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"In The Studio" with Redbeard, Signals 30th Anniversary Special Now Online
A Rush of Covers from Kiev
UPDATE: George and Timur have put together a fantastic video of their cover of "By-Tor and the Snowdog" which you can view here.
Here is a treat for all you Rush fans out there. I received an email from George Oransky from Kiev. George is a life long Rush fan, who tells me he is "a lonely studio player, not such a performer". He also said that he used to play Rush songs "a time long ago" with some friends who shared an affinity for a band that was virtually unknown in Kiev at the time.
George has been recording Rush songs in his home studio and posting them to his website. What makes them interesting is that his 11 year old son Timur provides the vocals and the combination is quite stunning. Be sure to check their cover of By-Tor and the Snowdog, you'll thank me later.
Here is a treat for all you Rush fans out there. I received an email from George Oransky from Kiev. George is a life long Rush fan, who tells me he is "a lonely studio player, not such a performer". He also said that he used to play Rush songs "a time long ago" with some friends who shared an affinity for a band that was virtually unknown in Kiev at the time.
George has been recording Rush songs in his home studio and posting them to his website. What makes them interesting is that his 11 year old son Timur provides the vocals and the combination is quite stunning. Be sure to check their cover of By-Tor and the Snowdog, you'll thank me later.
Clockwork Angels Billboard Charting Hitsory
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
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
Rush Covered On Nektar's "A Spoonful Of Time"
- 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!
"Clockwork Angels: The Novel" - Kevin J. Anderson
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:
- Rush’s “Clockwork Angels” – The Steampunk NovelInterview with Author Kevin J. Anderson About Writing with Neil Peart - RockCellar, November 1, 2012
- Rockin’ That Steampunk" by Kevin J. Anderson at Tor.com, October 3, 2012
- New Novel Adapted From Rush's Steampunk Album by Kevin J. Anderson - HuffingtonPost.com, September 20, 2012
- The Big Idea: Kevin J. Anderson - whatever.scalzi.com, September 6, 2012
- "Kevin J. Anderson talks Clockwork Angels, his new novel with Rush drummer Neil Peart". - Io9.com, September 6, 2012
- Hunt for one of ten Golden Tickets inside Clockwork Angels: The Novel - ECWPress.com, September 4, 2012
- Interview: Kevin J. Anderson - Roadrunner Records, September 2, 2012
- Exclusive Book Excerpt: Rush Expand on LP With 'Clockwork Angels: The Novel' - RollingStone.com, August 31, 2012
- Writing The Book On Rush's Lyrics - Toronto Globe And Mail, August 24, 2012
- Kevin J. Anderson On Collaborating With Rush, Steampunk, And Fan Expo - Quill & Quire, August 24, 2012
- An Interview With Clockwork Angels' Author Kevin J. Anderson - Huffington Post, August 20, 2012
- Exclusive Interview: Kevin J. Anderson On Clockwork Angels - SciFiPulse.net, August 17, 2012
- Q+A With Kevin J. Anderson - SwerveCalgary.com, August 10, 2012
- Bestselling Author Kevin J. Anderson And Rush Drummer And Lyricist Neil Peart Collaborate On Clockwork Angels: The Novel - ECW Press, May 29, 2012
"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.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.
"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
Macrograph's "Snow Dog" Now Available
Neil Peart Clockwork Angels Collector’s Edition Stick Six-Pack
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.- Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the headsup!
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.
Neil Peart's "Taking Center Stage" Instructional Video 50% Off Promotion
Professional Lighting and Production Fall 2012 - Interview with Howard Ungerleider
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:
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:
"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.In a new interview with NorthJersey.com, Alex Lifeson comments on Rush's nomination for induction into the Rock Hall of Fame:
"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
"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 LifesonIt'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.comThe 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 PeartBeing 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:
- Rush Finally Nominated For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame - Prog.com, October 8, 2012
- Rock Hall Nominations: Who, Why And How Likely Are They To Be Inducted? - NPR.org, October 7, 2012
- Rush vindicated: A Rock Hall of Fame berth for Canadian rock band - Los Angeles Times
- Rush finally receive Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination - Examiner.com
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominates 15 Acts Including Deep Purple, Rush, Kraftwerk, Public Enemy and N.W.A - The Hollywood Reporter
- Rush, Deep Purple, Heart Nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - GuitarWorld.com
Contest to celebrate the release of Joe Bergamini's "Neil Peart: Taking Center Stage" Book
- 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:Thanks again to Joe Bergamini and Hudson Music for putting on this fantastic contest, and thanks to all those who entered!
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
New Neil Peart Book: "Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance" by Joe Bergamini
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.
Neil Peart's "News Weather and Sports" - October 2012
Interview: Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee - Premiere Guitar November 2012
"Rush As Food" - The Cookbook
"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."
The Andrew MacNaughtan Art Store - First Editions While Supplies Last
"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
Alex Lifeson "Guitar Player" November 2012 cover feature transcript
"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!
Pianist Brad Mehldau Discusses Rush In "Arcana VI: Musicians On Music"
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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