Rock photographer Ross Halfin has been shooting Rush throughout the European leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour. He's been posting photos to his website and relaying his exploits in his online diary. In his October 23rd entry he reported that Rush played some very interesting tunes during their Milan soundcheck; Here Again, The Analog Kid and Cinderella Man. He gives another soundcheck report in his latest entry from the 27th and talks about hanging out with Neil Peart in his October 26th entry:
October 27
Flew with the Band to Stockholm in the early hours of this morning. An hour back to the airport, an hour's flight, and another hour into Stockholm...
Meet photographer Michael Johannson at the Globe. He's helping me today. He knows a bit about digital photography. I know nothing, my view is it's about taking photos not fucking around on a laptop and putting any old shit out, and claiming you're a photographer. Michael tells me he totally agrees about any idiot with a digital camera thinking they're a photographer.
It's nice seeing Michael, and strange seeing him sober. 'I'm having a day off and starting Sunday morning. Snaps for breakfast then real drinking by Sunday lunch.' Michael should go and work for Paul Brannigan, maybe Michael and Paul could marry. They could get so obliterated together they could forget they're both men. They might even both be catholics.
Shoot the soundcheck of Beneath, Between & Behind and even a bit of La Villa Strangiato. I even climb up on Neil's huge monitors and shoot from behind - get a picture of the empty hall with all three and Neil's drum stick in mid-air.
Shoot Alex on stage with various Gibsons and in the backstage hallway. I end up getting loads, considering Rush like doing nothing offstage. The venue has no atmosphere. As I sort of know the show now - Geddy leaping, screaming etc - it's better to shoot.
We all leave straight after for the airport (Michael straight to the bar). Helsinki for Rush - I'm off home for a day, back to Helsinki on Monday. Geddy Lee is in a good mood I leave him on the tarmac singing the words to 2112...
October 26
Fly to Oslo to rejoin Rush. I had forgotten how far out the airport is, it's nearly an hour even in no traffic on a motorway. The last time I was here was in '96 with Metallica on the Load tour.
I hung out with Neil Peart and shot him warming up on his drum kit in his dressing room. I asked him which drummers he liked and he told me Gene Krupa and Keith Moon, so we talked about The Who. He'd seen them at the Oval (first time I'd seen them) and I reminded him it was September 18th 1971. At this point I suspect he thought I was mad or a loonie fan. Neil remembered Rod Stewart auctioning off his leopard skin stage suit. Keith Moon finished the show playing with cricket bats and Neil said the DJ was Jeff Dexter. Neil saw them as much as me - I was impressed. Amazing what you find out, and before you think we're sad we didn't talk about train timetables...
Got a fantastic (if I say so myself) photo at the end of Limelight, looking down into the stage. Small barricade, hard to shoot, no good angles from the front.
Either Ross is yanking our chain or we may be in for some very cool additions to the setlist on the 2008 leg. many thanks to George for the heads up.
NOTE: No more spoiler alerts now that the tour is over. I'm assuming (hoping really) that the setlist will be significantly different for the 2008 leg.
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