Neil Peart's "News Weather and Sports" - October 2015

Neil Peart has updated his website with the October 2015 issue of "News, Weather and Sports." In BubbaGram™#2, Neil talks about the bittersweet thoughts he had on the R40 Tour that he was seeing some of the landscapes for the last time. You can check it out here.

Presto and Roll The Bones Vinyl Reissues Now Available

Rush is reissuing the complete Mercury and Atlantic era albums on 200-gram heavyweight vinyl in semi-chronological order throughout 2015 and early 2016. The next release to hit store shelves are Presto and Roll The Bones, which hits store shelves today, October 23rd.

The vinyl reissues will continue into next year with the final release being Snakes & Arrows.  Previous vinyl reissues include Rush reDISCovered, Fly By Night (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Caress of Steel, the 2112 hologram edition, A Farewell To Kings (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures (vinyl and vinyl/t-shirt bundle), Exit...Stage Left and Signals (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound).  These vinyl reissues also include a 320kbps MP4 vinyl ripped Digital Audio album download, and can also be purchased separately as high resolution Digital Audio.  

Geddy Lee talks to the Dan Patrick Show

UPDATE 10/23: The current issue of Sports Illustrated includes a portion of Dan Patrick's interview with Geddy Lee in his "Just My Type" column. 


This morning Geddy Lee appeared on The Dan Patrick show.  Besides talking about the Toronto Blue Jays (especially last night's seventh inning) and their advancing to the ALCS for the first time since 1993, Dan asked Geddy about his baseball memorabilia, singing the Canadian National Anthem at the '93 All Star Game, etc.  When Dan asked what Rush's future plans are, and Geddy confirmed "It's going to be hard to get us back on the road at this point...There's no plans to tour." You can hear the complete interview below.

Rush lead singer Geddy Lee joined the show to talk about being in the stands last night for the Blue Jays’ dramatic win over the Rangers. Lee actually said things got scary for a little while in that crazy seventh inning. But he discussed his passion for the team and baseball.

Speaking of diehard fans, Paul Pabst jumped in with some hard-hitting questions … like “do you ever get tired of kicking ass?” - DanPatrick.com

"Limelight" featured in all new "Guitar Hero Live"

Guitar Hero Live was released on Tuesday, and includes "Limelight" as one of the songs available in the game's TV mode (the games online mode which plays music videos while you play the guitar controller). The game is available for all game platforms here. For more game details including videos click here. - Thanks to Andrew Weiss for the headsup!

Caustic Casanova's "Show Some Shame" Video

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and that is definitely demonstrated by Caustic Casanova's new video for "Show Some Shame", from their new album Breaks released September 25th. Posted today to their YouTube channel, the video is a near complete recreation of Rush's "Time Stand Still" video, including the same spins, camera girl, industrial pillar, etc. The video begins with a Rush Chronicles style placard, and ends with the tribute "We thank Geddy, Alex and Neil for over 40 years of timeless music. Freeze this moment a little bit longer." - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!

Pop Culture References Update - October 2015

It has been some time since I've posted a Rush References in Pop Culture update, and here they are for your review.

