"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: In Concert: Encore" featuring Rush's Induction

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: In Concert: Encore is now available with a September 21st release. This is the first official release to include RUSH's induction ceremony performance. Although the release's description states "Rush performing fiery classics Tom Sawyer and The Spirit of Radio", it is assume it also includes the full induction ceremony and speeches.  Click here to order.

     Each year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors rock music's pioneering figures during a prestigious black-tie ceremony. As the Hall of Fame enters its third decade, it's these singular induction ceremonies-featuring the biggest names in classic rock from the '60s, '70s and '80s-that have become nearly as epic as the artists they celebrate. This 2 Blu-ray Disc set features poignant reunions, moving and often hilarious induction speeches, and 44 iconic performances.

    Among the highlights from the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 induction ceremonies:

    * The legendary Canadian power trio Rush performing fiery classics Tom Sawyer and The Spirit of Radio for their fervent fans.
    * Red Hot Chili Peppers leading a searing all-star jam session of Higher Ground anchored by Slash and Ron Wood.
    * Heart going Crazy on You before being joined onstage by fellow members of Seattle rock royalty from Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains.
    * Alice Cooper ripping into ferocious versions of Eighteen and Under My Wheels before closing the set with Rob Zombie on School's Out.
    * The Hurdy Gurdy Man Donovan is joined onstage by John Mellencamp for a chilling performance of Season of the Witch.

    Features complete Hall of Fame induction speeches, including:
    * Don Henley inducting Randy Newman
    * Neil Young inducting Tom Waits

Edge Factor's "Master's of Resonance" now available at introductory rate on iTunes

Edge Factor's documentary film Masters of Resonance is now available for presale on iTunes to own at a special promotional rate of $9.99.   Click here to preorder. The film, which tells the story of DW Drums culminating in Neil Peart's masterpiece R40 drumkit, can be preordered for the next 30 day presale for $9.99 now through October 19th.  Thereafter the film will be released and the price will increase to $19.99

A pre-release screening for Rush fans was held Friday, June 22nd, as part of the Rush Family Reunion event at the Fox Theatre in Toronto, with an eventual world premiere at the Grammy Museum presentation in LA on August 8th

"Storyteller and Founder of Edge Factor, Jeremy Bout once believed that a drum was a glorified pail with a lid on it. All drum kits sound the same if you hit them with a keen sense of rhythm, right? Then he met John Good, Co-Founder of DW Drums and realized, "Boy, was I wrong." The innovation, craftsmanship, and sheer brilliance behind the science of drum making inspired Jeremy and the filmmakers at Edge Factor to share the legacy of John and the DW team, in the music documentary film Masters of Resonance.

"This film takes you on a journey from the forest to the stage and pulls back the curtain on drum making. It begins with sustainably harvesting the wood in the forests of Michigan, then shows the design, manufacturing, and painting operations in the DW Drums factory. The finished product is revealed, as completed drum kits are played by many of the biggest names in the music industry. These processes are perfectly demonstrated as the DW Drums team creates the iconic Rush R40 tour drum kit, using 1500 year old Romanian bog oak. Along the way, you will witness the unique relationship that these drum makers share with musicians, as Jeremy interviews world class drummers from the DW Drums roster.

"Rush drummer Neil Peart, beautifully captures the message of the film when he asks, "What could be more transcendent than a musical instrument?" It's the team's unending pursuit of excellence, willingness to embrace failure to find solutions, and the dedication of each team member that empowers DW Drums to create objects that live forever in the music they create.

Alex Lifeson presented with custom built Harper Guitar

Jacob Harper of Harper Guitars recently built a custom guitar for Alex Lifeson. The guitar's fret inlays included interpretations of Rush album art, and the pick guard in inlayed with ‘blah blah blah.'. For high quality pics of the guitar visit Harper Guitars Facebook page. You can check out a low quality video of Alex playing the guitar and thanking Jacob here, and also check out this local news feature about the event. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

CRASH: The World's Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen

One of Neil Peart's drumkits is featured in the new book CRASH: The World's Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen published yesterday by Insight Editions. Click here to order. Modern Drummer is also running a contest to win an autographed copy, click here to enter.

