"Closer To The Heart" Record Store Day Release

The 10th annual Record Store Day is this coming Black Friday - November 24th - and this year Rush is releasing a special limited edition 7" single of Closer To The Heart featuring all new art by Hugh Syme:

"Canadian rock legends Rush have been making music for more than five decades. The songs on this RSD 7" are "Closer to the Heart" and "Madrigal," both released in 1977 on A Farewell to Kings. This single is being re-released for RSD Black Friday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the LP. This 7" has a large center hole, and new art by longtime Rush album designer Hugh Syme. It also comes with a custom 7" adapter and is to be timed with the 40th anniversary of A Farewell to Kings box set re-issue."

For more info visit recordstoreday.com

Geddy Lee on The Big Interview with Dan Rather Premieres Oct. 24

"On this episode of The Big Interview, Geddy Lee welcomes Dan into his home to chat about his fascinating career. From trying to identify who they were as a band in the early days of Rush to a life of fame, Lee speaks candidly about his journey in rock & roll. Learn more about the Rush star in this new episode of The Big Interview with Dan Rather premiering Tuesday, October 24th on AXS TV." - axs.tv, October 18, 2017

The interview is available to view on itunes here.

'A national hero': Geddy Lee, Dan Aykroyd, Steven Page reflect on Gord Downie

TORONTO — As Canadian musicians tearfully reflected on the legacy of Gord Downie on Wednesday, many used a word the late Tragically Hip frontman himself belted out onstage in his signature howl: “Courage.”

Downie’s advocacy on behalf of Indigenous Peoples, his fortitude in touring one last time, and his fundraising efforts during his fight with terminal brain cancer were incredibly brave and galvanized a nation in a way that will be felt for decades, said his peers.

“He’s a national hero,” said Rush frontman Geddy Lee. “There are lots of different ways that people handle this kind of thing and mostly, if you look at people like David Bowie, et cetera, how they handled their illnesses, they chose to handle it very quietly — and he did not.

“He wanted to go out doing what he loved to do, and trying to do as much good with the time he had left, so for me that’s a courageous act.”

In May 2016, Downie revealed his diagnosis with glioblastoma, an incurable form of cancer. He died Tuesday night “with his beloved children and family close by,” according to a statement on the Tragically Hip’s website. He was 53.

Click here for more.

Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass coming Fall 2018

Cooke Agency has announced that Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass is tentatively set for release this coming fall, 2018.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and RUSH bassist Geddy Lee’s Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass is a gorgeous, fully illustrated love letter to rock ’n’ roll’s rumbly bottom end, complete with a guided tour of Lee’s extensive vintage bass collection, personal anecdotes, observations and history, from one of the world’s most revered and beloved masters of the instrument.

This lavishly illustrated book presents one facet of Lee's own personal journey. The bass guitar has been his passport, his vehicle, his fuel; this book will be his account of a life lived on the stage and a view of the world he’s seen on the road.

With contributions from arts journalist Daniel Richler and Lee’s trusted bass tech, John “Skully” McIntosh, with photography by Richard Sibbald, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass will have something for every reader, from RUSH fans who want to know the inside story of Lee’s relationship with the instrument that has given him so much in his life, to the most knowledgeable musicians and collectors. This will be the definitive book on the bass, from one of the most respected players in history.

Aside from the HarperDesign trade edition, there will be limited run of signed and numbered deluxe editions available as well.

Stay tuned for additional details as they emerge. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Neil Peart writes a 100th Birthday Tribute to Buddy Rich

Neil Peart has come out of retirement - in a fashion. After withdrawing from the public eye for over a year, he has come out to give his thoughts on Buddy Rich on the occasion of the drummer's 100th Birthday celebration in the October issue of Rhythm magazine. - Thanks to Ed Stenger for the headsup and to John Patuto for sharing the transcript!

Geddy Lee guest on AXS TV's The Big Interview with Dan Rather October 24th

Geddy Lee is one of many musicians who’ll be chatting with Dan Rather on the upcoming season of AXS TV’s The Big Interview.  The latest run of shows premieres Tuesday, October 10, with an episode featuring Ozzy Osbourne‘s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne. Other stars slated to appear on new installments of The Big Interview include Rush singer/bassist Geddy Lee, ex-R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe and E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt.  The Big Interview airs  Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT from October 10th through December 5.

