HomeRush: 'Our fans feel vindicated'
Rush was featured in today's UK Guardian Newspaper: "Rush: 'Our fans feel vindicated'" includes a brief biography of the last 37 years accompanied by recent comments from Geddy and Alex, and concludes with a retread of last fall's Guardian story where Neil discusses writing Xanadu. - Thanks to Reed Lover for the headsup!
Ultimate Concert Experience With Alex Lifeson Sweepstakes
- Trip For Two To Las Vegas Show
- VIP Concert Seating
- Meet Alex Backstage
- Take Home His Signed Gibson Custom Axe
iDrum: Neil Peart Featured In Premier Issue
Pixies' Drummer On Peart Influence
While on tour last October in Chile, Pixie's drummer David Lovering was seen wearing a Rush Fly By Night tshirt. Currently gearing up for a Canadian tour celebrating their 1989 album Doolittle, in a new interview with the Montreal Gazette, Lovering acknowledged Neil Peart as one of his greatest influences:"...A bigger surprise comes when the subject of their influences is raised. Lovering acknowledged reverence for John Bonham, 'any drummer who played for Steely Dan' and especially Rush's Neil Peart. 'When I first started playing for the Pixies, I was doing a lot of fills, believe me, just like Neil would do. It took a long time and a lot of concentration to keep it toned down,'" - MontrealGazzette.com, March 21, 2011
Censored 2112 Cover And More
Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess - MusiciansFriend Website
"We've been working on this for quite some time — a few years, really. The Axcess is a great platform, I think, because it has certain things that the traditional Les Paul doesn't. You know, the light weight, getting the vibrato arm on there, the changes that we made with the piezo pickups, the separate outputs — you know, it's a great utility guitar. I looked at it in terms of, 'What do I need? Instead of switching through 14 or 15 guitars during a show, how can I pare that down, like, where I can get everything — as much as I can — into one guitar?' And this is really what it is." - Alex Lifeson, Gibson.com, February 18, 2011
Playlist For The Planet - includes "Second Nature"
Rush On "Chuck"
Rush was mentioned on tonight's episode of Chuck: during "Chuck Versus the Muuurder", original airdate March 21, 2011, when interviewing potential new agents, Morgan asks a candidate "Quick. Rush's best album?" to which a nerdy candidate replies "Caress of Steel", much to Morgan's disappointment. You can view the episode in its entirety here. - Thanks to Jeff Lucas and Scott McBean for the headsup!
This is the second episode to include Rush: during the episode "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer", original air date October 27, 2008, Chuck must reach the final kill screen of the classic video game "Missile Command" to unlock the code to power down a satellite. As he prepares to play, he sees an R30 t-shirt, and realizes the game follows a pattern, the "music of the universe", which is of course "Tom Sawyer".
This is the second episode to include Rush: during the episode "Chuck Versus Tom Sawyer", original air date October 27, 2008, Chuck must reach the final kill screen of the classic video game "Missile Command" to unlock the code to power down a satellite. As he prepares to play, he sees an R30 t-shirt, and realizes the game follows a pattern, the "music of the universe", which is of course "Tom Sawyer".
"Rush Classic Albums 2112 + Moving Pictures" iPad App
RushCon:X1 Coming June 24-25 to Las Vegas
"We have found, over the past years, that we usually gt a great turnout when our event coincides with an actual Rush concert. It's the perfect way to celebrate this band that we love, with the fans that we cherish. Without a Toronto show this summer, combined with the incredible time we had in Las Vegas last year, we thought it would be best to keep the con around the same time as a concert." - For more information visit RushCon.org
Foo Fighters Acknowledge Rush Influence On "Rope"
Geddy Lee #12 on XM Radio's "The Boneyard" Top 19 Best Voices of Rock
Geddy came in at #12 on XM radio's "The Boneyard" Top 19 Best Voices of Rock Countdown. Counting down the top 3 were Axel Rose, Bon Scott and Ronnie James Dio at #1. - Thanks to Sniglets for the headsup!
