart is one of those "pop stars" quoted and discusses the inspiration of Samuel Taylor Coleridge on "Xanadu" (note, these comments are very similar to those he previously wrote in Roadshow):

"In 1975 I was trying to write a song inspired by the dark mood and subtle psychology of the film Citizen Kane, which features the opening lines of Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I looked up the poem and was overwhelmed by its imagery and emotional power. The song Xanadu was taken over by the poem in a way that has never happened since. I added the 'adventure travel' aspect to the song's story before I'd traveled further than the rock clubs of North America. I portrayed Coleridge's idea of immortality as a grim curse – Citizen Kane is the opposite: mortality as a punishment. There's a joke that goes, 'Rush is what happens when you let the drummer write the songs', which is funny, but of course I only write the lyrics. The line in the song Animate – 'daughter of a demon lover' – pays homage to these powerful lines from Kubla Khan: 'As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted/ By woman wailing for her demon lover.' Now that's rock." - Neil Peart, The Guardian, October 7, 2010 - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!

"Hockey Night in Canada" theme song drum kit now in HHOF

Neil Peart recorded an all new version of the "Hockey Theme" for TSN which premiered Thursday, January 12th. Click here to view the video, (click here for video featuring Neil only). The video is also available for purchase from iTunes US, while the theme is available from iTunes Canada. The master recording of "The Hockey Theme" is also available for download for only 99 cents (80 Microsoft points; 100 Wii Points) on Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 3.

The Hockey Hal Of Fame website has announced "The drum kit used by Neil Peart, famed drummer of Canada's legendary rock group RUSH is now on display inside the TSN/RDS Zone. The drum set was used by Peart to record TSN/RDS's updated 'Hockey Night in Canada' theme song." - HHOF.com Thanks to RushIsABand.com for the headsup!

Click here for more on the recording of the Hockey Theme

Neil Peart Interviewed for "Mike Heppner and the Talking Man Project"

Neil Peart once reviewed Mike Heppner's second novel, Pike's Folley, for Bubba's Book Club. Peart is one of a group of participants interviewed by Heppner for an article titled Excerpts from Mike Heppner's Man Talking Project. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock Now Available, Includes 2112

Guitar Hero: Warriors Of Rock hit store shelves today. What is unique in this edition of Guitar Hero is the inclusion of "2112" in its entirety, as well as narration by Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. Click here to order. - Thanks to Stew G for the headsup!

"It's official: Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock has the most epically prog-rock finale of any music video game yet. Rush have teamed with Activision for the fall release, which features a story-based Quest Mode that includes with hero wannabes playing the entirety of '2112', a seven-part suite from the Canadian band's 1976 album of the same name. The story of the game's final segment roughly follows Rush's opus, and will be narrated by lead singer Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. 'In our story, the caves of 2112 are where our hero finds the lost guitar,' says Lee. 'This rediscovery of music is much like the Guitar Hero warriors' journey to find the Demi-God of Rock's Legendary guitar, which has been trapped in a cavern.' Watch exclusive footage from the game here...The venues include Rush-inspired caves and a faithful rendering of the now-defunct CBGB...Despite added emphasis on storytelling and quest progression, however, the game remains focused on rock. 'I think it's a great way to introduce people of all ages to music of various styles by all kinds of different bands,' says Lifeson, 'while providing a launching pad for kids who want to get into playing music.'" - Rollingstone.com, July 20, 2010

‘2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums’ Now On Home Video

Moving Pictures/2112 Classic Albums is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, as well as a specially priced Blu-ray/2CD combo (containing both the Blu-Ray and both original albums on CD). Check out Classic Albums' trailer here.

"Continuing the tradition of this celebrated series, 2112 & Moving Pictures Classic Albums carries us through the creation of these musical masterpieces via brand new interviews, demonstrations, archive videos, and use of the original multi-track tapes. The titan trio of bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart, joined by original producer Terry Brown, weigh in on the mammoth melodies, resounding riffs, and dynamic drum fills behind these immense aural soundscapes. Many others contribute to the commentary, such as Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and acclaimed Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke. 112 minutes in total, this DVD digs even deeper with 50 minutes of bonus material not included in the upcoming VH1 Classic broadcast.

