Back in the summer of 2021, Neil Peart's extensive classic car collection - dubbed the Silver Surfers by Neil himself - was sold at Gooding & Company's 17th annual Pebble Beach Auctions. Just before the auction, it was revealed via an announcement at Rush.com that this collection of classic cars was the subject of a coffee table book that Neil Peart was working on prior to his untimely passing 4 years ago. Since that initial announcement very little additional information had surfaced, until this past January when the book's release date and cover were revealed. From the official Rush newsletter's January announcement:
For Neil Peart, cars were a lifelong passion, and in his final literary creation, he writes about his beloved Silver Surfers collection; the joy of collecting these exquisite, rare, and important sports cars, and the myriad ways that they brought him great joy. Silver Surfers is an homage to these cars that meant so much to him, and to the passion of the road that fueled his life.
He first traces the roots of his auto obsession, taking us back to where it all began, with a 1969 Lotus Europa; through the cars he bought when the band first made it big, and even his first "family car," before taking us on a tour of the Silver Surfers themselves-a rare collection of some of the most iconic sports cars from the 1960s. From a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 to a classic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, each is a gorgeous silver (with the exception of one: a black 1964 Shelby Cobra whose patina Neil loved so much that he wrote, "I am not going to paint it").
"The title Silver Surfers for my collection of cars occurred to me while driving my DB5 up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. Because it felt right to me, I guess - the idea that I was just one of the wave riders... In search of natural peace, I often drove out that way and up in to the Santa Monica Mountains. Out past Malibu to Ventura County, I'd weave along barren ridges of rock and vegetation, the ocean always on one big side... The waves were slow and gentle, or churned out a powerful, rolling rhythm..." - Neil Peart
Silver Surfers is a stunning coffee table book which is a departure from Neil's previous literary works. As with his previous writings, it contains a compelling, detailed and at times, humorous narrative, yet the images take center stage. These beautiful images, many of which Neil personally curated, accompany his warm, personal story of how he built the collection, the joy he felt when driving them, and the many friends he made along the way.
The foreword, written by Neil's wife, Carrie Nuttall-Peart, provides an additional, personal perspective in to Neil's passion for cars, and the extraordinary influence they had on his life.
Silver Surfers is the final work of Neil Peart's prolific, legendary career, and is sure to become a cherished collector's item for decades to come. It is Neil's parting gift to those who loved him, but also for those who share a passion for automobiles. ...
The book comes in at 96 pages and is slated for release one month from now on September 3rd with pre-orders available here. You can check out an image of the cover here.
Prog-fusion supergroup Trifecta released their 2nd album The New Normal back on April 12th via KScope records. The album features Trifecta's core of former Steven Wilson alums Nick Beggs, Craig Blundell and Adam Holzman, along with guest appearances from Rush's Alex Lifeson and fellow Steven Wilson alumnus Theo Travis. You can watch the official music video for the album's first single, Once Around The Sun With You featuring Alex Lifeson on YouTube. The 19-track album follows up the band's 2021 debut effort Fragments, and will be available on LE white vinyl double LP, black vinyl double LP, on CD and as a digital album. Beggs was recently interviewed for Prog magazine and spoke a bit about Once Around The Sun With You and Lifeson's other contributions to the album:
... "[Once Around The Sun With You was written with my wife in mind," says Beggs. "I played it and said, 'I wrote a song about you.' She got very emotional. There's a sincerity to it - it's a romantic song. When I played it to Alex, he said, 'I was just celebrating my wedding anniversary and it really resonated with me.' And I said, 'That's why I wrote it; for the same reason.'" The connection with Lifeson began when Wilson's band recorded a cover of The Twilight Zone for the 40th anniversary edition of Rush's 2112. "Alex had come along to see us at Massey Hall [in Toronto], ironically because that's where they recorded All The World's A Stage," Beggs says. "I had my photograph taken with him, we shared a drink and a chat; then he came to another show and said, 'If you ever want to do any music, let me know.' I did a thing with him and Marco Minnemann, and then he played on a Mute Gods track. That line of collaboration is always open. He's such a great guy and very open to working on other people's material." ...
Rush has released a new, official 2025 wall calendar celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of 1985's Power Windows. The calendar was produced by Poster Foundry and can currently be ordered via Amazon and other online retailers. The 12"x18" calendar features a dozen photos from Rush's Power Windows era as seen here:
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Rush's iconic Power Windows album with this officially licensed calendar. Featuring all 1985 dates from the unforgettable Power Windows tour and other important anniversaries in Rush's legendary career, this calendar is a must-have for every fan. Don't miss out on commemorating this milestone with the ultimate Rush calendar for 2025!
