Alex Lifeson Limited Edition Autographed Art Print for Kidney Foundation Rush

Alex Lifeson has donated another painting to A Brush Of Hope, this one is being offered as a limited numbered print.  For the A Brush Of Hope Facebook page:

"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!

Geddy Lee Honoured By Scholarship Endowment

Geddy Lee has had a wine scholarship created in his name.  "The honour has been conferred on the Rush vocalist and bass guitarist by his fellow directors at the charitable foundation Grapes for Humanity.  The board voted unanimously to create a scholarship in his name, in perpetuity, for a student of winemaking at Niagara College in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.  To establish the scholarship Grapes for Humanity Canada has committed $26,500, which will be matched by the Ontario provincial government.  The income will be used to provide an annual scholarship for a student in the second year of Niagara College’s Wine and Viticulture Technician programme who intends to pursue a career path in winemaking after graduation.  'Niagara College is thrilled that Grapes for Humanity Canada is making this significant investment to support student learning and success, and the wine industry,' Niagara College Foundation CEO Sean Kennedy said." - Decanter.com, November 27, 2011

GuitarWorld.com's "25 Greatest Acoustic Songs In Hard Rock"

GuitarWorld.com has added their list of "The 25 Greatest Acoustic Songs In Hard Rock", and coming in at #8 is "Closer To The Heart":

"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!

Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"

RollingStone.com has posted a new list of their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.  This time, they left the choosing to the professionals, a panel of guitarists including Alex Lifeson.  In addition, Alex mades the list, coming in at #98:

"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": more website updates

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.

Update: more website additions, including the Moving Pictures: Live 2011 linternotes transcription, and more importantly, new wallpaper additions using the vinyl release's back cover, offered both as desktop wallpaper, as well as a Smartphone wallpaper.- Thanks again to John at Cygnus-X1.net!

This website has been updated to include various Live In Cleveland offerings, including transcriptions of both the CD and video linernotes, as well as the ever necessary Winamp skin plus the usual Smartphone, PSP and desktop wallpaper album art additions. - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the interior album art images!

You can purchase the video on DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as CD.  There is also be a separate vinyl release for Moving Pictures: Live 2011.  (Note, the Blu-Ray is an exclusive Best Buy purchase for the first 30 days of the video's release)

• Click here for the Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland video linernotes and news archive
• Click here for the Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland Transcript Archive

Modern Drummer, December 2011 (addendum now online)

Neil Peart is on the cover of the December 2011 issue of Modern Drummer now on newsstands.  Modern Drummer has posted a web only addendum to their Neil Peart interview:

"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!

Geddy Lee featured in Tidings Magazine December 2011

Geddy Lee is featured in the December issue of Tidings, Canada's national food and wine magazine.  You can read the full article online here.  Geddy discusses the Grapes for Humanity Charity, what he eats to stay healthy while touring, and his (gulp!) retirement plans. - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!

Big Sugar's Gordie Johnson and Alex Lifeson's doubleneck

In a new interview with Big Sugar's Gordie Johnson, he discusses meeting Alex Lifeson and Alex giving him is first ivory doubleneck, which he apparently returned to Alex around 1998:

"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.

"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."

Click here for the full story at TheTelegram.com

Alex Lifeson Interview on Planet Rock

"Planet Rock spoke to Alex Lifeson in the studio where he and his Rush bandmates are currently recording their brand new studio album, Clockwork Angels.  In the interview he reveals that the band are aiming to release their new album in the spring and they are hoping to tour in the summer, with European dates almost a certainty. He also reveals that the band are looking at perhaps doing some festival shows in 2013.  The guitarist also gives an insight into how the new album will sound, revealing that the songs are starting to take an epic shape."  Click here to hear the interview.

Andrew MacNaughtan's "Grace, Africa In Photographs"

Rush's longtime photographer Andrew MacNaughtan's latest project is Grace, Africa In Photographs, featuring photographs taken in Tanzanina and Keyna in November 2010 "capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS affected regions."