"These legendary albums mark pivotal points in Rush's career. 2112, released in 1976, broke the band into major music chart domination, going #1 in their native Canada and in the Top 75 in the USA, where it was certified triple platinum. Moving Pictures added fuel to their rising stardom, opening them up to a mass audience with heavy-hitting hits like "Tom Sawyer." Going #1 and quadruple platinum in Canada, as well as hitting #3 in the USA and the UK, this 1981 release remains their biggest selling album to date.

"For more information regarding this and other Eagle Rock Entertainment releases, contact Carol Kaye at Carol@Kayosproductions.com. To access photos and/or cover art, please visit kayosproductions.com." - Thanks to Robert Gill for the headsup!

"Suck" Now Available On Home Video

Suck, the Canadian vampire rock and roll comedy film rock and roll starring an all star cast of actors and musicians, is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Lifeson has a small roll as a U.S. border officer; click here for a short composite clip of Alex's scenes.

"Alex Lifeson should just fuckin’ quit Rush and be an actor, he’s so funny. He did all these little things, like playing with the typewriter and other subtle things that were so funny. I kept saying, 'Dude, be an actor!'" - Writer/Director Rob Stefaniuk, Now Magazine, September 2009

Rock Goes Back To Work

"What if someone who was a star on Friday suddenly had to get up with the rest of us this morning and wait in line for the bus, tube or train? Where would they be going? Rush drummer Neil Peart doesn’t need much time to think about it. He tells QMI: 'One of the first things I wanted to be was a forest ranger. I love the work they do. Another early ambition was to be a teacher, either English or History. Or advertising – there’s so much creativity there I laugh out loud sometimes at good slogans. Just before joining the band I was in the farm equipment business. My dad likes to joke that I’d have made a good parts manager.'"- UltimateGuitar.com, September 6, 2010

VH1's '100 Greatest Artists Of All Time' Premieres September 6, 2010

RUSH makes VH1's '100 Greatest Artists Of All Time', premiering today, September 6th: "VH1 goes back to its music roots and revisits the age-old question: 'Who is the greatest music artist for all time?' Determined by a poll of well-known music artists and music experts in the industry, VH1 will reveal this definitive (and sure-to-be highly controversial) list declaring who is the greatest of the great. Hosted by Jim Shearer (VH1's "Top 20 Video Countdown"), the 4-night special, VH1's '100 Greatest Artists of All Time,' premieres Monday, September 6 at 10/9c with a 2-hour premiere..." - Top-40Charts.com, August 25, 2010

RUSH "ICON"

RUSH ICON, the latest compilation from Universal, is now available. The tracklist includes exactly one track each from each of RUSH's first twelve albums listed in chronological order. However, the choice of those tracks makes for one of the most diverse Rush compilations ever to be released:

Working Man, Fly By Night, The Necromancer, The Twilight Zone, Closer To The Heart, Circumstances, Freewill, Limelight, The Analog Kid, Red Sector A, Marathon, Force Ten

The "ICONS" series includes artists ranging from KISS to Diana Ross, and have the tag line "Great Artists, Great Songs, Great Value!", and include "12 hits for only $7.99". The "featured songs include their debut album's 'Working Man,' 2112's 'The Twilight Zone' and classic rock radio staple 'Limelight.'"

Dusting ‘Em Off: Rush – Rush

"Consequence Of Sound has a running feature these days entitled Alternate History X, wherein we discuss parallel universes and alternate time lines to some of music’s most historic landmarks... One of the most popular and inspirational (albeit occasionally underestimated) progressive rock bands to ever grace a sci-fi fanboy’s stoner van hinged on an unfortunate and unlikely catalyst: diabetes." For more visit ConsequenceOfSound.net, August 28, 2010

Rush Referenced On "Rookie Blue"

During last night's episode of Rookie Blue, titled "Big Nickel", during a long car ride to pick up a prisoner McNally asks Swarek "What kind of music do you like listening to?" Swarek replies "Rush, I'm a big Rush fan". She answers "Who?" and he says "I like The Who too. Classic Rock, you know.". Watch the full episode here (the reference occurs at the 13 minute mark). - Thanks to Tom for the headsup!