• Back in May, we reported how ABC's The Goldbergs included a Rush motivational poster hanging on the wall of guidance counselor Tim Meadows' office. A couple of weeks ago, during "A Chorus Lie" (aired September 30), Erica Goldberg’s homecoming dance suitor, the lead sax player in the high school band, wore three different Rush t-shirts throughout the episode (Moving Pictures, Fly by Night and Hold Your Fire).
• The video game Assassins Creed: Rogue (November 14, 2014), has 25 primary missions, and 10 of them are named after Rush songs: The Way The Wind Blows, One Little Victory, Freewill, The Colour of Right, Circumstances, Armour and Sword, Scars, Bravado, Caress of Steel, and Cold Fire.
• On the back cover of German thrash metal band Kreator's album Coma of Souls (November 6, 1990), their drummer Ventor is wearing a Presto concert t-shirt.
• There have been many very notable and noticeable Rush references on FX's animated television series Archer, and here is one of the more subtle ones: during "Edie's Wedding" (s6, e4, aired January 29, 2015), Krieger exclaims "Great Bacchus Plateau it worked!"
• During the It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia episode "Psycho Pete Returns" (January 28, 2015), near the end three people disembark a train car numbered "2112".
• During the Battle Creek episode "Cereal Killer" (April 5, 2015), a policeman talking about having his wedding in the back yard says "...little drip next door bangin' on his drums like he's Neil freakin' Peart."
• Here's one for fans who know their producers! During The Following episode "The Hunt" (April 6, 2015), the FBI are at the offices of a security company that was used to hack into the FBI computers; the hacker is shown entering the office of his co-worker Peter Collins to frame him.
• During the Discovery Science Channel's How It's Made, 3-D printers (March 30, 2015), the host is wearing a Time Machine tour shirt.
• The September 27th episode of Adult Swim's Rick and Morty, had a difficult to catch "2112" sighting. About nine minutes into "Look Who's Purging Now", Morty contacts his granddaughter back on earth to send help, and sends gives her a 13-digit code to unlock a device which includes the sequence two-one-one-two. The episode is available here.
• About 11:30 into the Pawn Stars episode "Smarty Pants" (October 16, 2014), a framed green Fender Telecaster signed by Rush along with a photo of the band on the Presto tour is briefly shown. You can watch the episode here.
• One for the fans of MST3K! In Rifftrax Live: Sharknado 2 (September 18, 2015), at about the 1:11:26 mark, a high pitched singer from the soundtrack is heard, to which Bill Corbett quips "Man, the only thing worse than the band Rush is someone imitating the band Rush."
• Charlie Gibbons' novel Ellison & Amos (March 28, 2013), was inspired by Neil Peart, and is about a rock-and-roll legend who loses everything of meaning and embarks on a motorcycle journey only to face his greatest fear: The fan. 
• The Foo Fighters have been performing "Tom Sawyer" each night during their 2015 tour, and for their concert in Oklahoma City on September 29th, the Foos created a concert poster featuring Dave Grohl striking a 2112 Starman pose with the Foo Fighters' logo.
• BJ Hyman's novel Day Zero: The Book Of Patrick (March 25, 2015), references Geddy Lee and "Working Man" on page 14.
• The documentary Who The F**k Is Arthur Fogel, about the Canadian music promoter which premiered in March 21, 2013, includes an interesting bit about Rush with Geddy Lee and Ray Danniels starting at the 9 minute mark.
• I've already documented how Jack Black sings the guitar solo to "Jacob's Ladder" in the film High Fidelity. Coincidentally (or not...), in that very same scene, Dick the sales clerk is standing at a rack of albums, and directly in front of him you can see the back cover of All The World's A Stage.
• I've also documented many Rush references on Canada's 1980's series Degrassi Jr High. One we've just learned about is the episode "Can't Live With 'Em" part 2 (s3 e2, aired November 7, 1988), when Joey speaks to Wheels' grandmother on the telephone, "Force 10" is heard in Joey's basement.
• The recent August 24th Reality Check comic strip features Neil Peart.
• During last month's Apple 3D Touch Demo, Craig Federighi demonstrated new 3D Touch features of the iPhone music app at the 2:40 mark, and said "Maybe I want to listen to a song by my favorite band" as he hovered over the app and Signals' "The Analog Kid" was shown.
• On the September 26th broadcast of the UK quiz show Mastermind, contestant Tom Mead chose Rush as his subject to be quizzed on and scored a 12.

- That's a wrap!  If you have anything to add, please feel free to email any suggestions. Thanks to Lucas Riot, David Wholihan, David Cameron, Cindy Lynde, Betty Jo Story, Ken Bratz, Joshua Batten, Paul Wimberley, Matt Chadra, Alexander Abrahamsson, Mark Lavigne, Tod O’Donnell, Greg Silva, Philip Herl, Andrew Weiss and Mark Stench for their help putting this all together.