Power Windows...A Tribute To Rush - Now On Facebook
"Power Windows - A Tribute To Rush" is now on Facebook. Click here for the Facebook counterpart to the Power Windows website. It will include all the items posted on my News page, as well as additional Rush related postings and musings that I come across from time to time (which while interesting, might not exactly qualify as "Rush News").
Rare Rush Promo Photo From 1970!
"A highlight for Parton while a student at SCI was the time Rush, the iconic Canadian rock band, performed at the school. Actually, they performed at the school twice. The first time was in September 1970 and then again in April 1971.
Kathryn Lively's "Dead Barchetta"
Author Kathryn Lively has recently written another Rush inspired mystery novel aptly titled Dead Barchetta. Kathryn is a fellow Rush fan, and is also an award-winning writer and editor, an EPIC Award nominee and has edited EPIC Award nominated titles for DLP Books, Phaze Books, Whiskey Creek Press, and FrancisIsidore ePress. She also maintains a pen name, L.K. Ellwood, for other mysteries. Kathryn assists businesses with Virginia Beach social media services, and also works as a freelance writer. About Dead Barchetta:
"Music tutor by day and tribute band guitarist by night, Matt 'Lerxst' Johnston doesn’t have an enemy in the world...so he thinks. One night a pretty young woman tries to smother him in his sleep, and it’s not for the usual reasons a woman would have for wanting to inflict harm upon him! The dream he enjoyed at the time quickly spirals into a nightmare of mistaken identities and nosy investigators who threaten Lerxst’s freedom, to say nothing of coming close to discovering his grandmother’s secret 'herb garden.' Armed only with a guitar and endless questions, Lerxst escapes the discomfort of his beach home and hides out in New York City to learn the true identity of his would-be assailant. Instead he learns more about himself and what he needs to do to survive the next attempt on his life. And what a long, strange trip it is..."
Rush On ESPN The Herd's "Rock Band Bracket"
ESPN radio's The Herd is running a Rock Band Bracket. After making it past Styx in round 1 of the midwest region, Rush lost to Metallic in round 2.
Kevin "Caveman" Shirley recounts being hired by Rush
"From The Inside" by Russ DiBella
From The Inside is a new book by Russ DiBella about a life of looking inside the world of live music, going backstage and collecting drumsticks - with Rush being the most covered band. With detailed stories from three recent Rush tours (R30, Snakes & Arrows and Time Machine) it includes stories of chance meetings with Alex, Geddy and Neil and an interesting and rare opportunity of catching a soundcheck during the Snakes & Arrows tour. From the back cover:"In 1978, when music found its way into Russ DiBella's life largely by way of external circumstances, a natural progression of sorts began to unfold which would eventually marry his affection for words with a nascent interest in drumming and lyric writing. What began as a teenage rite of passage - his first rock concert - would spawn a lifelong passion for all things music, manifesting itself in ways both deliberate and unanticipated.
Neil Peart's "Time Machine" Collectible Snare
"Created to commemorate Neil Peart's latest drum set creation, 'The Time Machine', each snare is an exact recreation of the drum Neil plays on tour. It's not a signature snare drum, but rather a collectible reproduction. The 6.5x14" Collector's series North American Maple shell with VLT (Vertical Low Timbre) technology provides optimal crack, warmth, bottom end and sensitivity. The drum is painstakingly finished with copper leaf-applied graphics and hand airbrush work. Custom copper hardware completes the look. Also standard is a MAG throw-off system with 3P butt plate, 3.0 True Hoops, True Tone snare wires and DW Heads by Remo USA. Available for a limited time only. Availability: 6.5x14"" - DWdrums.com
Limited Edition SABIAN Paragon Cymbal Pack - Includes a splash autographed by Neil Peart
Musician's Friend is offering a limted edition cymbal pack which includes a splash cymbal autographed by Neil Peart, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting littlekidsrock.org."The Neil Peart Paragon Complete Cymbal Pack comes with an 8" and two 10" splashes (including one to be autographed for you by Neil Peart), two 16" crashes, 18" crash, 20" crash, 22" ride, 19" and 20" Chinese, 20" Diamondback Chinese, and 13" and 14" hi-hat sets. Each cymbal features a brilliant finish.- Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!