Guitar Legends 30 Greatest Classic Rock Guitar Heroes

Alex Lifeson is one of Guitar Legends' 30 Greatest Guitar Heroes on sale now. Alex is featured on pages 48/49. Unfortunately, the article is a reprint of an story which first appeared in Guitar World 14 years ago; click here to view. - Thanks to Tom Cesco and RushFanForever for the headsup!

Chicago Rain Out Make Up

Last night Rush returned to Chicago after the July 7th rain out, which led to one fan suing the band seeking reimbursement for the ticket but also his airfare and other travel expenses (story below). As a thank you for standing in the downpour on July 7th, RUSH gave fans attending the August 23rd makeup performance an exclusive baseball hat which includes the stitching ""The Rain Date Chicago-2010" - Thanks to Timmy Samuel for the photo!

Related News:

• Rush fan sues over canceled Chicago show: "He’s filed a class action suit, not only seeking reimbursement for the ticket but also his airfare and other travel expenses...." - Chicago Sun Times, July 9, 2010
• "The rained out Wednesday, July 7 performance at Charter One Pavilion has been rescheduled to MONDAY, AUGUST 23. All tickets for the previously scheduled performance will be reactivated and honored at the rescheduled date. If fans feel that the barcodes may be illegible, they should ensure they bring picture ID and the credit card which was used to purchase the tickets. Refunds - if required at point of purchase through August 22nd. Questions can be directed to TicketMaster customer service at 800-653-8000" - Rush.com, July 12, 2010
• They keep rockin' in the rain: Outdoor Concerts, Sometimes the show can't go on if danger looms: "Mark Campana, president of Live Nation Midwest Music, said the plug was pulled after a group meeting with the Live Nation tour producer and local staff, Rush's manager and the band's production team. Rush was not involved in the meeting. 'The key was the amount of water that had fallen,' Campana said. 'The wind caused the water to blow onstage. We all decided not to test the electrical system. We could have cranked up the electricity, but we felt a test could cause harm to people since they were already in the theater. Equipment was set up. We are always going to err on the conservative side when it comes to safety.'"- Chicago Sun Times, July 15, 2010

"Time Stand Still: The Collection" Essay and Wallpaper Images

Last March, Universal Music released their first Euro-only Rush greatest hits compilation since 1981's Rush Through Time. Covering Rush's Mercury years (1974-1987), Time Stand Still: The Collection features a unique mix of tracks from that era which have never before been released on a single cd compilation.

Besides the linernotes essay which can be found here, the artwork is unique as it features live images taken on tour in Europe in the 1970's, including one photo of Rush on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon during the A Farewell To Kings Tour (i.e. the two night stand which yielded disk three of Different Stages). In addition, three of Geddy's retired basses as pictured in the photos, including his single and doublenecked Rickenbackers as well as his teardrop shaped Fender Precision. All images have converted into Wallpaper images and have been added to the Album Art Gallery here. - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for providing the linernotes scans!

Tracklist: The Spirit Of Radio, Tom Sawyer, Freewill, Fly By Night, The Big Money, Time Stand Still, Limelight, Finding My Way, By-Tor And The Snow Dog, A Passage To Bangkok, Distant Early Warning, The Trees, Closer To The Heart

Alex Lifeson Featured in September's "Premier Guitar"

Alex Lifeson is featured in the September issue of Premier Guitar magazine. Alex is found on page 26, in the "Opening Notes" section, which includes a full page photo taken last month in Sarnia, Ontario. - Thanks to Seth Hansen for the headsup!

Rush: A Brief History Of Time

John at Cygnus-X1.net has added another installment of old Rush articles and interviews to his Rush: A Brief History of Time collection. The collection is really growing, and makes for some fascinating reading into the history of Rush.

