This past week's news was dominated by Wednesday's big Chicago Tribune feature on Rush fans. The article appeared on the front page of the LIVE! section with the title Rush fans make their way out of the woodwork: After 35 years of criticism, Rush is now considered cool. The article spoke about how it is now considered cool to be a Rush fan. Alex Lifeson along with several prominent Rush fans were interviewed for the piece such as TBS sports announcer Chip Caray (grandson of legendary Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray) and SuperBad director Greg Mottola. Some regular fans were interviewed as well including RIAB member Chris Schneberger (aka cschnebe) who was featured in a couple of photographs with the article (see the scans above). The article also makes mention of the fact that Rush fans seem to be disproportionately made up of engineers, chemists, economists and businessmen. Count world-renowned organic chemist and Princeton University professor Erik Sorensen among this group. In the March 9 issue of Chemical Engineering News Sorensen is profiled:
... "When he's not out for a jog or dreaming up creative chemistry, Sorensen tends to another hobby - playing the drums. "Loud and fast," he specifies. Though he enjoys many styles of music, he's partial to the work of Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush."
Thanks to Louis B for the heads up.
Rush's recent slew of movie appearances/references (Adventureland, Fanboys, I Love You Man) is also discussed in this National Post article titled Hollywood rushes back to the 80s. Thanks to Cygnus2k for the link.
Earlier today I informed you that the new Vertical Horizon album which features Neil Peart playing drums on 3 tracks as well as lyricist on one track will finally see the light of day. Neil recorded the tracks nearly 3 years ago but the album had been on hold for various reasons. It's called Burning The Days and is due to be released sometime this summer. For details check out this post.
We celebrated the 25th anniversary of Rush's 10th studio album Grace Under Pressure this past Sunday. In celebration of this momentous event, I thought I'd ask you all what your favorite song off the album is. So take the Poll and let us know.
Also on the subject of Grace Under Pressure, Geddy Lee's recent interview with Jewish magazine Heeb reminded us all about how Geddy's parents were Holocaust survivors and that this was the inspiration for the song Red Sector A. Scott Benarde is the author of the 2003 book Stars of David: Rock 'n' Roll's Jewish Stories and one of the songs he features in his talks about the Holocaust to high school students is Red Sector A as described in this recent Palm Beach Post article.
On a sad note, Geddy's father-in-law John McCowan Young passed away this past week at the age of 90. Mr. Young was the father of both Geddy's wife Nancy and former Rush member Lindy Young. Our condolences go out to Nancy, Lindy, Geddy and all of their family. Thanks to RUSHGIRL for the news.
Rush will be guests on the syndicated radio show In The Studio with Redbeard next week. They'll be discussing the 35th anniversary of the release of the debut album which I had posted about a couple of weeks ago. You can listen to a short preview of the interview at this link. For a list of stations and air times go here. The interview should also be posted up on the show's website at some point the week after it airs. Speaking of Rush's 35th anniversary, in my last poll I asked you what your favorite early unreleased Rush song was; Bad Boy, Can't Fight It, Fancy Dancer, Garden Road or Not Fade Away. The overwhelming winner was Garden Road with over half of the vote. Coming in a respectable second with 22% was Not Fade Away. The complete results can be viewed here.
Continuing on the 35th anniversary theme, John over at Cygnus-X1.net recently posted a bunch of old Rush articles from the 1974-5 era that were sent in by a reader:
Rush: Deadly Serious About Their Music [page 1] [page 2]
Article from Eye Magazine, March 21st, 1974
Rush Rock Sound Crisp and Strong [link]
Album review from The Ottawa Citizen, May 30th, 1974
Rush Hot On Circuit [link]
Article in Billboard Magazine, October 19th, 1974
A Rush of Sound [cover] [page 1] [page 2]
Article from Music Canada Quarterly March, 1975
Rush [link]
Album review from Geoff Barton
Rush: Pebbles & Bam-Bam in Alphavill [cover] [page 1] [page 2]
Article from Creem, March, 1976
Several folks emailed about how the Rush.com site has put up a link to a new Alex Lifeson interview from Premier Guitar magazine. The article has actually been online for over a month now and I put up a post about it back in March. If you haven't checked it out yet, give it a read - it's a good article.
