Rush tried something new for the Time Machine Tour by making available premium VIP ticket packages for fans. By paying around $300+ for a ticket fans were guaranteed a seat in the first 15 rows along with a package of Rush swag containing the following items:

* Specially Designed Rush Concert Shirt
* Collectible Tour Poster (limited edition, numbered)
* Official Rush Tour Program
* Limited Edition Rush CD Single (Caravan/BU2B)
* Rush Documentary DVD Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
* Rush compilation CD Working Men
* Set of official Rush guitar picks

Fans purchasing the VIP tickets were charged the full amount for the ticket package immediately on their credit cards. They were also told that the limited edition CD and Rush documentary DVD would be shipped upon release - which meant the end of June - and that VIP package details including shipping information would be emailed to customers shortly after purchase. This gave the false impression that everything except the CD and DVD would be sent out a couple weeks after the ticket purchase... not so. What actually happened was that fans heard nothing until the beginning of June when Ticketmaster finally sent out redemption instructions. Fans needed to go to a website and essentially order the package again using a redemption code included in the email. Then the waiting game began once again. Nothing was heard until the beginning of July when Live Nation/FanFire sent out emails claiming that VIP items for customers who have completed the redemption process have started to ship and will be delivered shortly. Although nobody actually reported receiving any of the items. Then last week they sent yet another email saying Rush VIP items have shipped, packages will be delivered shortly! And FINALLY some folks started reporting having actually received the packages earlier this week! Counterparts member cavesoficeman took a couple of photos of the swag he received (see thumbnails above). The t-shirt has the Rush explosion logo on it and the poster is the Fly By Night owl cover. So the good news is that folks should start receiving their swag shortly... for real this time. I sincerely hope that Rush and their management are aware of how poorly this entire process was handled and will take steps to avoid the same thing happening for their 2011 tour.

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