Donna Halper's Used Bin Radio Podcast Now Available

Rush discoverer Donna Halper appeared on Used Bin Radio last Tuesday, July 20th. The podcast of the show is now available here. Used Bin Radio airs each Tuesday at 11pm EST/8pm PST; tune in by clicking: www.purerockradio.net then click "LISTEN". - Thanks to Stephen Humphries and RushFanforever for the headsup!

Mediate To Sport Rush Hat During Canadian Open

"If all the world’s pro athletes were forced to make an in-their-prime career change, it wouldn’t take a pollster to project the majority vote. They’d mostly morph into rock stars, or rap stars. And you could count Rocco Mediate, the PGA Tour pro, among the first in line to make the switch. At least this is what Mediate was saying on Monday between practice putts at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke, where the RBC Canadian Open will commence its 101st edition on Thursday. Mediate, who famously tangled with Tiger Woods in an 18-hole playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open, is a big music fan. He is also a close friend of Alex Lifeson, the Toronto-bred guitarist for the rock band Rush. And Mediate admires the acclaimed trio so much that this week he’ll be a rare sight among PGA types. Not currently under contract to sport the obligatory logo of a sponsor on his cap, he’ll pull on headwear bearing the logo of Lifeson’s band. 'I absolutely would trade my job for Alex’s. Tomorrow,' said Mediate, 47. 'He still loves what he does...and he’s a psycho golfer. Psycho. He plays literally every day...He’s probably about an eight handicap now, which isn’t bad.'...Mediate, though he offered kind words for the St. George golf course, seemed much happier to tell of the vicarious pleasure he takes in Rush’s continuing success. The golfer was in L.A. a few weeks back to watch the band rehearse for its ongoing summer tour. And there he was Monday, wearing the name of a rock institution on a place usually reserved for the highest bidder. 'I just called Alex this morning and said, ‘I need more hats, damn it,’ ' Mediate said. 'This one’s looking a little worse for wear — I’ve been wearing it so much — but I love it.'" - Canadian Open challengers ready to rock, July 19, 2010

Lucky Uke's cover of "The Spirit Of Radio"

In June Quebec ukulele band Lucky Uke released a light hearted 12 track album of classic rock covers which includes "The Spirit Of Radio". The complete song can be heard at luckyuke.com (look for the player in the upper left cover of their home page), and the track and/or album can be purchased here. - Thanks to Patric Lafortun for the headsup!

Rush Featured in July's Prog Magazine

Rush is once again is featured on the cover of Classic Rock Presents "Prog" Magazine. The July 2010 issue has a 6-page article including interviews with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, as well as documentary filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scot McFayden. To purchase online, click here. Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Neil Peart, Drum Magazine's 2010 Drummer Of The Year

The current issue of Drum Magazine includes their annual Drummie Awards. For the 4th straight year, Neil wins Drummer Of The Year, and also was runner up for best Live Performer as well as best Progressive Rock Drummer. For the complete list visit DrumMagazine.com. - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!

"My Favorite Headache" and "Victor" Reissues

Last December, Wounded Bird Records reissued Alex Lifeson's long out of print solo project Victor, which had been out of print since its original release by Atlantic Records in 1996. Now, Wounded Birds is reissuing Geddy Lee's solo album, My Favorite Headache, listed on their website at $12.99.

Formed in 1998, Wounded Bird Records is a label that specializes in the reissue of albums from the 60's, 70's and early 80's on compact disc. All of their releases are properly licensed from the owner of the original masters, in most cases the original record label and sometimes the artists themselves. - Thanks to Blake Willis and RushIsABand for the headsup!

Rush "Breaking Through The Gender Barrier"

Selina Martin's Disaster Fantasies was released June 29th, including a "thoughtful cover" of "The Spirit Of Radio (click here for a sample).

