Tech 21 develops Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp pedal for Rush bassist’s “new projects”

Tech 21 has announced the Geddy Lee Signature SansAmp YYZ pedal, a downsized version of the legendary Rush bassist’s signature rackmount SansAmp.

As per other SansAmp units, the pedal is designed for recording direct and enhancing previously recorded tracks.

It features a mix control (which transitions between clean and drive), Tight button, Drive knob, active three-band EQ and master volume, all tweaked to Geddy’s specs.

Tantalisingly, Tech 21 claims the release is part of the bassist’s desire to “streamline and simplify his gear for new projects”, which bodes well for future solo releases after Rush called it a day at the tail end of 2015.

Back in December 2018, Geddy told us, “Right now I have no plans to do anything, but I probably will do something eventually. I have no idea what it will be; I need some time to get to know myself again as a player and see what I feel like creating.”

Whatever it is, it’s likely to feature the YYZ. The pedal will be available for $250 from May - see Tech 21 for more info. - musicradar.com, February 18, 2019

Rush In Rio Vinyl Edition

Rush has announced the release of the Rush In Rio 4LP 180 Gram Vinyl edition, hitting stores January 18th, 2019.  Now available, click here to order.

Rush In Rio was originally released on CD and DVD, but has never appeared on vinyl – until now. This set is presented in a heavyweight gatefold jacket and comes with a code that allows the music to be downloaded digitally.

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson to appear at Rush Fan Day at Rock Hall

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Fans might have felt it took too long to get Rush into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but the institution that houses those enshrinees is making up for lost time, and doing it in a physical way.

Singer and bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson will be at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, Jan. 19, for Rush Fan Day and to push Lee’s new coffee-table book, “Geddy Lee’s Big Book of Beautiful Bass.’’

As part of the celebration, the Rock Hall will be featuring a few of the hundreds of bass guitars Lee has collected over the 40-plus years since he, Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart formed the group that was inducted into the Hall in 2013.

Those guitars – all of them – have become the book he will sign in a special Hall of Fame Series interview hosted by bandmate and high school classmate Lifeson.

The interview and booksigning is limited to Rock Hall members and Rush fans who pay $100 and $125 via ticketing.rockhall.com, which go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. Each ticket includes a copy of the book, access to the interview, a commemorative credential and access to all the Rock Hall exhibits, said the museum in a release announcing the event. Tickets are limited to two per transaction, the museum said.

The interview will be on the Klipsch Audio main stage at noon Saturday, Jan. 19, an open area that means all visitors will have a chance to observe it. Additionally, it will be live-streamed on the museum’s Facebook page, and fans will be able to submit questions, according to the release.

The book signing is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and is limited to those who purchased the special tickets. Those tickets do include a copy of the 408-page book that “documents the history and characteristics of Lee’s basses from 1968 to 2017, including mainstream Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers [and] more obscure and lesser-known treasures in his collection,’’ the release noted - Cleveland.com, January 9, 2019

SiriusXM Taps Rush’s Geddy Lee For Guest DJ Spot

"Geddy Lee will serve as guest DJ on SiriusXM’s Classic Rewind this Thursday, January 10. Lee’s stint can be heard on Channel 25 starting at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon.

Geddy’s guest spot comes as part of a slot normally occupied by DJ Kristine Stone. As Rush Is A Band points out, Stone is a well-known Rush fan whose promo includes “Limelight” playing in the background and the tagline “… and then’s there’s Rush … my happy place.” Kristine typically holds down the 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. time slot on Classic Rewind, a channel devoted to classic rock from the ’70s and ’80s." - Jambase.com, January 8, 2019

Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass Now Available

Buy Now

Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass hits bookstores today!   Check out the synopsis below, as well as the latest news stories where Geddy has been promoting the release.

