Rush News from Power Windows...A Tribute To Rush

A Tribute To Rush

Rush News

Clockwork Angels Billboard Charting Hitsory

RUSH's Clockwork Angels debuted at #2 on the Top 200 with 103,000 sold the first week.  In terms of actual detailed numbers, the morning of June 20th SoundScan reported the following: Total: 104,707; LP (Vinyl): 2,361; CD: 72,007; Digital: 30,339. Meanwhile up in the Great White North, Clockwork Angels debuted at #1 with 19,625 copies sold; LP (Vinyl): 367; CD: 14,311; Digital: 4,947.
After eight weeks, Clockwork Angels rose back to #13 on the Billboard Top 200, thanks to a $0.99 MP3 album sale at Amazon.com during week 7; the album previously rested at #70 on the chart, and dropped like a rock all the way back down to #81 for week 9.

Clockwork Angels dropped out of the Billboard Top 200 after spending 20 weeks on the chart.  Weeks 19 and 20 it held on at #163 but finally dropped off after week 20.  For the current chart info visit Billboard.com - November 10, 2012
"At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, rock band Rush clocks its best sales week in 10 years as "Clockwork Angels" debuts with 103,000. The group last sold more when 2002's "Vapor Trails" bowed at No. 6 with 110,000. "Clockwork Angels" is Rush's second album to hit No. 2, following 1993's "Counterparts." A No. 1 album continues to elude the act" - Billboard.com, June 20, 2012
"Legendary rock band Rush has made a remarkable U.S. chart debut with their 20th studio album "CLOCKWORK ANGELS." The renowned trio's first new collection of original material in over five years and their first studio release via Anthem/Roadrunner Records has entered the SoundScan/Billboard 200 at #2 with sales in excess of 104,000 units, matching the highest chart debut of their illustrious 38-year career.  "CLOCKWORK ANGELS" has also debuted at #1 in the band's native Canada. In other international news, the album has already achieved the band's highest chart debuts in over a decade from Japan - #2, Norway - #10, Germany, Holland - #11, and Switzerland - #21. In addition to the commercial success, "CLOCKWORK ANGELS" has also received a raft of critical acclaim, including Rolling Stone and USA Today who heralded the release as "an ambitious, sophisticated effort by a band that sounds surprisingly vital after 20 studio albums." In the UK -- where the album was also released as an exclusive non-chart eligible fan pack format which included a 132 page booklet covering the entire history of the band -- "CLOCKWORK ANGELS" garnered a 5 out of 5 review in The Sun, Britain's largest newspaper. Had the 40,000 fanpacks sold been chart eligible, the album would have debuted at #1 in the UK as well." - MarketWatch.com, June 20, 2012
"The legendary Toronto prog-rockers' 20th studio album debuted at No. 1 with sales of 20,000, according to data provided by Nielsen SoundScan.  'Angels' is the Holy Trinity’s first studio album since 'Snakes & Arrows,' which went gold in Canada back in 2007." - Toronto Sun, June 20, 2012
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Alex Lifeson Tops CBC's "25 Greatest Canadian Guitar Players"

Alex Lifeson tops CBC's list of the "25 Greatest Canadian Guitar Players" ever:
"The most impressive thing about Rush guitarist Lifeson may be his ability to keep up with his virtuoso bandmates Neil Peart and Geddy Lee. For over 4 decades, Lifeson has been seamlessly transitioning from complicated rhythm patterns to searing solos. His influence on shredders is undeniable, though his own playing borrows from jazz, reggae and funk. Guitar nerds love him for heady prog finger exercises like '2112' and 'YYZ.' Everyone else loves him for timeless rock riffs like 'Working Man' and 'The Spirit of Radio.'" - CBC, November 7, 2012 
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Rush Covered On Nektar's "A Spoonful Of Time"