"Toronto singer-songwriter Selina Martin, whose upcoming album Disaster Fantasies will include a thoughtful cover of the 1980 Rush hit Spirit of Radio talks about the gender disparity among the band’s fans." - Globe & Mail, June 5, 2010

The PRS “Hollowbody 12” Endorsed by Alex Lifeson

"In May of 2010, the first “Hollowbody 12” prototype from the PRS factory was sent to Alex Lifeson for his feedback. He delivered the following comment: “The playability is instantly silky and facile, the tone bright, clear and shimmering, and the finishing details are a testament to the PRS craftsmanship. The broad fretboard is a joy to play, and I was blown away by the intonation–of course, split saddles!! Why doesn't everyone do that?” Alex Lifeson gave his opinion, and now you can too. PRS will be building these guitars, to order only, as of July 1, 2010. Please see an authorized PRS dealer for details." - PRS.com, June 16, 2010 - Thanks to RushTheBand for the headsup!

Rush Receives Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame

"Rush, Canada's most successful rock band, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, appropriately in front of the Musicians Institute on Hollywood Boulevard. On hand to induct the musicians were Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and Donna Halper, a former music director at Cleveland's WMMS-FM who was among the first to champion the enduring band's 1974 self-titled debut album...Frontman-bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson were in attendance to claim the 2,412th star on the Walk of Fame. Noticeably absent was drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who was riding a motorcycle to the band's first tour date in Albuquerque on Tuesday." - Hollywood Reporter, June 25, 2010

• Click here for Rush at the HollywoodChamber.net
• Click here for the Hollywood Walk of Fame's YouTube channel
• Click here for CNN's coverage of the event
• Click here for photos of the ceremony courtesy of The Canadian Music Scene

"Porcupine Tree - Atlanta" download only live album to benefit Mick Karn

Porcupine Tree have released a download only live album to benefit bassist Mick Karn. If you are unfamiliar with live Porcupine Tree, this is a great way to check them out, and it's for a great cause!

"Porcupine Tree - Atlanta: This download comprises a complete 2 hour live performance from the Fear of a Blank Planet tour. The show was recorded and mixed to the usual PT standards in order to provide material for a planned live album, but when the decision was taken to film much of the same repertoire in Holland for a major DVD release instead, the Atlanta recording ended up back in the vault. Now PT have now decided to make it available in complete form as a download only release in order to raise funds for Mick Karn's treatment for cancer. Although the repertoire is similar to that on the Anesthetize DVD, the performance has its own atmosphere, and also includes the first ever officially released live recording of 'A Smart Kid'. Please note that all Porcupine Tree's profits from the sale of the Atlanta download will go directly to the Mick Karn Appeal. Burning Shed's profits will go to Macmillan Cancer Support."

Knucklebonz Rock Iconz™ Limited Edition Rush Statues

Knucklebonz, the makers of the Rush Starman figurine, are releasing statuettes of Neil Peart, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson circa '78/'79. The Neil Peart sculpture is shipping Fall 2010, with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson's statues available to reserve via pre-ordering, exact ship date to be determined. For more info visit Knucklebonz.com. - Thanks to Pat Komadoski for the headsup!

"Tom Sawyer" on "The Hard Times Of RJ Berger"

During last night's series premiere of the all new MTV original series "The Hard Times Of RJ Berger", after most of the players are ejected from the school's basketball game, RJ is forced to suit up and "Tom Sawyer" was heard. - Thanks to Andy Newby and Colin Riggs for the headsup!

Rush Referenced on "Wizards of Waverly Place"

During the opening scene of Saturday's episode of "Wizards of Waverly Place" (season 3 episode 20), Alex and Harper discover that Max has a girlfriend. To keep his girlfriend a secret from his parents, he has told her his name is 'Tom Sawyer'. Alex exclaims "'Tom Sawyer'? That is such an obvious lie, it's the name from the Rush song." Harper interjects "...and the classic book!" and Alex concludes "Wow that song was good, I didn't know they made a book out of it!" Click here for the video clip. - Thanks to Robert Mooty for the heads up!