• Geddy Lee: these are the 10 bassists who blew my mind - MusicRadar.com, December 10, 2018
• Geddy Lee on His 'Big Beautiful Book of Bass' and the Future of Rush - Billboard.com, December 14, 2018
• Geddy Lee Talks Massive New Bass Book, Meeting John Paul Jones - Rollingstone.com, December 14, 2018
• Geddy Lee's new book is a stunning tour of his musical mind and epic bass collection (video interview) - TheLoop.ca, December 18, 2018
• Q&A: Geddy Lee considers if Rush would reunite - The Canadian Press , December 20, 2018
• Geddy Lee Reveals Why He Never Collected Basses During Rush Career - Q1043.iheart.com, January 8, 2019

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and Rush bassist Geddy Lee celebrates rock music’s thunderous, rumbly bottom end—the bass—in this unique, lavishly illustrated, full-color compendium showcasing over two hundred rare, iconic, beautiful, and sometimes eccentric bass guitars from his extensive collection.

In this luxurious keepsake volume, Geddy Lee chronicles the fascinating history of one of rock music’s foundation instruments, the bass guitar. Written with arts journalist Daniel Richler, gorgeously photographed by Richard Sibbals, and with insight from Geddy’s trusted bass tech and curator, John "Skully" McIntosh, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass profiles over two hundred classic basses from Geddy’s extensive collection. The book combines knowledge and observations gleaned from Geddy’s long, successful career with new and behind-the-scenes photos, ranging from his earliest days to Rush’s sold-out 40th anniversary tour in 2015, plus personal interviews with some of the world’s top bassists and collectors.

A musician and guitar freak, Geddy has acquired the magnificent bass models that have been the backbone of the world’s greatest popular music, from greats such as Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, and Jack Bruce. The book features vintage basses from 1950 through the mid-1970s—the golden age of guitar making.

Suffused with Geddy’s intelligence, taste, and disarming wit, Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass is also an entertaining look at a legend’s career on stage, in the studio, and at home. Geddy shares his views of the role of the bass guitar in his life and in the lives of the great players who’ve influenced him, revealing his passions and motivations, and ultimately broadening fans’ appreciation of his beloved instrument.

Alex Lifeson to guest on The Mute Gods' 'Atheists And Believers'

The Mute Gods have revealed that they’ll release their third studio album in the coming months.

The follow-up to 2017’s Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth is titled Atheists And Believers and it will arrive on March 22.

The core lineup of Nick Beggs, Roger King and Marco Minnemann are joined on the record by guest stars including Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, Craig Blundell, Rob Townsend and Beggs’ daughter Lula on vocals.

In November last year, drummer Minnemann said he was working with Lifeson on a new project, but it’s not clear if that was for The Mute Gods or a solo release.

For more info visit loudersound.com

Eddie Trunk podcast featuring Geddy Lee

Today Eddie Trunk announced:

Got my days screwed up yesterday.. today is Thursday and new podcast day with Geddy Lee RUSH now up! PodcastOne or ITunes Free! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id897720614

Alex Lifeson appears at the 2018 Andy Kim Christmas Show

Last night Alex Lifeson took part in the 5th annual Andy Kim Christmas Show at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto to support the Starlight Children's Foundation.  Alex performed with Andy Kim on "Rock Me Gently" and "Sugar Sugar", with Kim Mitchel on the Rush with Max Webster favorite "Battle Scar" (beginning at 4:50 in video below).  and with Tom Cochrane for "Life Is A Highway" and "Boy Inside The Man".  Other performers included Broken Social Scene, Billy Talent, Ron Sexsmith, Hayden, Kim Mitchell, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Bif Naked, Theo Tams and Peter and Leah of July Talk. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Rush on the cover of Prog #93

Hitting bookstores today in the UK is PROG issue #93, featuring Rush on the cover to celebrate the release of the 40th Anniversary Edition of Hemispheres:

"The new issue of Prog is on sale today. It's been 40 years since Rush last recorded a side-long prog rock epic. And that was on the Hemispheres album. With a brand new box set of the album due out, we sat down with Geddy Lee to discuss the making of the album at Rockfield Studios in Wales and its impact on the band's career. We also talk about Geddy's new Big Beautiful Book Of Bass and there's a chance to win your own signed copy too!" - Loudersound.com

The magazine is currently available at issuu.com here.