"Crash: The World’s Greatest Drum Kits, is a visual journey through the world of rock & jazz drumming, features commentary from drummer, collector, technologist and sound authority David Frangioni and photography from iconic rock photographer Mark Weiss. Drum kits from musicians such as Carl Palmer, Neil Peart, Ringo Starr, Carmine Appice, Buddy Rich, Eric Singer, Keith Moon, Peter Criss, Alex Van Halen, Lars Ulrich, Louie Bellson and many more are pictured in all their well-played glory. With over 60 kits represented, Crash is the ultimate visual guide to the world of rock drumming and the iconic drum sets that defined a genre."

 - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Funko Fan Expo Canada 2018 Limited Edition Rush Figurines

Fan Expo Canada is coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from August 30th through September 2nd.  One of the Fan Expo's exclusive items is a Rush limited edition set, which will only be available at the show.   For more info visit FanExpoCanada.com. - Thanks to Rosmakloma for the headsup!

A farewell to kings: Canada's Rush really seems to have retired - National Post

Today Canada's National Post published an opinion piece by Colby Cash titled  "A farewell to kings: Canada's Rush really seems to have retired".   Fans around the world are finally getting used to (and supporting) the boys retiring with grace.   Check it out here.

Neil's R40 Drum Kit now on display at Percussive Arts Society in Indianapolis

Yesterday Neil Peart's drum tech Lorne "Gump" Wheaton tweeted:

"Yesterday I set up R40 to be displayed soon at Percussive Arts Society in Indianapolis, IN. It will be there for the next 2 years. Drop by and check it out."

Check out their website at pas.org.

Stewart Copeland Remembers When the Police ‘Threw Bombs’ at Rush

While hosting "Classic Rock Week" on HDNET Movies this week, during a break while airing Rush: The Rise of Kings 1968-1981, drummer Stewart Copeland talked about the time the Police came up as part of the U.K. punk scene and saw Rush as the enemy.

"They're Canadian. They are the best guys on the planet. I don't know if being Canadian has anything to do with it, but Rush are one of the best hangs in show business. Back when my band, the Police, was a struggling punk rock band, just trying to make noise and cause attention and throwing bombs wherever we could. Rush? That's some place where we threw bombs."

"And years later, it turns out Rush - the guys in the band - Neil Peart, is so Canadian that he didn't even mind," he recalls. "And we became really great friends in spite of the fact that we used to criticize his band when we were just trying to get attention. I think he's old and wise and Canadian enough to understand all that. They couldn't be nicer if they were New Zealanders, also a nation that only produces good people." - Thanks to Ultimate Classic Rock for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson guests on Jim McCarty's Walking in the Wild Land

Alex Lifeson makes a guest appearance on the new album by Yardbirds' drummer Jim McCarty titled Walking in the Wild Land.  The album was released March 9th and and can be purchased here.  Produced by long time Rush producer Terry Brown, Alex appears on the track "Soft In A Hard Place" which you can hear below, and in addition, Hugh Syme makes an appearance on the album.

Last month, McCarty talked to MetalExpressRadio.com about the Rush connection that saw Alex Lifeson, Terry Brown and Hugh Syme become involved in his record:

You were able to call on a couple of Toronto residents to help you out. How Alex Lifeson of Rush get involved in your record?
I know the music scene here and have a lot of friends out here. Alex is a big fan of the Yardbirds and Rush did covers of Heart Full of Soul and Shape of Things on their Feedback EP a while ago and he also worked with Terry Brown who produced some of the older albums. Terry thought it'd be a good idea to ask him and Alex thought it'd be a great idea to do it.
Did you work together in the studio on Soft In A Hard Place?
He recorded his parts in his own studio and sent them over.
Did you give him an idea of what you wanted from his contribution or did he pretty much get a free hand?
That's quite a softish song and he put that hard edge into it which worked well with the song. He basically did what he thought would go with the song and I think it turned out great. I'm really happy with it.
Would you like to work with him again in the future?
Well you never know. We're going to get together and have a chat and see where it takes us. I don't know what he's doing now that Rush is finished and he'll probably have his own group but I'll find out when I see him next.
In keeping with the Rush connection, Terry Brown co-produced and mixed the album. What did Terry influence the recording process?
I've known Terry for a while but I was recording with George Koller and Tom Reynolds the keyboard player in the studio and I played some of it to Terry and he took them a little further. He said he'd mix it as he had some ideas of what to do. It was his idea to use the flugel horn on Charmed. He put quite a few touches into it that I really liked.
There's is also ANOTHER Rush connection on your album with Hugh Syme adding keyboards and orchestration to Changing Times, Dancing Leaves and So Many Questions. What you were looking for from him?
It was Terry's idea as I wanted some string parts and he said Hugh was very good at that. Hugh is actually an artist rather than a professional musician and he did a great job. I wanted something quite subtle and he did it just the way that I wanted. Hugh is English and he brought a real English feel to it.