As announced back in December of last year, the long awaited collection of covers by veteran English progressive rock band Nektar is set for release in North America November 27th (preorder here).  Included in this collection of classic prog rock tracks is a cover of Rush's "The Spirit Of Radio". 
  • The first ever covers album from Prog Rock legends, Nektar, finds the band joined by an incredible gathering of musical heroes from a wide variety of genres!
  • Artful, energetic twists on The Doors’ “Riders On The Storm,” Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” Rush’s “Sprit Of The Radio,” Roxy Music’s “Out Of The Blue” and more!
  • Features performances by members of Yes, King Crimson, Symphony X, Opeth, Marillion, Asia, The Moody Blues, Dream Theater, Tangerine Dream, and more!
Although the Rush cover was originally rumored to include ELP's Keith Emerson on keys, the guest musician is Marillion's Mark Kelly. For more info visit Nektarsmusic.com. - Thanks to Ton Jansens for the headsup!
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"Clockwork Angels: The Novel" - Kevin J. Anderson

RockCellarMagazine.com has published a new interview with author Kevin J. Anderson where he discusses the novel Clockwork Angels: The Novel.

Clockwork Angels: The Novel, by Kevin J. Anderson, from a story and lyrics by Neil Peart, is now available.  The novel is available in hardback from ECW Press, and on audiobook available from Brilliance Audio - read by Neil Peart.  The Novel premiered at #18 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Here is a collection of related news and interviews:
"In an innovative combination of music and literature, the new album Clockwork Angels by legendary rock band Rush has been converted into a full-length 'steampunk' science fiction novel by international bestselling SF author Kevin J. Anderson and Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart.

"The music throughout the Clockwork Angels album-the band's 20th studio album-forms the backbone of a colorful adventure story, which is now fully realized in Clockwork Angels: The Novel (ECW Press, hardcover, September 2012). The story tells of a young man caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. On a quest to follow his dreams, he travels across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy, with lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, airships and steam engines, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life.

"...'For something like 20 years, Kevin and I discussed working on a project together that would marry music, lyrics, and prose fiction,' he says. 'The right idea and timing eluded us for a long time, but at last, both converged perfectly.' Clockwork Angels: The Novel seemed a natural.

"Peart approached Anderson with the idea several years ago, when Rush was in the early stages of creating the album. As the lyrics and music were completed, the two brainstormed the story, characters, setting, adventures, and ideas, sometimes with a flurry of a dozen e-mails per day. The artist Hugh Syme-who created eight illustrations for the CD booklet and original works for the novel-also provided inspiration.

"'This is a dream project for me,' Anderson says. 'I have always envisioned epic stories when listening to Rush music, and now working with Neil, it's possible to translate those stories to the printed page. Clockwork Angels: The Novel turned out even better than we had hoped. I think it's one of my very best books.'

"'As my 38 years with Rush will attest, I very much enjoy collaboration with like-minded artists,' Peart says. 'Working up this story with Kevin was one of the easiest, yet most satisfying projects I have ever shared-easiest, because we almost always simply agreed with each other's ideas, and most satisfying because I am so proud of the result.'" - ECW Press
For more on Kevin J. Anderson, visit his entry on this website's "Rush Inspired Literature, Film, And Pop Culture References" page here. You might also be interested in Neil's introduction to Landscapes, Anderson's short story collection. Lastly, check out Anderson's blog post from 2010 telling of his spending time with Neil during Rush's visit to Colorado on the Time Machine Tour.
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Macrograph's "Snow Dog" Now Available

Snow Dog, the third release by digital artist Graham Whieldon is now available.  The digital print is 41" x 22" and is a limited edition of 100.  For more information visit Macrographs.com. - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!
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Neil Peart Clockwork Angels Collector’s Edition Stick Six-Pack

A new six-pack collection of Neil Peart Clockwork Angels Collector's Edition drumsticks will be hitting stores soon.  According to the press release:
ProMark is excited to announce the release of the highly anticipated Neil Peart Clockwork Angels Collector’s Edition Stick Six-Pack. The one-of-a-kind collection commemorates RUSH’s current worldwide tour.

