Update (03/31/2011 10:30am): Photo's from last night's show in Florida are available via this LINK - Thanks RIAB!Tweet
Update (03/30/2011 10:00pm): As expected, there have been no changes to the set list -- as least, none yet. However one thing has been changed - www.rush.com has been completely refreshed in connection with the beginning on the tour. Check it out!
After a five month "break", Rush is set to return to the stage tonight in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the Bank Atlantic Center for the beginning of the 2011 Leg of their Time Machine Tour. At this time, there aren't any expected changes to the set list for the 2011 leg, however we will be confirming this tonight as the concert is underway. Anyone in attendance at tonight's show that would like to feed the set list to this site, please contact me.
In related news, the Rush Backstage Club is holding a weekly 'Meet and Greet' contest:Win A Meet and Greet With Rush!Click HERE to enter. Thanks to ED from RushIsABand for passing along that news.
Check it out: every week RUSH BACKSTAGE will draw two winners to win a pair of Meet and Greet passes to meet RUSH during the Time Machine 2011 tour. The winners will meet members of the band, before the show. These lucky people will have the opportunity to say hello and have their picture taken with the guys!
In order to qualify to win the prize, entrants MUST already have in their possession tickets to a Rush Time Machine concert during the Time Machine 2011 tour. Rush Backstage will not be providing concert tickets to the winners. Good luck!
Want to keep track of Rush as they progress through their concert dates? Eric from Power Windows has created a special Google iCalendar for the 2011 leg of the tour. Click HERE for more information.
For all those in attendance tonigth and over the next few dates, have a great time - and send us your concert pictures!
The Rush Backstage Club now has some official 2011 Time Machine Tour Gear available for sale. Along with a number of news shirt designs, the Backstage Club is also selling items such as a Rush Swoosh Logo Keychain, a Rush Pickup Magnet, a Time Machine Sticker Pack and a Time Machine Button & Pin Set.Tweet
Equally as important is the confirmation that the 2011 Leg of the Time Machine Tour will be treated to an updated Tour Book. The new 2011 Tour Book will include additional photos taken from the 2010 leg of the tour. I've ordered my copy, have you? :)
For those of you who haven't seen the 2010 Tour Book, simply click HERE.
Update: Here's the official statement from Rush:TweetLive Nation announced today that due to unforeseen circumstances the Rush performance previously scheduled for this Friday, April 1st in Greensboro has been postponed one day and will now take place on Saturday, April 2nd at the Greensboro Coliseum. Doors remain 6:30 pm with show time at 7:30 pm.
After much consideration, as the Toledo performance would have been the 4th show in 5 days the decision was made to delay the show rather than move forward as previously scheduled. The added time between shows will ensure that fans in Toledo are treated to the best performance that Rush can deliver. As a result, the Toledo performance previously scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th will be postponed one week and will now take place on Wednesday, April 13th at Huntington Center.
The 2011 Leg of the Time Machine Tour launches on Wednesday, March 30th however we've Rush.com has just announced that two dates have been rescheduled.
The April 1st date at the Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina has been pushed out one day to April 2nd. Doors will still open at 6:30pm with the show time still set for 7:30pm.
The April 6th date at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio has been pushed out one week to Wednesday, April 13th at 7:30pm.
Rush has indicated that all tickets for the previously scheduled performances will be honored at the rescheduled dates. Any fans requiring a refund may do so at point of purchase.
In celebration of the upcoming release of Rush's 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures, Cygnus-X1.Net will be giving away five copies of the CD / DVD combo pack; one a week beginning on April 1st. No, it's no joke :)Tweet
Simply visit the contest page, fill out an entry form and you'll be in the running throughout the five-week contest period.
Still haven't ordered your copy (and you don't feel that lady luck will be on your side)? -- Here are the pre-order links from Amazon.Com:Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/DVDBest of luck, everyone!
Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/BD
The 2011 Juno Gala and Awards Ceremony was held in Toronto last night where Juno Awards in 32 of the 40 categories were awarded. Among the categories announced was the Best Music DVD where Rush's acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage took home the award. Click here for a list of other winners during the night.Tweet
The remaining eight categories and awards will be presented tonight during the 2011 Juno Awards Ceremony which will be broadcast on CTV live from the Air Canada Centre starting at 8PM EST. Both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are scheduled to be presenters and this Juno win will certainly lighted the mood for the guys.
Congratulations go out to Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Pegi Cecconi, Noah Segal, Shelley Nott, John Virant and, of course, RUSH for bringing home the Juno. This marks the first Juno Rush has won since taking home the same award back in 2004 for Rush in Rio.
Read more about Rush's win via this LINK.
There is obviously a lot of activity surrounding the upcoming 40th Annual Juno Awards tomorrow night. To celebrate the occassion, the Globe and Mall has posted a list of the Top 10 Canadian Car Tunes where, rightfull so, Rush's Red Barchetta took the top spot.TweetHomegrown songs about vehicles and the open road that are certain to get you moving and groovingRed Barchetta beat out the likes of Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf, Roll on Down the Highway by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and, further down the list, Life is a Highway (the original version) by Tom Cochrane.
The Junos are celebrating its 40th anniversary at a packed Air Canada Centre in Toronto and will be broadcast coast-to-coast across Canada this Sunday featuring the musical musings of Drake, Hedley, Neil Young and teen scream dream Justin Bieber.
My, my, my. The Junos are all grown up now. Except for the Justin Bieber part.
Here are the top 10 Canadian car songs (the only criteria being that vehicles or roads are involved):
Thanks to RushFanForever for passing along the news.
Over nearly four decades, Alex Lifeson of Rush has consistently blurred the lines between hard and progressive rock, pushing both to new heights. In celebration of the new Gibson Custom Shop Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess Guitar, enter for your chance to win the ultimate Alex Lifeson Concert Experience! The Grand Prize winner gets a pair of VIP tickets to see Rush live in Las Vegas, meet Alex, and take home a signed Gibson Alex Lifeson Axcess guitar. Musician's Friend will provide you and your guest with airfare, lodging, meals, local transportation, and premium concert seating in Las Vegas on June 24, 2011!TweetWin The Ultimate Concert Experience With Alex Lifeson Grand Prize:The Grand Prize has an approximate cash value of $5,999.00.