- Thanks to the B-man for the headsup!

Check out Alex Lifeson in a new clip from tomorrow's episode of Crawford

Alex Lifeson guest stars this week on Crawford! And here he is as Cynthia's cereal mogul boss, urging her to 'get on a mission for better nutrition'.  Tomorrow at 9/930NT on CBC!

2019 35th Anniversary "Grace Under Pressure" Calendar

2019 will see the 35th Anniversary of Rush's Grace Under Pressure, and the band will celebrate the album with their 2019 official wall calendar.  Click here to order. 

Clockwork Lives, the graphic novel now available

Order Here

"Some lives can be summed up in a sentence or two. Other lives are epics." The followup to the best selling Clockwork Angels, Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart return to the world of the Watchmaker with all new stories told through the colorful characters of Clockwork Lives, hitting bookstores today.

In this graphic novelization which contains many familiar characters from Clockwork Angels, "Marinda Peake is a woman with a quiet, perfect life in a small village who long ago gave up on her dreams and ambitions to take care of her ailing father, an alchemist and an inventor. When he dies, he gives Marinda a mysterious inheritance: a blank book that she must fill with other people's stories - and ultimately her own."

The graphic novel was created with a team of artists offering unique touches for each of the 13 chapters/character's stories. The hardcover book itself is absolutely gorgeous, printed on durable paper and sporting an all new cover by Hugh Syme. Like its predecessor, Clockwork Lives is well steeped in the world of Rush, yet it is done tastefully and without becoming overbearing or (pardon the pun), comical. How? Whether it is through a simple turn of phrase lifted from a Rush lyric, or through the many graphic nods to the Rush universe (such as the inclusion of a Hemispheres album cover "painting" hanging on a character's office wall, not to mention the "cameo" by Lee Lifeson and Peart themselves), we are frequently reminded of what brought us all here in the first place.

Enjoy your visit back to the world of Rush and the Watchmaker. Available June 26th, you'll want to make sure you get a copy of the Clockwork Lives graphic novel before it's gone.  Click here to order.

Alex Lifeson guest stars in the new CBC comedy "Crawford"

Premiering tonight across Canada on the CBC June 14th at 9/930NT is the new comedy series Crawford.  Created by Mike Clattenburg, who also created Trailer Park Boys, Alex Lifeson has a small role as Taylor, boss of actress Jill Hennessy's (Crossing Jordan) character Cynthia.  Cynthia is "the matriarch, who is an award-winning cereal executive for a product called Sugar Maple Pops.  Alex is "Cynthia’s mentor and the man who gave her a shot with Super Maple Pops, Taylor is a little worse for wear, with an aura of fast-food grease about him."

"I got asked to do a small role...I thought I couldn't do it - that it was something for real actors. But I ended up doing a few episodes. It definitely was not in my comfort zone. But if you throw a challenge at yourself and dive into it, it can be really gratifying." - Alex Lifeson, Globe and Mail, January 18, 2018

“He’s phenomenal,” says Hennessy, a RUSH fan.  (Hennessy herself has released two albums: her last, I Do, in 2015.)  Given the musical connections, the Star says it’s surprising that Clattenburg hasn’t got Lifeson and Hennessy busking in a Toronto subway in a giant ironic wink to the audience.  “That would so work!” says Hennessy. “My character didn’t finish high school, she was in a band. And one of her future fans was her boss (Lifeson) at the cereal company. So yes, I think somebody should talk to Mike about that scene. Could you maybe put in a word for me?” - The Star, January 30, 2018

Geddy Lee talks to the CBC about Toronto's Historic Massey Hall

Toronto's 124 year old Massey Hall is about to about to close for two years as it undergoes major renovations. Today the CBC published a collection of interviews with various artists including Geddy Lee and the Barenaked Ladies, with featured videos as well.  Click here for more.

