It was an understandably quiet week for Rush news as fans worldwide celebrated the Holidays. Hopefully Santa left everyone a bunch of cool Rush swag under the Christmas tree Tuesday night. Many lucky Rush fans likely received Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth: The Official Touring History along with the Clockwork Angels Tour vinyl box set, or maybe some Funko Pop! Rush figurines and Geddy Lee's My Favorite Headache on vinyl. So what did Santa bring you? Let us know in the comments. Although it's been out since last Christmas, Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass was likely still a popular gift item this Holiday season as well. Speaking of which, Geddy wrapped up the latest leg of his Big Beautiful Book of Bass signing tour at Coles Halifax Shopping Centre in Halifax a couple of Saturdays ago. Prior to that he visited Barnes & Nobles stores in Pittsburgh and New York City. This was Geddy's final stop on his signing tour for 2019, and may have been his last stop altogether. Earlier this year Geddy promised that he'd be doing signings up through the end of 2019, but didn't mention anything beyond that. So whether we'll see more Geddy signing events in 2020 is unknown as of right now. So far the only thing Rush fans have to look forward to next year is the Permanent Waves 40th anniversary box set, which should get released for Christmas 2020. Beyond that, it's anybody's guess. About the most we can hope for is that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson (or just one or the other) decide to dust off their instruments and record some new music. Fingers crossed for that. Neil Peart will likely remain MIA in 2020, as he has been for the last few years. Although it's always possible he'll release a new book at some point.
Guitar World posted their list of the 20 best guitar albums of the decade this past week and Rush's Clockwork Angels made the cut at #17 (thanks RushFanForever):
The Canadian prog trailblazers' final studio album before disbanding presents a smorgasbord of everything that made them great in the first place. Their latter period saw them in full command of light and shade, of the dynamics between hard-driven rock and the ethereal. Take Caravan, for example, Lifeson's guitar skulks around the low registers with Geddy Lee's bass before resolving itself in a chorus whose gentle arrangements never attenuates the feeling of anxiety Lee is singing about. Rush were alway the most humanistic of all the prog bands, aided and abetted by Lifeson's note choices and ear for feel, and never more so than here, signing off on a formidable discography with typical poignancy on The Garden.
Decider posted their list of the 10 Best Music Documentaries Of The Decade this past week, and Rush's Beyond the Lighted Stage made the cut at #6:
Described by high-pitched lead singer and bassist Geddy Lee as "the world's most popular cult band," Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is perhaps the best film of its kind, an attempt to explain the appeal and greatness of an artist who has always operated at music's margins, even if, as in the case of Rush, they're hugely popular. The film succeeds thanks to impassioned tributes from famous fans and an engaging and at times surprising portrait of the band members themselves.
The 2012 Ginger Baker documentary Beware of Mr. Baker also made the list, coming in at #2. Neil Peart makes an appearance in the film which is available to watch for free on YouTube here. You can watch Neil's part in the film below or at this location:
That's all for this week, for 2019, and for the decade! Have a safe and happy New Year celebration next week everyone.