Trip For Two To Las Vegas Show
VIP Concert Seating
Meet Alex Backstage
Take Home His Signed Gibson Custom Axe
The winner will be selected in a random drawing on or around June 1, 2011. You're automatically entered every time you place an order with Musician's Friend between March 24, 2011, and May 31, 2011. No purchase necessary to enter.
Click HERE to enter. Good luck!
A feature article in the UK Guardian Newspaper called Rush: 'Our Fans Feel Vindicated' was published yesterday. The lengthy article includes a nice retrospective look back at Rush's career, comments from both Geddy and Alex on the recent changes of Rush in the public's eye and also revisits a story posted last year where Neil Peart discusses the writing process behind Xanadu.TweetRush have been uncool for so long that they are, finally, perhaps the coolest band in the world.Click HERE to read the entire article.
"We've been vindicated!" laughs guitarist Alex Lifeson down the phone from his home in Toronto a few days later. "A lot of fans feel vindicated, too. There is a segment of our audience that are outsiders and some have grown into power and influence, but that bond they feel to us is still there. It's very, very deep and I don't think it's like that for a lot of other bands."
LickLibrary is proud to announce the launch of iDrum - the world's first truly interactive magazine for drummers. iDrum magazine is free of charge and contains news, reviews, lessons and hours of video content. A drum magazine has never looked this good! View issue 1 here at www.idrummag.com.TweetiDrum has been created by a team led by industry veteran editor Ian Croft. The launch issue of iDrum features part one of an exclusive in-depth 40-minute video interview with Rush's Neil Peart together with exclusive images from the current "Time Machine" tour. Other video interviews include Derrick Mckenzie (Jamiroquai), Gil Sharone (Dillinger Escape Plan) and legendary British drummer Jon Hiseman. You also get exclusive footage of Simon Phillips and Gavin Harrison preparing for their Guitar Center "Drum-Off" duet.Direct access to the premiere issue is available HERE. Below is the first part of the 40-minute interview with Neil Peart:
All five parts of the interview can be viewed directly from the online edition of the magazine HERE.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Rush Sound Engineer Richard Chycki just updated his blog with some initial reviews of the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures:TweetSo I guess the review pre-release copies of Rush?s Blu-Ray Moving Pictures 5.1 remix/remaster are making the rounds. It?s so exciting to get feedback from people enjoying something that I had so much fun working on. With permission, I?m sharing pieces of a recent email here from a guy that listens to A LOT of 5.1:Rich also indicates that the filming of the April 15th show in Cleveland "...is well underway, almost on autopilot..."
... "First impressions: W-O-W. It?s going to be really, really HARD to ever listen to this album "only" in stereo ever again! THIS is what surround was built for, so to speak ... Living inside it and loving it! ... Everyone needs to know how GREAT this 5.1 mix is!"
... "One of my favorite albums of all time is now better than ever. I look forward to listening to it again and again and getting more out of it each time I do ... Each song has its own individual sense of space ... It's such a rewarding listening experience." - Mike Mettler - Editor-in-Chief, Sound & Vision Magazine.
Pre-Ordering links for Moving Pictures 5.1 via Amazon are below:Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/DVDThanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/BD
With the 2011 leg of the Time Machine Tour less than two weeks away, and the Juno Awards coming up this weekend, it's been a busy period in the world of Rush. Rush seems to be (almost) everywhere as reflected in the following news stories:TweetFinally, I'll leave you with a Rush mention on last night's episode of NBC's action/comedy Chuck (Season 4, Episode 19: Chuck Versus the Muuurder). The mention comes at about the 5:40 mark. Personally, I agree with the answer to 'Rush's best album' :)Pixies Drummer Lists Neil Peart as Major Influence: In an article from the Montral Gazette, Pixies drummer David Lovering cited Neil Peart as a major influence in his drumming career:A bigger surprise comes when the subject of their influences is raised. Lovering acknowledged reverence for John Bonham, "any drummer who played for Steely Dan" and especially Rush's Neil Peart. "When I first started playing for the Pixies, I was doing a lot of fills, believe me, just like Neil would do. It took a long time and a lot of concentration to keep it toned down," he said.You can read the entire article via this LINK.
Rush Classic Albums 2112 & Moving Pictures iPad App: The Universal Music Group has launched an iPad video-focused companion app to last year's "Classic Albums 2112 & Moving Pictures" documentary. Available for $6.99, this app is the equivalent of the DVD documentary and not a digital albums as some online reviews are being led to believe.BU2B 7" Vinyl Record Store Day Exclusive: A special 7-inch limited edition vinyl release of Rush's BU2B will be released on April 16th, 2011 as part of the UK's Record Store Day; a day when all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music.
Sunrise Records in Canada will also be offering the Caravan / BU2B record for sale on Record Store Day, however this is the CD single of both and not the special edition vinyl version that will be available in the U.K.Rush Track 'Second Nature' Appears on Playlist for the Planet Collection: Rush's song 'Second Nature' from their 1987 album Hold Your Fire is among a number of songs included in the Playlist for the Planet compilation cd.In celebration of David Suzuki's 75th Birthday on March 24, 2011 a compilation for environmental change has been put together by the David Suzuki Foundation with proceeds going to The David Suzuki Foundation. Playlist for the Planet boasts some great Canadian artists, such as Randy Bachman, LIGHTS, k-os, Rush, etc, along with CBC Radio 3 contest winner Danny Michel, whose song "Feather, Fur & Fin" was chosen by CBC Radio 3 as a source of inspiration to help our planet get healthy! Don't forget Earth Day, April 22nd.There's additional information on David and the compilation cd via this YouTube video. Thanks RushFanForever!
