UPDATE - 12/2@9:20PM:Sectors is up for Best Box Set too (thanks Sean).
UPDATE - 12/2@10:39AM: Rush's Time Machine is also up for Best Live Album (thanks Kelly M).
UPDATE - 12/1@7:46AM: Rush's Time Machine is also in the running for their DVD of the Year poll, which just launched this morning (thanks Sean). So go vote for Rush!
The first annual Ultimate Classic Rock Awards sponsored by UltimateClassicRock.com are now underway. Over the next week they will be announcing nominees in 10 categories and allowing their readers to pick the winners in each. Up first is the 2011 Tour of the Year and Rush's Time Machine tour is in the running. To vote for Rush go to this location. As of this post Rush is in second place behind Guns-n-Roses. Go vote for Rush! Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the heads up.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Masterdisk chief engineer Andy VanDette on the Rush Sector box sets
In a recent article/interview for the Masterdisk website, Masterdisk chief engineer Andy VanDette reveals several details regarding his experience remastering the Rush catalog for the Rush Sector box sets, which released last week. VanDette has been working with Rush sound engineer Rich Chycki on handling most of the mastering duties for Rush since Snakes & Arrows Live, having worked on that album along with Retrospective 3, the R30 Blu-ray and the Moving Pictures deluxe edition earlier this year. Here's Andy on his overall approach to the remasters along with his comments on the condition of the original master tapes:
I wanted to do as little as possible so that the masters could truly speak for themselves. Being recorded in the vinyl era, they were optimized for that medium. People like more bottom end these days - and with earbuds and laptops as the primary playback monitors, it is understandable. I tried to nudge them in a warmer, thicker direction, but not cloud the guitars or the legendary Neil Peart snare. ... Handling analog masters that are over 30 years old makes people nervous. (Laughs.) I cleaned the tape heads after every song to make sure tape shedding hadn't even started. Indeed, some tapes didn't sound as good as others - after all, they've been sitting on a shelf for however many years. In some cases the 192 kHz digital master tape copies from the Rush archive sounded better. I think those transfers would have been made about seven years ago. ...
And here's what he had to say regarding surprises and issues he ran into along the way:
... Some of the albums weren't as thin toppy as I thought the were going to be. And for some I had a better source than the 1997 remasters. Some are brighter and clearer. Grace Under Pressure I tried for three days to make the tape transfer that I did sound as good as the existing CD. I figured that with the kind of care I put into the transfer - and having the original source - it would be a no-brainer; that this would be better than what's been out there. But it just wasn't the case: the tape didn't age well. It had lost lots of clarity. So I ended up using the 192 kHz transfer.
The master for the first album [Rush] was a surprise - there was no shedding off the tape at all. There was still lots of top left. I imagine it had been baked before, and stored well afterwards. ...
.... [There were some issues with] All the World's a Stage - what can you say. It's really hard to make great live recordings - even today. Unfortunately, the original tapes for this one didn't give me much to work with. I was a lot happier with Exit Stage Left. The tape transfer I did sounded better than any of the previous releases that I'm aware of. ...
... on Fly By Night I was really impressed with how well Richard [Chycki] brought the feel of the original album into 5.1. That classic snare sound remains intact! On A Show of Hands - I think that the clarity and punch came out more than in the previous releases. ...
You can really tell from the interview that Andy is a huge fan and took this job very seriously:
It was very important to me that these be the best representation of the catalog possible and I think we accomplished that. Look, I'm a fan. When I put up Hemispheres for the first time I nearly cried. I may not have been able to muster every bass riff, or sung every high note in my band, but the memories of trying were overwhelming. I could not let Rush fans down. Each and every one of these albums got the deluxe treatment.
The article also includes a bunch of great photos of the original master tapes that you will definitely want to check out. You can read the entire thing at this link (thanks Neil H). John at Cygnus-X1.net has scanned all the images and transcribed the liner notes for all 3 box sets. You can check them out at these links:
Grapes for Humanity is an organization that helps to raise funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community. Geddy Lee is a member of the board of directors and the organization recently voted to create a wine scholarship in his name. From Decanter (thanks Jerry):
... The board voted unanimously to create a scholarship in his name, in perpetuity, for a student of winemaking at Niagara College in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. To establish the scholarship Grapes for Humanity Canada has committed $26,500, which will be matched by the Ontario provincial government. The income will be used to provide an annual scholarship for a student in the second year of Niagara College's Wine and Viticulture Technician programme who intends to pursue a career path in winemaking after graduation. 'Niagara College is thrilled that Grapes for Humanity Canada is making this significant investment to support student learning and success, and the wine industry,' Niagara College Foundation CEO Sean Kennedy said. Toronto-based Lee, an enthusiastic wine collector, said he is proud to be associated with the foundation. 'Grapes for Humanity Canada is a unique organisation of wine lovers such as myself who have found a way to help people around the world through their passion. And as such it seems appropriate that we now provide some support for our own blossoming wine industry here at home.' The board said they decided to fund the Geddy Lee Scholarship to recognise Lee's contribution over ten years to the foundation's projects - not only financially but by giving his time and organisational skills. ...
... If you're curious, here's the deal with this. We're going to be releasing the full version of the song soon along with a cover of YYZ done with ex-Yes multi-instrumentalist/producer Billy Sherwood as well as an original tune we wrote in a different style than Rush but with Neil's drum tracks from YYZ (kind of a trip). We put a little Yes/Genesis influence in there. If you're curious to hear a partial clip of that here you go: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/trifecta-pt-1-wip
Anyway, later on we'll release a whole album of Rush covers with various other musicians from bands you might like. John Wesley from Porcupine Tree, Mike Keneally, Nick D'Virgilio, Roger Manning and various other people including myself on keys (and I'm going to perform keyboard drums for the song "Losing It" playing Neil's sampled DW drum kit from our library). All of that to come. Follow the progress of that on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sonicelements -OR- we'll have our sonic elements web site up soon and you can check in there... and I'm also on here in case you have any questions about Neil Peart Drums or Sonic Reality or the Sonic Elements progressive rock project. It spans into other territories of classic rock like Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Bowie, Beatles, Supertramp... really unusual mix of elements involved as you can see! ...
I hope that everyone in the US had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday and is surviving Black Friday. The big news this past week was Rush's release of their Sector box sets which span the band's entire 15-album Mercury Records recording career. Each of the 3 sets contain five of Rush's 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit audio (see note below) along with one album from each set in 5.1; Sector 1 contains Fly By Night in 5.1, Sector 2 has A Farewell to Kings in 5.1, and Sector 3 includes Signals in 5.1. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release. Each set also includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case. Note that each album was remastered in 96kHz/24-bit then downconverted to 44.1kHz/16-bit for transfer to CD. However, HDTracks.com will eventually have all 15 albums available as full 96kHz/24-bit downloads for about $18 each - just like what was done for the Moving Pictures remaster. You can read the official press release at this link and Rush.com posted a 1.5-minute preview video of the box set which you can check out here. You can order all 3 Sector box sets now at this location, and Guitar World is running a contest where you could win all three sets; for details and to enter go to this link.
Darren Redick of UK internet radio station Planet Rock spoke with Alex Lifeson via phone from Toronto last Friday morning where Rush is busily working on recording their upcoming Clockwork Angels album. In the 10-minute interview Alex covered several topics, focusing on the progress being made on the recording of the album. They are finished writing and hope to have most of the recording done by Christmas. They'll then finish recording and handle the mixing after the New Year. Everything seems to still be right on track for a Spring release with a tour to follow. The entire 10-minute interview is available online at the Planet Rock website or you can listen to it using the player below.
John Wesley of Porcupine Tree recently visited Rush in their Toronto studio and took a few photos which he posted to Facebook (thanks Cygnify). There are a couple of nice shots of Alex's guitars (and Alex too) plus one with Neil.
... My retirement plan keeps getting pushed back. I'll just keep playing it by ear. What we've learned over the last ten years in particular is just how unpredictable life is. So when it's good you just ride it. And right now things are very good for us. I don't think we've ever had an audience as big as we have now or been as well received around the world. And I don't think we've ever enjoyed playing as much as we do now. So we are really having a lot of fun right now. We're really luck and we do really like what we do and we like just hanging out with each other. I hadn't seen Alex in about a month and we got together the other day to work on some new stuff and just had the best time. We're all just natural friends and the relationship between the three of us is very much one of being three equals. ...
... If it gets to the point where one of us has had enough or we look at each other and kinda decide we've got nothing, we're out. I don't see that happening, but obviously there's gonna come a time when we don't feel we're playing as well as we have, and that will probably be the sign that says to hang it up. Neil had a bit of a revelation not long ago. He'd always been hesitant to tour but realized that as long as he can play the way he plays, he should be doing it, 'ause he wouldn't be able to play that way forever. And I think that's what's motivated us all to get out there and keep touring - do it while we can do it this well.
People associate rock and roll with a particular lifespan that they wouldn't attribute to say a painter or a writer. In rock and roll the clock seems to be always ticking and everyone seems to be waiting for you to run out of juice, declare you're old age and fly the flag. But I think this is an outdated way of looking at rock and roll that has largely been transcended now. It is now an art form as legitimate as every other art form and those involved in the industry should be allowed to play until they are no longer creative. ...
