Sonic Reality's R.A.W. Artist Pack: Neil Peart Drums Vol. 2 The Grooves

"As a follow up to Sonic Reality's Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1 The Kit, in 2012 Vol. 2 The Groove series is about to begin. Here is an opportunity to get a pre-release version of the the Neil Peart Drums R.A.W. Artist Pack featuring Rex, Apple Loops and Wave drum grooves performed by Neil Peart, the legendary drummer of the band Rush, which was recorded by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains). This title focuses on the hard rock grooves of Rush in the style of songs from Rush's 'Roll The Bones' album up through 'Snakes and Arrows'. Over 500 groove patterns to work with in any combination with flexible tempos so they can fit into any style of music you re working on. It's like having Neil Peart play drums on your songs! Don't miss this chance to get a preliminary introductory price on an incredible new drum groove library from Sonic Reality! Neil Peart Drums R.A.W. Artist Pack is the ultimate collection of album quality stereo mixed drums for your music!  Click here to order.

Included Grooves: Armor Grooves, Cry Grooves, Dream Grooves, Ghost Grooves, MagNarc Grooves, Main Monkey Beats, Spind Grooves, The Larger Beats, Victory Grooves, Way The Wind" - esoundz.com, January 10, 2012 - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!

Peart and Lee make #2 on Gibson's 10 Great Rhythm Sections

Today Gibson.com posted a short feature "Drum ’n’ Bass: 10 Great Rock Rhythm Sections".  Coming in at #2, behind only Led Zeppelin's Bonham and Jones, are Geddy Lee and Neil Peart:

"Canadian power trio Rush gained a following thanks to their virtuoso instrumentals and radio-friendly progressive rock style. Geddy Lee proved the quintessential hard rock frontman, with his oh-so distinct tenor – and a bass player, to boot! It’s Lee’s attention to bass grooves and vocal melodies and his perfect fit with drummer Neil Peart – who, consequently, is to praise for much of Rush’s songwriter – that makes this ranking a no-brainer." - Gibson.com, January 11, 2012

Modern Drummer 2012 Readers’ Poll

Modern Drummer magazine is holding its 2012 Readers' Poll; Neil Peart is nominated in two categories: Best Prog Drummer and Best Instructional DVD.  Click here to vote! - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!

Time Machine Tour: Pollstar's #51 top grossing tour of 2011

Pollstar has released their list of the 200 top-grossing North American concert tours of 2011 and the Time Machine Tour came in at #51. This is quite respectable considering the fact that Rush only played 26 North American shows in 2011, grossing a total of $18.3 million/averaging $732,000 per show. Click here for the full list. - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!

Clockwork Angels Update in latest Classic Rock

The new issue of Classic Rock (#167) is out, and it includes their "2012 Preview: Direct from the Studio; the inside stories on this year's big albums".

Included is a two page update on Clockwork Angels (click here for the article).  Although there isn't any new earth shattering news that hasn't been said already, it does state that the album will be released in May. - Thanks to ReedLover for the headsup!

Geddy Lee to Appear on VH1 Classic's "Metal Evolution" January 7th

This coming Saturday, January 7th, VH1 Classic's "Metal Evolution" will document the evolution of grunge and the subsequent demise of hair metal and glam rock.  Geddy Lee will be interviewed, to discuss the Seattle scene and how Rush assimilated grunge into their music. - AudioInkRadio.com, Janurary 3, 2012

KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz "Live" Photo Contest

KnuckleBonz, creators of the officially licensed Rock Iconz® Statue Series including the "Starman" and "Neil Peart" statues, is conducting a Facebook Contest which runs through New Years Day. 

The Rock Iconz® "Live" Contest allows fans to upload pics of displays of their Rock Iconz statues around the world. The photo entry simply needs to be a pic the contestant has taken and contains a KnuckleBonz statue or statues.  For complete contest details visit KnuckleBonz' Facebook page. - Thanks to Tony Simerman with KnuckleBonz for the headsup!

Planet Rock Names Rush Best Live Act of 2011

"Rush have got nothing left to prove. Their devoted fan base will turn out to see them whenever they can, and their albums will always sell. After nearly 40 years in the business you would think that they might be starting to rest on their laurels.

Wrong.

The Time Machine Tour 2011 may be their best live show for two decades, and that's saying something because most of their other tours have been pretty damn special too.

Rush’s “2112″ Comes to Rock Band

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.

Today, Rock Band announced that it will be releasing '2112' in its entirety on the Rock Back Store December 31st:

"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!

Clockwork Angels Update

Update December 27th: "Rush Complete Recording Of ‘Clockwork Angels’" - UltimateClassicRock.com

Update December 21: "Rush Have ‘Wrapped’ New Album Recording" - Gibson.com

Rich Chycki has posted on Twitter today December 20th: "2 months at Revolution Studio in Toronto. Thanks for the hospitality guys! #wrapped"

"A Look Back At Rush’s ’2112′"

From Ultimate Classic Rock:

"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

The Canadian Music Scene Interview with Terry Brown Part 2

TCMS has posted a new video interview with Terry Brown subtitled "The Rush Years".  You can view the video here.

Neil Peart Podcast interview with TSN Radio; Win Neil's "Hockey Theme" Snare

Neil Peart appeared live on Canada's TSN Radio yesterday afternoon and discussed the new album, training and getting old(er), and the "Hockey Theme" snare which Canadian residents can win at TSN.ca.  You can hear Neil's interview here, click on the "5" square (note, the interview may not be playable in all browswers, it definitely works in Google Chrome in case you have trouble). - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

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/

Interview with Dean Bobisud and Tom Bronkema On Peart's "Chromey" Kit

The Critical Mass blog has posted a new interview with Dean Bobisud, owner and restorer of Neil Peart's classic 1974 chrome Slingerland drum kit that was used to record the seminal 70s classic albums Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel, 2112 and the live double album All The Worlds A Stage, and Tom Bronkema, one of a select few who works with and travels with "Chromey" as it tours across the U.S. and Canada raising money for cancer awareness. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

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