The organizers of RushCon, the Toronto-based Rush convention group, has just announced the dates for RushCon 11 (appropriately dubbed RushCon:X1). From the RushCon website:TweetAhhh 2011. Where has the time gone?For more information on the convention, including ordering information for tickets, please visit www.rushcon.org.
So, here at RushCon camp we've been doing a lot of thinking. Where to have this year's convention? What to do?
We have the Time Machine tour embarking in weeks, and we know we needed to make some decisions. As always, we want to give our attendees the best possible convention, filled with the best events. We have found, over the past years, that we usually get a great turnout when our event coincides with an actual Rush concert. It's the perfect way to celebrate this band that we love, with the fans that we cherish.
Without a Toronto show this summer, combined with the incredible time we had in Las Vegas last year, we thought it would be best to keep the con around the same time as a concert.
So we are back in Vegas this summer.
We will do 2 days of events: Friday, June 24th after the concert, and a full day of events Saturday June 25th.
Benedictum, an American heavy metal band that formed in 2005 in San Diego, California, has a cover of Rush's 2112 appearing on their third studio album titled Dominion. Though listed as only spanning the first two segments of 2112 (Overture and Temples of Syrinx), the cover also includes 'The Grand Finale' as well.Tweet
Given that Benedictum has a female lead singer, the results are quite interesting. You can now listen to Benedictum's take on 2112 via YouTube or below:
Additional information on Dominion and the 2112 cover can be read HERE. To order Benedictum's Dominion, click HERE.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the link.
The April 2011 edition of the UK drumming magazine Rhythm features an in-depth look at former Genesis frontman Phil Collins. Within the 11-page spread, Neil Peart, among others, chime in on why they hold Phil in such high regards.TweetFrom Genesis genius to soul survivor, we track the career of the drum world's first superstar drummer ? Phil Collins. Right back to Genesis through to last year's Number One album Going Back, it's all here in our huge 11-page cover feature. We also talk to Phil's percussive partner in crime Chester Thompson and ask drum behemoths Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy and Brann Dailor just why they hold Collins so close to their hearts.Ordering information for the April issue can be found here.
Additionally, the the Rhythm Magazine website is now featuring an up-close photo segment on Neil's Time Machine Tour Drum Kit. The nine-image spread shows some of the intracacies behind this amazing kit. You can check out the photos via this LINK.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for sharing the news.
Neil Peart and Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn are scheduled to appear on the CBC's Strombo (formerly The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos) this coming Monday, March 21st.Tweet
While the appearance has yet to be officially listed on the show's website, several members from the Counterparts Forum including Superconductor and RUSHGIRL have confirmed the appearance. They also learned that there are no tickets currently available and the current waiting list includes 90 people already.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have been guests on the show multiple times in the past however this will mark Neil Peart's first appearance.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for the headsup!
Just a quick note to point out that, if you hadn't noticed already, Cygnus-X1.Net is now fully connected and integrated with both Facebook and Twitter. Most pages throughout the site, along with all news and special sections of the site, will have both Facebook 'Like/Recommend' buttons along with a Twitter 'Tweet' button. In addition, you can now follow along with all site news, updates and more via the official Cygnus-X1.Net Facebook Group and Twitter Feed.Tweet
Thanks for everyone's support in extending the reach of Cygnus-X1.Net beyond the confines of the home url :)
Also a special thanks to RushFanForever for helping to introduce the Cygnus-X1.Net Facebook Group to a bunch of Rush fans.
Update: Earlier this week, DJ Jim Ladd of KLOS announced that he conducted a 2-hour interview Neil Peart discussing the upcoming release of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Moving Pictures 5.1. The interview is expected to air in about 3 weeks on Ladd's KLOS radio show which airs Sunday through Thursday.Tweet
There is new information regarding the release date of the 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures. Though still scheduled for a an April 5th release, rumor now has it that the CD/Blu-Ray version, which shows a delayed release date of May 3rd at Amazon, will actually be exclusively available at Best Buy on April 5th. All of retail outlets will be selling the Blu-Ray version beginning May 3rd.
The listing at Best Buy doesn't suggest any additional tracks or features, but that certainly can't be ruled out either at this time.RUSH's "Moving Pictures" celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a spectacular "Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition" via Mercury/UMe. The reissue of this seminal album on April 5, will be available in two formats: (1) a digitally remastered CD plus DVD and (2) a digitally remastered CD plus Blu-ray. For this Deluxe Edition, the DVD and Blu-ray discs will feature the album and three bonus music videos, "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight" and the previously unreleased clip "Vital Signs", in both a stunning 5.1 Surround Sound mix supervised by the band's Alex Lifeson using the original multi-tracks and in newly remastered stereo from the original analog master tapes.Pre-Ordering links via Amazon are below:
Both DVD and Blu-ray formats will boast the 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo audio in 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution audiophile playback which offers 256 times more resolution than CD audio, providing the listener with the closest experience you can have to what the artists hear in the studio. The DVD is playable on both DVD-Audio and DVD-Video players, the latter players will include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and PCM stereo playback. Blu-ray discs will also feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound in addition to 96kHz/24-bit PCM 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo.
The "Moving Pictures" experience has never sounded better or been more moving. Also included in the package is an extensive gallery with previously unreleased photos from the original recording sessions, new liner notes by renowned music journalist David Fricke and 30th-anniversary artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme.Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/DVDIn celebration of this historic release, Cygnus-X1.Net is still planning on giving away several copies of the Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures over the course of the next three months. Details on the give-away will be revealed soon.
Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/BD
A new book by Eddie Trunk, who is the host of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show as well as the weekly radio show: Eddie Trunk Live, which airs on Sirius/XM radio's Boneyard channel, has a new book coming out on April 1st called Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.TweetKnown as a leading expert on all things hard rock and heavy metal, Eddie Trunk continues to entertain fans on the radio and as the host of VH1 Classic's hit television program That Metal Show with his passion for music. In his debut book, Eddie discusses his most essential bands, his unique personal experiences with them, his favorite "Stump the Trunk" anecdotes and trivia, as well as his favorite playlists. Whether you're a classic Metallica or Megadeth metalhead or prefer the hair metal of old-school Bon Jovi or Poison, Eddie Trunk's Hard Rock and Heavy Metal salutes all who are ready to rock!According to the table-of-contents and Eddie himself, an entire chapter of the book, located on pages 174-182 is dedicated to Rush and includes both "photos and text".
Pre-ordering is available through Amazon with the current price of the paperback set at $10.49.
Thanks to RushFanForever for passing along the news.
The David Barrett Trio, a new group from Toronto, spent some time at Alex Lifeson's home studio - Lerxst Sound - to record three songs: Hollowbody, Sonar, and Disappearance. Not only did Alex produce the tracks but Rush Engineer Rich Chycki also handled the engineering duties.Tweet
The first single - Hollowbody is now available at both Amazon and iTunes for just $0.99. The other two tracks should be released soon. As for Hollowbody, Rush fans will doubtless enjoy this short, rocking instrumental and Alex's production influence is clearly evident.
From a recent blog entry by the David Barret Trio:Exactly a year ago, I played my new solo album The Dead Arm for guitar hero and mentor Alex Lifeson. He liked it and mentioned that maybe we should consider doing something together in the future. I agreed. He advised me to write a ton of music which we would then later sift through and pick the best tunes to develop. His other advice was to include some other musicians to further develop the songs. I asked Sascha Tukatsch to play drums and Jason Farrar to play bass. We arranged the music and worked really hard on it. Their contributions and enthusiasm have been truly outstanding! After the Rush Time Machine tour ended and Big Al was rested, we went into his studio and recorded three tunes: Hollowbody, Sonar, and Disappearance. Rich Chycki engineered. Rich produced my first solo album back in 1995, everything I've learned about recording I've learned from Rich, I don't think there's anyone better. And Big Al's approach to arranging, performance, and production was truly illuminating. We also had a lot of laughs in the studio, more than I can remember on any sessions I've ever done. We've finished these three and will release them soon, once we figure out the details. I just wanted to let everyone know that we've got some new music ready to be released and that we're very excited about the whole thing!There will also be a concert and CD release party on Thursday, March 31st, 2011 at 8PM at the Gibson Guitar Artist Showroom located at 1205 King West, Toronto, ON. A special EP will be available for sale which will include all three tracks. The trio is also expected to record additional songs with Alex Lifeson after the 2011 leg of the Time Machine tour.
A video of the band performing Hollowbody can be viewed HERE.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
It's that time of year again when Music Publishing's Annual Drummies Awards is now officially open for voting. Having gained respect from the drum/music industry as the most comprehensive Award/Polling events, drummers, fans and anybody else interested can now cast their votes online until May 1st at www.drummagazine.com/drummies.Tweet
As Neil Peart has won the Drummer of the Year award five times, he is no longer eligible for this particular honor; however he can win in another category such as Best Progressive Drummer, Best Live Drummer or Best Studio Drummer, among others.
More news on the Drummies can be read HERE.
Thanks to Josh Moscov for passing along the news.
With the recent release of the Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess, Alex has been hot on the promotional trail. Not only does Lifeson appear on the cover of the April 2011 issue of the Musicians Friend catalog, but there is also a interesting five-minute video interview with Alex discussing the details of the guitar.Tweet
More on the guitar from Alex:"We've been working on this for quite some time — a few years, really. The Axcess is a great platform, I think, because it has certain things that the traditional Les Paul doesn't. You know, the light weight, getting the vibrato arm on there, the changes that we made with the piezo pickups, the separate outputs — you know, it's a great utility guitar. I looked at it in terms of, 'What do I need? Instead of switching through 14 or 15 guitars during a show, how can I pare that down, like, where I can get everything — as much as I can — into one guitar?' And this is really what it is."Additional details about the guitar are available at the official Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess website.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Down on his luck and nearly pennyless, Kevin "Caveman" Shirley was fortunate enough to be hired as Rush's Sound Engineer for their 1993 Counterparts album. Now, in a three part interview conducted by Dave Rideau of solid-state-logic.com, Shirley recounts that period in his life and how Rush and their management team literally came to his rescue.Tweet
You can view the first part of the interview, which contains the section related to Rush, below or via this LINK.Many thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the link.
Update: According to Jam! Showbiz, Geddy and Alex will be among the first group of presenters at the Juno Awards Ceremonies. No word yet on what category/award the pair will be presenting.Tweet
As we reported last month, the Rush documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage has been nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Best Music DVD of the Year. According to an article posted at Mediacaster, both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are expected to attend the awards ceremony.Helping to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the JUNO Awards are iconic Canadian musicians Bryan Adams, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Daniel Lanois, Robbie Robertson, and Rush's Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. They will be joined by Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley, deadmau5, the Honourable James Moore, K'Naan, Shad, Tokyo Police Club and the hosts of CTV's first JUNO broadcast in 2002, Barenaked Ladies.The other nominees in the Best Music DVD category include:This Movie is Broken (BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE)The 2011 Juno Awards airs on Sunday, March 27th on CTV from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Complete program listings and regional times are available online.
The Lost Tapes (BUCK 65)
Céline-Tournée Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle (CELINE DION)
The Virtual Haydn (TOM BEGHIN)
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
The UK news magazine Express and Star recently held a phone interview with Alex Lifeson ahead of Rush's stop in Birmingham's LG Arena on May 22. In the interview, Alex discusses topics ranging from the Time Machine Tour, performing Moving Pictures in its entirety and the imagery behind the tour and upcoming Clockwork Angels album:Tweet"The whole 'steam punk' kind of thing is what we're sort of leaning towards. It's a little bit like what the Victorians would have thought the future of technology would have been like."Alex also reflected back on Rush's early gigs in the United Kingdom as well as his early influences:
So if you'd have had a time machine when you released your first album back in 1974 what would you have made of Rush's success in 2011?