You can read the entire interview online at this location.
Speaking of Geddy, the new VH1 Classic show Metal Evolution premiered a couple of weeks ago. The show is the brainchild of Rush documentary and Time Machine video director Sam Dunn and builds on the mission first put forth in his groundbreaking Metal: A Headbanger's Journey documentary - in which Geddy Lee had appeared. In the film Geddy discusses the contributions of American garage rock band Blue Cheer to the origins of heavy metal. Metal Evolution's second episode aired this past weekend and focused on the history of American heavy metal, and Geddy once again makes a brief appearance about 10 minutes in to discuss Blue Cheer. Here's what Geddy had to say about the band:
In many ways they were the first metal band but they didn't think in terms of metal. It was volume that they were all about - and fury.
Rush had covered Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues - which had also been covered by Blue Cheer in the '60s - for their 2004 Feedback covers album. One of the upcoming episodes of Metal Evolution will focus on progressive metal and will very likely make heavy mention of Rush, so stay tuned. In another bit of Rush-related information regarding the show, the production manager is credited as Allan Weinrib - Geddy Lee's brother. Allan has been the Executive Producer and Head of Production and Development at Banger Films (Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen's film production company) since December of last year (thanks Habs2112). For more information visit the Metal Evolution website.
Even if he had never progressed beyond the brain-rattling riffing of "2112" and "Xanadu," Rush's guitarist would have left his mark on Metallica and other like-minded metalheads. But he went on to fill out Rush's power-trio sound with a seamless mix of lush arpeggios and rock crunch that sounded like at least two players at once. "The guitar just had to make a broader statement," he says. Alex Lifeson reserves his most daring playing for his solos - just try wrapping your head around the extraterrestrial lunacy of "Freewill."
Key Tracks: "La Villa Strangiato," "The Spirit of Radio"
Topping out the list were Jimmy Page at #3, Eric Clapton at #2 and Jimi Hendrix at #1. You can check out the entire 100 at RollingStone.com.
By 1977, Rush had firmly established themselves as fine purveyors of glorious 20-minute sci-fi opuses that could fill entire album sides. But on this, their fifth studio release, the Canadian prog trio demonstrated their ability to be hooky, concise and, with "Closer to the Heart," radio-friendly. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the song's gentle, ringing 12-string acoustic guitar intro is that it was written by bassist Geddy Lee, rather than guitarist Alex Lifeson. The same figure is later repeated after a particularly ripping electric guitar solo-only this time the 12-string acoustic is smartly doubled by a six-string electric. When it comes to Rush, of course, the contributions of drummer extraordinaire Neil Peart can never be overlooked. Here, he adds plenty of bells and whistles throughout. Okay ... they're actually chimes.
Jay Baruchel and his writing partner Jesse are working the script now. They'll have the script delivered to us by Christmas. It's great. We've had tons of interest in terms of getting the film made without actually having a working script. So it looks really positive. Those guys did a 10 page treatment of the film and I feel like they really get it. And Geddy [Lee, as in, of Rush, who is connected to the film] has run a band for 25 years, so he's a natural producer. He's a great communicator, and he's great at gathering people together. We're hoping for TIFF in 2013, which probably means shooting around the end of next fall. When Baseballissimo came out, it wasn't that well promoted, but the people who liked the book really liked the book. It's so neat that it's had this second life 12 years after it came out. It just goes to show that if you have a good story and you believe in a good story, you never know where it's going to lead.
Bidini is a Canadian musician, author and founding member of the Rheostatics who is also good friends with Geddy. The book details Bidini's story of his travels to the small town of Nettuno, the baseball capital of Italy since 1944.
Chicago-based rock duo Local H will be performing a New Year's Eve show at the Bottom Lounge which will celebrate the end of the world and also give a nod to Rush's 2112. From AntiMusic.com:
... The New Year's Eve show will celebrate the end of the world (as predicted by the Mayans) with a salute to Rush's 2112 and handlebar mustaches.
"This is the end of our sci-fi New Year's trilogy," explains Local H frontman Scott Lucas. "We did 2001 and 2010 -- both of those were obviously nods to Kubrick. For 2012, we had no choice but to celebrate the oeuvre of Roland Emmerich. He's pretty much cornered the market on annihilation and destruction. Expect lots of explosions."
In addition to digging into their own deep catalog, which includes six studio albums, a quasi-greatest hits, a live album, an awesome mix-tape covers record and several EPs, Local H are preparing a slew of their favorite end-of-the-world songs, including bits of Rush's "2112" opus (Side A of the 2112 album). A video montage, edited by Felix Pinero of Bailout Pictures, will accompany the performance.
"Being Rush fans, we also realized that it was now or never to do something with 2112," says Lucas. "It's not numerically correct, but none of us will be around in 100 years, so we're doing this for humanity's sake. I hope Brian has enough drums." ...
Thanks to Brad Hirsch of Used Bin Radio and RushTabConVideo for the heads up.
... He began a new career (along with playing metal tunes in Grady) as a producer for the likes of The Trews and Joel Plaskett on the Halifax troubadour's breakthrough "Ashtray Rock."
Part of that musical paternal instinct stems from the graciousness his own guitar heroes showed him - like Rush's Alex Lifeson, who bestowed Johnson with his first double-necked guitar.
"I didn't have to sign a single paper. He'd just met me, but he already knew about Big Sugar. And essentially he walked up to a stranger and handed it to me," Johnson said of the guitar he used to record "Fairwell to Kings," and play in the video for "Digging a Hole," its ivory white double necks jutting out like the tusks of a mastodon with every piercing note.
"I got really paranoid at one point that it would get stolen, so I gave it back to him. ... By the time we started making (the 1998 Album) "Heated," I kinda got to thinkin 'this belongs in the Rock Hall of Fame, not under my bed in Little Italy in Toronto." ...
Reader Falcon let me know of a Rush reference on the Windows Phone blog. They recently put up a post about making custom ringtones and use Rush's 2112 as an example. You can check it out at this link.
Last year Sonic Reality released their Neil Peart series drum sample instrument library. It features drum samples from Neil Peart himself and was produced with the help of Rush producer Nick Raskulinecz. Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner recently put together a unique progressive rock project called Sonic Elements, which features a revolving door of musicians from around the world playing classic rock covers and fresh originals that all make use of the various sound elements of yesterday and today with the latest music software instrument and recording technology. One track they recently recorded was Rush's Red Barchetta with Triumph's Rik Emmett on vocals and guitar and Neil Peart on drums via his sample library. Kerzner recently revealed several details about the recording via a post on the Progressive Ears forum including the fact that they plan on shooting a music video for the track that will include footage of all the participants from different locations. You can listen to a 1-minute sample of the track on SoundCloud below or at this link.
I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has generously donated to the site over the past few weeks - I greatly appreciate it. If anyone wants to make a donation you can do so at this link and you'll get a free RUSH IS A BAND bumper sticker as a thank you gift. Other ways to help out the site are to purchase items through my Amazon links or at RushSwag.com, or just click on my sponsor links. Thanks and have a great weekend!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Triumph's Rik Emmett plays Rush's Red Barchetta for Sonic Reality's Sonic Elements prog rock project
... If you're curious, here's the deal with this. We're going to be releasing the full version of the song soon along with a cover of YYZ done with ex-Yes multi-instrumentalist/producer Billy Sherwood as well as an original tune we wrote in a different style than Rush but with Neil's drum tracks from YYZ (kind of a trip). We put a little Yes/Genesis influence in there. If you're curious to hear a partial clip of that here you go: http://soundcloud.com/sonicelements/trifecta-pt-1-wip
Anyway, later on we'll release a whole album of Rush covers with various other musicians from bands you might like. John Wesley from Porcupine Tree, Mike Keneally, Nick D'Virgilio, Roger Manning and various other people including myself on keys (and I'm going to perform keyboard drums for the song "Losing It" playing Neil's sampled DW drum kit from our library). All of that to come. Follow the progress of that on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sonicelements -OR- we'll have our sonic elements web site up soon and you can check in there... and I'm also on here in case you have any questions about Neil Peart Drums or Sonic Reality or the Sonic Elements progressive rock project. It spans into other territories of classic rock like Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Bowie, Beatles, Supertramp... really unusual mix of elements involved as you can see! ...
Last year Sonic Reality released their Neil Peart series drum sample instrument library. It features drum samples from Neil Peart himself and was produced with the help of Rush producer Nick Raskulinecz. Sonic Reality CEO Dave Kerzner recently put together a unique progressive rock project called Sonic Elements, which features a revolving door of musicians from around the world playing classic rock covers and fresh originals that all make use of the various sound elements of yesterday and today with the latest music software instrument and recording technology. One track they recently recorded was Rush's Red Barchetta with Triumph's Rik Emmett on vocals and guitar and Neil Peart on drums via his sample library. Kerzner recently revealed several details about the recording via a post on the Progressive Ears forum including the fact that they'll be shooting a music video for the track:
... next week I am doing a session with Rik Emmett of Triumph and Neil Peart on drums (via his sample library that I co-produced with Nick Raskulinecz). We're doing Red Barchetta and Matt Dorsey is on bass, I'm on keys. Matt played with me in Simon Collins' band on album we did last year that's not released yet but it's a bit like Genesis meets Radiohead style-wise (Simon is Phil's son). I'm trying to get Simon to sing "Between the Wheels" but I don't know if he'll have time to do it.