Alex Lifeson to appear on SportsInnerview Saturday 11/17

Sports commentator Ann Liguouri will be interviewing Alex Lifeson on her SportsInnerview show tomorrow/Saturday morning from 9-10 AM EST on 883WPPB.org.

Hemispheres 40th Anniversary Now Available

The long expected 40th Anniversary Edition of Hemispheres is now available.  Hitting store shelves November 16th, the new edition features new album art by Hugh Syme, and includes a second disk featuring the complete "Live At Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands/1979" as well as "2112" from the 1978 Tucson Arizona show. Unlike the 2112 and A Farewell to Kings releases, there are no cover songs from other artists included.

Hemispheres 40th Anniversary is available in three physical formats: Super Deluxe, 2CD Deluxe and 3LP Vinyl.

Related News and Reviews:

• Review: Rush’s ‘Hemispheres’ Reissue Celebrates Band’s Prog-Era Peak - RollingStone.com, November 16, 2018

From the Press Release:

"The Super Deluxe Edition includes two CDs, one exclusive Blu-ray disc, and three high-quality 180-gram black vinyl LPs. The set encompasses the Abbey Road Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD, along with previously unreleased and newly restored bonus content consisting of the band’s masterful June 1979 Pinkpop Festival performance in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the Pinkpop recording engineer failed to capture the first several minutes of “2112,” so an amazing, unreleased performance of the song during the Hemispheres tour from Tucson, Arizona in November 1978 appears here in its place. The third bonus disc contains audio from the album newly mixed from the original multitracks in 5.1 surround sound on a Blu-ray disc, along with four bonus videos: three shot in 1978 as promo videos, and one of “La Villa Strangiato,” originally shot at Pinkpop with newly restored stereo audio.The Super Deluxe Edition of Hemispheres-40th Anniversary will also include several exclusive items, including a 40-page hardcover book with unreleased photos and new artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme; an extensive, 11,000+-word essay by Rob Bowman; The Words & The Pictures, a replica of the band’s rare 1979 UK tour program; a 24x24-inch wall poster of the newly created Syme art; a Pinkpop Festival replica ticket; a Pinkpop Festival replica cloth VIP sticky pass; and a replica 1978 “Rush” Hemispheres iron-on patch.

“Hemispheres was one of our most challenging and demanding records to make,” says Alex Lifeson. “From its inception in a Wales farmhouse where it was written over a 4 week span,” Lifeson continues, “to the very difficult mixing sessions in two London recording studios, it stands as a key transitional album in Rush’s long recording history.”

Hemispheres, Rush’s sixth studio album, was originally released in October 1978, and it built upon the adventurous sonic template the band established on its acclaimed 1977 effort, A Farewell To Kings. The album’s first track, “Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres,” encompassed the entirety of Side 1 on the original release and was the logical, heady continuation of the epic album-ending Kings track, “Cygnus X-1.” Side 2 commenced with the hard-driving commentary on English culture “Circumstances,” followed by the socially aware and environmentally conscious FM radio hit “The Trees,” and concluded with the instrumental tour de force and longtime concert favorite, “La Villa Strangiato.”

Click below for full tracklists for all editions.

Alex Lifeson working with drummer Marco Minnemann on new project

Drummer Marco Minnemann has revealed on his Facebook page that he’s working on a new project with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson when he teased "Working on a new collaborative release together with Rush’s Alex Lifeson. Watch this space for more details to follow soon."

Minnemann is best-known for his solo career and work with The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson and The Mute Gods.  The pair worked together previously on Minnemann’s 2017 album Borrego, which also featured Joe Satriani.