The top selling ProMark Shira Kashi™ oak drumsticks have been given the golden touch, autographed by drummer Neil Peart and copper-ink branded with six RUSH tour logos. Each brick contains six pairs of sticks and Collector’s Edition labels to satisfy any die-hard RUSH fan.

Dealers now have a chance to get their hands on these legendary collections, however, only a limited amount will be produced. The offer is valid through December 2012.

“The Neil Peart Model has been a consistent top seller for ProMark, and the demand to commemorate the current tour from our dealer and consumer base has been exceptional,” said Dick Markus, ProMark Product Manager.
- Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the headsup!
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Neil Peart's "Taking Center Stage" Instructional Video 50% Off Promotion

Hudson Music is holding a special promotion until Wednesday at Midnight, where you can get a 50% discount on the purchase of Neil Peart's latest instructional video Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance. This promotion relates to the Instant Download version of the video which costs just $20 with the discount.  This is a group participation discount. Full details on the promotion and ordering instructions can be found here. - Thanks to Joe Bergamini for the headsup!
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Professional Lighting and Production Fall 2012 - Interview with Howard Ungerleider

The fall issue of Professional Lighting and Production includes an interview with Rush's lighting engineer Howard Ungerleider. The full issue of the magazine is now online. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
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RUSH Nominated for Induction Into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Alex Lifeson Comments

UPDATE: In an interview with the New Jersey Star-Ledger, Geddy lee comments on the Hall of Fame nomination:
"It’s an honor, and any time somebody wants to honor you, you should be gracious. But it’s never been something that’s been super-important to us. Awards are outside of you. We’re aware that it means so much to the fans, and since it does, it has to mean something to me. I almost feel like they’re vindicated more than we are.
"It’s hard to put into words what it means to us that our fans have been so passionate. It makes us want to play all the better. They’ve invested so much — we try very hard to make the shows worth it for them." - Geddy Lee
In a new interview with NorthJersey.com, Alex Lifeson comments on Rush's nomination for induction into the Rock Hall of Fame:
"I'm really happy for the Rush fans who feel that it is really important, and I hope we're inducted for their sake. Personally it never really mattered to me, but at the same time it's nice to be nominated.  The acknowledgement we got from the Canadian government, and by extension Canadians, is very dear to us. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more a popularity contest." - Alex Lifeson
It's official, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced 15 artists nominated for induction into in 2013, including RUSH!   Rush has been eligible for induction since 1999, 25 years after the release of their first record in the US, but this is their first nomination.
"Nominees for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2013 have been announced. Rush, Deep Purple, Heart, Procol Harum, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Randy Newman are among the names being submitted to voters for next year's induction honors.  Also on the list are Donna Summer, Chic, Joan Jett, Albert King, Kraftwerk, The Meters, N.W.A. and Public Enemy.  Other than Heart, Joan Jett and Chic, this is the first time any of the other artists has been nominated.  In order to be eligible for induction, an artist had to release their first record at least 25 years prior. The ballots will now be sent out to members of the music industry with the results announced in early December.  The 28th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on April 18th, 2013." RockHall.com
The band has already issued the following statement on Rush.com:
“We are honored to be among the nominees for this year’s Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. We are especially thrilled for the many, many dedicated RUSH fans to whom this nomination is so very important.” – Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart
Being nominated is just the first step, however.  We won't know until April if they will be among the 2013 inductees, but you can help.  The Rock Hall has also announced "for the first time ever, fans get to vote alongside the artists, historians and music industry insiders of the Rock Hall voting body. From now until December 5th, you can vote for the nominees you'd like to see inducted. Pick up to five acts – the top five vote-getters will comprise a 'fan's ballot' that will count as one of the more than 600 ballots that determine the Class of 2013. The results will be announced in mid-December." Click here to vote.