So, if you like Triumph, this might be interesting and maybe we'll do something else down the road. I'm putting together a gig with Billy Sherwood for Sonic Elements where we'll have various guests join us and we'll do some of their tunes as well as the ones we've been doing (a whole album of original music Billy and I have been working on... some of which has Neil Peart Drums behind us). ...
... We're doing a music video of the tune and both Neil and Rik are in the video as well as me and Matt (lucky us! Fantasy Rock Band.... that is the whole idea of 'Sonic Elements' but sometimes we get to take it to an extreme like a music video or live performance). Now, no one is in the same ROOM. Neil's footage was in shot in LA before a tour, Rik's footage is being shot in a studio he records in Toronto and our footage will be shot in our respective studios... funny thing is on keys I'll be playing a lot of "one note wonders" which is kind of funny but I will probably embellish a little bit - not necessarily so there is more for me to do (even though that's an obvious benefit) but also to offer something to make it sound different than Rush. ...
UPDATE - 11/23@1:13PM: And in other guitar list news, Rush's Closer to the Heart made Guitar World's list of the 25 Greatest Acoustic Songs In Hard Rock (thanks RushFanForever).
Even if he had never progressed beyond the brain-rattling riffing of "2112" and "Xanadu," Rush's guitarist would have left his mark on Metallica and other like-minded metalheads. But he went on to fill out Rush's power-trio sound with a seamless mix of lush arpeggios and rock crunch that sounded like at least two players at once. "The guitar just had to make a broader statement," he says. Alex Lifeson reserves his most daring playing for his solos - just try wrapping your head around the extraterrestrial lunacy of "Freewill."
Key Tracks: "La Villa Strangiato," "The Spirit of Radio"
Topping out the list were Jimmy Page at #3, Eric Clapton at #2 and Jimi Hendrix at #1. You can check out the entire list at RollingStone.com. Thanks to Power Windows for the heads up.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Web-exclusive addendum to Neil Peart Modern Drummer interview now online
Rush releases a set of 3, 6-disc Sector box sets today. The sets span Rush's entire 15-album Mercury Records recording career, with each set containing five of their 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit along with one album from each set in 5.1; Sector 1 contains Fly By Night in 5.1, Sector 2 has A Farewell to Kings in 5.1, and Sector 3 includes Signals in 5.1. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release. Each set also includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case. You can read the official press release at this link and Rush.com posted a 1.5-minute preview video of the box set last week which you can check out below. You can order all 3 Sector box sets now at this link. If anyone has received the sets yet, please share your first impressions/reviews in the comments.
... I don't eat any spicy foods. I don't eat any dairy products...all things that are considered mucolytic - anything that promotes the formation of mucous I avoid completely. I'm not supposed to have white wine for that reason, but I ignore that one...some rules are made to be broken. I work hard at keeping in shape but after a three hour show I'm beat, even the next day. I think it has something to do with the singing. I talked to Sebastian Bach, another singer who really belts, and he mentioned the same thing. Which was a bit of a relief 'cause he's a lot younger than me! We certainly have to be careful. There's no way to survive rock 'n roll without being smart about it. ...
And here's what Geddy has to say about his retirement plans:
... My retirement plan keeps getting pushed back. I we'll just keep playing it by ear. What we've learned over the last ten years in particular is just how unpredictable life is. So when it's good you just ride it. And right now things are very good for us. I don't think we've ever had an audience as big as we have now or been as well received around the world. And I don't think we've ever enjoyed playing as much as we do now. So we are really having a lot of fun right now. We're really luck and we do really like what we do and we like just hanging out with each other. I hadn't seen Alex in about a month and we got together the other day to work on some new stuff and just had the best time. We're all just natural friends and the relationship between the three of us is very much one of being three equals. ...
... If it gets to the point where one of us has had enough or we look at each other and kinda decide we've got nothing, we're out. I don't see that happening, but obviously there's gonna come a time when we don't feel we're playing as well as we have, and that will probably be the sign that says to hang it up. Neil had a bit of a revelation not long ago. He'd always been hesitant to tour but realized that as long as he can play the way he plays, he should be doing it, 'cause he wouldn't be able to play that way forever. And I think that's what's motivated us all to get out there and keep touring - do it while we can do it this well.
People associate rock and roll with a particular lifespan that they wouldn't attribute to say a painter or a writer. In rock and roll the clock seems to be always ticking and everyone seems to be waiting for you to run out of juice, declare you're old age and fly the flag. But I think this is an outdated way of looking at rock and roll that has largely been transcended now. It is now an art form as legitimate as every other art form and those involved in the industry should be allowed to play until they are no longer creative. ...
You can read the entire interview online at this location. Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the heads up.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Geddy Lee appearance in new VH1 Classic series Metal Evolution
The new VH1 Classic show Metal Evolution premiered last Friday, November 10th. The show is the brainchild of Rush documentary and Time Machine video director Sam Dunn and builds on the mission brought forth in his groundbreaking Metal: A Headbanger's Journey documentary - in which Geddy Lee had appeared. In the film Geddy discusses the contributions of American garage rock band Blue Cheer to the origins of heavy metal. Metal Evolution's second episode aired last night and focused on the history of American heavy metal, and Geddy once again makes a brief appearance about 10 minutes in to discuss Blue Cheer. Here's what Geddy has to say about the band:
In many ways they were the first metal band but they didn't think in terms of metal. It was volume that they were all about - and fury.
Rush had covered Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues - which had also been covered by Blue Cheer in the '60s - for their 2004 Feedback covers album. One of the upcoming episodes of Metal Evolution will focus on progressive metal and will very likely make heavy mention of Rush, so stay tuned. In another bit of Rush-related information regarding the show, the production manager is credited as Allan Weinrib - Geddy Lee's brother. For more information visit the Metal Evolution website.
UPDATE - 11/19@9:44AM: For anyone on Facebook, John Wesley of Porcupine Tree recently visited Rush in their Toronto studio and took a few photos which he posted to Facebook (thanks Cygnify). There are a couple of nice shots of Alex's guitars (and Alex too) plus one with Neil.
If you are aware of any other reviews that are not listed above, please let me know. The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland concert video/album is now available in stores worldwide, but the blu-ray is currently only available at Best Buy stores in the US until December 20th. Some purchasers of the first-run of the DVDs in the UK and Australia ran into some issues with the audio that prompted this response from Rush.com earlier this week:
Please note it's come to our attention that the first run of DVDs (not Blu-ray) have a default audio setting of DTS Surround Sound. So, if you're putting your DVD in your player and the audio is silent, it WILL work but you'll just need to change your audio set-up. When you put the DVD in your player please go to "Set Up" on the DVD menu and select "Dolby 2.0". And, Voila! Loud noises will begin! All remaining product going forward will have a sticker on it explaining this process. All new product manufactured will have this default fixed. We apologize for any confusion!
John over at Cygnus-X1.net has transcribed/scanned the liner notes from both the Time Machine video and CD (Scans - CD, DVD; Liner Notes - CD, DVD). Eric at Power Windows has updated his site with a Time Machine theme and a bunch of new Time Machine-themed wallpapers. Check them out here.
Darren Redick of UK internet radio station Planet Rock spoke with Alex Lifeson via phone from Toronto earlier this morning where Rush is busily working on recording their upcoming Clockwork Angels album. Alex spoke a good deal about how the recording of the album is progressing, mentioning that BU2B and Caravan had set the tone but that last month some other pieces came together that were more melodic and had different arrangements and presentation than they were used to doing. That said, the rest of the tracks are heavy and there's a lot of intense playing, with 3 or 4 tracks over 7 minutes long and most of the rest over 6 minutes. They want to finish the album by Christmas but Alex did not seem too confident about this. They have mixing booked for the New Year and he reckons that they would do a bit of recording and mixing at the same time, still in time for a Spring release. They also hope to be out on tour in May or June, with Europe on the agenda but maybe not until 2013. On the subject of festivals, while the band finds it intriguing and potentially lucrative, they've never felt comfortable with it, as they would want more control over the timing and the show itself. However, if the right one came up where they had the desired control over the show and with a decent timeslot, they would consider it. Alex also reveals that the I Still Love You Man outro video was left off the Time Machine video because of union issues with the Screen Actors Guild. The entire 10-minute interview is available online at the Planet Rock website or you can listen to it using the player below.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine contains a short feature on Rush titled Rush Roar Back Into the Limelight With New LP where they interview Geddy Lee regarding the Clockwork Angels album. You can read a transcript and check out a scan in this post. However, the interview is a bit out of date given all of the more up-to-date information provided by Alex Lifeson in his Planet Rock interview this morning. Rush sound engineer Richard Chycki sounds very excited with the Clockwork Angels recording and tweeted the following yesterday:
Just walked by Neil Peart as he's working a track. Large military weapons aren't as loud. Wow!