Clockwork Lives by Kevin J Anderson & Neil Peart - A Review

Buy now

In 2012, Kevin J Anderson and Neil Peart released Clockwork Angels: The Novel, a story about young Owen Hardy, who yearns to escape his quiet life and explore the world.  Three years later, Anderson & Peart have returned to the Clockwork universe and released a companion novel in Clockwork Lives, about Marinda Peake, a young woman who prefers a quiet life with no desire to see the world before events conspire against her. 

That's not the only obvious difference between the two novels, however.  Known for his sprawling epics, Kevin J. Anderson seemed constrained with Clockwork Angels, having to limit the content to appropriately follow the narrative set forth by the Rush album.  With Clockwork Lives, there are no such constraints, and we are treated with a sprawling tale which takes us across the world of the Watchmaker, where Marinda finds herself crossing paths with the Anarchist, the Wreckers, the Carnies, and many other familiar figures from the first novel, including Owen Hardy.   Clockwork Lives is not a sequel to Clockwork Angels, however.  Rather, it's a companion novel in the same universe which actually takes place at the same time and crosses paths with the events in the first novel, and can be enjoyed by itself if you passed on Clockwork Angels.

Clockwork Lives is also an extra special feast for Rush fans.  Like its predecessor, it is loaded with Rush references and lyrics, but to this reader, they were less obvious, more subtle, and therefore more apt to bring a smile when recognized. In addition, Geddy, Alex and Neil are even represented, but I don't want to spoil it…  

A review of this novel would be remiss if I didn't mention the physical nature of the book itself.  The cover is faux oxblood red leather and embossed with gold leaf, and the pages appear to be printed on smooth parchment.   Each new adventure is begun with an all new illustration drawn by Nick Robles, who provided the art for the Clockwork Angels: The Graphic Novel.  It truly is a work of art and is a must-have for anyone Rush fan's library.  Make sure to pick this up before the first edition sells out.  It's fantastic!

Rush's Moving Pictures short listed for inaugural Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize

Rush's Moving Pictures was one of 21 albums from the last fourty years which have been short listed for Canada's inaugural Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize.  The votes are in, and Moving Pictures was not among the winners.   According to Billboard.com, "albums by Joni Mitchell, Cowboy Junkies, Sloan and Peaches have been chosen by the public as the inaugural winners of Canada’s Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize.  A five-titled short list per time period was initially selected by a jury of 25 people from the music media and industry before the lists were released to the public for them to vote online.  They chose: Blue by Joni Mitchell ('60s & '70s), The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies ('80s), Twice Removed by Sloan (90s) and The Teaches of Peaches by Peaches ('00s, 2000-2005)." - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Rush on the cover of Professional Lighting and Production Fall 2015 issue

Rush graces the cover of the Fall issue of Professsional Lighting and Production magazine, which includes a four page feature interview with lighting director Howard Ungerleider titled "Travelling Back Through Time With Rush". The complete issue is available for your viewing here. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Signals Vinyl Reissue Now Available

buy pure audio
Blu-Ray, vinyl

As announced last fall, Rush is reissuing the complete Mercury era albums on 200-gram heavyweight vinyl in chronological order throughout 2015. The next release to hit store shelves is Signals, which hits store shelves today, October 9th.

The Signals 5.1 surround sound "blu-ray-audio remaster" is already available, and was released August 14th.  This surround sound release was previously only available as part of the Sectors 3 boxed set.

The vinyl reissues will continue into next year with the final release being Snakes & Arrows.  Previous vinyl reissues include Rush reDISCovered, Fly By Night (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Caress of Steel, the 2112 hologram edition, A Farewell To Kings (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures (vinyl and vinyl/t-shirt bundle) and Exit...Stage Left.  These vinyl reissues also include a 320kbps MP4 vinyl ripped Digital Audio album download, and can also be purchased separately as high resolution Digital Audio.  