With cumulative worldwide sales of over 35 million, Rush were inducted into the Juno Awards Hall of Fame in 1994, received the esteemed Order of Canada in 1997, were given their own star on the Canadian Walk of Fame on May 27th, 1999 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on June 25th, 2010.  This is their first nomination for the US Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
- Thanks to Squintyt4e for the headsup!

UPDATE/RELATED NEWS:
Click here for more on RUSH and the Rock Hall Hall Of Fame
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Contest to celebrate the release of Joe Bergamini's "Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage" Book

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest celebrating the release of Joe Bergamini's new book, Taking Center Stage which was officially released yesterday.  The questions were a bit tricky - in all, only 20% of the entries received were correct!  Most frequently, people forgot to take into account the bass drum on the electronic kit while the second biggest error were entries that gave the color of Neil's Roll The Bones kit, when we were asking for the color of the Counterparts kit!  The winners are:

  • Ray Kolek - One autographed Bubbas coffee mug
  • Martin Wade - One autographed copy of Far & Away
  • Nathan Wlazelek - One signed closing statement Neil wrote for the Taking Center Stage DVD, printed on parchment paper, framed
  • Charles Friedel - One large autographed poster of the Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD cover
  • Christopher Muller - One large autographed poster of the Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD cover

Here's a message from Joe where he reviews the correct answers:
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and I hope you all enjoy the book. Here are the correct answers to the questions:

1. What percussion instrument did Neil use only on the Counterparts tour, and then remove from his kit (The acoustic instrument; not including digital samples of its sound)?
Answer: A tambourine

2. How many bass drums did Neil use on the Roll the Bones tour?
Answer: 2 (Although there's only 1 on the front kit, the rear kit had one as well!) I know this may have seemed like a trick question because I wrote about Neil going from two bass drums on the front kit to one, but from the diagram you can clearly see there was a total of two bass drums: one for the front kit and one for the rear. It seems that some folks answered "3," counting the Gong Bass Drum, so we are accepting that answer, although despite its name, drummers consider this basically a huge tom, and wouldn't count it as a bass drum. But because of this confusion, we accepted 2 or 3 as correct answers here.

3. What was the color of Neil's drumset for the Counterparts tour?
Answer: Dark Cherry or Black Cherry are both correct answers.

Congratulations to the winners!
Joe Bergamini
Thanks again to Joe Bergamini and Hudson Music for putting on this fantastic contest, and thanks to all those who entered!
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New Neil Peart Book: "Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance" by Joe Bergamini

Now available, Joe Bergamini, who worked with Neil on the Taking Center Stage DVD, has written a companion book with Neil's supervision officially released online October 15th.  At 208 pages, this full color coffee table book covers Neil's live performances with Rush documenting every tour since 1974, including drum transcriptions, dozens of photos, magazine covers, rare advertisements, etc.  From the press release:
Hudson Music has announced the upcoming release of a new book about drumming legend Neil Peart, written by well-known drummer and writer Joe Bergamini. Neil Peart not only wrote the foreword for the book, but also supervised the project and provided additional factual editing. This book is the most complete retrospective on Neil’s career available in print today. Originally conceived as a companion to the groundbreaking 2011 three-disc DVD set of the same name, this book combines astonishingly detailed musical transcriptions, historical writing, instructional text, and a beautiful collection of photographs to create a book that every drummer and every fan of Neil and Rush will want to add to their collection.

At the heart of the book are note-for-note musical transcriptions of 17 songs that are included on the Taking Center Stage DVD. These transcriptions are exclusive to this book, since they are taken from the performances on the DVD, documenting how Neil currently approaches the songs. Songs include, “Tom Sawyer,” “YYZ,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Free Will,” “Subdivisions,” “Time Stand Still,” “Marathon,”  “La Villa Strangiato,” “The Trees,” “Caravan,” “BU2B,” “Far Cry,” and many others.