Rush will release a set of three 6-disc Sector box sets this coming Tuesday, November 21st. The box sets span Rush's entire 15-album Mercury Records recording career, with each set containing five of their 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit along with one album from each set in 5.1; Sector 1 contains Fly By Night in 5.1, Sector 2 has A Farewell to Kings in 5.1, and Sector 3 includes Signals in 5.1. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release. Each set also includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case. You can read the official press release at this link and check out a 1.5-minute preview video of the box set at this link. You can pre-order all 3 Sector box sets at this link.
... MacNaughtan ... travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in November 2010 with the purpose of capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS affected regions.
The idea to use these photographs in a book was taken a step further when MacNaughtan enlisted the help of friends in the recording industry to lend poetic voice to the images. More than 30 artists including Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Daniel Lanois, Hedley, Bruce Cockburn, Fefe Dobson, Ed Robertson, Jann Arden, Serena Ryder, Lights, Nikki Yanofsky and Tom Cochrane to name a few, graciously provided commentary to photos that inspired them.
Through ArtGivesHope, a charity founded by MacNaughtan in 2006, the sales of the limited edition images and book will support World Vision's Hope Program. His personal goal is to generate enough awareness and raise funds to sponsor 500 children in need.
The photographs will be exhibited at Arta Gallery through Sunday, November 20th. This past Tuesday night there was a gala at the gallery to kick off the exhibit and both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were in attendance. Paul at the Canadian Music Scene was there and took a bunch of great photographs which you can check out on his website here. He also included images of the photos with the commentary provided by Geddy and Alex. Alex commented on Boy in Awe:
The future of humanity rests in the wondrous gaze of youth and the desire for knowledge. Given the opportunity, the minds behind those young eyes will create a better world for us all" -- Alex Lifeson
And Geddy's commentary was for a photograph titled Lion:
"Grace at rest... battle scars, confidence and majesty" -- Geddy Lee
Please help out if you are able by purchasing the book at the Art Gives Hope website. You can also directly sponsor a child for $40/month - just email World Vision for details.
Speaking of Geddy and Alex, the Winter, 2011 issue of Guitar Aficionado magazine is a special wine issue and contains an interview with the bandmates. The magazine caught up with Alex and Geddy earlier this Fall - a couple of weeks before they began work on Clockwork Angels. In the 4-page interview, the two share their recent and most rewarding wine experiences and explain the important role wine has played in their lives and music. You can check out the article by clicking on the thumbnails and purchase a copy at this link.
Back in August UK multimedia publisher Abstract Sounds Books released a 116-page hardcover book and 4-DVD set titled Rush: Changing Hemispheres in the UK. The set will also release in the US this coming Tuesday, November 22nd and is now available for pre-order. More information available at Play.com.
Don't know what to get your dog for Christmas? Pet Smart is now offering a Rush t-shirt for dogs! It's a jersey-style shirt with a pink Rush explosion logo over a black starman logo. You can purchase one online at this location for just $9.99.
Reader Marc G has created a set of 66 virtual Rush bubble gum trading cards along with a website at rushcards.weebly.com to showcase them and share with other fans. You can check out the latest 2 in the series at the website here, and be sure to check back weekly for the next 2 in the set.
The new VH1 Classic show Metal Evolution premiered last Friday, November 10th. The show is the brainchild of Rush documentary and Time Machine video director Sam Dunn and builds on the mission brought forth in his groundbreaking Metal: A Headbanger's Journey documentary. The show's production manager is credited as Allan Weinrib - Geddy Lee's brother (thanks Kelly M). One of the upcoming shows will focus on progressive metal and will very likely make heavy mention of Rush. For more information visit the Metal Evolution website.
A generous man when it comes to relaying the history of the band. He's proud of Rush's success, especially as it continues and actually grows. You can tell how much he is enjoying seeing the band now finally talked about as being cool, and seeing so many young people discovering the music. At the same time, he has a great confidence, as for years he's known how much his and his partner's playing and writing has influenced other musicians. He is not stuck up about it, just satisfied. And he seems very down to earth, and of course, very Canadian because of it.
The Drum Channel is running a promotion where they are giving exclusive access to a drums-only version of YYZ for the Jammit app for the iPhone and iPad, along with access to a Neil Peart interview. For details check out the Drum Channel website here.
The Onion's AV Club profiled Rush's Subdivisions earlier this week as part of their feature The Single File, where they look at the deep cuts, detours, experiments, and anthems that make us reach for replay. You can check out the article at this link.
... I'm a player and play in bands in Nashville when I'm not touring," says Scott Appleton, guitar tech for Phil Collen and Alex Lifeson. "I get to work with two of the world's best guitarists who give me an incredible insight, perspective, and approach to guitar and tone I would have never gotten if I hadn't become a tech. [Laughs] I get to learn from the best."
"When I'm off the road I have my own pedal company that I build handwired, point-to-point overdrive and boost pedals," says Appleton. "I still love to play so I still do session work and jam around town when I'm home in Nashville." ...
There is a short feature on Alex Lifeson covering the Time Machine video and Clockwork Angels in a special holiday edition of Guitar World magazine (thanks RushFanForever). For more information and to purchase the magazine go here.
If this trio was not included, Goldmine's offices might be stormed by angry throngs, as a recent Goldmine online poll about prog-rock music was swamped by Rush supporters. Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson have been churning out masterful recordings since 1974. Members of the Canadian Hall of Fame, as is The Guess Who, Rush dazzles audiences with its instrumental mastery. Vocalist Geddy Lee may be an acquired taste, but the same could be said of many current inductees, including Tom Waits, Dr. John and Leon Russell from this year alone.
Golfer and Rush fanMark Calcavecchia was a guest on the Eric Smith show on Toronto sports radio station The Fan 590 earlier this week (thanks Bigleaf). They chat about Rush for about a minute towards the end of the interview around the 10:30 mark. You can listen to the interview at this link.
Reader What-A-Rush recently came across a 2009 book titled And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records which was authored by Larry Harris the executive VP of the now-defunct Casablanca Records label. On pages 69-70 of the book Harris relates the story of how he passed on signing Rush back in 1974, remarking that it was a lowlight of his career and that he struck out in spectacular fashion. From the book:
... I could appreciate the fact that the trio gave the high-energy type of performance that Ira [Blacker] had promised. Their downfall in my eyes was their look. They were ugly. I say this with a great sense of amusement, because the members of Kiss (behind the makeup) were some of the worst-looking guys I'd ever seen. Nonetheless, Ira [Blacker]'s group just didn't cut it visually. They were all gangly looking, and their front man, the bassist, had a huge hook nose that Barbara Streisand could only aspire to. On a visual level, these three Canadians simply couldn't compete. ... This was my first big decision on which act to sign, and as the years went on, the wrongness of my choice just grew and grew. Even now I cringe just looking at these words: The band I chose not to sign was Rush. ...
Serves him right! You can read the excerpts yourself by going to Amazon and clicking on Search inside this book.
UPDATE - 11/30@11:08AM: The interview is also now up on SoundCloud (thanks RushFanForever).
Darren Redick of UK internet radio station Planet Rock spoke with Alex Lifeson via phone from Toronto earlier this morning where Rush is busily working on recording their upcoming Clockwork Angels album. The 10-minute interview is now available online at the Planet Rock website and you can also listen to it using the player below.
And if you don't feel like listening to the interview, reader Distant Early Warning listened in to the interview and was kind enough to give us a detailed, bullet-point rundown of all the key points:
* Currently in the studio in Toronto putting in long hours; * They already had the 5 songs written of which 2 had been recorded so needed 5 or 6 more; * After a slow first week, they got on a roll and after 4 weeks, all songs had been written; * In response to a question about whether the direction of Clockwork Angels had changed, Alex said yes: BU2B and Caravan had set the tone, but last month some other pieces came together that were more melodic and had different arrangements and presentation than they were used to doing. However, the rest are heavy; * 3 or 4 songs are over 7 minutes long and most of the rest are over 6 minutes - there's a lot of intense playing; * Alex did not have much to do with the recent box sets - Neil does the design side of things; * The 'I Love You Man' sketch was left off the concert DVD because of union issues (Screen Actors Guild) - it was difficult to get all the releases for it; * They want to finish CA by Christmas but Alex was not confident about this. They have mixing booked for the New Year and he reckoned they would do a bit of recording and mixing at the same time, in time for a spring release; * They hope to be out on tour in May or June, with Europe on the agenda but maybe not until 2013; * On the subject of festivals, while they find it intriguing and potentially lucrative, they've never felt comfortable with it, as they would want more control over it (the time and the 'show' itself). However, if the right one came up where they had the control over the show, with a decent timeslot, they would consider it; * Lastly, a big no to doing any small scale 'bar' gigs to 500 people.
Don't know what to get your dog for Christmas? Pet Smart is now offering a Rush t-shirt for dogs! It's a jersey-style shirt with a pink Rush explosion logo over a black starman logo. You can purchase one online at this location for just $9.99. Thanks to RushCon for the heads up.