Geddy Lee talks about his Signature SansAmp, the GED-2112 with Tech 21

Back in January I shared how Geddy Lee had teamed up with Tech 21 to create a signature SansAmp. Tech 21 has just posted the first part of a new video interview with Geddy where he talks about the results of his collaboration, his Signature SansAmp, the GED-2112 with Andrew Barta (president, inventor of the SansAmp and designer of all things Tech 21). - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Geddy Lee Signature Model Jazz Bass guitar signed by Rush to benefit Heavy Metal Truants Auction

Heavy Metal Truants is a fund-raising collector founded by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and journalist Alexander Milas in association with CharityStars.com. They are currently auctioning a veritable smorgasbord of rock memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in a massive online event.

All proceeds go to three very special charities - ChildLine, Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff Robins Music Therapy.

In addition to Queen, Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden, other superstars from the rock and metal arenas have donated items to the auction. These include Pink Floyd, KISS, Thunder, Marillion, Steve Vai, The Who, Slayer, Joe Bonamassa and Opeth.

The auction is live now and closes today, 27 July 2017. Among the remarkable items that feature in the auction are a Barry Novis painting of the late George Harrison from The Beatles; A unique Iron Maiden collectors cymbal and drumsticks signed by all of the band; a VIP meet-and-greet with Metallica; A Caribbean cruise with KISS; The Who 50th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall microphone signed by Roger Daltrey; a Fender Stratocaster Guitar signed by the remaining members of The Who: Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey; a Dean guitar signed by Megadeth and a Brian May (Queen) signed Red Special Guitar.

This is the second auction Charity Stars and The Heavy Metal Truants have held this year after six items including a Les Paul Guitar signed by Metallica, a Fender Geddy Lee Signature Model Jazz Bass guitar signed by Rush, and The lyrics of Bon Jovi's classic ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ personally handwritten by Jon Bon Jovi went up for sale in June.

Click here for details.

Rush donates autographed guitar for The Kaitlyn Bates Initiative

The Kaitlyn Bates Initiative Rise Up Power Initiative and Gala is slated for Sept. 22 at the Best Western in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada.  Cobourg resident Doug Bates founded the Kaitlyn Bates Foundation just months after he lost Kaitlyn, his seven-year-old daughter, in a 2011 car accident. The organization, now known as the Kaitlyn Bates Initiative after incorporating in 2016, works to build self-esteem and personal development in youth.  During the day on Friday, Sept. 22, from 9 a.m., Segato, one of Canada’s best-loved artists, will hold group workshops for children ages seven to 11 years old. 

In the evening, a fundraising dinner hosted by Segato will start at 7 p.m.  Rush has donated a one-of-a-kind acoustic guitar valued at more than $5,000 that was made for and presented to the group during their induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Modern era category in 2010 as a rock group. All three members of Rush signed the guitar along with fellow inductee Robert Charlebois. The special edition ES 1016 Boucher guitar is made by Quebec-based Boucher Guitars and comes with a case. The name Rush is inlaid in pearl in the neck of the guitar. It can only be won by purchasing a ticket to the Sept. 22 Kaitlyn Bates fundraiser. The winner must be in attendance for the draw. Visit www.kaitlynbatesinitiative.ca to purchase tickets at $100 for the gala. - Thanks Chris for the headsup!

"Tom Sawyer" featured in "Ready Player One" teaser trailer

The first teaser trailer of the Steven Spielberg directed "Ready Player One" features "Tom Sawyer".  This is good news, as the original novel written by Ernest Cline upon which the film is based includes Rush references sprinkled throughout, including a major scene based on "2112".  - Thanks to Stewart Gilray for the headsup!

Geddy Lee surprise performer at Second City Show to Benefit Jake Thomas and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Last night (July 18th) Geddy Lee made a surprise appearance singing "Take Off" along side the McKenzie Brothers (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis), in a Second City benefit show which raised $325,000 for Thomas' nephew Jake Thomas, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a snowmobiling accident. Jake is the son of Ian Thomas, whose band opened for Rush in the 70's.  Funds also went to Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.

The charity show featured comics Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis on the Second City stage, alongside fellow former “SCTV”-ers Martin Short, Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara.

Second City says the intimate evening saw the McKenzie brothers riff on craft beer, political correctness and inventing rap on their first album. Meanwhile, Short revived his manic manchild Ed Grimley and performed as clueless Hollywood reporter Jiminy Glick, who conducted a celebrity interview with Rick Mercer.