"I never would have imagined in a million years that in 2011 we'd still be doing what we're doing. When we first started out, when we first got our record deal in '74 we all thought if we could stretch out for five years we'd have done great.
"That's what our deal was - a five-year deal with five records. A record a year for five years; that would have been a great run. Never would we have imagined that we'd still be at it on the cusp of our 60s.""Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took up a lot of space musically in the songs was really important to the way Rush developed. Geddy and Neil both were such active players and lot of the time we were all playing like crazy and it was too much and somebody had to reel it in and me being the faceless guy, I would do that," he laughs.You can read the entire interview via this LINK.
The March 2011 edition of Mojo: The Music Magazine includes a full-page interview with Geddy Lee. In the interview, Geddy touches upon the 'Concept Album' makings of Rush's upcoming Clockwork Angels disc as well as working with their co-producer Nick Raskulinecz."Nick is perfect for us," he says, "so full of passion, so technically up to snuff, and great at getting us to just play and do our thing."For a high-resolution scan of the complete article, click HERE.
Thanks to reader RushFanForever for passing along the news.
Dr. Robert Price, the co-author of the 1999 philosophical book Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush was recently interviewed by the Michigan Skeptics Association about the book and his thoughts on the music and lyrics of Rush.
A free podcast of the interview is available online via this LINK. There's also an MP3 of the interview available via this LINK (54mb).
Thanks to reader GeddyWannaBe for passing along the news.
Sabian has just introduced a Limited Edition Paragon Cymbal Pack that includes a splash autographed by Neil Peart.TweetThe Neil Peart Paragon Complete Cymbal Pack comes with an 8" and two 10" splashes (including one to be autographed for you by Neil Peart), two 16" crashes, 18" crash, 20" crash, 22" ride, 19" and 20" Chinese, 20" Diamondback Chinese, and 13" and 14" hi-hat sets. Each cymbal features a brilliant finish.Priced at $3,199.99, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this pack will benefit Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in our public schools. For more information, visit www.littlekidsrock.org.
The Paragon series blends 2 styles of lathing for a very balanced cymbal tone. Pinpoint lathing creates a narrower groove for a fast, lively response on the top, while the traditional AA lathing creates a wider groove for a fuller, richer tone on the bottom side. The cymbal pack is shipped in a free flight case featuring custom "Time Machine" artwork from the Rush album and tour of the same name.
Designed in collaboration with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart, Paragon is a range of cymbals that - although designed for Peart's hard hitting, high powered style - deliver full, musical responses across a wide volume spectrum.
For more information on the Cymbal Pack, click HERE.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
According to some tweets from both Rush sound engineer Richard Chycki and Scarlet Sins vocalist Sylvya NuVynska, Alex Lifeson has apparently contributed to the musical score for the upcoming film The Double, starring Topher Grace, Martin Sheen and Richard Gere among others. According to the movie info at IMDB, The Double is about "A retired CIA operative is paired with a young FBI agent to unravel the mystery of a senator's murder, with all signs pointing to a Soviet assassin." IMDB also indicates that the musical score is by John Debney.TweetRichard Chycki's Tweet: "Soundtrack for Richard Gere movie 'Double' done and in the can, including the groovy out credit piece. Well, our part any way ..."Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Sylvya NuVynska's Tweet: "Sang and wrote lyrics for the outro song for the new Richard Gere movie The Double coming out soon...written and recorded by Alex Lifeson & Richard Chycki. I'm excited to see it in the theatre..such a cool experience. :)"
Some new details, including pre-ordering information in the U.S. is now available for the April 5th release of Rush's 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures.TweetRUSH's "Moving Pictures" celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a spectacular "Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition" via Mercury/UMe. The reissue of this seminal album on April 5, will be available in two formats: (1) a digitally remastered CD plus DVD and (2) a digitally remastered CD plus Blu-ray. For this Deluxe Edition, the DVD and Blu-ray discs will feature the album and three bonus music videos, "Tom Sawyer", "Limelight" and the previously unreleased clip "Vital Signs", in both a stunning 5.1 Surround Sound mix supervised by the band's Alex Lifeson using the original multi-tracks and in newly remastered stereo from the original analog master tapes.Pre-Ordering links are below:
Both DVD and Blu-ray formats will boast the 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo audio in 96kHz/24-bit high-resolution audiophile playback which offers 256 times more resolution than CD audio, providing the listener with the closest experience you can have to what the artists hear in the studio. The DVD is playable on both DVD-Audio and DVD-Video players, the latter players will include Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and PCM stereo playback. Blu-ray discs will also feature DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound in addition to 96kHz/24-bit PCM 5.1 Surround Sound and stereo.
The "Moving Pictures" experience has never sounded better or been more moving. Also included in the package is an extensive gallery with previously unreleased photos from the original recording sessions, new liner notes by renowned music journalist David Fricke and 30th-anniversary artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme.Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/DVDIn celebration of this historic release, Cygnus-X1.Net will be giving away 10 copies of the Deluxe Edition of Moving Pictures over the course of the next three months. Details on the give-away will be revealed soon.
Moving Pictures 5.1 - CD/BD
In a continued celebration of the launch of the Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess, Gibson has posted a list of the Top 10 Alex Lifeson Guitar Moments.Tweet"...Then we have guitarist-extraordinaire Alex Lifeson, who has carved out his own estimable and indelible niche in the pantheon of guitar heroes. In a band known for its intricate detail and complex musical landscapes, Lifeson?s guitar work is the paintbrush that completes the portrait..."Think you know what made the cut? You may be surprised at what made the cut - and more so - what didn't. Check out the complete list via this LINK.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for the link.
Rush's documentary may have not taken home a Grammy award last week, but it was honored with a Golden Reel Award in the "Best Sound Editing Category for Feature Documentaries".
The award was presented at The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles. No word on who, if anyone involved in the production of the documentary, was on hand for the ceremony.