Rush will release a set of three 6-disc Sector box sets this coming Monday, November 21st. The box sets span Rush's entire 15-album Mercury Records recording career, with each set containing five of their 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit along with one album from each set in 5.1; Sector 1 contains Fly By Night in 5.1, Sector 2 has A Farewell to Kings in 5.1, and Sector 3 includes Signals in 5.1. Each album is packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release. Each set also includes an exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics and credits with all three box sets forming a Rush CD road case. You can read the official press release at this link and Rush.com posted a 1.5-minute preview video of the box set yesterday which you can check out below:
You can pre-order all 3 Sector box sets at this link.
UPDATE - 11/18@10:46AM: The entire interview is now available online at this location.
UPDATE - 11/18@10:33AM: Reader Distant Early Warning listened in to the interview and gives us a bullet-point rundown of all the key points:
* Currently in the studio in Toronto putting in long hours; * They already had the 5 songs written of which 2 had been recorded so needed 5 or 6 more; * After a slow first week, they got on a roll and after 4 weeks, all songs had been written; * In response to a question about whether the direction of Clockwork Angels had changed, Alex said yes: BU2B and Caravan had set the tone, but last month some other pieces came together that were more melodic and had different arrangements and presentation than they were used to doing. However, the rest are heavy; * 3 or 4 songs are over 7 minutes long and most of the rest are over 6 minutes - there's a lot of intense playing; * Alex did not have much to do with the recent box sets - Neil does the design side of things; * The 'I Love You Man' sketch was left off the concert DVD because of union issues (Screen Actors Guild) - it was difficult to get all the releases for it; * They want to finish CA by Christmas but Alex was not confident about this. They have mixing booked for the New Year and he reckoned they would do a bit of recording and mixing at the same time, in time for a spring release; * They hope to be out on tour in May or June, with Europe on the agenda but maybe not until 2013; * On the subject of festivals, while they find it intriguing and potentially lucrative, they've never felt comfortable with it, as they would want more control over it (the time and the 'show' itself). However, if the right one came up where they had the control over the show, with a decent timeslot, they would consider it; * Lastly, a big no to doing any small scale 'bar' gigs to 500 people.
The Rush guitarist will be chatting with Darren this afternoon after 2pm
Lifeson is on the phone from the studio where Rush are currently recording their forthcoming new studio album Clockwork Angels and he will be talking to Darren about the new record and about their future touring plans.
Tune in after 2pm to hear the interview.
----- snip -----
UPDATE - 11/17@11:59AM: It looks like the interview will actually air on tomorrow's (Friday's) show (thanks Reed Lover) between 2-3PM GMT (9-10AM EST).
Just found out I'm talking to Alex Lifeson from Rush on the phone tomorrow about the new box set, the live DVD and of course, the new album they're currently recording. What else should I ask about? -DR
Redick's show runs from 2-6PM UK Time (9AM-1PM EST) so Alex should be on sometime in that time slot. You can listen live via the Planet Rock website. Thanks to Distant Early Warning for the heads up.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson attend gala for Andrew MacNaughtan African photography exhibit
... MacNaughtan ... travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in November 2010 with the purpose of capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS affected regions.
The idea to use these photographs in a book was taken a step further when MacNaughtan enlisted the help of friends in the recording industry to lend poetic voice to the images. More than 30 artists including Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Daniel Lanois, Hedley, Bruce Cockburn, Fefe Dobson, Ed Robertson, Jann Arden, Serena Ryder, Lights, Nikki Yanofsky and Tom Cochrane to name a few, graciously provided commentary to photos that inspired them.
Through ArtGivesHope, a charity founded by MacNaughtan in 2006, the sales of the limited edition images and book will support World Vision's Hope Program. His personal goal is to generate enough awareness and raise funds to sponsor 500 children in need.
The photographs will be exhibited at Arta Gallery beginning today and going through November 20th. Last night there was a gala at the gallery to kick off the exhibit and both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were in attendance. Paul at the Canadian Music Scene was there and took a bunch of great photographs which you can check out on his website here. He also included images of the photos with the commentary provided by Geddy and Alex. Alex commented on Boy in Awe:
The future of humanity rests in the wondrous gaze of youth and the desire for knowledge. Given the opportunity, the minds behind those young eyes will create a better world for us all" -- Alex Lifeson
And Geddy's commentary was for a photograph titled Lion:
"Grace at rest... battle scars, confidence and majesty" -- Geddy Lee
Please help out if you are able by purchasing the book at the Art Gives Hope website. You can also directly sponsor a child for $40/month - just email World Vision for details.
Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland concert video debuts at #1 in Canada, album at #50; review roundup
UPDATE - 11/17@11:49AM: The Canadian charts are online at JAM! Music. These charts include sales through November 10th, while the numbers I mentioned below are through November 13th - so my numbers include a few more days of sales. Why? - I have no clue. That said, the JAM! Music album chart has the CD listed at #59, and the Hard Rock chart has it at #5.
UPDATE - 11/16@10:03PM:Rush.com is also reporting that the video debuted at #1 in the US and #2 in the UK.
Rush's Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland concert video/album was released just over a week ago and information regarding its sales and charting numbers are beginning to trickle out. According to one of my sources, The Time Machine concert video will debut at #1 on the Nielsen Canadian Soundscan Chart for music videos in its first week of release. The Time Machine CD will debut at #50 on the Canadian album charts, and #5 on the Top Hard Music Albums Chart. These numbers have not been officially released yet but should be coming out in the upcoming week. There's no word on US sales yet, but those numbers should also be forthcoming soon. The video/CD continues to garner high praise in the music press with a number of reviews being released over the past couple of weeks. Here's a roundup of the reviews so far:
UPDATE - 11/16@10:00AM: I now have a better scan of the article courtesy RushFanForever.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine contains a short feature on Rush titled Rush Roar Back Into the Limelight With New LP where they interview Geddy Lee on the band's upcoming Clockwork Angels album. Reader Dave shot a photo of the piece and I transcribed it below:
Rush Roar Back Into the Limelight With New LP
Album: Clockwork Angels Due Out: 2012
Rush spent the past two years looking back - performing their 1981 classic Moving Pictures in its entirety. But at the same time, the Canadian prog heroes started cranking on thier 20th LP, Clockwork Angels. "We're almost finished writing," says frontman Geddy Lee. "Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas."
Last year, Rush tested the waters, releasing two tracks from the album = the Metallica-ish riff monsters "Caravan" and "BU2B" - and playing them on tour. "We figured we had nothing to lose," says Lee. "It was a lot of fun for the fans, and fun for us." The disc is shaping up to be the trio's heaviest in decades. Says Lee, "The two tracks we released point in the direction we're going."
Rush haven't scored a Top 40 hit since 1982's "New World Man," but they've maintained one of rock's biggest cult audiences. And last year's acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage helped make them more popular than ever. "We feel invigorated," says Lee. "I think we've come to a point in our lives where we're playing the best we've ever played as a live band.
"You don't know how long that's going to go," he adds. "Rock & roll does have its limits as far as the aging process. You want to go out there and play while you're at your peak." - Andy Greene
... We're in the studio right now. We're plowing away on a new record. Things are going really, really well. We've got all the material written. We've got a few tracks that Neil's done his drum parts on - that's slowly evolving. I'm pretty excited about it actually. It's very fresh - at least for me. From behind these eyes it seems pretty fresh and exciting. Strong melodies and really we're having a ball working on this record. You know Geddy and I have been writing music together for over 40 years and it's amazing to me how we are so excited to get into the studio every day that we work together. And we're like little kids - the kids that we always were when we started this many years ago. ... We're probably a little over a week ahead of our schedule right now, which is pretty amazing for us. ...
Guitar World is running a poll on their website where they are asking readers what album they are most looking forward to in 2012, and Rush's Clockwork Angels is one of the options. So go vote for Rush!
Reader Marc G has created a set of virtual Rush bubble gum trading cards along with a website at rushcards.weebly.com to showcase them and share with other fans. From the website:
Hi Rush Fans,
Welcome to my Rush Virtual Trading Cards page. As a huge fan of the band since 1982, I thought it would be fun to create a set of virtual Rush cards in a style reminiscent of of the bubble gum trading cards I used to collect back in the day. I'll be posting two random cards here on a weekly basis, until the entire set of 66 has been revealed. Then, if the demand is strong enough, I'll move on to Series 2. Be sure to collect all 66 cards!
I look forward to your comments and suggestions; please contact me using the form below.
Enjoy, Marc G.
You can check out the latest 2 in the series at the website here, and be sure to check back weekly for the next 2 in the set.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee Winter, 2011 Guitar Aficionado interview
I'd mentioned last week that the Winter, 2011 issue of Guitar Aficionado magazine is a special wine issue and contains an interview with Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. Reader RushFanForever grabbed a copy of the magazine and was kind enough to provide us with some scans. The magazine caught up with Alex and Geddy earlier this Fall - a couple of weeks before they began work on Clockwork Angels. In the 4-page interview, the two share their recent and most rewarding wine experiences and explain the important role wine has played in their lives and music. You can check out the article by clicking on the thumbnails and purchase a copy at this link.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Neil Peart reflects on Ohio rides, Cleveland, the Rock Hall, and the Time Machine video in new essay
... It was felt that the "Time Machine" show in particular looked better indoors, without the lingering twilight of an outdoor amphitheater, and with control over ambient light and air currents. Also, the audio side of things tends to be more controllable in a contained acoustic environment. (Wind, for example, can play havoc with sound waves and microphones.) So we wanted an arena.
