Geddy Lee Signature Model Jazz Bass guitar signed by Rush to benefit Heavy Metal Truants Auction

Heavy Metal Truants is a fund-raising collector founded by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and journalist Alexander Milas in association with CharityStars.com. They are currently auctioning a veritable smorgasbord of rock memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in a massive online event.

All proceeds go to three very special charities - ChildLine, Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff Robins Music Therapy.

In addition to Queen, Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden, other superstars from the rock and metal arenas have donated items to the auction. These include Pink Floyd, KISS, Thunder, Marillion, Steve Vai, The Who, Slayer, Joe Bonamassa and Opeth.

The auction is live now and closes today, 27 July 2017. Among the remarkable items that feature in the auction are a Barry Novis painting of the late George Harrison from The Beatles; A unique Iron Maiden collectors cymbal and drumsticks signed by all of the band; a VIP meet-and-greet with Metallica; A Caribbean cruise with KISS; The Who 50th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall microphone signed by Roger Daltrey; a Fender Stratocaster Guitar signed by the remaining members of The Who: Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey; a Dean guitar signed by Megadeth and a Brian May (Queen) signed Red Special Guitar.

This is the second auction Charity Stars and The Heavy Metal Truants have held this year after six items including a Les Paul Guitar signed by Metallica, a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Model Jazz Bass guitar signed by Rush, and The lyrics of Bon Jovi's classic ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ personally handwritten by Jon Bon Jovi went up for sale in June.

Click here for details.

Rush donates autographed guitar for The Kaitlyn Bates Initiative

The Kaitlyn Bates Initiative Rise Up Power Initiative and Gala is slated for Sept. 22 at the Best Western in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada.  Cobourg resident Doug Bates founded the Kaitlyn Bates Foundation just months after he lost Kaitlyn, his seven-year-old daughter, in a 2011 car accident. The organization, now known as the Kaitlyn Bates Initiative after incorporating in 2016, works to build self-esteem and personal development in youth.  During the day on Friday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m., Segato, one of Canada’s best-loved artists, will hold group workshops for children ages seven to 11 years old. 

In the evening, a fundraising dinner hosted by Segato will start at 7 p.m.  Rush has donated a one-of-a-kind acoustic guitar valued at more than $5,000 that was made for and presented to the group during their induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Modern era category in 2010 as a rock group. All three members of Rush signed the guitar along with fellow inductee Robert Charlebois. The special edition ES 1016 Boucher guitar is made by Quebec-based Boucher Guitars and comes with a case. The name Rush is inlaid in pearl in the neck of the guitar. It can only be won by purchasing a ticket to the Sept. 22 Kaitlyn Bates fundraiser. The winner must be in attendance for the draw. Visit www.kaitlynbatesinitiative.ca to purchase tickets at $100 for the gala. - Thanks Chris for the headsup!

"Tom Sawyer" featured in "Ready Player One" teaser trailer

The first teaser trailer of the Steven Spielberg directed "Ready Player One" features "Tom Sawyer".  This is good news, as the original novel written by Ernest Cline upon which the film is based includes Rush references sprinkled throughout, including a major scene based on "2112".  - Thanks to Stewart Gilray for the headsup!

Geddy Lee surprise performer at Second City Show to Benefit Jake Thomas and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Last night (July 18th) Geddy Lee made a surprise appearance singing "Take Off" along side the McKenzie Brothers (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis), in a Second City benefit show which raised $325,000 for Thomas' nephew Jake Thomas, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a snowmobiling accident. Jake is the son of Ian Thomas, whose band opened for Rush in the 70's.  Funds also went to Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.

The charity show featured comics Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis on the Second City stage, alongside fellow former “SCTV”-ers Martin Short, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara.

Second City says the intimate evening saw the McKenzie brothers riff on craft beer, political correctness and inventing rap on their first album. Meanwhile, Short revived his manic manchild Ed Grimley and performed as clueless Hollywood reporter Jiminy Glick, who conducted a celebrity interview with Rick Mercer.

O’Hara and Levy reprised their “SCTV” characters Bobby Bittman and Lola Heatherton, while former “Saturday Night Live” star Dan Aykroyd offered up some auctioneering and blues.

Geddy Lee was a surprise musical guest, who led a rousing rendition of Bob and Doug’s hit “Take Off.” That was in addition to appearances by musicians Paul Shaffer, Ian Thomas and Murray McLauchlan, and comics Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson of The Kids in the Hall, and Robin Duke and Katherine Greenwood of Women Fully Clothed.

For more info:

• Star-studded SCTV reunion raises funds for Ian Thomas's son
  
• 'SCTV"s Bob and Doug, Ed Grimley, Bobby Bittman among those revived for benefit show
  

Rush Reference in Mages of Mystralia

The action-adventure video game Mages of Mystralia includes a minor character, a town guard, named "Templesa Geddy". Developed and published by Borealys Games and released May 18th, 2017, the game is set in the land of Mystralia and follows Zia, a mage who had recently discovered her powers. For more info click here. - Thanks to Eric Alexander for the headsup!