Two weeks ago, a Rush three-pack containing 'Fly By Night,' 'The Spirit of the Radio (live)' and 'Caravan' was made available on the Rock Band Music store."Rush's ambitious seven-part suite '2112' will come to the Rock Band Music Store to ring in 2012!
In 1976, legendary Canadian rock trio Rush released their groundbreaking fourth studio album, 2112. With its opening track – a 20-minute, seven-part suite known as '2112' – Rush painted a picture of a sci-fi world in the midst of a revolution, controlled by technology. An alternate take of this epic suite, largely considered one of the most important pieces in progressive rock, comes to Rock Band just in time for the New Year.
'2112' will be offered as three separate playable packages: one combines 'Overture' and 'The Temple of Syrinx'; the second features 'Discovery' and 'Presentation'; and the final track brings 'Oracle: The Dream,' 'Soliloquy,' and 'Grand Finale.'
Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players have the option to purchase the single Rush '2112' pack, which features all three of the above tracks, as well as one, 20-minute marathon medley of all seven parts of the suite, exclusively available in this special pack. Additionally, as a bonus, players who purchase the pack will receive Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrades for all three packages, as well as a Pro Guitar and Pro Bass upgrade for the medley for free!
These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation 3 on January 18th.
The tracks will be available as the "Rush '2112'" pack for $5.49 with all tracks available for purchase individually for $1.99 on Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3, and $2.00 on Wii. Tracks marked with "X" will offer Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song if purchased individually." - RockBand.com, December 28, 2011 Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!
"As we cross over the milestone of our 2,112th post, we’d be fools if we didn’t use the occasion to look back at the classic 1976 Rush album ‘2112.’..." - click for more
Canadian residents: Here is your chance to win one of three limited edition snare drums – replicas of the drum used by Neil Peart on the recording of the NHL on TSN’s 'Hockey Theme'" http://tsn.ca/contests/snagthesnare/
... Alex Lifeson stops short of calling Rush's upcoming Clockwork Angels a concept record, but he does admit that a theme runs through most the songs. "We have Caravan and BU2B; both of which we released already and played on the Time Machine tour," he says, referring to the group's extensive 2010-2011 outing. "Those two, along with three other songs, form a suite. The story of Clockwork Angels is in those five tracks."
Longtime Rush fans, who grew up on such multi-song narratives as 2112 and Hemispheres, will no doubt applaud the group's return to its prog-rock roots. They'll also be thrilled to learn that the band isn't paying mind to the length of its compostitions. "We're definitely stretching out," Lifeson says. "Most of the songs are over six minutes. We're having fun with them, seeing where they want to go."
The guitarist estimates that Rush has eight songs finished. One track, however, is putting up a fight. "We wrote it, scrapped it, then rewrote it and shelved it again," Lifeson says, laughing. "Right now, we're still considering it. Something's there that we don't want to lose."
The band is working once again with prodcucer Nick Raskulinecz, who in addition to helming albums for the Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains and Evanesence, oversaw Rush's 2007 release, Snakes & Arrows. "Nick is fantastic," Lifeson says. "He's very enthusiastic, has great ideas, gets incredible sounds, and he's so adaptable to our twists and turns."
That includes a more stripped-down, instrumental approach. "The last few records have been quite produced, with many layers of guitars and vocals," he says. "This time, we'd like to keep things simple and direct.
"We'll see if that sticks," he adds after a moment's though. "I might listen to the finished record and go, 'Needs more guitar!'..."
"Three tracks from Canadian rockers Rush are set to hit the Rock Band Music Store on December 13th! 'Fly By Night,' from 1975’s album of the same name kicks off the pack, followed by a live cut of Rush's 'The Spirit of the Radio,' one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s '500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'. The pack is rounded out by 'Caravan,' which was released as a single earlier this year. These three tracks are just the tip of the iceberg for Rush fans; we’ll have even more exciting Rush/Rock Band news before the year’s out, so stay tuned!" - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!Exciting news for Rockband players. I'll try to find out the source of live version of "The Spirit of Radio", and whether its a version we've heard before, or if its a previously unreleased live version (this was the case with Guitar Hero 5, which included a previously unreleased live performance of The Spirit of Radio recorded in Manchester, England, on June 17, 1980).
