UPDATE - 12/1@8:39PM: I've received word from a couple of sources that the documentary should be out by the end of 2009.
A little over a year ago we learned that filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn - creators of the critically acclaimed, award-winning documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey - were planning on creating a documentary on Rush. They were present at RushCon 2007 and both Toronto shows on the 2007 leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour getting footage and interviewing fans. The original official press release about the project came out in October of last year and the plan was to release the documentary in late 2008. But due to another project they were working on simultaneously (an Iron Maiden documentary) it looked like the project might be put on hold for a little while. The last we'd heard on the documentary was from an interview that Sam and Scott did with iConnotations back in May. They had this to say about it:
... Well it's in the early stages yet. It's not a film that's going to be based around a particular tour like the [Iron] Maiden doc. It's going to be more of a history of the band and a chronicle or testament to their influence over the years. Because you guys know how influential Rush is on musicians and we just feel that nobody's ever really told their story. You know, it's funny - we've been listening to Rush for decades and I really don't feel like I know who they are still. They're quite private and I don't really have a sense of what makes them tick or the struggles that they've been through. So what we're aiming for is to try and pull that out and make it kind of a human story about how they've changed over the years - some of the struggles and experiences they've been through. And then - at the same time - show how influential they are. They're Canada's biggest rock band and they're one of the biggest rock bands in the world. So it's high time someone did something. ...
Well, there's finally some new information to report. A press release was just put out yesterday saying the following:
Directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn of Banger Films Inc. - and their historical films Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and Global Metal - are gearing up for the upcoming release of RUSH - The Documentary. According to a new press release, "the film will be the first to reveal the inner workings of one of the world's most enduring rock bands and will engage both die-hard Rush fans and general music lovers. The documentary examines the history of Canada's best-known rock band. It delivers the first in-depth portrait of Geddy Lee (bass/vocals), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and Neil Peart (drums) tracing their heir musical evolution and personal struggles from when they first picked up their instruments, through their early tours with KISS and AEROSMITH all the way to their Billboard chart topping Snakes And Arrows album and tour."
The film features interviews with members of METALLICA, TOOl, KISS and THE FOO FIGHTERS.
Along with the press release was a sellsheet which you can check out here. I'm not clear on what gearing up for the upcoming release means. Hopefully that means it will be released sooner than later. Thanks to Metal Tim for the news.
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