The Paragon series blends 2 styles of lathing for a very balanced cymbal tone. Pinpoint lathing creates a narrower groove for a fast, lively response on the top, while the traditional AA lathing creates a wider groove for a fuller, richer tone on the bottom side. The cymbal pack is shipped in a free flight case featuring custom 'Time Machine' artwork from the Rush album and tour of the same name. [webmaster note: "Time Machine" album???]
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pack will benefit Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in our public schools. For more information, visit littlekidsrock.org."
Podcast Interview with Dr. Robert Price on the music and lyrics of Rush
"Top 10 Alex Lifeson Guitar Moments"
As a followup to the launch of the new Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess, Gibson.com has just added "Top 10 Alex Lifeson Guitar Moments":
"Then we have guitarist-extraordinaire Alex Lifeson, who has carved out his own estimable and indelible niche in the pantheon of guitar heroes. In a band known for its intricate detail and complex musical landscapes, Lifeson's guitar work is the paintbrush that completes the portrait...let's take a closer look at ten of the greatest guitar moments for the man some affectionately refer to as Lerxst..." "Top 10 Alex Lifeson Guitar Moments", Gibson.com, February 25, 2011
The Gibson Interview: Alex Lifeson
Gibson.com has posted a new interview with Alex Lifeson where he discusses the status and potential release date of Clockwork Angels and a spring 2012 tour:...we had six songs written. Those two were the two we decided to record just prior to the tour start, around this time last year. Since then, Geddy and I have been writing. We’ve been writing for the last couple of weeks and I think we’ve got the makings of another song. Pretty close. Some other snippets of ideas. Once we get back into the writing full-steam in the next week or so, with all those bits and pieces, I’m sure we’ll be able to get at least another song or maybe two. In which case, I think we’re looking at eight or nine songs as the magic number...We’ll take a short break in the summer, start recording in September and hopefully have the new album out for the start of the next tour, which would be in the spring of 2012."Alex also discussed the Vapor Trails remix:
"Well, we've been toying with that idea for quite a few years now. And there was initially no interest from the record company in rereleasing it. It's a little bit of a dance that we would have needed to do without their support in terms of releasing it and getting the releases for it.Click here for the complete interview at Gibson.com
The thing about that, I mean, you walk a very narrow line… That album's almost ten years old. It's a very, very important record for us. There's a lot of emotion on that. We were coming back after a very difficult period in the band's history and certainly in Neil's life. So for us, there's a great deal invested in that record and it's very, very special. And in a lot of ways, I wouldn't want to change anything, because it was recorded in such a way that we captured the very essence of what we were doing at that time. You know, you could say that that album is sixty percent demos, because really that's kind of what it was. Most of that record was what we wrote. We didn't rerecord it. It was the most basic essence of the idea. And that's what was really special. But sometimes when you do that, you're not really aware or conscious of production merits, sounds, spending time creating sounds and, you know, developing that end of it. So consequently, the record suffered a little bit from production or lack of production. And when it went to mastering, it was mastered very hot and all we hear is the little bits of distortion here and there, and these compromises that were made on production.
It's always bothered us, so we thought [we would consider it after hearing] a couple of songs that Rich Chycki remixed. They were really a lot closer to the way we always would have liked to have heard that record, you know? And we talked about it and so we decided, 'Let's just — you know what, if it's just for the three of us — let's just remix the record so we're happy with it. At least we know that we've done it, that we've got that out of our system. We'll pay for it. It's no big deal. Let's just do it.'
You could say that of any record. Go back and remix Caress of Steel or something, but I don't know. Something about Vapor Trails… We just don't feel like we serviced the record properly and we want to give it another breath. And I know it upsets a lot of fans. It goes both ways: I hear from a lot of fans who think it's just a great a idea and they can't wait to hear it, and others who say, 'Why are you touching this record? You should not touch this record.'"