Power Windows is proud to offer meticulously created miniature replica guitar, bass and drum kit collectibles from Axe Heaven. When it
comes to RUSH, their instruments are as inconic as the music they created. Now you can own miniature reproductions of the band's most
memorable guitars and drum kits for a reasonable price. These collectible guitars are perfect for the home or the office, letting your
acquaintances know where your allegiances lie; in addition, their low cost makes them a great gift.
"At Midnight TONIGHT 12am EASTERN STANDARD TIME we are letting the first 30 Super Limited Edition packs go on SALE!!! Visit www.tomcochrane.com to score yours! PLEASE NOTE a further 20 sets will be available at www.andrewcolemusic.com "- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
"ALEX LIFESON limited edition prints ON SALE NOW! Here is a sneak peek at the print. The image is 8 X 10. The page itself is 13 X 15. This is something special! There are only 250 prints available, each one with an original signature by Alex himself! Price is only $250, plus $20 for shipping and handling ($25 to the USA). International purchasers should contact us for a shipping quote). Just in time for Christmas!! It comes with a certificate of authenticity too!"The print is available now through the kidney foundation's website.- Thanks to Tim Fox and RushFanForever for the headsup!
"By 1977, Rush had firmly established themselves as fine purveyors of glorious 20-minute sci-fi opuses that could fill entire album sides. But on this, their fifth studio release, the Canadian prog trio demonstrated their ability to be hooky, concise and, with "Closer to the Heart," radio-friendly. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the song's gentle, ringing 12-string acoustic guitar intro is that it was written by bassist Geddy Lee, rather than guitarist Alex Lifeson. The same figure is later repeated after a particularly ripping electric guitar solo-only this time the 12-string acoustic is smartly doubled by a six-string electric. When it comes to Rush, of course, the contributions of drummer extraordinaire Neil Peart can never be overlooked. Here, he adds plenty of bells and whistles throughout. Okay ... they're actually chimes." - Guitar World, November 23, 2011- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
"Even if he had never progressed beyond the brain-rattling riffing of '2112' and 'Xanadu,' Rush's guitarist would have left his mark on Metallica and other like-minded metalheads. But he went on to fill out Rush's power-trio sound with a seamless mix of lush arpeggios and rock crunch that sounded like at least two players at once. 'The guitar just had to make a broader statement,' he says. Alex Lifeson reserves his most daring playing for his solos – just try wrapping your head around the extraterrestrial lunacy of 'Freewill.'"
Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland hits store shelves November 8th. Rush.com is reporting that the DVD is #1 in Canada & the US and #2 in the UK.
"Here's more from our interview with Neil, where he talks about his new DVD, playing at KoSA and on Letterman, and deepening his grasp of drumset ergonomics with his teacher and dear friend Freddie Gruber (who sadly passed away at age eighty-four not too long after our conversation; you’ll find a tribute in the February 2012 issue of MD). The Rush rhythm master begins by musing on how all of us drummers share a special bond." - ModernDrummer.com, November 21, 2011- Thanks to Ed @ RushIsABand for the headsup!
"I didn't have to sign a single paper. He'd just met me, but he already knew about Big Sugar. And essentially he walked up to a stranger and handed it to me," Johnson said of the guitar he used to record "Fairwell to Kings," and play in the video for "Digging a Hole," its ivory white double necks jutting out like the tusks of a mastodon with every piercing note.Click here for the full story at TheTelegram.com
"I got really paranoid at one point that it would get stolen, so I gave it back to him. ... By the time we started making (the 1998 Album) "Heated," I kinda got to thinkin 'this belongs in the Rock Hall of Fame, not under my bed in Little Italy in Toronto."