KISS's Paul Stanley: RUSH was the 'Most Exciting' Opening Band KISS Has Ever Had

During a recent SiriusXM Town Hall (see below), the members of KISS were asked to name some of the best bands that opened for them:

Eric Singer: "I thought RUSH was the best. I saw RUSH open for KISS. I thought they were the coolest opening band. That was the 'Fly By Night' tour— early '75. KISS had 'Hotter Than Hell' out and RUSH had just gotten Neil Peart and they had 'Fly By Night'."

Paul Stanley: "I think for us, RUSH was most exciting. When we first had them playing with us in Canada and John Rutsey was still the drummer. The first album was so… It was HUMBLE PIE, it was ZEPPELIN. They obviously found their footing in something they wanted to do later on. They were always great."

Geddy Lee Interviewed in Classic Rock Dec 2018 issue

The new December issue of the UK's Classic Rock magazine hits newsstands on November 13th, and includes a new, lengthy interview with Geddy Lee where he discusses a variety of topics including Geddy's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass currently set for release December 18th.

The magazine is currently available at issuu.com, and has been transcribed by Cygnus-X1.net and is available here. - Thanks to RushFanForever and John Patuto for the the headsup!

Rush Referenced on Family Guy (Again)

Rush was referenced yet again on Family Guy, during last night's episode, "Regarding Carter." After Brian references the time that Peter was, "the only one not wearing black jeans at a Rush concert", we see the following concert scene flashback unfold:

• Peter: Play "Tom Sawyer"!
• Geddy: We already did. And what are you wearing?!
• Peter: What? These are my concert khakis.
• Geddy: Beat him! Beat him in 6/8th time! And don't let him escape to the completely unoccupied ladies' room!
• Peter: (getting pummeled and begging on the ground ) Uh... No. Please! Uncles who voted for Gary Johnson! Leave me alone!
• Geddy: And now a song about radio towers!

You can see the clip here, courtesy of Cygnus-X1.net!

Alex Lifeson performs with Chicago's Jason Scheff at 11th annual Scott Medlock-Robby Krieger Golf Classic

On Sunday, October 28, following a round of golf, Alex Lifeson took part in the 11th annual Scott Medlock-Robby Krieger Golf Classic's All-Star Concert to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu, California. Lifeson performed "Freewill", "The Spirit Of Radio" and "Limelight" with the help of CHICAGO's Jason Scheff on bass and vocals. Check out video footage below (courtesy of California Rock News).

Longtime friends Scott Medlock and Robby Krieger (THE DOORS) organized the event to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It has become one of the largest, single event fundraisers of the year for the hospital.

Anthem/ole's Andy Curran talks Hemispheres and Permanent Waves 40th Anniversary Reissues

In a new interview published Friday by MusicLifeMagazine.net, among other topics Anthem/ole's Andy Curran talked about the upcoming Hemispheres and Permanent Waves 40th Anniversary Reissues:

At the core of the Ole reissue have been a series of 40^th anniversary editions of Rush albums, starting in 2016 with 2112, and followed up last year with A Farewell to Kings. Later this year will see the issuance of a package commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the Hemispheres album, which features Rush concert favourites such as La Villa Strangiato, The Trees and Circumstances.

“For Farewell, we had some younger artists contribute versions of songs for that album, including Big Wreck, Billy Talent and Foo Fighters. But this time we wanted to do something different, so we dug deep into the archives over here at Anthem and were able to come up with a really cool live concert almost in its entirety from the Pink Pop Festival in 1979. In terms of a choice of rarities, this was a recording where if you searched diligently you might have been able to find bits and pieces of it online from people who had recorded it. We worked closely with the Pink Pop Festival and a radio station and television station in the Netherlands that broadcasted it and got the full show. Which was really cool, because Elvis Costello was on the bill, and so were The Police – a very eclectic lineup in 1979,” he explained.

