Rush spent the past week on the US west coast, playing 2 shows in Seattle and the first of a pair in San Jose last night. They'll wrap up their 2-night San Jose run tomorrow evening before taking a short, 4-day break, and then heading back east for a couple of one-off shows in St. Louis and Cincinnati next week. While in Seattle, some Seattle rock royalty attended Rush's shows and paid the band a visit backstage, including members of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, The Deftones and others as seen in this Instagram post:
Rush has released a new, official 2027 wall calendar celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of 1987's Hold Your Fire. The calendar was produced by Poster Foundry and can currently be ordered via Amazon and other online retailers. The 12"x18" calendar features a dozen photos from Rush's Hold Your Fire era as seen here:
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Hold Your Fire with this officially licensed 2027 Rush calendar! Packed with key dates from the 1987 Hold Your Fire tour and other major moments in the band's storied history, this edition is a must-have for every devoted fan. Commemorate this landmark album with the ultimate Rush calendar for 2027!
It also includes a four-month (September-December) 2026 planner page. You can purchase your calendar today at this location.
The Ao5 Gallery in Austin, TX will be hosting An Evening with Hugh Syme event tomorrow evening, where Rush's longtime album artist will be featuring the artwork of the Fifty Something tour and signing items for fans. General admission tickets along with VIP packages can be purchased at this location.
We learned the tragic news earlier this week that Neil Peart's good friend, right-hand man and motorcycle riding partner Michael Mosbach had passed away after battling Glioblastoma - the same type of cancer that took Neil Peart and Neil's younger brother Danny. From Rolling Stone Canada:
... Known to Rush fans as "Praetorian," Mosbach joined the band's circle in the early 2000s and became a trusted friend to Peart, accompanying him on motorcycle trips between tour stops. His relationship with the drummer extended well beyond their professional bond, with the pair sharing years of travel and conversations on the road, some of which found their way into Peart's books and essays. After Peart's death, Mosbach helped carry on his friend's legacy through the Bubba Bash, a benefit concert launched in 2023 to raise money for glioblastoma research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. The event brings together musicians to perform in tribute to Peart, whose nickname inspired its name. ...
Rush posted the following message after learning the news:
As many Rush fans know, Michael Mosbach was Neil's longtime security and riding partner on tour for decades. Through thick and thin, he was always there for Neil, and for that we are eternally grateful.
We are saddened to now share that he has passed after his own cancer battle.
Our sincere condolences to his family & friends, and our greater Rush family that worked with him over the years. RIP Michael 💔
Speaking of the Bubba Bash Neil Peart charity tribute concert, this coming year's event will take place on Saturday, January 9th, commemorating the 7th anniversary of Neil Peart's passing on January 7, 2020. This year's event will hold special significance in light of Michael Mosbach's recent passing as well. Like in years past, the event will take place at the Keswick Theatre outside Philly, and feature Rush tribute band YYNOT along with special guests. This year's lineup will include Jason Bittner, Joe Bergamini, Tyler Warren, John Wesley, Greg Russell, Jack Gibson, Mike Orlando, Payton Rose Velligan, Dave Langguth, Tyme Rogers, and Zach James with Cathy Rankin returning as hostess. All proceeds will go to support Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and tickets for the event are now on sale.
Grunge.com posted their list of 5 Drum Solos We Wish We Could Hear Again For The First Time this past week, and Neil Peart's YYZ solo from Exit...Stage Left made the cut:
No discussions of incredible drum solos would be complete without mentioning Rush's Neil Peart and one of the greatest drum solos of all time on "YYZ" from the 1981 live album "Exit...Stage Left." He earned the No. 4 spot on Rolling Stone's list of the best drummers of all time (with Keith Moon in the No. 2 spot). Peart joined Rush in 1974 and brought a cerebral approach to the drums that matched the progressive style of Alex Lifeson's guitar and Geddy Lee's bass and keyboards. On the studio version of "YYT" from the 1981 album "Moving Pictures" Peart plays several masterful drum fills, but it's on "Exit...Stage Left" where he truly shows his brilliance behind his kit. While it wasn't Peart's longest drum solo of all time, it sure packed a punch. Beginning around the 2:20-minute mark Peart demonstrates what makes him so masterful - precision, the use of an unusual time signature, melodic elements from different cowbells and varied drum tones, and sheer dynamism. For more than three minutes Peart wows the crowd (and us) with his impeccable snare work, hi-hat and double bass blasts, and whirlwind tom-tom runs that all build to a thunderous conclusion. This chill-inducing drum solo never gets old, but nothing can compare to the first time it hits your ears.
On this day back in 1974, Rush filmed a live performance for Don Kirshner's Rock Concert at the Long Beach Auditorium Concert Hall in Long Beach, California, as seen in this video:
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend everybody!