Vote For Rush - Canadian Top 40 Songs of 40 Years
In celebration of 40 Years of the Juno Awards, the Juno Awards' Facebook page is holding a vote to select the Top 40 Canadian songs of the past 40 years. Vote for Rush!
Rush On "Criminal Minds"
Yesterday evening Rush tweeted "If you watch tonight's episode of Criminal Minds, you'll hear Rush's 'Closer To The Heart'". Hopefully you were able to catch it, but if you missed it click here for the full episode, or click here for a video clip containing the scene with Rush.
The episode "Today I Do" (season 6, episode 15), has the synopsis "A deranged woman tracks down the boyfriend of a woman whom she has abducted. Meanwhile the BAU puts out an APB on the missing man." In the scene featuring Rush, a man is seduced with beer and Rush (works for me), as he says "Oh my God, this is the best damn bootleg that Rush ever did...how did you know this is my favorite?!"
The episode "Today I Do" (season 6, episode 15), has the synopsis "A deranged woman tracks down the boyfriend of a woman whom she has abducted. Meanwhile the BAU puts out an APB on the missing man." In the scene featuring Rush, a man is seduced with beer and Rush (works for me), as he says "Oh my God, this is the best damn bootleg that Rush ever did...how did you know this is my favorite?!"
Graphic Designer Discusses "Time Machine" Cymbals
"Wendy Cosman Parlee has designed thousands of signs, logos, banners, and murals she started her custom graphics company Creative Advertising 24 years ago. But a recent project for Sabian endorser and Rush drummer Neil Peart has to be one of the most unique.Parlee designed Peart's steampunk-style cymbals for Rush's 2010/2011 Time Machine tour. 'This is probably a once in a lifetime kind of deal,' Parlee admitted. 'I do my magic here, Sabian does their magic in the vault, then Neil does his magic on stage.'...Parlee had previously customized a gong for Slipknot and one for Alice Cooper drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, but they were much smaller projects.
Rolling Stone Readers Name Peart #3 Best Drummer of All Time
The magazine might ignore Rush, but Neil Peart was chosen as the third Best Drummer of all time by Rolling Stone's readers (behind only John Bonham and Keith Moon):
Neil Peart: To Rush's army of fans any name at the top of this list other than Neil Peart is surely sacrilegious, though it's likely that Peart himself would be more than happy to see his name at Number Three – right beneath Bonham and Moon. Of course, no Rush concert is complete without a Peart drum solo. Here's one from Frankfurt Germany in 2004. - RollingStone.com, February 8, 2011 - Thanks to Jeff Lucas for the headsup!
"Alex Lifeson Picks Top Riffs of All Time"
"In a new, soon-to-be-published interview with Gibson.com, we asked Rush guitarist extraordinaire Alex Lifeson what he thought was the greatest guitar riff of all time. Having just published a brand new poll on the subject, we were curious to hear what topped the list of the fretboard genius behind such monster riffs as 'Limelight,' 'Working Man' and 'Passage to Bangkok.'
"'Well, I would say there are two that are enduring,' said Lifeson. 'One would be 'Satisfaction,' 'cause that was the first time I heard anything on a guitar that just blew me away. You know, the distorted sound and a simple riff, but it had so much power and it was slick and it was sexy and it had all that stuff. And even when I hear it now, maybe it's because I make that connection to my youth, it still does that to me. And 'Smoke on the Water,'' he continued. 'My God, everybody in the world recognizes and knows that riff and knows how to play it. So, I'd have to say those two would be at the top of that list.'