Geddy Lee joins MLB Central

Yesterday Geddy Lee called in to MLB Network's "MLB Central" to talk about the Blue Jay's World Series run (they are currently five games on top of the NY Yankees in the AL East).  Geddy talks not only baseball but when asked about Rush, confirms that there are currently "no plans" on further touring at this time. He also says that his favorite Rush albums are 2112, Moving Pictures, Power Windows and Clockwork Angels.  You can see the 10 minute video below. - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!

Rush on UK TV Show Mastermind

Yesterday on the UK quiz show Mastermind, one of the contestants, Tom Mead, chose “Rush" as his subject to be quizzed on and scored a 12. The program aired last night on BBC2, and UK Viewers can view the episode on the BBC website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06dslsd; everyone else can view it at the link below. - Thanks to Gavin Crockett and Bob Holt for the headsup!

Exit Stage Left Vinyl Reissue Now Available, Signals Coming In Two Weeks

click to order

As announced last fall, Rush is reissuing the complete Mercury era albums on 200-gram heavyweight vinyl in chronological order throughout 2015. The next release to hit store shelves is Exit...Stage Left, which hits store shelves today, September 25th.

buy pure audio
Blu-Ray, vinyl

The next reissue is the Signals vinyl reissue, which is set for release on October 9th, just two weeks from today.  The Signals 5.1 surround sound "blu-ray-audio remaster" is already available, and was released August 14th.  This surround sound release was previously only available as part of the Sectors 3 boxed set.

The vinyl reissues will continue into next year with the final release being Snakes & Arrows.  Previous vinyl reissues include Rush reDISCovered, Fly By Night (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Caress of Steel, the 2112 hologram edition, A Farewell To Kings (vinyl and blu-ray pure audio in 5.1 surround sound), Hemispheres, Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures (vinyl and vinyl/t-shirt bundle).  These vinyl reissues also include a 320kbps MP4 vinyl ripped Digital Audio album download, and can also be purchased separately as high resolution Digital Audio. 

Neil Peart's "News Weather and Sports" - September 2015

Neil Peart has updated his website with the September 2015 issue of "News, Weather and Sports." Titled BubbaGram™#1, Neil lets us know that he is currently writing his next book, which will chronicle his experiences on the R40 tour. He states that rather than have his blog go dark in the meantime, he is going to update his website with occasional "BubbaGrams" with the explanation "At semi-regular intervals I will post a photograph or two and an anecdote, to represent the work in progress." This BubbaGram is about the tshirts he creates for himself and his riding partners for each tour, and includes photographs of each. You can check it out here.

Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart's "Clockwork Lives" and "Clockwork Angels Graphic Novel" Now Available

Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart's eagerly awaited followup to the Clockwork Angels novelization, titled Clockwork Lives, finally arrives in bookstores today (September 15th).

"Clockwork Lives is a novel in its own right, a story wrapped around a steampunk Canterbury Tales, and some of those tales are of familiar characters from Clockwork Angels (Golson the Strongman, The Fortune Teller, Guerrero the pickpocket, for example) and there are also many cross connections and cameos. You can read it on its own, but if you have read Clockwork Angels, you will get a bigger smile on your face." - Kevin J. Anderson

Also available today is the Clockwork Angels Graphic Novel, which collects the complete six issue comic book arc published in 2014, into one gorgeous volume.  The graphic novel script was written by Kevin J. Anderson with artwork by Nick Robles.

Also be sure to check out:

• Kevin J. Anderson talks "Clockwork Lives", "2113", Rush and more

"Neil Peart: Cultural Repercussions" by Brad Birzer Now Available

Also released today (September 15) from WordFire Press is a new book about Neil Peart titled Cultural Repercussions. Written by professor of history Brad Birzer and published by Kevin J. Anderson, the book focuses on Neil Peart's literary works and influences.  It is available in paperback and ebook formats.