Rush spent the past two years looking back - performing their 1981 classic Moving Pictures in its entirety. But at the same time, the Canadian prog heroes started cranking on thier 20th LP, Clockwork Angels. "We're almost finished writing," says frontman Geddy Lee. "Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas."
Last year, Rush tested the waters, releasing two tracks from the album the Metallica-ish riff monsters "Caravan" and "BU2B" - and playing them on tour. "We figured we had nothing to lose," says Lee. "It was a lot of fun for the fans, and fun for us." The disc is shaping up to be the trio's heaviest in decades. Says Lee, "The two tracks we released point in the direction we're going."
Rush haven't scored a Top 40 hit since 1982's "New World Man," but they've maintained one of rock's biggest cult audiences. And last year's acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage helped make them more popular than ever. "We feel invigorated," says Lee. "I think we've come to a point in our lives where we're playing the best we've ever played as a live band.
"You don't know how long that's going to go," he adds. "Rock & roll does have its limits as far as the aging process. You want to go out there and play while you're at your peak." - Andy Green- Thanks to Paul Pierson for the headsup, Ed at RushIsABand for the transcript, and RushFanForever for the scan!
"Two cases each contain 200 signed Negro Leagues baseballs. All 400 baseballs were donated by Geddy Lee, the lead singer and bass guitarist from the rock group Rush. Lee is a huge baseball fan and sports memorabilia collector. Lee, who had visited the museum while stopping in Kansas City, bid on those signed baseballs at auctions for the express purpose of donating them to the museum. 'The great thing about this is you have guys who are Hall of Famers, like Cool Papa Bell ... Judy Johnson, Leon Day ... to guys who were cup of coffee guys, but they’re all important, because they're part of the story,' Kendrick said. 'You have guys like country singer Charley Pride, who a lot of people don’t know played in the Negro Leagues. You have the three women who played in the Negro Leagues - Toni Stone, Connie Morgan and Mamie Peanut Johnson...'"- Thanks To Scott McBean for the headsup!
I would like to take a moment to thank all those fans and friends who participated in the GRAPES UNDER PRESSURE eBay auction to benefit GRAPES FOR HUMANITY CANADA. With your help we managed to raise over $50,000 dollars! When combined with monies raised in our other G.U.P. events we will be able to significantly improve the lives of disadvantaged and injured people around the globe and more immediately will aid THE HALO TRUST in establishing a pilot project in Savannakhet Province, Laos, to address the urgent problem of casualties caused by cluster bombs.
Alex, Neil, myself and the entire G.U.P. Team, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
~Geddy
Hudson Music has posted a new video "Neil Peart talks about 'Taking Center Stage'"; check it out here.Filmed in various locations over the course of a year, Neil Peart takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at Rush's 2010-11 Time Machine tour. This includes rare and exclusive footage of Neil's personal pre-tour rehearsals and backstage events at a Rush concert (including a visit to the soundcheck, and an unprecedented backstage interview as Neil warms up for the show). Neil also presents a detailed look at every single song in the tour's set list. Each song features analysis and demonstrations by Neil, which are coupled with a detailed PDF eBook containing transcription of his parts. At the end of each song discussion, the viewer is transported onstage to a Rush concert to see the actual live performance of the song from the perspective of the drum cameras only. 6 hours, 40 minutes."