It turns out Lifeson's picks were spot-on with the final poll, which had The Rolling Stones' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' at #1 and Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' at #2. 'Is it really?' he laughed. 'OK, well, yeah, there you go! Ha ha!'" - Gibson.com, February 14, 2011
"'Well, I would say there are two that are enduring,' said Lifeson. 'One would be 'Satisfaction,' 'cause that was the first time I heard anything on a guitar that just blew me away. You know, the distorted sound and a simple riff, but it had so much power and it was slick and it was sexy and it had all that stuff. And even when I hear it now, maybe it's because I make that connection to my youth, it still does that to me. And 'Smoke on the Water,'' he continued. 'My God, everybody in the world recognizes and knows that riff and knows how to play it. So, I'd have to say those two would be at the top of that list.'
It turns out Lifeson's picks were spot-on with the final poll, which had The Rolling Stones' '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' at #1 and Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' at #2. 'Is it really?' he laughed. 'OK, well, yeah, there you go! Ha ha!'" - Gibson.com, February 14, 2011
Alex Lifeson Remembers Gary Moore
Guitarist Gary Moore passed away of a heart attack this past Sunday while on vacation in Spain. Alex Lifeson remembers Gary Moore with ClassicRockRevisited - Thanks to Stephen Humphries for the headsup!
"I was very saddened to hear the news of Gary 's death. We toured together in the 80s and I remember him as a soft spoken, gentle man with a quick smile. His influence as a guitarist is undeniable and his purity of playing and passion will live on in all of us who love the instrument he so cherished."
"Countdown" Makes "Thirteen Great Songs About Space Travel"
Rush's "Countdown" made ChartAttack's "Thirteen Great Songs About Space Travel"."Space: the final frontier. Those who can't venture there often sing about it. If there's a common theme uniting songs about hurtling through the vast expanses of the universe, it's loneliness. Space is cold, isolating and boring. Why do we want to go there, again? CHARTattack presents 13 Great Songs About Space Travel:
4. Rush's "Countdown" Turn it up a little. A little more. Just crank it. You wouldn't think that Geddy Lee narrating a 1980s NASA launch would be this exciting, but there it is." - ChartAttack.com, February 10, 2011"
Alex Lifeson On VH1 Classic Rock Nights This Wednesday
"VH1 Classic Rock Nights is doing a special broadcast from the West Coast this week and host Eddie Webb will be chatting with Alex Lifeson on Wednesday, February 9th. They'll be chatting about the upcoming tour, the Grammy nomination for Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (Grammy's are this Sunday) and other exciting things the band is working on. Visit: www.vh1classicrocknights.com or on facebook at VH1 Classic Rock Nights." - Rush.com, February 8, 2011
"Hell's Kitchen" from "Mystic Rhythms"
Rush has never been fond of producing videos. One of their better ones is the original promotional video for "Mystic Rhythms" which features an assortment of surreal images and objects interspersed with footage of the band performing the song. The final 30 seconds of the video features "Hell's Kitchen", a one-of-a-kind hand-carved mechanical sculpture, or "automata", built in 1980 by Paul Spooner.Hell's Kitchen is currently owned by Marvin Yagoda, the owner of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The sculpture is over 7 feet tall, 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and weighs around 300 pounds. Although it is no longer on display in the museum (as the museum received too many complaints regarding the genitalia found on the sculpture), here is a clip of Hell's Kitchen extracted from a Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum promotional DVD. - Thanks to KevinWayte and Sniglets for the headsup!
Vapor Trails Remix - Richard Chycki weighs in...
Ever since its release, both fans and critics alike have lamented the mix of Rush's triumphant 2002 album, Vapor Trails. A victim of what has become known as the loudness war, as succinctly described in depth by reviewer Rip Rowan, a remix has long been anticipated. In fact, Atlantic Records had announced a remaster as early as 2004; this reissue obviously was shelved. It wasn't until later that the band finally addressed the issue when in the April 2007 issue of Metal Edge Alex Lifeson stated "it was mastered much too hot; it's too loud and it eats away at us and we want to address that". Finally, nearly ten years after the original release, it seems the time of the Vapor Trails remix is nearly upon us:"Rush are planning to totally remix their 2002 album Vapor Trails. Talking exclusively to Classic Rock, guitarist Alex Lifeson revealed: 'We were never happy with the production. Perhaps we should have taken more time over the record. But now we’ve got the chance to improve things. There will be no re-recording, just a remix'." - ClassicRock.com, February 3, 2011 - Thanks to Ed at RushIsABand for the headsup!Update: today Richard Chycki discussed the Vapor Trail Remix in his blog, and how certain elements appeared for the first time in the remixes of "One Little Victory" and "Earthshine".