The book is divided into chapters corresponding to each and every Rush tour from the time Neil joined the band in 1975, up to the present. Each of these chapters contains extensive text discussing the musical approach of the band at the time, the construction of the drum parts, and Neil’s setup. Accompanying this are exquisitely detailed diagrams of each of Neil’s drum sets, produced after extensive research into the exact instruments that were used on every tour. Tying everything together are stunning photos taken over the past 30 years and color reproductions of just about every drum company advertisement that has featured Neil during his career.

“Working with Neil on the Taking Center Stage DVD was a dream come true, and this book, to me, is the true completion of the project,” says author (and Hudson Music Senior Drum Editor) Joe Bergamini. “I always wanted to do a coffee-table style book that would not only include drum transcriptions, but also include colorful photos, interesting text, and historical magazine covers and ads that documented Neil’s career. I designed the book with all Rush fans in mind (not just drummers), and I think they will enjoy reading and looking it at as much as I enjoyed working on it.”

Includes:
• Fifteen chapters devoted to Neil’s musical approach and equipment on every Rush tour since 1975.
• Note-for-note drum transcriptions of 17 songs taken from the Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance DVD, including Rush classics like “Tom Sawyer,” “YYZ,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Free Will,” “Subdivisions,” “Time Stand Still,” “Marathon,”  “La Villa Strangiato,” and many others.
• Detailed text from both Neil and author Joe Bergamini, explaining his equipment and his approach to the songs.
• Exclusive photos, some never before published, showing Neil and his drums in vibrant detail.
• Detailed diagrams and explanations of all of Neil’s drum sets.
• Other interesting images, such as Neil’s Modern Drummer® magazine covers and print advertisements from DW, Tama, Sabian, Ludwig, Pro-Mark, and Zildjian.
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Neil Peart's "News Weather and Sports" - October 2012

Neil Peart has just published his latest "News Weather and Sports" update, with "The Better Angels".  Neil shares with us the details of the motorcycle tours spent on the first leg of the Clockwork Angels tour, the setlist variations of the tour and the addition of the "Clockwork Angels String Ensemble".
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Interview: Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee - Premiere Guitar November 2012

The November issue of Premiere Guitar magazine features Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson on the cover (see those little guys at the bottom?), and includes an extensive interview with Geddy and Alex where they talk about the recording of Clockwork Angels, the writing process, and their gear.  And the best part?  PG has made the full interview available on their website. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
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"Rush As Food" - The Cookbook

Back in July, Toronto chef Matt Kantor hosted the "Rush As Food" benefit dinner in Toronto with proceeds going to Andrew MacNaughtan's "Art Gives Hope" charity.  Kantor has just published a cookbook of the event, Rush As Food - The Cookbook, currently available exclusively on iTunes:
"Rush as Food: The cookbook" documents the dinner series by Matt Kantor, who deconstructed nine rush songs into food for a charity event.  This event was held in Toronto in July of 2012, proceeds of this dinner to benefit "Art Gives Hope", the WorldVision project stated by Andrew MacNaughtan, long time Rush photographer who passed away earlier in the year.  Each dish contains background, recipes, photographs and in some cases videos and interactive components, making this a must have cookbook for any home enthusiast or die-hard Rush fan."
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The Andrew MacNaughtan Art Store - First Editions While Supplies Last

"Before his death in January 2012, MacNaughtan had been the principal photographer for rock icons Rush, photographing all their tours, promotional materials and album art.  A long and storied relationship that began in the early 80's, Andrew a life long Rush fan, approached the band with a unique request, could he photograph them for his fledgling Music Magazine and Fan Club? For some reason the band saw something in young Andrew and slowly allowed him to be immersed in their world, first as an assistant in their offices then as the band assistant on the road. Eventually they allowed him to take that picture - and the rest is history.