Additional information on the awards ceremony is available HERE.
Up next for the documentary are the Juno awards on March 27th and its nomination for Music DVD of the Year.
There are some new details surrounding the release of the 5.1 remastered version of Moving Pictures, which is due out on April 5th. Both the DVD and BD package will include two discs. The first disc is the standard version of Moving Pictures while the second disc includes the 5.1 remastered version of each track, plus three bonus tracks.Tweet
According to some details available at Amazon, the bonus tracks will be remastered videos of:Tom Sawyer (Music Video - 5.1 & Stereo)Pre-ordering of either package is still not available in the United States, but for those of you in either Canada or the United Kingdom, you can now pre-order either set. Here are the links:
Limelight (Music Video - 5.1 & Stereo)
Vital Signs (Music Video - 5.1 & Stereo - Previously Unreleased)MP 5.1 DVD (Canada)There are some addition details straight from Richard Chycki available in the comments section of this new piece. Thanks Rich! Also thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for sending me the track info.
MP 5.1 BD (Canada)
MP 5.1 DVD (United Kingdom)
MP 5.1 BD (United Kingdom)
Gibson Guitars has published another interview with Alex Lifeson where the discussions centered around The Time Machine Tour, progress on Clockwork Angels, the re-mixing of Vapor Trails and more. In the interview, Alex indicates that Clockwork Angels is progressing along nicely and that the album will likely contain eight or nine songs:TweetWell, you know, we had six songs written. Those two were the two we decided to record just prior to the tour start, around this time last year. Since then, Geddy and I have been writing. We've been writing for the last couple of weeks and I think we've got the makings of another song. Pretty close. Some other snippets of ideas. Once we get back into the writing full-steam in the next week or so, with all those bits and pieces, I'm sure we'll be able to get at least another song or maybe two. In which case, I think we're looking at eight or nine songs as the magic number.Alex then reveals that the band is looking at a potential Spring 2012 tour to support Clockwork Angels:You know, our intention was to get into the studio and record as soon as that brief tour ended, but that didn't quite happen. So we're back from this tour in July. We'll take a short break in the summer, start recording in September and hopefully have the new album out for the start of the next tour, which would be in the spring of 2012.Click HERE to read the entire article, which has some interesting insight into the thought-process behind the remixing Vapor Trails.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Last week we reported that Rush's Moving Pictures was being remastered and remixed into 5.1 Surround Sound. According to a posting at MusicTap, the tentative release date is now set for April 5th, 2011.Tweet
In addition to the release date, the MusicTap states that MP 5.1 will be offered in two packages, including a CD/DVD set, and a CD/BD (Blu-Ray) set.
No word on what extras, if any, the BD disc may contain.
Pre-Ordering for the MP5.1 is not available yet.
For more information on MP 5.1, check out Richard Chycki's blog.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
Rolling Stone Magazine may not have much love for Rush, but the magazine's readers apparently do. In a recent poll, Rolling Stone asked its readers to select the best drummers of all time. Neil was ranked #3, coming in behind John Bonham and Keith Moon.TweetNeil Peart: To Rush's army of fans any name at the top of this list other than Neil Peart is surely sacrilegious, though it's likely that Peart himself would be more than happy to see his name at Number Three - right beneath Bonham and Moon. Of course, no Rush concert is complete without a Peart drum solo. Here's one from Frankfurt Germany in 2004.Click HERE to view the rest of the drummers selected.
Thanks (again) to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
DW Drums has just released an exact replica of Neil Peart's "Time Machine Tour" Snare Drum. From the site:TweetCreated to commemorate Neil Peart's latest drum set creation, "The Time Machine", each snare is an exact recreation of the drum Neil plays on tour. It's not a signature snare drum, but rather a collectable reproduction. The 6.5x14" Collector's series North American Maple shell with VLT (Vertical Low Timbre) technology provides optimal crack, warmth, bottom end and sensitivity. The drum is painstakingly finished with copper leaf-applied graphics and hand airbrush work. Custom copper hardware completes the look. Also standard is a MAG throw-off system with 3P butt plate, 3.0 True Hoops, True Tone snare wires and DW Heads by Remo USA. Available for a limited time only.Click HERE for more information and a high-resolution image of the snare.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Wendy Cosman Parlee has designed thousands of signs, logos, banners, and murals. She started her custom graphics company Creative Advertising 24 years ago.Tweet
But a recent project for Sabian endorser and Neil Peart has to be one of the most unique.
Parlee designed Peart's steampunk-style cymbals for Rush's 2010/2011 Time Machine tour.
"This is probably a once in a lifetime kind of deal," Parlee admitted. "I do my magic here, Sabian does their magic in the vault, then Neal does his magic on stage."
Read more about Wendy's creative process in the article Project Promises to be One of the Most Unique.
Gibson Guitar recently ran a poll of the Top 50 Riffs of all time. Inexplicably, no Rush tunes were among those selected, though there are some thoughts about why this occurred. Regardless of Rush's omission from the poll, Alex Lifeson was asked by Gibson to select his favorite riff of all time:"Well, I would say there are two that are enduring," said Lifeson. "One would be 'Satisfaction,' 'cause that was the first time I heard anything on a guitar that just blew me away. You know, the distorted sound and a simple riff, but it had so much power and it was slick and it was sexy and it had all that stuff. And even when I hear it now, maybe it's because I make that connection to my youth, it still does that to me."As it turns out, Alex nailed the top two selected riffs from the poll.
"And 'Smoke on the Water,'" he continued. "My God, everybody in the world recognizes and knows that riff and knows how to play it. So, I'd have to say those two would be at the top of that list."
You can read more about Alex's choices via this LINK.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Update (02.14.2011): For those of you who missed the pre-telecast, here's a like to a YouTube Video where Rush and the other nominees for the Long Form Music Video category are announced. Thanks to RushFanForever for passing along the link.
Rush have been nominated seven times for a Grammy Award over the course of their career; however they have yet to win the elusive award. Tonight, their documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Long Form Music Video.