A Farewell to Kings 40th Anniversary Edition nominated for PROG's Reissue of the Year

Click here to vote now for RUSH's ‪A Farewell to Kings 40th Anniversary Edition in PROG magazine's 2018 Progressive Music Awards!  The event takes place at the Underglobe in London, on the site of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, on Thursday September 13.  Click here for details. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Geddy Adds Pujols' Signature to his 3000-Club Baseball

On May 4th Albert Pujols of the L.A. Angels became the 32nd player to reach 3,000 hits and just the fourth to do so with 600 home runs. When the Angels rolled into Toronto Tuesday night the 22nd to play the Blue Jays, well known baseball collector Geddy Lee was on hand to request Pujols to add his signature to a special ball, which contains EVERY batter who has hit 3,000 hits.  Check out the video of the event here. - Thanks to CygnusX1-net for the headsup!

Rush references on Billions' May 20th episode

Well this escalates quickly - during last night's episode of the Showtime series Billions (titled "Icebreaker", aired May 20), the following epic conversation takes place between Axe (Damian Lewis) and Taylor (Asia Kate Dillon): 

• Businessmen "How soon do you want the money?"
• Axe "The Year 2112 we'll do the raise as a celebration of Rush's second best album, that's why we got you in here today."
• Taylor - "You mean Moving Pictures is #1. But I think it goes Hemispheres, then A Farewell to Kings, then 2112 then Pictures."
• Axe - "Well, you would...."

- Thanks to Tod Odonnell and Ronney Monteith for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson looks back on opening for The New York Dolls in 1973

Alex Lifeson just published his memories in the West End Phoenix newspaper about the night in 1973 when Rush opened for the New York Dolls at the Victory Burlesque Theater.  Check it out here. - Thanks to Dave Bidini for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson appears in Bachman

As seen in the trailer, Alex Lifeson is interviewed in the new documentary Bachman set for screening May 2nd at the 2018 Hotdocs Film Festival in Toronto.

"With 'American Woman' and 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet,' Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman achieved the rare status of reaching #1 in two separate bands. His story is one of chart-topping highs, crushing lows—and a single-minded passion for music."

- Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Costa Rica's President Elect is a (Huge) Rush Fan

As seen below, when Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau phoned Costa Rica's President Elect Carlos Alvarado to congratulate him on winning the recent election, after trading necessary pleasantries, Alvarado states "I'm a fan of...the best band in the world that I admire the most, comes from Canada, it's Rush." Check it out here, beginning shortly after the 3 minute mark. - Thank you for Raul Bonilla for the headsup.

Alex Lifeson's Top 5 Essential Albums - Guitar Tracks Insider

The new March/April issue of Guitar Tracks Insider includes Alex Lifeson's Top 5 Essential Albums.

"Alex Lifeson is one mutt of a guitar player. He combines the blues intensity of John Mayall's early fire breathers Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Peter Green, with the architectural vision of progressive innovators, Steve Howe and Steve Hackett, and the fractured creative vision of modernists, like Jeff Beck and Trevor Rabin."

The Top 5: "1. Electric Ladyland - The Jimi Hendrix Experience; 2. Blow by Blow - Jeff Beck; 3. Discipline - King Crimson; 4. Sounds Good To Me - Bill Bruford; 5. Voyage of the Acolyte - Steve Hackett.

Check out the feature here. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Edge Factor's "Masters of Resonance"

Here's something that's been literally years in the making.  Edge Factor first posted a teaser back in August of 2016, and later that year, they announced via a press release that the film "Masters of Resonance" was coming in 2017.  That was the last we heard until today, when Edge Factor released the Official Trailer for the film, which you can view below.  Per the promo, "This film takes you on a journey from the forest to the stage and pulls back the curtain on the art of drum making."

Geddy Lee inducts Barenaked Ladies into the Juno Awards Hall of Fame March 25th.

Last night Geddy Lee inducted the Barenaked Ladies into the JUNO Awards Hall of Fame.  You can see the induction below or at this link.  Leading up to the show,"Barenaked Ladies' Ed Robertson & Steven Page Talk 'Surreal' Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction", including:

Billboard: "Geddy Lee is inducting you. How cool is that?"