"A while back, I re-mixed One Little Victory and Earthshine from Rush’s 2002 release Vapor Trails to be included on their 2009 release Retrospective 3. The re-mixes were very well-received so the band has decided to let me move ahead and re-mix the remainder of the CD. To put rumors to rest, there was no re-recording or performance correction done on the first two tracks and that will continue for the remainder of the CD. The reason 'new' details may seem to have appeared in those songs is due to the fact that I listened to the multitracks and interpreted the mix structure without first analyzing the original [deliberately] — so tracks either muted or turned down in the original mixes may shine through differently (the acoustic guitars in Earthshine might be a good example of this). As well, the same technical tweaks will continue for the remaining songs and I still will not have a buss limiter on the mix set to stun. In any case, both the band and I are really excited to re-visit Vapor Trails and hope you’ll all enjoy the re-mix." - Rhichard Chycki, richardchycki.com, February 4, 2011No word yet if any bonus tracks will be included. Click here for the complete history of the Vapor Trails remaster/remix saga.
Jay Leno's Cat Drums To "Limelight"
During his monologue last night, Jay Leno played a clip of his cat playing drums during "Limelight"! Check it out here, skip ahead to the 10:35 mark.
Rush On Jeopardy
During Monday's episode of Jeopardy, in the "Music of Canada" category for $1000 the clue was "This 'Fly By Night' power trio formed in Toronto in 1968; Neil Peart joined in '74 (cue the drum solo)". Click here for a video clip; click here for the full answer board from J!Archive.com. - Thanks to Ande Green and Jason Kaczor for the headsup!
"I Still Love You Man" Quality Video Now Online
As we await the start of the 2011 leg of the Time Machine Tour, I thought I would pass this on. Jason Segel, co-star of I Love You Man, has uploaded the original "I Still Love You Man" video for your viewing pleasure, and it's not the low quality Youtube version which you have seen before!
Classic Rock's "Prog" 2010 Reader's Poll Results
The Winter issue of Classic Rock's Prog magazine recently hit the bookstore shelves and contains the results of their 2010 Reader's Poll. Rush came in at #3 in the Best Band category behind #1 Porcupine Tree and #2 Transatlantic, while Geddy Lee was named Best Bassist, Neil Peart was #3 in the Best Drummer category, Alex Lifeson was #4 Best Guitarist category, and Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage won in the Best DVD category. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!
Rush References in "Kankered"
Kankered is a new independent Canadian film tentatively set for release in September 2011. Filmed in Calgary, Alberta, in the film's trailer two Rush posters can be seen, and "Fancy Dancer" live from '74 can be heard in the soundtrack. For more information, visit the film's Facebook page. - Thanks to Nick Szostakiwskyj for the headsup!
"Adventures Of Power" - Now Available On DVD
Adventures Of Power is a comedy about one man's quest to prove his worth by winning an "air-drumming" competition. Often compared to Napoleon Dynamite crossed with Spinal Tap, the film is part comedy, part drama, with economic hardship and the need to prove one's worth juxtaposed against...air drumming!For Rush fans, this film holds a treasure trove of goodies. The film includes a flashback scene where young Power is inspired to become a drummer after hearing "Tom Sawyer" on the radio. In addition, adult Power's bedroom is plastered with Rush and Neil Peart posters, and during one of the more hilarious scenes onlookers criticize Power for daring to air drum Neil Peart "without a stool". The coup de grâce comes at the end of the film, when Neil Peart himself has a rare cameo as the judge of the final air drumming competition; he must judge the performance of the most difficult air drumming song ever: "Tom Sawyer".