In today's Wall Street Journal actress and hardcore New York Mets fan Julia Stiles reports on opening day at the Mets' new stadium Citi Field. She mentions Rush at one point:
... The beer lines are slower because they insist on pouring it for you, but the only place you'll find a quicker ladies room is at a Rush concert -- I know from experience. ...
So does that mean she's a Rush fan? Or that she was dragged to a concert by a boyfriend? :) Thanks to dmowry for the heads up.
Reader Butch W let me know that Rush gets a mention in this Rolling Stone article regarding the fact Yes will be teaming up with fellow progsters Asia for a tour this summer.
Earlier this week we got to see scans of a Geddy Lee interview in the April 2009 edition of Mojo magazine. He was interviewed for their A Record That Changed My Life feature where he discussed the impact that the first Led Zeppelin album had on him as well his first Led Zeppelin show in 1969.
Geoff Tate of progressive metal band Queensryche was the featured guest on last Saturday's episode of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show. Geoff paid homage to Rush as he was introduced and had several kind words to say about the boys. For all the details and to see the video check out this post.
The Rush Backstage Club is running a new contest where you could win a signed, hardcover edition of Neil Peart's first book The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa. The contest closes on April 26th, 2009 and you can sign up to enter at this link.
A couple of years ago I made mention of Minnesota-based jazz trio The Bad Plus and how they are known for performing jazz covers of well-known rock songs including Rush's Tom Sawyer (which appeared on their 2007 album PROG). Here's a link containing video of a concert the trio performed last summer at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota. You'll have to click on Tom Sawyer on the player to the right to see the song. Thanks to Brent for the heads up.
According to Blabbermouth.net Canadian hard rockers Helix will play a benefit concert for the S.P.C.A. (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Strathroy, Ontario on Friday, September 11. Prior to the show there will be will be an auction of various items that are being donated by fellow rockers including a drum skin signed by Rush.
Rush is mentioned in this Louisville Music Examiner article titled Glaring omissions from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here's what they had to say:
Never much of a band for hit singles (and no, Geddy Lee's Take Off with Bob and Doug Mackenzie Brothers doesn't count), this Canadian band has always sold albums with ease to the tune of 24 gold records. Their most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 on the US charts, and its subsequent tour placed them in the top 10 profitable touring acts in 2007 and 2008. Like them or not, Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart are three outstanding musicians. OK, so the complex song structure. Lee's voice, and the length of their tunes may shy you away from them, but they are a quality band who is still relevant thirty-five years after their first release. (Oh and like you've never made that Spirit of Radio guitar sound with your voice. Right) Needless to say they are in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, but that's a little like winning the Grey Cup and not the Super Bowl.
LanceTheShred sent me this link to a humorous t-shirt you can buy online which aims to educate the public about the difference between the good Rush and the bad Rush. :)
Speaking of LanceTheShred, the RatCon 2009 website has been updated. Of note is that registration closes on May 22nd (registration is limited to 100 people) and the official RatCon hotel of choice is the Days Inn in Glen Burnie which is offering a special rate of $99. For all the details go to the RatCon 2009 website.
Also on the subject of Rush gatherings, RushCon 2009 is less than 100 days away! To take advantage of the special rate at the Days Inn downtown you need to make reservations by June 24th, and online/mail-in registration closes on July 15th. For all the details visit the RushCon website.
As mentioned above, last Sunday was Grace Under Pressure's 25th anniversary. The album's first single was Distant Early Warning which hit #1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. Here's a video clip from MTV's premier showing of the song's video where VJ Mark Goodman provides some trivia about the video shoot (the video itself has been edited out).
Have a great weekend everyone!
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