“But part of 2112 had been clipped off, so we found a full recording of 2112 where I think it was recorded from the board, from the same Hemispheres Tour in Phoenix, Arizona. Then there was also a bunch of really great photos that the band gave from their collection taken during the recording at Rockfield in Wales. Rich Chycki also did a great job remastering the album itself in 5.1. I think that the fans will be happy with it. The new art and all the images in the package by Hugh Syme are beautiful. I grew up with this band and loved them and used to go see them at Massey Hall and Maple Leaf Gardens, and some of the photos we got from the band’s collection to put in the booklet excited me, so I know they are going to make a lot of fans happy.”

As a true fan of Rush, Curran takes the job of compiling and re-releasing material very seriously, because he knows first hand the loyalty of the band’s fans and the high standards to which Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart wish their legacy to be persevered. But it’s also boatloads of fun being able to metaphorically and even literally root through the attic of your favourite band, finding hidden and long lost gems.

“There are times when I am literally pinching myself because, first off, I can’t believe I am actually working with these guys, and secondly that they trust me with it. It’s like being part of their inner circle. And then it’s so amazing to find something that no one has ever seen or heard before. When you find something the is unique and special, it’s very cool. There is some visual stuff that I am going through right now, that they documented during the time when I was literally a kid buying tickets and going to see them. One of the reasons I bought a Rickenbacker was because of Geddy Lee. My God, its like being a kid in a candy store at times,” he said.

“My job is to make sure that we keep the integrity of what that band did and deliver first class stuff. Anything I find always has to go back to those guys for approval. Recently I found a recording from a hotel of something they did and Geddy looked at me after hearing it and said, ‘the world can never hear that.’”

There will not be a 40^th anniversary Rush re-issue in 2019, with the next one come in 2020 with a Permanent Waves package, but Curran said his boss at Ole, Robert Ott, has lot of projects for him, including a remastering and re-issuing of the first Coney Hatch album, and a possible second Max Webster package.

“There is also some talk about potentially doing an Anthem Records box set to celebrate four decades of the label. People may have forgotten some of the other artists they were involved with, whether it was B.B. Gabor, or Wireless or Ian Thomas or Larry Gowan, Bob and Doug McKenzie – there are so many cool things from that catalogue. So, we’re deep into discussions about celebrating Anthem Records too.

- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson's 2018 A Brush Of Hope Painting - "Self Portrait #2" - sells for $12,111

UPDATE: The auction just ended with Alex's painting selling for selling for $12,111 Canadian.

Alex Lifeson has painted another original piece for A Brush of Hope - Celebrity Paintings for The Kidney Foundation of Canada to raise money for the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

This year's painting is "Self Portrait #2", and bidding ends October 23rd.  Click here to bid. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Geddy Lee on Rush’s Prog-Rock Opus ‘Hemispheres’: ‘We Had to Raise Our Game’ - RollingStone.com

Rollingstone.com has published a new interview with Geddy Lee, "The Rush frontman is promoting the upcoming 40th-anniversary reissue of Hemispheres (out November 16th), which includes a 2015 remaster, a new 5.1 surround sound mix, promo videos and a previously unreleased 1979 performance from the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands...Along the way, he also discussed his upcoming bass book, the possibility of future solo work and the current state of Rush — who, in 2015, concluded what could be their final tour." 

Clockwork Lives optioned for film or television

Clockwork Lives, the followup to the novel Clockwork Angels, was first published in hardback in 2015, and as a graphic novel this past June.  Today author Kevin J. Anderson announced:

"Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart have optioned their steampunk fantasy adventure CLOCKWORK LIVES to writer/producers Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes (Arrow, The Flash, Warehouse 13).  CLOCKWORK LIVES is set in the universe of the concept album CLOCKWORK ANGELS by legendary rock band Rush and Anderson’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same title. Anderson and Rush drummer and lyricist Peart wrote CLOCKWORK LIVES as a companion to ANGELS in a novel published by ECW Press and a new graphic novel from Insight Editions."

Also check out our interview with Kevin J. Anderson where he discussed both novels as well as some of his other Rush related writings.