"The theme for our next collaboration seemed obvious: live performance, preparing for it and surviving it. In early 2010 we began collecting material...In April, 2010, the Hudson Music crew joined me at Drum Channel in Oxnard, California, and filmed several days of my rehearsals for the Time Machine tour. In July they filmed an entire Rush show, in Saratoga Springs, New York, with supplementary 'drum-cams' on me. They also captured the soundcheck and pre-show warmup, when I did a bit of talking to the camera, as I had during the Drum Channel filming in April. However, we would need to shoot some more 'talkie bits' to go before each of the songs from the live show, explaining about special problems or challenges in a particular song, and technical highlights. So, I thought, why not go somewhere really nice to shoot those?...I suggested Death Valley. Being the driest place in North America, averaging less than two inches of rain a year-and sometimes none-the chances of clear weather were good." - Neil Peart, NeilPeart.net, February 4, 2011
RollingStone.com has posted a new interview, "Rush's Geddy Lee Says New Album Will Be Ready By Early 2012". Geddy talks about the Time Machine tour, choosing a setlist to satisfy 'mainstream fans' versus 'core fans', the possibility of performing another album all the way through on tour, mainstream awareness and more. He also answers one question many fans have asked, regarding changing the setlist from night to night:"...it's a three-hour show, and it's really hard to remember as it is. There were a couple of tours where we did multiple days and we would switch off. I think we had three or four songs we were switching from night to night. And it kind of wreaks havoc from show to show, because so much of the lighting rig and choreography and films and everything are computer programmed. It definitely keeps everyone on their toes to switch up from night to night. For us, the amount of work that goes into one of our shows is kind of challenging enough without making it even harder on us."Regarding the status of Clockwork Angels, he said:
"We're almost finished writing. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we've had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing. I'm very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we'd like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest. Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we'll mix it some time in the next year, and then get it out...I hope it'll be out by the spring anyway."
Tracklist: The Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer, Closer To The Heart, Freewill, Limelight, Working Man, Fly By Night, The Trees, Red Barchetta, Subdivisions, YYZFor other Rush cover albums, check here.
"Think back to 1981 when MTV was in its infantile stages and seemed to be starved for content to broadcast. I may be wrong but I am pretty sure almost every song from Rush's 'Exit Stage Left' concert video were extracted and a different song was played every hour. Being 9-years-old at the time and seeing three guys play the likes of 'Red Barchetta (one of my favorite songs of all time), 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Limelight' on my television hourly instantly catapulted them to the status of "Godlike" in my eyes. This is possibly the most perfect album in my collection. Sonically, lyrically and thematically 'Moving Pictures' had it all for a 9 year old kid seeking guidance in the world and now at age 39 it remains, in my opinion, one of the best albums ever released." - Matthew Rudzinski, Noiscreep.com, October 28, 2011 Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
"Geddy Lee, lead singer of Rush, has optioned the film and TV rights to Dave Bidini's Baseballissimo. Published in 2005 by McClelland & Stewart, Baseballissimo is the writer's story of his travels to the small town of Nettuno, the baseball capital of Italy since 1944." - Quill & Quire, June 24, 2010 - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!
Graham has recently completed his latest masterpiece based on Rush's "Red Barchetta", featuring the Ferrari 166MM Barchetta in its final resting place, available in a limited edition of 200 prints. For more information, visit Macrographs.com.Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!"I wanted to paint the car not during the chase but after, in it's quiet, rural setting. This painting is about the heady smell of old oil and dust and leather and the memory of the chase in the droning lazy scent of a late country afternoon, a brief snapshot of a calm place between the lyrics. I can hear muted water running in the kitchen somewhere off to the left and the comforting chime of unintelligible words as somebody washes up for dinner, full of excitement and spent adrenaline and tales to be told." - Graham Whieldon, Macrographs
On 8 November, Rush will release Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland, a 2-CD set with an accompanying video on DVD and Blu-ray, as well as Moving Pictures: Live 2011, on vinyl and digital formats. We've seen and heard them all, and can tell you they're amazing in every possible way. With such kick-ass holiday packages looming, we decided it was the perfect time to speak with guitarist Alex Lifeson about Rush's first recorded work...some 38 years ago. Back in 1973, way before they were full-time, totally awesome stadium and arena-fillers, Rush, then comprised of Lifeson, Geddy Lee and the band's original drummer, John Rutsey (Neil Peart joined in 1974), issued a single on their own Moon Records label. The A side was a cover of Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away and the B side was a Lee/Rutsey original called You Can't Fight It. As you might expect, the 45 was raw, loose, rocking and bursting with youthful charm. Alex Lifeson picks up the story...