Glancing over the itinerary, we considered the options, looked at Cleveland, and thought, "Yes." The idea just made us smile. The historical connection was strong, of course -- we never, never, never forget how welcoming Cleveland was to us in the early days. (Thank you, Donna Halper!)
But there was also the impish notion of poking a sharp stick into the eye of a certain other Cleveland institution. With regard to Groucho Marx's famous remark -- "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member" -- I have stated before that personally the three of us are not too bothered about that snub. We have achieved plenty of success and professional respect without those self-appointed judges, thank you very much.
But it does seem petty to make our fans feel like they're part of something that's "outside the pale." (Though maybe, in a way, all of us like being outside the pale?) ...
... We're in the studio right now. We're plowing away on a new record. Things are going really, really well. We've got all the material written. We've got a few tracks that Neil's done his drum parts on - that's slowly evolving. I'm pretty excited about it actually. It's very fresh - at least for me. From behind these eyes it seems pretty fresh and exciting. Strong melodies and really we're having a ball working on this record. You know Geddy and I have been writing music together for over 40 years and it's amazing to me how we are so excited to get into the studio every day that we work together. And we're like little kids - the kids that we always were when we started this many years ago. ... We're probably a little over a week ahead of our schedule right now, which is pretty amazing for us. ...
... Bubba just told me that he and his 2 amigos are putting some wonderful stuff down while recording over the last month or so. They have enough to complete what they started with the 2 teasers last spring. So it looks like an album's worth of stuff ready for the spring. ...
So the album still looks to be poised for a Spring, 2012 release. Great news!
In Guitar Aficionado's Winter 2011 issue, we bring you the rockers, vintners, and oenophiles that celebrate the grape. Rush's esteemed guitar and bass duo, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, discuss their decades-long love affair with the world's finest wines ...
Speaking of wine, Grapes for Humanity is an organization that helps to raise funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community and Geddy Lee is a member of the board of directors. Back in September all 3 members of Rush participated in the annual charity auction which ended up raising more than $50,000 for the charity. On the final weekend of the auction back on September 17th, about 60 wine lovers joined Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at Union Station to take a Via Rail train to Belleville. They were then bussed to Huff Estate Winery in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County for an event featuring plenty of good wine, good food and great company. A photo gallery from the event was posted online at the Grapes for Humanity website and features plenty of great photographs of Geddy and Alex. You can check it out at this link.
Photographer and video director Andrew MacNaughtan has had a long relationship with Rush, working as photographer and videographer for many of the band's projects since back in the '80s. His latest project is a unique art book showcasing the beauty of Africa through a series of stunning black and white photographs called GRACE: Africa in Photographs. The photographs will be exhibited at Arta Gallery from November 16 - 20. From 49st.com:
... [MacNaughtan] travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in November 2010 with the purpose of capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS affected regions.
The idea to use these photographs in a book was taken a step further when MacNaughtan enlisted the help of friends in the recording industry to lend poetic voice to the images. More than 30 artists including ... Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson ... graciously provided commentary to photos that inspired them.
Through ArtGivesHope, a charity founded by MacNaughtan in 2006, the sales of the limited edition images and book will support World Vision's Hope Program. His personal goal is to generate enough awareness and raise funds to sponsor 500 children in need.
Back in September we learned via RockstarWeekly.com that legendary Canadian musician Tom Cochrane would soon be releasing a new 4-song EP called Voices At 4 AM. The first single will be the title track which is a collaboration with several other artists including Alex Lifeson. Cochrane posted some updated information to his Facebook page earlier this week (thanks RushFanForever):
There are only 500 Limited Edition Worldwide... The first 50 sold will be Super Limited Edition... 5 of the 50 will be signed at random... We are talking about the extremely limited deluxe set of material created by Tom Cochrane & Andrew Cole Feat. Alex Lifeson, Kenny Aronoff, Kenny Greer, Bill Bell Music & Chris Chaney. 50 of these Super Limited Edition "Sets" will be available for pre-order purchase this December!!! The remaining 450 will be sold through our website. (Please note this package will not be available in stores) [TC TEAM]
Back in July the final US Space Shuttle mission (STS-135) was launched, and last month on October 13th the four-member crew of the mission presented highlights to agency employees at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. Reader Asif K pointed me to the YouTube video of the presentation and at about the 12:30 mark they play some video highlights from the mission with Rush's Countdown as the background music. The mission commander then talks a little about Rush. Back in May the same song was used as wake-up music on the second-to-last Space Shuttle mission (STS-134).
Reader sbabsovitch recently caught the Southern Gentlemen Tour featuring Kevin Griffin (Better than Ezra) and Ed Roland (Collective Soul) and reports that throughout the show, Kevin Griffin talked about being a huge Rush fan and at times broke into a few Rush songs including The Spirit of Radio and La Villa Strangiato.
Rush's 2112 is one of the featured tracks this Month on the Jammit mobile app for the iPhone and iPad. Thanks to BW&BK for the heads up.
Speaking of 2112, the AV Club Toronto recently profiled the album as part of their Beaver Hour Index. You can check out the article at this link (thanks Ajax5).
The AV Club Chicago posted an article yesterday (thanks undernorthernlights). where they speak with veteran drummer of the Chicago music scene Mike Kinsella about his favorite songs to air-drum too. Rush's Subdivisions make his list:
... I've probably watched [the Rush documentary] like four times-but you sit there, like, "Oh, it's going to be crazy when he plays [Subdivisions]," but when he's playing it, it looks like he's just reading a book or something. Like, he's doing all these complicated little polyrhythm things and it sounds like he's doing a whole lot, but he really looks more like indie. So after watching that, I feel like, "Oh man, maybe I'm trying too hard while playing it." ...
St. Catharines native Neil Peart has been added to the city's list of Significant Local Individualsaccording to CKTB 610 Talk Radio. Being on the list means that St. Catharines developers & council members can name a new street or park after the individual. So maybe there will be a Neil Peart Park or Neil Peart Street in St. Catharines sometime in the near future.
Speaking of Neil, on former Miami Dolphin great Jimmy Cefalo's radio show this morning the Rush quote if you choose not to decide... was uttered by the show's producer Manny. Reader daviecop was listening in and immediately emailed the show, thanking them for the Rush reference. A discussion of the band followed and led to a poll on the show's Facebook page to determine the worlds greatest drummer; Gene Krupa, Neil Peart or Buddy Rich.
... A few steps from the Cobb/Dodgers autographed ball are three huge cases of autographed baseballs. Two cases each contain 200 signed Negro Leagues baseballs. All 400 baseballs were donated by Geddy Lee, the lead singer and bass guitarist from the rock group Rush. Lee is a huge baseball fan and sports memorabilia collector. Lee, who had visited the museum while stopping in Kansas City, bid on those signed baseballs at auctions for the express purpose of donating them to the museum. ...
Here's the video forTom Sawyer featuring the cast of History of Rush, Episode 17 from the Time Machine video bonus features (thanks rushmixtape5):
That's all for this week. Happy Veterans Day to all you veterans out there, and happy National Metal Day too! Enjoy all of your Time Machine swag and have a great weekend everyone!
Photo gallery from Grapes for Humanity event featuring Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson online
Grapes for Humanity is an organization that helps to raise funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community and Geddy Lee is a member of the board of directors. Back in September all 3 members of Rush participated in the annual charity auction which ended up raising more than $50,000 for the charity. On the final weekend of the auction back on September 17th, about 60 wine lovers joined Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at Union Station to take a Via Rail train to Belleville. They were then bussed to Huff Estate Winery in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County for an event featuring plenty of good wine, good food and great company. A photo gallery from the event was posted online at the Grapes for Humanity website and features plenty of great photographs of Geddy and Alex. You can check it out at this link. Thanks to RushFanForever for the heads up.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
New Andrew MacNaughtan photography exhibit features commentary from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson
Photographer and video director Andrew MacNaughtan has had a long relationship with Rush, working as photographer and videographer for many of the band's projects since back in the '80s. His latest project is a unique art book showcasing the beauty of Africa through a series of stunning black and white photographs called GRACE: Africa in Photographs. The photographs will be exhibited at Arta Gallery from November 16 - 20. From 49st.com:
... MacNaughtan, a four-time JUNO Award winner (for Rush, Our Lady Peace, Tom Cochrane and Jann Arden) has worked with some of Canada's most notable media, entertainment and music personalities. He travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in November 2010 with the purpose of capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS affected regions.
The idea to use these photographs in a book was taken a step further when MacNaughtan enlisted the help of friends in the recording industry to lend poetic voice to the images. More than 30 artists including Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Daniel Lanois, Hedley, Bruce Cockburn, Fefe Dobson, Ed Robertson, Jann Arden, Serena Ryder, Lights, Nikki Yanofsky and Tom Cochrane to name a few, graciously provided commentary to photos that inspired them.