Unfortunately, the award went to The Doors documentary When You're Strange by Tom Dicillo, video director; John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter Jankowski & Dick Wolf, video producers.
As mentioned earlier, the band wasn't on hand for the awards ceremony, though the documentary's filmmakers, Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, were.
Despite the 'loss', congratulations still are warranted for the band, their management team and Sam and Scot for producing an exceptional film; one that Rush fans the world over will cherish for years to come.
As we reported back in December, the critically acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Long Form Music Video.
The awards ceremony will take place this weekend and according to an article that just appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, none of the members of Rush are expected to attend the ceremony in person:Canadian documentary filmmakers Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen have the chance this weekend to help the veteran Toronto rock trio Rush finally nab their first Grammy Award.You can read the entire article via this LINK.
But the directors of "Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage" warn that the band members won't be there in person at Sunday's gala.
"We tried to bring the band and (drummer) Neil (Peart) said the last time he came to the Grammys - he's only been once - it was the worst day of his life," McFadyen said during a party at the Canadian consul general's residence on Thursday.
"So he said he's never coming again."
The ceremony will air at 8:00pm EST on CBS however the Best Long Form Music Video category will be awarded prior to the show during a pre-telecast. Streaming of the pre-telecast will be available at www.grammy.com.
For more information on the Grammy Awards, click HERE.
As many people doubtless know by now, former THIN LIZZY guitarist, noted session player, and blues rock icon Gary Moore passed away last week of a Heart Attack while vacationing in Spain. Classic Rock Revisited posted some tributes to Gary which includes an entry from Alex Lifeson:"I was very saddened to hear the news of Gary's death. We toured together in the 80s and I remember him as a soft spoken, gentle man with a quick smile. His influence as a guitarist is undeniable and his purity of playing and passion will live on in all of us who love the instrument he so cherished."Gary Moore is also credited with intoducing Rush to Peter Collins; the producer behind Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, Counterparts and Test for Echo.
Thanks to reader RushFanForever and Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
ChartAttack has posted their list of the Thirteen Great Songs About Space Travel where Rush's Countdown from Signals came in at the #4 spot. From the entry:4. Rush's "Countdown"Rounding out the top 3 are:
Turn it up a little. A little more. Just crank it. You wouldn't think that Geddy Lee narrating a 1980s NASA launch would be this exciting, but there it is.3. Beastie Boys' "Intergalactic"Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
2. I Mother Earth's "One More Astronaut" and of course...
1. David Bowie's "Space Oddity"
An article posted on Goldmine, the world's largest marketplace for collectible records, CDs, and music memorabilia covering rock & roll, blues, country, folk, and jazz, takes up the argument as to why Rush should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The article, titled For the Rock Hall, No 'Rush' To Get It Right and written by Phill Marder highlights many of the reasons why Rush should be inducted, but I think the following extract hits the nail squarely on the head:The Hall of Fame seems to go out of its way to recognize the obscure, including some who can barely sing or play their instruments, while rejecting many who demonstrate the highest proficiency in their recordings and stage performance. Rush consists of three virtuosos who have dazzled - and continue to dazzle - fans in the studio and on stage for close to 40 years, proving even those ridiculously proficient on their instruments can rock.Well said, Mr. Marder.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
VH1 Classic Rock Nights is doing a special broadcast from the West Coast this week and host Eddie Webb will be chatting with Alex Lifeson on Wednesday, February 9th (tonight!).
They'll be chatting about the upcoming tour, the Grammy nomination for Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (Grammy's are this Sunday) and other exciting things the band is working on. Tune in!
For more information, visit: www.vh1classicrocknights.com or on FaceBook at VH1 Classic Rock Nights.
Neil Peart has posted another update to the News, Weather, and Sports section of this website. This entry, titled Talking Drums in Death Valley has Neil discussing two exciting projects. The first we learned about earlier; a new book from Neil titled Far and Away: A Prize Every Time. We've now learned more about this book in that it will be a compilation of previously posted "News, Weather, and Sports" segments from Neil's website:I was engaged with that adventure, another big project was filling my day's a new book. I have long wanted the stories I write for this department to be 'dignified' and made permanent by appearing in print, and at last I made it happen.In addition to the book, Neil is working on another instructional drumming DVD that drummers and non-drummers alike would enjoy:My dream would be to create a show that even non-drummers would enjoy watching, and now, thinking ahead to the coming months, it will be exciting to see all of those parts, from the rehearsal studio, the live stage, and Death Valley, edited together into what we hope will be an entertaining and instructive program. The working title is Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance.Some preliminary work on the DVD was taking place during the 2010 leg of the Time Machine Tour, including the complete filming of the Saratoga Springs, NY show back on July 23rd:In April, 2010, the Hudson Music crew joined me at Drum Channel in Oxnard, California, and filmed several days of my rehearsals for the Time Machine tour. In July they filmed an entire Rush show, in Saratoga Springs, New York, with supplementary 'drum-cams' on me. They also captured the soundcheck and pre-show warmup, when I did a bit of talking to the camera, as I had during the Drum Channel filming in April. However, we would need to shoot some more 'talkie bits' to go before each of the songs from the live show, explaining about special problems or challenges in a particular song, and technical highlights.You can read the entire entry via this LINK. Thanks to reader Charles Eckhardt for passing along the news.
Update (02.11.2011): Article: Rich Chycki Sculpting Sounds With Sonnox For Rush
We've known for some time now that Rush's back-catalog of albums under Universal (formerly under Mercury Records - 1974 through 1987) were going to be part of a major reissue campaign sometime in 2011 (though an exact release date(s) are still pending). Not much is known about the nature of this reissue, however speculation about a potential remix in 5.1 Surround sound was thought to be a possibility.