"Though Neil Peart is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest living drummers, few studies have been devoted to his writings. Yet, Peart is very much a man of his words. He writes lyrics, travelogues, short stories, essays, and books of cultural criticism. In terms of his cultural impact, he is also one of North America's greatest living men of letters. The themes he offers in his writings are timeless;: philosophy, journeys, growth, exploration, excellence, art, satisfaction, happiness, religion, politics, individualism, expression, natural history, cultural criticism, life, love, loss, redemption, and beauty.

Peart wants every person to persevere through individual trials, and find his or her unique gifts and abilities and, ultimately, true happiness. Most tellingly, Peart does not just profess such things, he has lived them and continues to live them.

Never satisfied with second best or any form of defeat, Peart challenges himself time and time again to live up to his own philosophy. And he has succeeded through great personal adversity and, at times, irrational professional jealousy of and hatred toward him, and he has always succeeded through grace.

This book carefully examines the influence his life, his witness, and his words have had on others. Neil Peart has lived life to the fullest, and he has made us each better for it."

- Thanks to Brad and Kevin for the headsup!

Neil Peart: Marching To The Beat Of A Different Drum - Classic Rock

As a followup to the Rush feature published in the October issue of Classic Rock magazine, today Classic Rock posted a new article written by Neil Peart titled "Neil Peart: Marching To The Beat Of A Different Drum".   Neil writes about the drum solo he performed on the R40 tour, and tells how the solo was developed beginning in rehearsals, and how it came to represent 50 years of drumming.

"My vague design for that solo was deceptively simple. I would approach it as if I was just sitting down at the drums to start playing -- to exercise the improvisational skills I have been working on for, oh, about ten years now. Technically, I was determined to exemplify everything I thought I knew about drumming, and everything I love about the drums -- almost 50 years of experience and passion had to go in there somehow."

Check out the full article here.  - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!

Apple Uses Rush to Demonstrate The 3D Touch

Not for the first time, Rush appeared in another Apple product demonstration.  "The Analog Kid" made an appearance during today's Apple 3D touch announcement; you can see it here at the 2:40 mark:

For the past presentations, check out the Rush Sighting at Apple's WWDC 2014 Keynote Presentation and when Rush was used to demonstrate iOS 7. - Thanks to Rosmakloma for the headsup!

Rush feature in Classic Rock magazine, October 2015 issue

The new October issue of Classic Rock magazine includes a six page Rush feature titled "Exit Stage Left?" which you can now read online here.  Interviewer Philip Wilding speaks to the guys and takes in the final show in L.A. on August 1st.  The magazine will be on newsstands soon, and will be available to purchase from Teamrock.com.

New guitar show with Alex Lifeson coming to TableRock Media

According to an article published yesterday, TableRock Media, a new direct-to-consumer video company from Canada, plans on launching a new guitar show next year starring Alex Lifeson:

Out of Canada, TableRock was created by former GlassBox TV founders Jeffrey Elliot and Joseph Arcuri, the latter of whom is also a former president of AOL Canada. Former Discovery Channel Canada president and HDTV founder Ken Murphy heads the new company's board, and with the team in place TableRock is now planning super-niche OTT channels.

"We saw that there is an opportunity in delivering niche content over OTT," Elliot says. "At the start of pay TV people said it was absurd to have a one-genre channel, but they worked, and in 2015 people are willing to pay for well-produced, curated, niche content delivered on-demand."

TableRock's first offerings, launching early next year, will focus on specific interest areas including aviation, guitars and motorcycles. "Each of these are multi-billion dollar industries and cover subjects that go under the radar in terms of conventional TV. They are too niche in the old way of doing TV, but work in OTT."

The company plans to make about 80% of its content, with a guitar show with Rush's Alex Lifeson...

- Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the headsup!