Remembering John Rutsey at "Ephemeral Jetsam"
Last week in her blog "Ephemeral Jetsam", a self proclaimed Rush fan remembers John Rutsey, sharing her relationship with Rush's co-founder which began with a phone call in 1989, becoming pen-pals, and their eventual friendship. Although personal in nature, her story tells us quite a bit more about John Rutsey's activities after 1974 than have been shared elsewhere. - Thanks to Skip Daly for the headsup!
Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal
Rush is featured in the new book Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal which hit bookshelves last month:"Revered former Metal Maniacs editor Jeff Wagner analyzes the heady side of metal in this exhaustive history of a relentlessly ambitious musical subculture. Beginning with 1970s progressive rock acts Rush and King Crimson, Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal unfurls a colorful tapestry of sounds and styles, from the 'Big Three' of 1980s prog metal—Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, and Dream Theater—to extreme pioneers Voivod, Watchtower, and Celtic Frost. The flirtation between heavy metal and progressive rock grows with bold creative leaps, spawning countless valiant launches toward infinity. Today, the spark of inspiration thrives in obscure outposts such as Scandinavia, Florida, and Japan, bursting into full flame with the successes of prog metal overlords Opeth, Meshuggah, Tool, Between the Buried and Me, and their progressive peers." Click here for more information. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!
Neil Peart's "News Weather and Sports" - January 2011
Neil Peart has updated his website with his latest edition of "News Weather and Sports". Unlike his typical reports, Neil provides an update of his call to raise funds for The Red Cross of Chile:
"The Chilean Red Cross— Cruz Roja Chilena—had organized the above-ground facilities for the rescue, though their resources were already strained by the terrible earthquake in February of 2010. The staff here at neilpeart.net—Our Eponymous Founder, designer Greg Russell, and the manager over at Bubba’s Bar ’n’ Grill, Brutus—decided we wanted to help. So we thought we’d try something new: ask the readers to help us help. And people stepped up—Big Time! Over 2,000 people made donations, many of them more than the 'suggested minimum,' and within a little over a month, almost $5,000 had been raised. Our Eponymous Founder volunteered to match that amount—and we are all very proud to present this check to Cruz Roja Chilena." - Neil Peart, "News Weather and Sports", January 2011
Remembering Don Kirshner
"Don Kirshner, rock impresario, music publishing powerhouse, television host and behind-the-scenes music supervisor (before there was such a job title) and song-picker for the Archies and the Monkees, died Monday in Boca Raton, Fla., at age 76. Over the course of half a century in the music business, he served as a bridge connecting songwriters with opportunity, and provided a televised stage in the 1970s and early '80s on which some of the rock era's most important bands performed.... With his syndicated late night show 'Don Kirshner's Rock Concert,' which ran from 1973-1981, he delivered to America some of the world's biggest bands, which performed for way below their usual fees because of the publicity the broadcast generated. His taste in booking crossed boundaries, and was influential in the 1970s for highlighting budding hard rock bands such as Black Sabbath, Rush, Montrose and Kansas. For rock fans away from major metropolitan areas, the show served as a lifeline to musicians they might not have otherwise seen..." LATimes.com, January 18, 2011 - Thanks to John at Cygnux-X1.net for the headsup!
The 2011 Modern Drummer Readers Poll
Voting is now open in the annual Modern Drummer Readers Poll. Neil Peart is on the ballot for best Prog Rock drummer. Voting is open to all visitors, and providing your name and address automatically makes you eligible for one of three FREE one-year subscriptions to Modern Drummer magazine. - Thanks to Frank Ray for the headsup!