Through ArtGivesHope, a charity founded by MacNaughtan in 2006, the sales of the limited edition images and book will support World Vision's Hope Program. His personal goal is to generate enough awareness and raise funds to sponsor 500 children in need.
To see a sampling of the photographs visit artgiveshope.ca. Thanks to RushFanForever for the heads up.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Alex Lifeson to perform at 7th annual Andy Kim Christmas Concert
UPDATE - 11/10@9:59AM: Rush.com sent out a belated newsletter regarding the Time Machine release last night. In it they confirm the exclusive Best Buy blu-ray US release:
A note for US fans, Best Buy will have an exclusive t-shirt with BluRay or DVD package, and will have the BluRay exclusively in-stores until mid-December. You can also purchase the Blu-Ray directly from the band store or online from Best Buy.
VH1 Classic Rock Nights will feature Geddy Lee On November 8th, to celebrate the release of Time Machine, each hour from 7p-midnight ET, VH1 CRN will feature a new live Rush song from Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland.
They will also feature interview clips with Geddy Lee about the recording, and will be giving away prize packs.
Click on listen live and choose a station to listen from - http://vh1classicrocknights.com/
So unless you are a regular listener of VH1 Classic Rock Nights you probably missed this. :)
UPDATE - 11/8@1:39PM: As reader Taurus Pedal Boy pointed out in the comments, the t-shirt that comes with the exclusive Best Buy offer is not free. It comes as part of their Deluxe Blu-ray Package which comes in a cardboard box and costs $24.99 whereas the blu-ray by itself is $19.99. So in essence you are paying $5 for the t-shirt.
UPDATE - 11/8@9:49AM: The entire Time Machine CD is available on iTunes at this link, and is also up on Spotify at this link.
The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD/Blu-ray will release tomorrow in the US and Canada along with the CD companion and a vinyl-only package containing just the live tracks from the Moving Pictures album titled Moving Pictures: Live 2011. The package already released in parts of Europe over the weekend and released in the UK today. The blu-ray version of the video will be getting an exclusive release at Best Buy in the US tomorrow, with it not becoming available at other US retailers until 6 weeks later on December 20th. The Best Buy offer will also include an XL RASH t-shirt with any purchase of the blu-ray. The exclusive offer does not apply to the Rush Backstage Club since they are an international retailer. Reader Ben from The Netherlands received his copy of the Time Machine CD this past Friday and took some images for us which you can check out at this link. Roadrunner Records posted another preview video from the DVD last week. Unfortunately viewing seems to be geographically restricted to the UK. So if you are in the UK you can check out Limelight from Time Machine at this link. MusicRadar.com had posted a preview video of Working Manearly last week at this link. A couple of weeks back Rolling Stone magazine posted the entire Tom Sawyer clip from the DVD including the Real History of Rush intro to their website at this link. Rolling Stone also included a short interview with Geddy Lee where he talks about why the band picked Cleveland for the filming, and his feelings on the added pressure of performing in front of the cameras which you can check out here. Here's a review of the DVD from the Buffalo News, and here's a review from RIAB reader Todd Garbarini (RushSignals1982). If you've received your copy of any the various Time Machine swag, please share your thoughts/reviews with us in the comments.
In Guitar Aficionado's Winter 2011 issue, we bring you the rockers, vintners, and oenophiles that celebrate the grape. Rush's esteemed guitar and bass duo, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, discuss their decades-long love affair with the world's finest wines ...
UPDATE - 11/14@2:13PM:Guitar World is running a poll on their website where they are asking readers what album they are most looking forward to in 2012, and Rush's Clockwork Angels is one of the options. So go vote for Rush!
The process which began early last year with the recording and release of Caravan and BU2B is finally starting to come to a close. According to recent interviews by both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Rush's upcoming Clockwork Angels studio album is nearing completion. Geddy was interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine late last month and had this to say:
... We're almost finished writing [the album]. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we've had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing. I'm very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we'd like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest. Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we'll mix it some time in the next year, and then get it out. ... I hope it'll be out by the spring anyway. ... I think [the sound is] a little different than Snakes and Arrows. It's not finished so it's hard to say exactly what it will sound like in totality, but I think that the direction of "Caravan" and "BU2B" sort of points in the direction that we're going....
... We're in the studio right now. We're plowing away on a new record. Things are going really, really well. We've got all the material written. We've got a few tracks that Neil's done his drum parts on - that's slowly evolving. I'm pretty excited about it actually. It's very fresh - at least for me. From behind these eyes it seems pretty fresh and exciting. Strong melodies and really we're having a ball working on this record. You know Geddy and I have been writing music together for over 40 years and it's amazing to me how we are so excited to get into the studio every day that we work together. And we're like little kids - the kids that we always were when we started this many years ago. ... We're probably a little over a week ahead of our schedule right now, which is pretty amazing for us. ...
... Bubba just told me that he and his 2 amigos are putting some wonderful stuff down while recording over the last month or so. They have enough to complete what they started with the 2 teasers last spring. So it looks like an album's worth of stuff ready for the spring. ...
So it looks as if another milestone in the album-making process has been surpassed; all of the material is now written. All that's left is to record and mix. So things should be on track for a Spring 2012 release.
The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD/Blu-ray will release this coming Tuesday, November 8th in the US along with the CD companion and a vinyl-only package containing just the live tracks from the Moving Pictures album titled Moving Pictures: Live 2011. Folks in Europe will be getting their Time Machine swag a little earlier; it releases on Monday, November 7th in the UK and has already released in parts of Europe. Reader Ben from The Netherlands already received his copy of the Time Machine CD and has taken some images for us which you can check out at this link. Roadrunner Records posted another preview video from the DVD yesterday. Unfortunately viewing seems to be geographically restricted to the UK. So if you are in the UK you can check out Limelight from Time Machine at this link. MusicRadar.com had posted a preview video of Working Manearlier this week at this link. Last week Rolling Stone magazine posted the entire Tom Sawyer clip from the DVD including the Real History of Rush intro to their website at this link. Rolling Stone also included a short interview with Geddy Lee where he talks about why the band picked Cleveland for the filming, and his feelings on the added pressure of performing in front of the cameras which you can check out here.
Rolling Stone magazine posted an interview with Geddy Lee earlier this week where Geddy talks about the recent Time Machine Tour, the Rush documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage and the status of their upcoming Clockwork Angels album:
... We're almost finished writing [the album]. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we've had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing. I'm very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we'd like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest. Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we'll mix it some time in the next year, and then get it out. ... I hope it'll be out by the spring anyway. ... I think [the sound is] a little different than Snakes and Arrows. It's not finished so it's hard to say exactly what it will sound like in totality, but I think that the direction of "Caravan" and "BU2B" sort of points in the direction that we're going....
Geddy also remarks on touring in support of the album:
... there will be a tour. I can't tell you exactly when. Maybe the summer or maybe the fall. We need some time to organize all that, but we have started to do that at the same time. But yes, there will be a follow-up tour to support the record. ...
2012 definitely stands to be another great year for Rush and their fans.
Hudson Music posted a short video interview with Neil Peart earlier this week where Neil discusses his recently-released instructional DVD Taking Center Stage. You can check out the interview at this link. Neil was also the feature of a cover story in the December, 2011 issue of Modern Drummer magazine which hit newsstands earlier this week. Neil touches on a number of subjects including how he prepares for a tour, how he deals with the rigors of touring, his approach to composing drum parts and the inspiration behind his recently-released Taking Center Stage instructional video. You can read excerpts from the interview at this link and check out the Modern Drummer review of Taking Center Stagehere. Neil recently discussed the inspiration behind the DVD in the November issue of Rhythm magazine. The magazine piece was an edited version of a longer, online version posted at MusicRadar.com. Rhythm is also running a contest where they are giving away a signed 14" Remo Time Machine drum head and three signed copies of Taking Center Stage. For all the details and to enter just check out this link. John at Cygnus-X1.net has scanned all the images from the DVD and also transcribed the liner notes. There are also several preview videos and other content available at TakingCenterStage.net. Here's a Guitar International review of the DVD from Skip Daly, and there was also a piece on Neil Peart in the Driving section of today's Vancouver Sun titled The sound when music and motorcycles collide which curiously makes no mention of Taking Center Stage.
Longtime Toronto-based radio morning drive time duo Humble and Fred recently launched a highly successful podcast and had Alex Lifeson on as a guest this morning. You can listen to the interview at HumbleAndFredRadio.com at this link or download the podcast here. Alex's interview starts around the 35-minute mark and lasts for about 30 minutes. Alex talks about golf, touring, the band's recent resurgence in popularity, the Rush documentary, and discusses how recording the new album is progressing. As of right now Alex says they are a week or so ahead of schedule.