Check out "Drag the Dream Into Existence: Reassessing Rush’s Masterpiece" written by Sean Murphy for PopMatters.com:"Every band, if they are lucky, is able to create a definitive work—a document that embodies their unique qualities. Most great bands, at some point in their career, successfully produce an enduring statement. Some artists, like The Beatles or Pink Floyd, are able to capture—or create—the Zeitgeist on more than one occasion On the other hand; there are plenty of worthwhile and beloved bands who have never quite been capable of distilling the necessary ingredients of a classic recording. Finally, there are those almost unfathomable works that only a handful of bands can claim credit for. These exceptional albums are wholly original yet fully accessible and remain influential and imitated long after their release." Click here for more.
SO MANY SMILES AT KOSA by Neil Peart
Almost 20 years ago, I met Aldo Mazza backstage at a Rush concert in Montreal. We kept in touch, and in the early '90s, Aldo invited me to a Toronto performance by his masterly percussion quartet, Répercussion. I was amazed and delighted by their virtuosity, and Aldo and I discussed working together sometime on a percussion project. We never managed to make that happen, but Aldo also extended an open invitation to attend the percussion camp he organized every summer in Vermont. Finally, in July 2011, the stars aligned, and I was able to accept that invitation. And I’m glad I did—my experience at KoSA 16 in Castleton, Vermont, left me with the overall glow, “What a happy place!”
Everyone I met backstage seemed friendly and enthusiastic, happy to be there, and when Aldo and I spoke in front of about 100 attendees, the mood was positive, bright, and infectious. I noticed a lot of smiling faces in the crowd. Of course, it was because we all shared the same passion—the brotherhood of the drum—and we were all equally inspired and elevated by that relationship. Over our headset microphones, Aldo and I discussed a few topics from our own experience, and took some good questions from the audience. Then I nudged Aldo and said, “Can we play the drums now?” He laughed and said, “Yes—but first there’s something we must do.” He called out his wife, Jolan, and together they presented me with a Lifetime Achievement plaque, engraved with words that touched me deeply—kind of choked me up, really.
Then I stepped back to a little drumset, and joined a “faculty drum ensemble,” with Aldo playing djembe (he is annoyingly expert on all percussion instruments), Memo Acevedo playing bell, Marcus Santos on Dun Dun and bell, and Michael Wimberly on djembe. After an enjoyable interchange, I moved out front to join in on djembe—at which I am inexpert, but enthusiastic. (At the earlier soundcheck, Aldo had warned me not to hit so hard—I would hurt my hands. That’s never stopped me before, on hand drums or with sticks and pedals—when I’m whacking the snare and bass drum as hard as I can.)
At the end of that spirited convocation on our various instruments, Aldo played the agreed-upon figure for the conclusion, and we all came down together on the final flam. At that, we all burst out laughing—with the pure pleasure of sharing that conversation together, and ending so tightly. My smile lasted all the way home, and warms me yet.
Thank you, Aldo, Jolan, and everybody at KoSA 16! - kosamusic, Thanks to Mark Rosenthal and RushFanForever for the headsup!
Neil Peart's Far And Away: A Prize Every Time, hit stores last April, and now, a new 2012 calendar is available for preorder at Neil's store, bubbawares.com:"Bubba and his sidekick Brutus have put together some of their favorite images and excerpts from the book FAR AND AWAY: A Prize Every Time, by their friend and best customer, Neil Peart. (Among regulars, that book is affectionately known as “F ’n’ A.”) From Yellowstone National Park to the winter woods of Quebec to the highways of North America, South America, and Europe, each month offers a scenic escape and some words to ponder. Order now, in time for the Pagan Midwinter Festival!" bubbawares.comNeil Peart's first book in over four years, is now shipping. Although it was originally slated for a May 1st release, it appears that April 1st was more appropriate. The 260 page book is a polished compilation of Neil's "News, Weather & Sports" blog entries from the last four years.