"Victor" released 15 years ago today
Today we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of Alex Lifeson's first and thus far only solo album, Victor. Lifeson teamed up guitarist Bill Bell, I Mother Earth vocalist Edwin, Primus bassist Les Claypool, his son, Adrian Zivojinovich, as well as Blake Manning, Peter Cardinali, Colleen Allen and Dalbello. Lyrically dark in many of the tracks, for the most part the album was a complete departure from the Rush sound, seeing Lifeson venture out in many new directions."I didn't want to call it 'The Alex Lifeson Project' or the 'Big Shot, Big Deal Project'. Everybody that worked on the record was so into it, and I just felt that it would be fairer to have everyone involved as more of a band project, and to salute them for it." - Alex Lifeson, "Rockline", January 15, 1996For more visit the Victor News Archive.
"As for the anger on the album, there were relationships breaking down all around me, I was having problems in my relationship. My wife and I realised that we'd started to take each other for granted; there'd been a lot of work, I'd been away a lot. It's uncommon to have stayed together as long as we have stayed together. We'd reached a crisis in our relationship and we needed to strip it down and analyse it and find where we were going. Other relationships around me were breaking down also, a lot of my friends who are the same age were really reaching a mid-life crisis. ... All this stuff was happening around me, and I just thought about the darker side of relationships and love. By nature I'm very optimistic, a little romantic, a little funny maybe, but I felt really impassioned by all the stuff that was going around, and that was reflected in that album." - Alex Lifeson, Classic Rock, July 2002
Help Rush Get The "Rockabye Baby" Treatment!
Back in August I let you know that Rockabye Baby, a record label which creates children's music versions of classic punk, metal and rock albums, has an online poll to determine what band should get the Rockabye treatment next. The label's current catalog includes 33 albums ranging from Black Sabbath to Pink Floyd and The Ramones. As of today, Rush is in the lead of their five contenders with 28% of the votes, leading their closest rival, the Foo Fighters with 24%. If you haven't already, vote now!
RUSH "Moving Pictures 30th Anniversary Wall Calendar
Its the New Year - have you grabbed the 2011 RUSH "Moving Pictures 30th Anniversary Wall Calendar" yet?. Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the release of Moving Pictures, the calendar is full of photos from the period, including alternate photos from the albums linernotes. Click here to order.
Rush On "Coverville"
In the Discography section of this website, you'll find our Rush Covers page containing a chronological listing of all known Rush songs which have been performed and released by other artists. If you have never had the pleasure of hearing many or any of these songs, you might be interested in Coverville, an online podcast radio show which focuses strictly on cover songs. The show features a combination of music and information about the cover artist as well the original artist.Coverville #695: The Rush Cover Story, is an entire show focused exclusively on Rush, including 8 Rush covers (among them Richard Cheese, Wave Mechanics Union, Jamz Bee's Royal Jelly Orchestra, The Catherine Wheel, Jacob Moon, and more), as well as Rush's cover of The Yardbird's "Shapes of Things" from Feedback. In addition, Coverville #719 includes Candlewyck's "The Point Of Know Return"/"The Spirit Of Radio" live bluegrass medley, found on their album Candlewyck Live At The Palmetto Theater (the closest to a bluegrass Rush cover I've ever heard...still waiting on the inevitable Pickin' On Rush album!). - Thanks Tom for the headsup!
Rushpetition.com Relaunched for 2011
The creators of RushPetition.com have relaunched the popular setlist polling website in anticipation of the 2011 leg of the Time Machine Tour. Cast your vote on what songs you would like to see in 2011! - Thanks to Skip Daly for the headsup!
Moving Pictures 30th anniversary In The Studio special now available online
"As the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is nominated for a Grammy Award, North American syndicated rock radio show InTheStudio celebrates the 30th Anniversary of RUSH Moving Pictures with show producer and host Redbeard speaking with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart about their 1981 masterpiece. Geddy Lee comments, 'We looked at all those songs as little films....we took a cinematic approach to writing. Moving Pictures gave us a kind of acceptance and credibility none of our records previously had done.' To find out where to hear this show or to listen ONLINE visit www.inthestudio.net" - Thanks to Kurt at InTheStudio for the headsup!Note, the radio special is already available online; go to www.inthestudio.net and click on "Listen to In The Studio Now". The Rush special is one of the available tracks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)