No Regrets is the new autobiography from original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. The book just released this past Tuesday and there's a Rush mention on pages 188-9 in Chapter 13 - Fast Cars, Celebs, and Betty White:
I have so many road stories, but one that always comes to mind is the tour we did in the summer of 1975 with Rush opening for us. I always liked Rush (and still do). After a few weeks on tour I started to get to know the guys in the band, and their very funny tour manager, Howie. One thing led to another and before long Peter and I were getting visits from the Rush boys. It usually turned into late evenings filled with beer and grass and whatever else was around. Alex Lifeson, the band's guitarist, used to do this hysterical routine with a large paper laundry bag. He'd draw a ridiculous giant face on the bag with a black marker and put it over his head with a couple of holes poked in it so he could see and breathe. Everyone in the room at this point was either drunk or stoned, but usually a little of both. Anyway, Alex would go into this routine with the bag over his head and while smoking a joint out of his eye he put everyone into total hysterics. He really milked the routine until everyone was gasping for air!
There's also a photo of Alex with The Bag on page 8 of the photo section of the book. You can check out a scan of the photo here. Ace has mentioned this story in the past, specifically in this 2006 radio interview with Eddie Trunk.
Reader RushFanForever located this Alex Lifeson quote at the Coalition for Music Education's Music Makes Us website:
If it wasn't for the supportive and inspiring music teachers I had in junior high school, I'm not sure I would have become the musician I am, spanning a career in music of over forty years and counting. Music has been my life and I am forever grateful for the opportunities available to me from a young age.
Well said Alex.
Timed to coincide with the upcoming November 21st release of Rush's Sector box sets, UltimateClassicRock.com is giving away a Moving Pictures lithograph signed by all three band members. For all the details and to enter go to this link (thanks Power Windows).
NMR Distribution recently released a Rush playing card gift tin set with the classic Rush explosion logo in red on it, and containing a set of the Rush playing cards that they had released earlier this year. You can purchase the tin set at this link. Thanks to plunge for the heads up.
The theme of the Yahoo! music blog's List of the Day last Friday was 20 Crazy Cover albums (thanks Mike H) and Rush's Feedback made the cut at #6:
When Feedback was released in 2004 it made pretty much everyone do a double take. Two Buffalo Springfield covers? Two Yardbirds covers? "Crossroads"? Most of us were under the impression that Rush were a new chapter in rock and didn't look back and if they did it would be to Wagner not Eddie Cochran. I just worry that Lou Reed will hook up with them next.
The Parnelli Awards, celebrating achievement in the live event industry, was held this past Saturday in Orlando, FL and Rush front-of-house (FOH) engineer Brad Madix won the FOH Mixer award. Congratulations Brad! Thanks to Robert for the heads up.
Rush is a Band recently surpassed a few milestones on the social media front. There are now over 5000 people following @RushIsABand on Twitter, over 3500 Rush is a Band Facebook followers and over 9000 registered site users. Thanks everybody!
UPDATE - 11/10@7:53PM: Here's a short YouTube video from Alex's appearance on the podcast (thanks RushFanForever).
----- snip -----
Longtime Toronto-based radio morning drive time duo Humble and Fred recently launched a highly successful podcast and had Alex Lifeson on as a guest this morning. You can listen to the interview at HumbleAndFredRadio.com at this link or download the podcast here. Alex's interview starts around the 35-minute mark and lasts for about 30 minutes. Alex talks about golf, touring, the band's recent resurgence in popularity, the Rush documentary, and discusses how recording the new album is progressing. As of right now Alex says they are a week or so ahead of schedule.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Limelight preview video from Rush's upcoming Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland concert video available online
UPDATE - 11/17@7:05PM: Here's a [YouTube version of Limelight|www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOAPd1kfPNk] that was posted to the Roadrunner Records YouTube channel.
UPDATE - 11/4@1:12PM: The Time Machine CD has already released in parts of Europe and reader Ben from the Netherlands has taken some images for us. You can check them out below or at this link.
----- snip -----
UPDATE - 11/4@9:35AM: From all the reader comments, this looks to be geographically restricted to the UK.
UPDATE - 11/3@5:15PM: A lot of folks (me included) are not able to play the video. I'm not sure if it's because of geographical restrictions (UK only) or if there's some kind of technical issue. If you are in the UK and able to view the video, please let us know.
The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD/Blu-ray will release this coming Tuesday, November 8th along with the CD companion and a vinyl-only package containing just the live tracks from the Moving Pictures album titled Moving Pictures: Live 2011. Roadrunner Records posted another preview video from the DVD earlier today. You can check out Limelight from Time Machine at this link. MusicRadar.com had posted a preview video of Working Manearlier this week at this link. Last week Rolling Stone magazine posted the entire Tom Sawyer clip from the DVD including the Real History of Rush intro to their website at this link. They also included a short interview with Geddy Lee where he talks about why the band picked Cleveland for the filming, and his feelings on the added pressure of performing in front of the cameras which you can check out here.
UPDATE - 11/3@4:22PM: The full article/interview was taken down from the Cygnus-X1.net by request of Modern Drummer. You can read the complete article by picking up a copy of the December, 2011 issue of Modern Drummer, on newsstands now.
Last month we learned that Neil Peart would be the feature of a cover story in the December, 2011 issue of Modern Drummer magazine. The issue hit newsstands earlier this week and is now available online at Cygnus-X1.net. Neil touches on a number of subjects including how he prepares for a tour, how he deals with the rigors of touring, his approach to composing drum parts and the inspiration behind his recently-released Taking Center Stage instructional video. You can read the entire interview at this link and check out the Modern Drummer review of Taking Center Stagehere.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Alex Lifeson to appear on Humble and Fred podcast this Friday
The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD/Blu-ray will release next Tuesday, November 8th along with the CD companion and a vinyl-only package containing just the live tracks from the Moving Pictures album titled Moving Pictures: Live 2011. MusicRadar.com posted an exclusive video from the DVD earlier today of the encore track Working Man which you can check out at this link. Last week Rolling Stone magazine posted the entire Tom Sawyer clip from the DVD including the Real History of Rush intro to their website at this link. They also included a short interview with Geddy Lee where he talks about why the band picked Cleveland for the filming, and his feelings on the added pressure of performing in front of the cameras which you can check out here.
The legendary skronk-rap producer/MC El-P is enjoying a bit of a career resurgence lately, on the back of Company Flow's reunion and his recent work with Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire. He's also got a new album, Cancer For Cure, arriving next year. And now he's remixed "Drones Over BKLYN," the track he released for free as part of Adult Swim's Singles Series earlier this year. For the remix, he's chopped up a (legal!) sample of "Tom Sawyer," the Camaro anthem from prog deities Rush, and the result is both dope as fuck and entirely in keeping with El's aesthetic. More rappers should sample Rush!
El is selling "Rush Over BKLYN," and proceeds are going to a fund for Mr. Dibbs, the veteran turntable-wrecker who is presently battling both liver disease and a truly absurd medical bill. Stream the track and use the Soundcloud "download" button to buy it below.
You can listen to the track on SoundCloud at this link and purchase it here. Thanks to Sean for the heads up.
Rush mention in new Ace Frehley autobiography No Regrets
UPDATE - 11/2@12:27PM: Thanks to reader Paul P I now have the picture of Alex with The Bag from page 8 of the book's photo section.
No Regrets is the new autobiography from original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. The book just released today and there's a Rush mention on pages 188-9 in Chapter 13 - Fast Cars, Celebs, and Betty White:
I have so many road stories, but one that always comes to mind is the tour we did in the summer of 1975 with Rush opening for us. I always liked Rush (and still do). After a few weeks on tour I started to get to know the guys in the band, and their very funny tour manager, Howie. One thing led to another and before long Peter and I were getting visits from the Rush boys. It usually turned into late evenings filled with beer and grass and whatever else was around. Alex Lifeson, the band's guitarist, used to do this hysterical routine with a large paper laundry bag. He'd draw a ridiculous giant face on the bag with a black marker and put it over his head with a couple of holes poked in it so he could see and breathe. Everyone in the room at this point was either drunk or stoned, but usually a little of both. Anyway, Alex would go into this routine with the bag over his head and while smoking a joint out of his eye he put everyone into total hysterics. He really milked the routine until everyone was gasping for air!
Ace has mentioned this story in the past, specifically in this 2006 radio interview with Eddie Trunk. Apparently there's a photo of Alex with The Bag on page 8 of the book. If anyone purchases the book, please scan it for us! Thanks to RushFanForever for the heads up.
UPDATE - 12/2@9:20PM: Sectors is up for Best Box Set too (thanks Sean).
Darren Redick of UK internet radio station 
Speaking of Geddy, the new VH1 Classic show 
Neil Peart was the 
UPDATE - 11/23@1:13PM: And in other guitar list news, Rush's Closer to the Heart made Guitar World's list of the 
Neil Peart was the 
The new VH1 Classic show 
Longtime Rush photographer/videographer 
UPDATE - 11/30@11:08AM: The interview is also 
UPDATE - 11/16@10:00AM: I now have a better scan of the article courtesy RushFanForever.
The 
Photographer and video director 
Photographer and video director 
The 
UPDATE - 11/14@2:13PM: 
Longtime Toronto-based radio morning drive time duo 
Longtime Toronto-based radio morning drive time duo 
A 
