Alex Lifeson Update On Clockwork Angels - Guitar World January 2012 Issue

The January issue of Guitar World includes a new interview with Alex Lifeson where he discusses Clockwork Angels.  Here's the full article, thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

... 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!'..."

Nektar To Include "Spirit Of Radio" On Upcoming Covers Album

Veteran English progressive rock band Nektar have announced that they'll be releasing an album of cover songs including a cover of "The Spirit of Radio", tentatively set to include ELP's Keith Emerson on keys.  For more info visit Nektarsmusic.com. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Rush Three-Pack for Rock Band Music Store Coming December 13th

Today Rockband.com announced:

"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).

Alex Lifeson's Favorite Christmas Songs

In a new feature from MusicRadar.com, 11 rock stars pick their favorite Christmas songs, including Alex Lifeson: "I always liked the Little Drummer Boy because of the tonality of the song. There was always something very plaintive about it. It wasn’t one of those 'up,' joyous Christmas songs, which tend to get a little overdone. Actually, I did a version of it a while ago that came out nice. "On the other hand, I do like upbeat Christmas songs, so I’d say my second pick would be Joy To The World – not anybody’s version, in particular; I just like the song itself. It's spirited and very 'Ho, ho, ho!' [laughs]" Here is Alex Lifeson's "Little Drummer Boy" which appeared on Merry Axemas Vol. 1 in 1997. - Thanks to RushFanForever the the headsup!

Billboard: "Geddy Lee Talks Rush Legacy: 'Moving Pictures,' Their Next Album & More"

Billboard just posted a new interview with Geddy Lee, where they refer to his voice as "stratospheric...one of rock's natural wonders". Although he hasn't sung anything "stratospheric" since Hemispheres over 30 years ago, it's still nice to get some national press. Geddy discusses the new live album, the recent documentary, the last tour, his baseball memorabilia, and the upcoming album Clockwork Angels. Click here for the interview.

Rush Miniature Instruments from Axe Heaven - Free Holiday Shipping

Just in time for the holidays, Axe Heaven miniature guitars is running an exclusive special for Power Windows readers of free shipping on all domestic orders, and an overall 10% discount for international orders of $75 or more.

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.

Axe Heaven's miniatures are unbelievably remarkable in their attention to precise proportion and detail, and we at Power Windows have worked with Axe Heaven to insure these miniatures have been reproduced as closely as possible. Each 1:4-scale replica miniature collectible is made of solid mahogany wood and metal parts, hand crafted and airbrushed with outstanding detail. All guitar orders include stands.

To receive special shipping,  just enter the below coupon code while checking out at AxeHeaven.com.

• For free shipping for all domestic orders: coupon code FS2011
• For an overall 10% discount off of international orders over $75: coupon code TEN2010

Neil Peart Drum Channel/Jammit Promotion

"Drum Channel and Jammit announce a special promotion offering exclusive free access to the RUSH track 'YYZ' available only to Drum Channel members. Jammit allows users to isolate the drums from the rest of the instruments on the legendary 'YYZ' track, learn the track and then record your own version. The promotion allows signed up members of Drum Channel to get the song free and download a free Neil Peart interview at the same time.

"Jammit is the number one app to learn to play your favorite songs. It allows you to isolate the drums (or other instruments) from the original master recording. Jammit features the most accurate transcriptions available today, with beautifully formatted notations and tablature. It is quick and easy to navigate, has repeat bars with adjustable snap-to-grid looping, and does not change the pitch when the track is slowed down. Once you have learned the track, you can remove the original drums and record your own before sending it to your friends or teacher.
For more information, visit www.drumchannel.com." - Thanks to Blabbermouth.net

Tom Cochrane's "Voices" with Alex Lifeson Limited Edition Now Available

As previously announced, Alex Lifeson has collaborated on the title track of a new four song EP with Tom Cochrane and Andrew Cole titled Voices.  Today, Cochrane announced on Facebook (where you can also hear a sample of the song):

"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 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!