Today is the official release of a new box set from Rush which includes the band's first four Atlantic-era albums on vinyl. Rush The Albums: 1989-1996 contains vinyl reissues of 1989's Presto, 1991's Roll the Bones, 1993's Counterparts and 1996's Test For Echo. Each album includes a print of re-imagined cover artwork and is housed in a slipcase featuring new artwork from longtime Rush album artist Hugh Syme. The set is now available for purchase via the Rush Backstage Club and via Rhino.com.
As promised earlier this year (although a little later than expected), Alex Lifeson's Envy of None project with Andy Curran, guitarist Alfio Annibalini and vocalist Maiah Wynne, will be releasing a new album in the Spring of 2025 and have debuted a video for the album's first single Not Dead Yet. You can check out the video below or on YouTube at this location. From Prog magazine:
Speaking on the song's meaning, Wayne, who penned the lyrics, shared that it was inspired by Curran's raw chorus line "I'm not dead yet, come on along and see what I am good for". She describes the track as a cathartic anthem, one that embodies resilience and defiance against the forces that aim to tear us down. "Simply continuing to exist, to create, and to fight is inspiring and powerful. You have to continue to exist, to create, and to fight. That's the heart of the song: keep going and enjoy the ride."
Guitarist Chris Herin of Detroit-based prog rockers Tiles officially released his debut solo album Hiding In Plain Sight today via The Laser's Edge, and one of the guest musicians on the album is Rush's Alex Lifeson, as first mentioned in this post from last summer. Alex plays on a track titled Second Ending which also features vocalist Matthew Parmenter of Detroit-based band Discipline. Some other notable guests on the album are Doane Perry, Michael Sadler, Peter Frampton, Kim Mitchell, and Crown Lands. Tiles has several connections with Rush, most notably their producer - former Rush producer Terry Brown - who also produced Hiding In Plain Sight. Brown introduced Lifeson to the band's work back in the 2000s and Lifeson ended up guesting on their 2008 Fly Paper album, adding guitar tracks to the song Sacred and Mundane. Rush album artist Hugh Syme also did the album's cover, as he did for most of Tiles' previous albums. Videos for three of the album's tracks are available on YouTube, including The Darkest Hour, Warning Signs, and The Heart of You. Herin was recently interviewed for The Chill Dude on a Couch podcast to discuss the album, and you can listen to that interview here. The album is available on digipack CD and streaming, and you can order it online here.
Two years ago on the 3rd anniversary of Neil Peart's passing, Rush tribute band YYNOT held a charity concert dubbed Bubba Bash in celebration of The Professor at the Keswick Theatre outside Philly (Glenside, PA). The event was a huge success so they brought it back the following year, and will be bringing it back this year as well. Bubba Bash 2025 will take place on Saturday, January 4th, with tickets on sale now. The show will be hosted by Cathy Rankin, and feature YYNOT along with special guests Frank Bello (Anthrax), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill, etc.), Jon Dinklage (Clockwork Angels string ensemble), Joe Bergamini (drum instructor, author, etc.), John Wesley (Porcupine Tree), Seven Antonopoulos (Opiate for the Masses), Randy Jackson (Zebra) and more! All proceeds from the show will go to benefit Cedars Sinai Hospital, and you can send along your donation here. YYNOT has made a name for itself in recent years for being one of the premier Rush tribute bands, as well as a great prog-rock band in their own right with 3 albums of original material under their belt. Like previous year's events, it will also be professionally filmed with Executive Producers Michael Mosbach and Tim Starace. You can check out some of videos from last year's event on YYNOT's YouTube channel here. On a related note, host Cathy Rankin released her new debut single Now You've Gone this past week, along with this music video. The emotional track features David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) and Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper), and is a tribute to legendary drummer Neil Peart, and her nephew, Christian. You can learn more about the track and pre-order it at this location. Cathy along with Ellefson and Ken Mary also appeared on the Rushfans YouTube channel this past week to discuss the song and how it came about. You can listen to that interview on YouTube.
Neil Peart's 2004 BMW R1200GS motorcycle will be up for bidding in an upcoming Mecum Auction in the new year. The Auction will take place during the 34th annual Vintage & Antique Motorcycle Auction in Las Vegas on January 29-February 1. The bike was ridden on Rush's R30 Anniversary Tour and ultimately sold to a member of the tour's road crew. The winning bidder will also receive the original purchase receipt signed by Neil, along with 2 Neil Peart drum sticks. The bike is expected to sell in the $40-$50K range. You can see photos of the bike and get all the auction details here (thanks Mark K).
An acoustic guitar from Loucin Guitars signed by Alex Lifeson and several other artists will be up for bidding in an upcoming online charity auction for Charter Ability - a registered charity dedicated to providing accessible, recreational, boating at no cost to people of all ages who are deprived of the opportunity by virtue of their physical limitations or personal circumstances. In addition to Lifeson, the guitar was signed by Rik Emmett, Andy Curran, Kim Mitchell, Tom Cochrane and many more. The auction will take place online at charterability.com on November 12-14, and you can see several photos of the guitar on the organization's official Facebook page (thanks RushFanForever).
Iron Maiden brought their The Future Past tour to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena in Toronto this past Saturday evening. Guitarist Adrian Smith posted a photo to his official Instagram of himself hanging out with Rush's Alex Lifeson and Carl Dufresne backstage before the show. Alex also hung out pre-show with Adrian for Maiden's last tour stop in Toronto back in 2022. You can check out the photo via Instagram at this location.
Back in August, the Something for Nothing podcast recorded live from Henderson Brewing in Toronto for Rush Day 2024 and have released the first of three installments from that weekend. In this first installment, hosts Steve and Gerry talk with Henderson owner Steve Himel and Rush lighting director Howard Ungerleider. You can listen in to the show below or wherever you get your podcasts:
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich recently released a video interview in partnership with TAMA Drums celebrating his 40 year relationship with the brand. Towards the beginning of the interview, Lars explains the role Rush's Neil Peart played in introducing him to TAMA after the band's equipment was stolen back in 1984:
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!!