O’Hara and Levy reprised their “SCTV” characters Bobby Bittman and Lola Heatherton, while former “Saturday Night Live” star Dan Aykroyd offered up some auctioneering and blues.

Geddy Lee was a surprise musical guest, who led a rousing rendition of Bob and Doug’s hit “Take Off.” That was in addition to appearances by musicians Paul Shaffer, Ian Thomas and Murray McLauchlan, and comics Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald and Scott Thompson of The Kids in the Hall, and Robin Duke and Katherine Greenwood of Women Fully Clothed.

For more info:

• Star-studded SCTV reunion raises funds for Ian Thomas's son
  
• 'SCTV"s Bob and Doug, Ed Grimley, Bobby Bittman among those revived for benefit show
  

Rush Reference in Mages of Mystralia

The action-adventure video game Mages of Mystralia includes a minor character, a town guard, named "Templesa Geddy". Developed and published by Borealys Games and released May 18th, 2017, the game is set in the land of Mystralia and follows Zia, a mage who had recently discovered her powers. For more info click here. - Thanks to Eric Alexander for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson guest on three tracks on Marco Minneman's "Borrego" coming July 31st

Drummer Marco Minnemann has announced his latest solo album, Borrego, set for release July 31st. The album will feature Joe Satriani on four tracks and Alex Lifeson on three tracks:

"It is my utmost pleasure to announce my new album, BORREGO. An album inspired by the hauntingly beautiful Anza Borrego desert landscape and its stories.

The album also features ALEX LIFESON from RUSH on guitar, who also co-wrote one of the center pieces of the album and delivered amazing and beautiful guitar arrangements on 3 of the tracks. And then, JOE SATRIANI, who performed stunning guitars on 4 of the songs.

I feel very honored and grateful for having these legendary artists with me on this release. Other fantastic contributors are Elizabeth Carey on violin, Brigitte Roka and Donna Zed on vocals. And Tony Levin on bass for one of the CD bonus cuts. Watch this space for more clips and news. This is the official Pre-Release.
The album will ship July 29th, 2017. Order at: lazybones.com and marcominnemann.com.

Hope you’ll enjoy the ride on the desert highways.
Much love,
Marco”

Click here to order.

Geddy Lee says he’s thrilled Toronto’s ‘capybabies’ named for band

Today's Toronto Star announced, the offspring of Toronto’s famous fugitive capybaras have new names. The three “capybabies” are — drum roll please — Alex, Geddy and Neil.

Rock fans of will recognize the names as a tribute to the three members of legendary Canadian band Rush: Guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer Neil Pert and singer Geddy Lee, who on Saturday said the band is “thrilled to hear that three cute little furry creatures from South America now bear our names.”

“Thanks to all who voted to give us this special honour,” he said, through his publicist. “By the way, which one is me? In the picture I saw none of them were wearing glasses.”

Click here for more.

Toronto's Trio of Capybara Pups Could Be Named After Rush

Rush's reverence in their home city of Toronto cannot be understated: the power trio have recently been awarded the Key to the City and have a city park named after members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. Now, the group have a chance to be further immortalized in having a trio of capybara cubs named in their honour.

An online vote opened by Friends of the High Park Zoo lists "Alex, Geddy, Neil" as a combination of names for the cubs, who were born earlier this year. The poll says that "submissions from the public ranged from local landmarks to popular trios and adorable nicknames."

Click here for more.

Golfing in the Limelight: Rocco Mediate and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson - PGA.com

PGA.com has posted a new feature on golfer Rocco Mediate.

In 1992, Rocco Mediate was preparing to play in the 74th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, when he learned his favorite band Rush would be in town at the same time. So, he sent an invite to the members of Rush to join him for a round of golf at Bellerive. Guitarist Alex Lifeson accepted the offer, and the two played a round close to the time of the PGA Championship. It was one of the first rounds of golf Lifeson—who was inducted along with fellow bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 2013—ever played.

The golf bug struck a sweet chord with Lifeson. Since then, Mediate and Lifeson went on to appear together in one of the first episodes of “Playing Lessons from the Pros” on Golf Channel. During his touring days with Rush, Lifeson was known to play golf regularly and reportedly had a handicap in the single digits. In 2006, Lifeson became a co-owner of the Tom Fazio-designed Coppinwood Golf Course near Toronto. When Mediate played the Canadian Open in 2010, he sported a Rush hat during a round and was also seen wearing Coppinwood apparel.