Ed Robertson: "Oh man, for me that's like an actual dream come true. I reached out to Geddy and said, 'Hey, listen, this is an actual, literal teenage dream, but I am an adult now so I understand if you can't make this work.' And he's just been awesome. So he's going to do the induction, which is beyond a thrill to me. There's so much to look forward to -- we're gonna play, Geddy's doing the induction. It's a total dream weekend."

Alex Lifeson to appear in Randy Bachman Documentary "Bachman"

Winnipeg singer-songwriter Randy Bachman (The Guess Who/Bachman-Turner Overdrive) is the focus of a new documentary showcasing his life as an iconic Canadian musician.  “Bachman” will premiere at the upcoming 2018 Hot Docs Festival in Toronto May 2-4, is produced for CBC’s Documentary Channel in Canada and features archival footage and new interviews with friends, family and fans including Neil Young, Alex Lifeson, Chris Jericho, Peter Frampton, Buffy Saint-Marie, Tal Bachman, Fred Turner, Paul Shaffer and others. Click here for more.

Ian Thornley of Big Wreck talks about covering "Closer To The Heart" on the A Farewell to Kings 40th Anniversary Edition

Here's something that passed under the radar....   In January Ian Thornley of Big Wreck spoke to MusicLifeMagazine.net about their cover of "Closer To The Heart" for the A Farewell to Kings 40th Anniversary Edition.

"I knew going in that I am probably going to piss off Rush fans because it’s not hard to do. Rush fans are some of the most rabid on the planet, as you know. And I get that because I am kind of the same way with certain bands too. The list pretty long of bands that I could pick that have iconic songs that I would probably get two bars into a cover and turn it off. At the same time, I wanted to keep it close enough to the original so that it’s recognizable. To me it sounds exactly like how I wanted it to and am happy because it sounds like Big Wreck covering a Rush song."

 For more, check out the full feature musiclifemagazine.net. - Thanks Darren for the headsup!

Anthrax's Scott Ian talks Rush in Prog issue #85

The new issue of PROG magazine (#85) went on sale yesterday, and includes an interview with Anthrax's Scott Ian, where he talks about his his prog heroes, RUSH. Check it out on page 20 here. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

2112 Comic Series by Matan Kohn

2112 Sighting!  Yesterday saw the release of issue number one of the comic book series "2112" by Matan Kohn.  Details of this series are unknown, and the title may be the only Rush relation in this post-apocalyptic series.  In "Genesis", issue #1, "a person awakens from a coma after about a hundred years, and discovers that everything around him has changed." You can get it here. - Thanks to Chad Saylor for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson performing at Phoenix Rising March 29

Alex Lifeson will be performing March 29 at Phoenix Rising, a fundraiser for West End Phoenix in Toronto to be held in the Great Hall 1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H3.   Performers including Rheostatics, Alex Lifeson, Whitehorse, Nasim Asgari and Special Guests. Hosted by Tom Wilson (Lee Harvey Osmond).  Click here for more.

Fu Manchu: How SoCal Stoner Crew Enlisted Alex Lifeson for Epic Space Jam

Revolvermag.com has posted a new interview with Fu Manchu frontman Scott Hill, where he talks about enlisting Alex Lifeson on their latest album Clone of the Universe, set for release on Feb. 9.

"Our manager is friends with his manager, and they were talking. Without asking us, our manager was like, "Hey, would Alex want to play on their new record?" His manager asked him and got back to our manager, like, "Oh yeah, he totally will. Send him a song!" When he told us, we were all like, "Holy shit!" We immediately reverted back to the Rush fans we were in seventh grade! [Laughs] So we sent him the four-track, which was a little lower than normal demo quality and he was like, "This is great. What do you want me to do on it?" We were like, "Holy shit, he's asking us?!? Dude, do whatever you want, wherever you want!  So we got in the studio and recorded the song, and then we sent it to him in Canada; he sent us back a bunch of stuff, and it all just sounded insane. He was like, "Use whatever you want," so we picked this one section of stuff that he did; it's in the first part where the band drops out — he's playing a really effected guitar riff along with the bass and drums, and then the bass and drums drop out. He's doing stuff with a bunch of different effects, all these sci-fi sounds and pick slides, and we were just flipping out listening to it. We still can't believe it! [Laughs]"

 Click here for the full story.