"Andrew never lost the joy of being a Rush Fan, he was always excited to hear new music or see the latest concert and the fact that he got to take part in the creative process was a privilege he never took for granted.

"This was the inspiration for The Andrew MacNaughtan Art Store; to give back to the fans and to share his experiences with those he knew would truly appreciate it. He enjoyed meeting other fans who shared in his excitement, and he was extremely touched with the amazing reaction to his work.
So although difficult, with full cooperation of the band and Andrew's estate, we are pleased to be able to continue sharing his work. We will continue the important work of his foundation "Art Gives Hope" and look forward to expanding on his vision and goals.

"A small inventory of Andrew's work with Rush will be made available. Although it's still a difficult time for all involved, everyone felt sharing these prints was the best way to continue to honor Andrew's work. There is a limited supply of these first edition, autographed prints so check them out now while they last." - AndrewMacNaughtan.net
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Alex Lifeson "Guitar Player" November 2012 cover feature transcript

Alex Lifeson is on the cover of the new November issue of Guitar Player hitting newsstands on October 2.  The cover tagline reads "Blending Old & New on Clockwork Angels".   The complete transcript of the feature article "Alex Lifeson: Like Clockwork" is now online for your reading pleasure.  Alex talks about his current gear and effects, the recording of the album, back catalog songs that he "expected" to perform live on the current tour, Pete Townshend as an influence, and more. - Thanks to John Patuto of Cygnus-X1.net for the transcript!
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"Neil Peart Is Obsessed" - Sabian.com

Sabian has posted to their website "Neil Peart is Obsessed", a 10 minute video with Neil where he talks about writing, reading and cymbals. After talking about how touring led him to riding and reading, he gives the background of each of his books, and also discusses the various motorcycle trips he has taken. The interview closes with his discussion of his current cymbals used on the Time Machine Tour. - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand.com for the headsup!
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Pianist Brad Mehldau Discusses Rush In "Arcana VI: Musicians On Music"

American jazz pianist Brad Mehldau recently published the essay "Rock Hemiolas" in the new book Arcana VI: Musicians on Music, edited by John Zorn.

Mehldau has also placed the essay on his website.  In it, Mehldau on Rush, odd time signatures, music theory, etc.:
"When I was in sixth grade, I had a band – a power duo with my best friend Bill who played drums, called The Rolling Pebbles. Bill did most of the singing, but I had a couple of vocal features, and one was 'Subdivisions' from Rush. Bill and I were nuts about Rush, and that was the title track of their latest record at the time [sic], and the first single. 'Subdivisions' was the first song I played that used the odd time signature of 7/4. It planted the seed of all things '7' in my brain and I followed up much later, exploring that rhythmic meter in the jazz format with my trio."   For more visit BradMehldau.com.
- Thanks to David Suspanic for the headsup!
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Geddy Lee Remembers Sam The Record Man

Canadian businessman Sam Sniderman, known as the founder of Sam the Record Man record store chain, passed away on Sunday at the age of 92.  Yesterday Geddy Lee remembered Sam in a new article with the Winnipeg Free Press:
"Sam took great pride in being the best friend of Canadian musicians. I remember the first time we were awarded a Canadian Gold Record; it was presented to us by Sam at a dinner arranged at Sam the Chinese Food Man restaurant. Sam truly helped change the way Canadians view homegrown talent." - Geddy Lee
- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
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Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson on Q with Jian Ghomeshi - video now online

UPDATE (9/24): Previously only available as an audio interview, the full video interview of Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson's appearance on Q with Jian Ghomeshi, which originally aired on the CBC June 12th, is now available for your viewing pleasure.
"Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of legendary Canadian rock band Rush talk about their latest studio album 'Clockwork Angels'...After nearly 38 years, twenty studio albums and thousands of live concerts together they talk intimately about how they stay fresh in the studio and when they know it will be over." - CBC.ca, June 12, 2012
- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
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