"Following in the tradition of Ghost Rider and Traveling Music, Rush drummer Neil Peart relates nearly four years of band tours, road trips, and personal discoveries in this introspective travelogue. From the ups and downs of a professional artist to the birth of a child, this revealing narrative recounts 22 adventures from rock's foremost drummer, biker enthusiast, husband and father. Both playful and insightful, Peart's love of drumming and the open road weaves throughout the stories as Neil explores horizons that are both physical and spiritual, sharing his observations about nature, society, and the self. Full-color photos round-out this tour of the open road that will resonate with Rush fans and motorcycle enthusiasts alike." - ECW Press
Check out the online edition of the Summer 2011 issue of Professional Lighting and Production for the cover feature "A Rush Of Light, Four Decades In The Making", an interview with lighting designer Howard Ungerleider. - Thanks RushFanForever for the headsup!
"Machine Head drummer Dave McClain says their much anticipated new album has come together with a little bit of help from veterans Rush...'Three records ago I bought Robb the whole Rush catalogue and that's when our songs started extending with lots of parts. Kinda more challenging ourselves. Rush are responsible for a lot of things, even mentally in this band. There was an interview with Geddy Lee (Rush singer) a long time ago where he said "If we get played on the radio it’s going to be by accident." Because they wouldn't write for radio and that struck a chord with all of us especially in the "Through The Ashes" where it was a crossroads in our career where we said if we were going to be ousted out of the music business we wanted to go out fighting and be a pure 100 per cent metal band and not worried about what anybody said.'" - RockAAA.com, August 2, 2011
"We have recorded two songs already and we released them last year and then the band went on tour. But we are currently in preproduction right now so that we can finish the rest of the record which we will start recording again in mid October."Read the full interview, "Nick Raskulinecz: 'The Music Industry Is A Sinking Ship'", at UltimateGuitar.com - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!
"...Shane [Clark] reveals, they have recorded two new Clark-penned originals and a cover of Rush's 'Anthem'. 'For the last five years, I've had this compulsive Rush disorder,' he laughs, explaining that his Rush obsession began when he saw their documentary Beyond The Lighted Stage. 'When that documentary came out, it just kicked that into high gear. It's just such a great movie. You get to know the whole band a little bit better. Alex Lifeson is one of my favourite guitar players. The way he plays, no one else sounds like him. That's very influential for me.'" - RockStarWeekly.com, February 27, 2010
Today Canada's RockstarWeekly.com announced that Tom Cochrane will be releasing a four song EP featuring Alex Lifeson later this year:"Tom Cochrane will return with his first new release since 2006. The ‘Life is a Highway’ singer is planning a limited edition four song EP, originally scheduled for a September 2011 release. The EP, will contain three new un-released tracks and a new single and title track ‘Voices At 4 AM’, featuring Andrew Cole, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Lyle Molzen (Jann Arden, Michael Buble), Kenny Greer (Red Rider), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Elton) and Carl Jennings.
"Alex Lifeson played guitar on the score throughout the movie (the great John Debney composed it). We asked Alex to write a song for the closing credits and he wrote/recorded "Don't Look Back," a brand-spanking new single. ... How this came about: Michael and I got to know Alex and Geddy when they were in LA finishing Snakes & Arrows. Alex is a movie-buff and literature-buff and he expressed interest in scoring films. (I hope you detect my admiration shining through... he's truly one of the greatest guys I've ever met. Geddy too, but that's a different story.) As we were putting THE DOUBLE together, Michael and I told Alex we'd love for him to be included any way he wanted. We did the movie for very little money so we weren't going to be able to afford him but we wanted to throw it out there. He was between the two tours so he asked us to send him the latest cut of the film and he started talking to the composer (Debney) via email and the phone. Then he just went to town... the guy is astonishing. And generous. The single is definitely not a RUSH song but you can sure here Alex's distinctive 'voice' all over it."- Derek Haas, The Rush Forum, August 15, 2011