Rush Pulls Spirit from Rand Paul's Campaign

"In Web ads and at campaign appearances, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul sometimes has called on the music of the band Rush to give his message a little pop. It turns out the campaign wasn't using the music with the band's permission, according to Rush's attorney, Robert Farmer. Farmer, general counsel for the Anthem Entertainment Group Inc. in Toronto, which is Rush's record label, has sent a letter to Paul campaign officials informing them that they have violated copyright laws - and urging them to stop. 'This is not a political issue - this is a copyright issue,' Farmer said in an interview. 'We would do this no matter who it is.' Besides, all three members of Rush - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart - are Canadians, not Americans, he pointed out." - Louisville Courier-Journal, June 2, 2010 - Thanks to J Grismore for the headsup!

Geddy Lee endorses Orange Bass Amps

"Orange Amps are proud to announce rock legend Geddy Lee of Rush is now using their Orange Bass amps...For more information on orange amps visit Orange Amplifiers. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

"Backstage Secrets: On The Road With The Rock Band RUSH" DVD5 ReRelease

Backstage Secrets: On the Road with the Rock Band RUSH, was originally released on DVD last September 11th. Filmed during the 2008 Snakes & Arrows tour, the 250 minute documentary gives a backstage look at what it takes to put on Rush's show. Longtail Distribution Network has announced they are rereleasing the 250 minute documentary on DVD5 media for improved quality. If you previously purchased the original release, click here for info on how to obtain a replacement copy. To purchase the rerelease, click here. - Thanks to David Kutz, President of Longtail Distribution for the headsup!

"Longtail Distribution Network has re-released the DVD “Backstage Secrets: On the Road with the Rock Band Rush”. This new release has been replicated onto DVD5 media with better quality video. The previous version, duplicated to DVD-R media is no longer available for sale.

For those of you who were disappointed in the technical quality of the original release, for a limited period of time, we are making the newly released version available at our cost of $6.00 plus shipping. This is for all five episodes on two discs.

If you originally purchased the DVD from Amazon.com or Filmbaby, please send a copy of your purchase receipt or any other reasonable documentation validating your purchased to support@longtailnet.com. We will then provide you with a password for the special page on our website built to accommodate this replacement pricing.

If you originally purchased the DVD from the Longtail Distribution Network you do not need to provide a receipt. To validate your purchase we need to know the email address of the person who originally ordered the DVD or the address to where it was shipped. It would be helpful to also provide the approximate date of purchase. Simply write to us at support@longtailnet.com with that information and we will then provide you with a password for the special page on our website built to accommodate this replacement pricing.

If you cannot validate your purchase we are very sorry, but we will not fulfill your order. If you place an order on our password protected page without our pre-approval your purchase will be refunded and the product will not be shipped.

The newly released DVD is now available for sale at a price of $24.95 for home use on our website at http://www.longtailnet.com/1290."

New World Man: A Tribute To Rush

New World Man: A Tribute To Rush, is now available. The new release includes four new tracks, three of which are recorded by members of Coheed And Cambria, The Dillinger Escape Plan (Chris Pennie), KORN (Shane Gibson) and The Mars Volta (Juan Alderete) on the tracks "New World Man", "Fly By Night" and "Force Ten". The fourth new track is I, Omega's version of 'Tom Sawyer'. The remaining selections include previous releases from Magna Carta's Working Man (1996) and Subdivisions (2005) tribute albums featuring performances by Robert Berry, Dave Martone, Sebastian Bach, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan, as well as Alex Skolnick Trio's jazz interpretation of 'Tom Sawyer' from their album Last Day In Paradise.

Truth Behind Rush's Absence At The Winter Olympics

In early February, it was rumored that Rush would be one of the Canadian bands to represent their native country during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. This past Tuesday during a radio interview with Philadelphia's WYSP to promote Beyond The Lighted Stage, Geddy Lee finally shed some light on the band's absence. - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!

"We had an opportunity to play but there were all kinds of crazy rules going on about lip-synching and all stuff like that and that's just not our bag, man." - Geddy Lee, April 27, 2010

"2112" Heard In "High School" Trailer

The film High School premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this past January. Starring Adrien Brody and Colin Hanks, the trailer uses the opening keyboards from 2112 as its background music! - Thanks to Kevin Leclerc for the headsup!