The book, which can be purchased here (available in Canada only), includes commentary on the photos given by over 30 artists including Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.  For more information visit 49st.com and artgiveshope.ca.

On November 16th, Andrew appeared on Canada's The Morning Show to discuss the book; you can watch the video here.

Related News

• Rock Photographer MacNaughtan's Art Book of Africa To Result In 500 Child Sponsors - SamaritanMag.com, November 17, 2011

Rolling Stone: "Rush Roar Back Into the Limelight With New LP"

A short article/interview featuring Geddy Lee is found the November 24th issue of Rolling Stone, and is accompanied by an advertisement for Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland.

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!

"Celebrating Buck O'Neil's 100th" - Geddy Lee's Baseball Collection Mention

In today's edition of "The Kansas City Star", there is special 8-page insert "Celebrating Buck O'Neil's 100th An Eight-Page Commemorative Section."  (Another great who was never inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame).  Among other items, the insert mentions the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, which includes a collection of 400 baseballs donated by Geddy Lee in 2008.

Here is the online version of the newspaper insert.  If you click on the link "The Negro Leagues," you then have the option to visit "Five can’t-miss exhibits at NLBM".  The fourth item listed is "4. Ty Cobb autographed baseball and more", which includes the following:

"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!

Rush's Neil Peart takes a ride in his Ohio time machine: Exclusive

Neil Peart has written an exclusive article for Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper in support of this week's release of Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland.  You can read the full article here.

Grapes For Humanity Charity - Update

UPDATE: Over the weekend of the Charity Auction, Grapes For Humanity also put on "Alex and Geddy's Excellent County Adventure" on Saturday September 17th to Huff Estate Winery in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County. Check it out here. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

The Grapes For Humanity Auction has come to a close.  Check out this message from Geddy! 

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

Alex Lifeson to perform at 7th Annual Andy Kim Christmas Concert

Alex Lifeson will be one of the featured musicians at the 7th annual Andy Kim Christmas Show in Toronto next month.  The event happens Wednesday, December 14 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.  Lifeson joins the list of first performers confirmed for the benefit, including Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning from Broken Social Scene, members of Finger Eleven and Ron Sexsmith.  Montreal-born Kim has sold more than 33 million albums and is the man behind such massive hits as “Sugar Sugar” (The Archies) and “Rock Me Gently.”  To date, the annual event has raised more than $60,000 for select charities. - Andy Kim Music, November 8, 2011 - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Guitar Aficionado Winter 2011

In Guitar Aficionado’s Winter 2011 issue, Rush’s esteemed guitar and bass duo, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, discuss their decades-long love affair with the world’s finest wines.  Click here for more info. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Win A Sectors Press Sheet from Consequence of Sound

To commemorate the release of Rush's Sectors boxed sets, Consequence of Sound is giving away a limited edition print featuring the album covers of Caress of Steel, Exit…Stage Left, and A Show of Hands straight from the printer.  For a chance to win, visit ConsequenceOfSound.net.

Alex Lifeson on Humble And Fred Radio Podcast

Alex Lifeson was a guest of Toronto's Humble and Fred morning show this morning, and the show is now available for listening at HumbleAndFredRadio.com, or for download here.  Alex first appears around the 35 minutes into the show. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Win An Autographed "Moving Pictures" Lithograph

Timed to coincide with the release of Rush's "Sectors" boxed sets, UltimateClassicRock.com is giving away a 'Moving Pictures' lithograph signed by all three band members.  Click here to enter.

Roadrunner Records' Mastadon and Machine Head discuss Rush Influence

With the release of Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland just around the corner, Roadrunner Records recently caught up with Mastadon's Troy and Brann and Machine Head's Robb Flynn to discuss how Rush influenced them as individuals and the impact they have had on their careers.  Click here for more. - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!