"Animate" covered by Allegaeon, featuring "Counterparts" inspired album art

Back in September 2016 I shared that Denver Colorado death-metal band Allegaeon had included their cover of "Subdivisions" on their latest album, Proponent for Sentience.  During the recording sessions for Proponent For Sentience, Allegaeon recorded two Rush covers. Besides the aforementioned "Subdivisions", on January 6th, 2018, the date version of the band's song 1.618, Allegaeon released their cover of "Animate" worldwide on all digital music services featuring a single cover based on the Counterparts album art; buy the digital single at Amazon.com.

"When we settled on Rush to cover during the 'Proponent' sessions, I simply couldn't pick which song to do. 'Subdivisions' or 'Animate.' Both were favorites for me personally, and both were sort of 'under the radar' eg. not 'Tom Sawyer' or 'Spirit Of Radio.' Where the original idea was to do a cover for a Japanese bonus track, we figured if we did both we could cover a special song for both the Japan AND Europe pressing. Then the powers that be decided to just include 'Subdivisions' on the album, and keep 'Animate' in reserve for something. Jan 6th, 2018 is the only occurrence of the golden ratio in date form that will occur during our life time. So 1.6.18 seemed like the perfect date to release it in Allegaeon fashion." Guitarist Greg Burgess, via Blabbermouth.net, January 5, 2018

- Thanks to B-man for the headsup!

Rush Reference on "Kevin Can Wait"

Kevin Can Wait is an American sitcom television series starring Kevin James currently airing on CBS.  During Monday night's episode, season 2 episode 15 titled "Fight or Flight", Kevin and Vanessa are at the airport, and the flight they are waiting on from New York to Orlando is flight number 2112. - Thanks to Chad Kilhefner for the headsup and for Riab for the screencap!

Rush Reference on "Riverdale"

Riverdale is an American television series based on the characters of Archie Comics currently airing on Warner Bros CW network. During season 2, episode 10, aired January 17, 2018, titled "Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blackboard Jungle," when confronted with being transferred to a new High School, Jughead quotes "Subdivisions" and says: 'So our choices are conform or be cast out." - Thanks to Sebastian Seifert for the headsup and screencap!

Neil Peart reviews Bill Bruford's book "Uncharted"

Drummer Bill Bruford has penned a new book, Uncharted; Creativity and the Expert Drummer, published on January 17th.  Fellow expert drummer, Neil Peart, reviewed the book for the University of Michigan Press, and what is notable are his credentials are given (by him?) as "former drummer and lyricist".  Hmm...

“After forty years of creating professional music, pretty much all of it to his taste (passing rare), Bill Bruford has laid down the torches — and tried to capture their flame in words. Begin by running your eyes down the list of Bill’s collaborators. The expert performers and teachers will attract any reader with more than a passing affection for music. Simply put, it is a lights-out masterpiece of useful insight and passionate, reflective wisdom."
—Neil Peart, former drummer and lyricist, Rush

- Thanks B-man for the headsup!

How the end of Rush let Alex Lifeson be 'as creative as I want to be' - Globe and Mail

While many fans have continued to hope for new music from Rush, today Toronto's Globe and Mail posted a new interview with Alex Lifeson, where he states:

"It's been a little over two years since Rush last toured. We have no plans to tour or record any more. We're basically done. After 41 years, we felt it was enough."

Click here for more.

Clockwork Lives - The Graphic Novel now available for preorder

Coming June 19th, the hardcover edition of the all new graphic novel edition of Clockwork Lives is now available for preorder. This is graphic novel version of Kevin J. Anderson's novel Clockwork Lives, released back in 2015. Click here to order.

Set in the world of Clockwork Angels, "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

- Thanks to Ed @ RushIsABand for the headusp!

Offers from Geddy and Alex for the Holidays

From today's Rush newsletter, there are two offers from Geddy and Alex for the holidays.  Geddy Lee has made a small number of bottles available for auction from his private cellar collection. The bottles include a sticker declaring them "from the cellars of Geddy Lee" and feature the insignia made up for the wine club Geddy & Alex formed while on the road during the R30 tour (original membership:2).  The auction closes on Sunday December 17 at 9:00 PM ET.   Make your bid here. * The wines in this auction will be available to ship early 2018, or Zachys will hold them for free until the end of March.