"Tom Sawyer" on "Fringe"

"Tom Sawyer" was featured in the opening moments of tonight's episode of Fox's Fringe. During the episode "The Man from the Other Side", the song played on a car radio as a young couple gets high (yes, yes, "A Passage To Bangkok" would have been more appropriate!). If you missed it, it will be available in the next few days on the Fringe website. - Thanks to Jeff Lucas for the headsup!

Rush Congratulates South Park (Neil Peart Sings!?)

Yesterday, Geddy, Alex AND Neil uploaded a congratulatory video to celebrate the 200th episode of South Park. And did I mention Neil sings? - Thanks to Mark Earnshaw for the headsup!

Vapor Trails Deluxe Edition - April Fools!

I hope you all enjoyed my April Fool's joke!

"The T.A.M.I. Show" Now On DVD

Many Rush fans have brought to my attention the fact that the 1964 concert film The T.A.M.I. Show, has been remastered and reissued on DVD. This concert film includes Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Supremes, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and more. In his book Traveling Music, Neil Peart wrote at length regarding the show's impact, beginning on page 130 "Another movie around the same time was a much stronger musical influence on me - in fact, in retrospect, it was the influence. The T.A.M.I. Show, or "Teen Age Music International"... The DVD is now available.

Rush Songwriter's Hall Of Fame Induction

Rush were inducted into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall Of Fame Sunday, March 28th, at the Toronto Centre For The Arts' George Weston Recital Hall. All three members of Rush were in attendance for the induction ceremony and were recognized for Limelight, Closer to the Heart, The Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer and Subdivisions. Performing at the induction ceremony were Canadian hardcore rockers Alexisonfire performing Tom Sawyer; Primus frontman Les Claypool playing a version of The Spirit of Radio; and Canadian folk singer/songwriter Jacob Moon doing his rendition of Subdivisions. Neil Peart gave the acceptance speech for the band.

Click Here For Additional Hall of Fame Induction News

"Rush has typically been more associated with their unrivaled musicianship and their restless ambition to conquer every musical genre, sometimes in the span of one song. The band acknowledged that immediately in their speech, which was delivered entirely by drummer Neil Peart. 'First of all, songwriting award? Rush? There must be some mistake,' Peart said to laughter from a crowd that had just serenaded the group with a standing ovation. 'We continue to inspire each other and create music that inspires us all.'" - Rush, Robert Charlebois join songwriters' hall of fame, March 29, 2010

"Millions of record sales notwithstanding, Rush's songwriters have rarely earned income from other artists' covers of their famous songs. The complexity of the arrangements built into Rush's work — sudden time, tempo and key changes — are beyond the grasp of less ambitious or practised musicians, and the soaring melodies and vivid narratives are forsaken...'I understand why no one covers our songs,' Lee said. 'They sound daunting. But, as Moon proved in his ‘Subdivisions' video, most of the songs can be stripped back to their simplest form, and find a new life. When we tried to write songs that are simple and uncomplicated, it didn't work. One of our producers used to tell us, 'You'd have a lot of hits if only someone else recorded them.''" Toronto Star, March 28, 2010

"Peart, who says he would have been an English high school teacher if he hadn’t become a rock drummer, is pleased at the Rush songs chosen for induction, particularly Subdivisions. 'It's a very unusual song construction lyrically and musically that we managed to make work,” he said. “It was written at a time when we weren’t working, so to speak. We were mixing a live album and we just started playing around and wrote a song for fun. Although it’s very serious in it’s musical structure, one of the most complicated actually that we’ve had in terms of arrangement drum part alone, it’s a really intricate drum part to play and consequently I still love playing it almost 30 years later and that’s a good testament.'" Jam!Music, March 26, 2010

• Audio of the complete induction ceremony - CBC.ca
• Jacob Moon talks about his experience with backstage photos. - March 28-29, 2010
• A Rush To The Hall Of Fame - March 29, 2010
• Rush Inducted Into Hall Of Fame - March 28, 2010
• A Conversation With Rush - March 19, 2010