Rush beer partner Henderson Brewing Company will be hosting their 2nd annual Rush Day event on Sunday, August 25th at the brewery's Toronto location. Just like last year, the event will feature a unique Rush Day souvenir, special guests (Hugh Syme and Howard Ungerleider), Rush Memorabilia at their pop-up museum, Rush Beer tastings (with participants receiving a Beer Genius certificate), exclusive Rush merch, Rush karaoke, a Rush game show, Rush trivia, a screening of Beyond the Lighted Stage and more. Tickets to the event are $15 and include a Limited Edition Door Prize, with a 10% group discount available for parties of 4 or more using code BACKSTAGE PASS at checkout. The Rush beer tastings will run from 1PM-5PM but are limited to 25 people per session, so be sure to reserve a spot. As a special bonus, there will also be a Something for Nothing Rush podcast Pop-up on hand from 1PM-6PM. For all the details and to secure a spot, visit Henderson's website at this location.
Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire was recently interviewed in the latest edition of Classic Rock magazine (issue #329) to talk about the band's upcoming tour, Richey Edwards, Rush and the band's next album. Here's what he had to say about Rush (thanks RushFanForever):
CR: As a huge Rush fan, presumably you bought Geddy Lee's book on the day it came out?
I interviewed Geddy in Wolverhampton on his book tour, so I have a signed copy. That was a thrill of a lifetime. Some of its revelations - the drug side of Rush - made me think: "What the fuck?" I'm not a huge reader of biographies, but Geddy's was such a harrowing read at times, with what his parents went through [in Auschwitz], and saying goodbye to Neil Peart for the last time. I just couldn't put that one down.
CR: Should Geddy and Alex get a new drummer?
I don't think it'll happen. Would I like to see it? I don't know. Neil was such a brilliant lyricist, it wouldn't be the same. I struggle to get on stage at fifty-five, so what must it be like for those guys?
CR: Do you have a memoir inside, bursting to get out?
There's a book, but it's all about timing. That's probably why Geddy was so honest in his own, Rush are pretty much finished. I've written quite a bit for mine, but I don't know if I fancy putting it out while we are still a living organism as a band. ...
Vertical Horizon's Matt Scannell was recently interviewed for NPR while on tour in Ohio to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the band's Everything You Want album. Scannell was good friends with Peart, who he co-wrote a track with called Even Now on the band's Burning the Days album, and also played drums on Vertical Horizon's Echoes from the Underground album. Scannell was asked about his Rush fandom and how he came to work with Peart:
... Neil and I wrote a song on our (2009) record Burning the Days, called Even Now. He wrote the lyrics, and I wrote the music. He (drummed) three songs on that record, which was astounding. Rush is my favorite band. I grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts; and Rush was the second concert I ever attended - on the (1982) Signals Tour. Through a strange confluence of events, I was introduced to Neil; he and I became friends, and he was a big brother to me eventually. It was beautiful, because it took some time for us to get to know each other - and that's the way it kind of ought to be, over a course of a few years. We just spent more and more time together, and eventually we'd go on car trips. It's hard to speak about him in past tense, even all this time (since his 2020 death). Neil was this boundless source of light, joy, laughter, and enthusiasm; being in his orbit was energizing. I always found myself walking taller after hanging with him; he had that effect on people. I miss him so much; but I'm grateful for the experiences and memories that I have with him - like these beautiful songs we collaborated on, I still can't believe it. I'm eternally grateful that my favorite drummer and lyricist of all time made incredible contributions to my band's legacy. ...
Police guitarist Andy Summers was recently interviewed for Sonic Perspectives and was asked about the huge influence that Summers' guitar style and tone had on other guitarists in the '80s, including Alex Lifeson. You can listen to the interview on YouTube at around the 20:30 mark (thanks RushFanForever).
On this past week's episode of the Something for Nothing podcast (#185), hosts Steve and Gerry round out their summer mini season with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Tyler Warren. Tyler tours with Queen + Adam Lambert, records with his band Flarelight, and has released full album covers of both Permanent Waves and, most recently, Grace Under Pressure on his YouTube channel. You can listen to the show below or wherever you get your podcasts:
On the latest episode of Rush Roundtable (#238) on the Rushfans YouTube channel, the panel examines Rush lyrics NOT written by Neil Peart, but instead written by Geddy Lee or Alex Lifeson:
Geddy Lee celebrated his 71st birthday this past week. Next up is Alex Lifeson, who will be catching up to his BFF and turning 71 later this month on August 27th. That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!!