Meanwhile Alex Lifeson is now a guest contributor to his pal Dave Bidini's local Toronto community arts paper, the West End Phoenix. Alex's short stories are illustrated by artist Casey McGlynn. We're offering 100 signed first issue editions here with proceeds going to support the local West End Phoenix. 

Alex Lifeson to Guest on New Fu Manchu Album

Fu Manchu will release their 12th studio album, Clone of the Universe, on Feb. 9, 2018. A follow-up to 2014's Gigantoid, this new project contains an appearance by Alex Lifeson, guitarist for Rush.  Click here to preorder the mp3 album.

Lifeson guests on "Il Mostro Atomico," an 18-minute, album-closing song that's broken up into four sections. Fu Manchu are calling it the heaviest track they've ever recorded and, as guitarist and singer Scott Hill said in a press release, they're itching to test it out in concert.

“We are excited to get out and play this stuff, especially 'Il Mostro Atomico,'" he said. "We think it’s some the strongest music we’ve ever done. We really love the overall sound of the album and having Alex play on it is just incredible. It gives it that special validation for the idea that we had to try something like a side long song.” - ultimateclassicrock.com, December 4, 2017

Spectacularly Majestic! - Ray Wawrzyniak

When Rush's latest documentary Time Stand Still was released, many fans were introduced to superfan Ray Wawrzyniak for the first time.  He brought a sincerity to the film when he gave us an enthusiastic tour of his Rush collection.  Wawrzyniak is the subject of a new interview with metal-rules.com where he takes us in depth into his Rush collection.  Check it out here. - Thanks Ray for the headsup!

A Farewell To Kings 40th Anniversary Edition Now Available

Rush has announced the release of the A Farewell To Kings 40th Anniversary Edition in a variety of formats, hitting store shelves December 1st.   Of special note is that all sets include the COMPLETE February 20, 1978 Hammersmith Odeon show (previously released in edited form on Different Stages), newly remastered by Terry Brown from the multi-track live tape.  A Farewell to Kings, Rush's fifth studio album, was originally released in 1977, and played a major role in establishing Rush as an internationally popular and respected band.  A Farewell to Kings also introduced the trio's first successful radio hit "Closer To The Heart," album tracks “A Farewell To Kings,” “Madrigal,” “Cinderella Man,” as well as enduring fan favorites with "Xanadu” and "Cygnus X-1."

The 40th Anniversary edition features the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album; a complete Rush concert recorded in February 1978 at London's Hammersmith Odeon, newly mixed by longtime Rush engineer and original A Farewell to Kings producer Terry Brown from the multi-track live tapes; four newly-recorded cover versions of songs from the original album by Dream Theater, Big Wreck, The Trews and Alain Johannes; and an instrumental studio outtake of the spacey sound effects from “Cygnus X-1” the band has creatively titled “Cygnus X-2 Eh”.  The set also includes an elaborate new 40^th anniversary cover treatment by longtime Rush creative director Hugh Syme, who has also created a new piece of artwork for each of the album's six songs, an extensive 12,000-word liner notes by Grammy®-winning rock historian Rob Bowman.  The vinyl editions include a 32-page vinyl-sized booklet and a special 12-inch turntable mat.

Available options:

• 3 CD Edition
• 4 LP Edition
• Super Deluxe Edition, combines the complete contents of the 3 CD and 4 LP Editions, as well as one Blu-ray Audio disc containing a brand new 5.1 surround mix of the album by four-time Grammy® nominated surround sound producer Steven Wilson, along with three original 1977 promo videos from a newly found 2-inch quad video master significantly improving the video quality for “Closer To The Heart.”  The Super Deluxe Edition includes several exclusive items, including a unique King's Ring, with custom velvet pouch and neck chain; two lithographs with original artwork by Hugh Syme; the 12-inch turntable mat featuring distinctive artwork by Hugh Syme; and a reproduction of Rush's original 1978 A Farewell To Kings tour program.

Related News:

• Say Hello Again To Rush's 'A Farewell To Kings' - PRNewswire, October 19, 2017