Despite his low handicap, Lifeson characteristically uses self-deprecating humor to describe his golf game. "I remember how thoughtful and considerate Rocco was," said Lifeson in 2013. "He spent a great deal of time with me, a truly novice golfer, on the range hitting a million 7-irons. The thing is, he still spends time with me on the range, so either he's a dear friend or I'm a pretty lousy golfer...or maybe both! This photo is of that day."

Looks like a match made in “Rocco Roll Heaven!”

Q&A: Rush Receive Humanitarian Award, Explain Quiet Stance on Philanthropy - Samaritan magazine

In a new interview with Samaritan magazine, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson discuss Rush recently being awarded the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award, as well as their stance on philanthropy in general.  Check it out here. 

"From Cradle To Stage" by Virginia Hanlon Grohl (featuring Geddy Lee's mum!)

Click to enlarge

Congratulations to Stewart Gilray of West Yorkshire who was the first to confirm all the correct answers to my contest questions below.  The answers are: 1) What is a Foo Fighter: an unidentified object (UFO) as reported during WWII; 2) Who played on the Foo Fighter's first album? Dave Grohl played all instruments on their first album with the exception of one guitar part; and 3) Name one artist who made Dave Grohl cry, and briefly tell where/when this happened: Grohl said Neil Peart made him cry when serving him coffee at Rush's Rock Hall Induction.

From Cradle to Stage, the new book by Virginia Hanlon Grohl hits bookstores April 25th. The mother of Grammy-winning rock star Dave Grohl, Virginia retired from a thirty-year teaching career, then jumped on tour buses and planes to travel to rock shows throughout the U.S. and Europe with her son and the Foo Fighters. Her next tour, travelling to meet the mothers of other stars, provided the profiles for her first book, From Cradle to Stage.  As she watched her son's star rise, she often wondered about the other mothers who raised sons and daughters who became rock stars. Were they as surprised as she was about their children's fame? Virginia often wondered about the mystical force that urges some of us to listen, to play, to surround ourselves with music. She wanted to talk about it with the other mothers whose sons and daughters were sharing stages with Dave, and she decided to seek them out wherever they were. So began a two-year odyssey, where she had conversations with such women from all over the world. One of the chapters in the book is dedicated to Geddy Lee; in it Virginia interviews Ged's mother, Mary Weinrib, about what influenced their child to choose a musical career, and the prevalence of music in their family home.  Click to order.

Rush, Sarah McLachlan, Adam Cohen & More Canadian Artists Talk Marijuana Legalization

Yesterday on 4/20 Billboard posted "Rush, Sarah McLachlan, Adam Cohen & More Canadian Artists Talk Marijuana Legalization":

Billboard asked more than two dozen Canadian artists what they thought of Trudeau’s vow to make marijuana legal, and -- if they are all for it -- if they could name a strain, what would it be called and what would it cure or be good for?...Singer/bassist Geddy Lee at first offers Lerxst Kush as their strain name. "That’s him,” he says of guitarist Alex Lifeson. “That’s his nickname.” But then Lifeson comes up with Lerxst Couch instead. “It’s not my forte,” says Lee, “But it is his.” “It is my forte,” says Lifeson. What would Lerxst Couch cure? “It would cure boredom,” says Lifeson. “I was going to say it would cure ambition,” says Lee, laughing. “That’s more appropriate,” Lifeson agrees, laughing too.

Rush Awarded the 2017 Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award

As was previously announced, last night Rush were awarded the 2017 Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award for their achievements and longstanding career in the music industry, social activism and support of humanitarian causes.  Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were on hand to accept the award, which was presented by Toronto Mayor John Tory who was wearing a Moving Pictures t-shirt. 

Leading up to the event, Billboard.com posted Why Rush Might Be the Most Generous Band In the World:

On April 20, Rush will receive the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award for its social activism and support of humanitarian causes, as well as for recognition of its remarkable music career. The award will be presented during the annual Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards gala dinner in Toronto, an event during Canadian Music Week.

"They're giving us an award for doing what everyone should do," Geddy Lee tells Billboard. "It should be a part of everyone's upbringing and routine of life: You share when you've been blessed with good fortune. The world needs a lot of work, and there are not enough workers. We try to help where we can."