We've just learned from a posting from Richard Chycki's blog that Rush's Moving Pictures will definitely get the 5.1 Surround Sound treatment:Ok, so the word is out. I've been in the studio for last month remixing the original Moving Pictures CD in 5.1 surround. I finished tweaks on Red Barchetta yesterday. It really was an amazing experience to spread the original tracks of such a classic CD into the 3D word of surround. (The car speeds off, goes behind and banks a sharp right in rear BTW). The listening experience is drastically enveloping and coupled with songs and performances that epitomize this band, it's definitely a great time to re-discover Rush.Sounds pretty exciting! Hopefully we'll get word from Richard and/ or the band about any potential plans to treat the rest of Rush's back-catalog to a 5.1 remix.
After discussion with the band, the goal here was to pay serious homage to the production of the era so a considerable amount of time was spent researching and working through effects etc. that matched the original but would fare well in the 5.1 world. And of course, placement was also a critical issue. I'm pleased with the results and Alex Lifeson was pretty blown away when he came in to listen to the finals.
So enjoy and more to come shortly!
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Update (02.04.2011): Richard Chycki just updated his blog about the remixing efforts of Vapor Trails:"A while back, I re-mixed One Little Victory and Earthshine from Rush's 2002 release Vapor Trails to be included on their 2009 release Retrospective 3. The re-mixes were very well-received so the band has decided to let me move ahead and re-mix the remainder of the CD. To put rumors to rest, there was no re-recording or performance correction done on the first two tracks and that will continue for the remainder of the CD. The reason 'new' details may seem to have appeared in those songs is due to the fact that I listened to the multitracks and interpreted the mix structure without first analyzing the original [deliberately] - so tracks either muted or turned down in the original mixes may shine through differently (the acoustic guitars in Earthshine might be a good example of this). As well, the same technical tweaks will continue for the remaining songs and I still will not have a buss limiter on the mix set to stun. In any case, both the band and I are really excited to re-visit Vapor Trails and hope you'll all enjoy the re-mix."
Ever since the release of their 'come-back' album Vapor Trails in 2002, fans have been urging the band to remix the songs to address all of the sonic issues.
In fact shortly after being released, there was a great in-depth article written on the sonic woes of Vapor Trails. A copy of the article can be read via this LINK. (Thanks Eric from Power Windows).
Now, according to an article that appeared in Classic Rock Magazine, Rush is finally going to improve Vapor Trails:Talking exclusively to Classic Rock, guitarist Alex Lifeson revealed: "We were never happy with the production. Perhaps we should have taken more time over the record. But now we've got the chance to improve things. There will be no re-recording, just a remix".Two songs off of Vapor Trails (One Little Victory and Earthshine) were previously remixed and re-released on the compilation album Retrospective 3 back in 2009. Most fans appreciated the remix, but the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) changes to the songs didn't sit well with others. In any case, it will be interesting to hear the "new" Vapor Trails once it's released.
However, at this time, a release date has not been set for the remixed version.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
Rush are no strangers to the Juno Awards; the Canadian equivalent to the American Grammy Awards. This year, Rush alongside producers Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Pegi Cecconi, Noah Segal, Shelley Nott and John Virant have been nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Best Music DVD of the Year.
The other nominees include:
This Movie is Broken (BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE)
The Lost Tapes (BUCK 65)
Céline-Tournée Mondiale Taking Chances Le Spectacle (CELINE DION)
The Virtual Haydn (TOM BEGHIN)
The awards ceremony will air on March 27th. Rush have also been nominated for a Grammy for their documentary, with that awards ceremony airing later this month (February 13th).
Thanks to reader RushFanForever for breaking the news.
Rush have finally announced the Vancouver Date for the upcoming 2011 Leg of the Time Machine tour. As expected, the band will be playing the Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 30th.
Tickets will go on sale February 4th with pre-sales for Rush.com members and AMEX front of line now underway.
The closing video from the Time Machine Tour dates, titled I Still Love You, Man, featuring Rush alongside Jason Segel & Paul Rudd, was recently (and officially) posted online at FunnyOrDie.Com.
You can also watch the video below.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
We are now just two short months away from the launch of the 2011 Leg of the Rush Time Machine Tour. And as fans in the Vancouver area of Canada continue to patiently wait for Rush to confirm a date in their area (A Vancouver date was originally listed on June 30th but has since been removed from Rush.Com), other fans are taking advantage of the various presales that are still ongoing for many of the other North American dates.
Before getting into some of the notable news stories of the last couple of days, I wanted to announce the winners of the 2010 Holiday Rush Contest. James Bushman of Rock Falls, Illinois took home the second-place price; a DVD copy of the Classic Albums: 2112 and Moving Pictures documentary. Jason Plummer of West Chester, Ohio took home the grand prize package. Congrats to both winners, and thanks again to everyone who entered!What better way to end this segment than with another quick video - this time it's one of Alex in drag from his appearance in Trailer Park Boys - Countdown To Liquor Day. Click HERE to watch the clip. Thanks (I think...) to reader RushFanForever for passing along the link.Rush Featured in New Progressive Metal Book: A new book from by Jeff Wagner titled Mean Deviation: Four Decades of Progressive Heavy Metal is now available and includes a section on Rush.Revered former Metal Maniacs editor Jeff Wagner analyzes the heady side of metal in this exhaustive narrative history of a relentlessly ambitious musical subculture. Beginning with the hugely influential mid-1970s efforts of Rush and King Crimson, Wagner unfurls a huge tapestry of sounds and styles, including Queensryche, Fates Warning, and Dream Theater; extreme prog pioneers Voivod and Celtic Frost; Norway's post-black metal avant garde acts Ulver and Arcturus; and the 1990s global movement that spawned Ayreon, Pain of Salvation, and others.You can purchase the book via this LINK or read more about the book HERE.
Fighting a tide of tradition and conservatism, progressive metal has proven to be one of the most viable, malleable forms in all of modern music; here its preeminent scholar tells the tale.
Thanks to reader RushFanForever for passing along the news.Rush Sightings in New Canadian Indie Film Kankered: Reader Nick Szostakiwskyj recently told me that a new Canadian Independent film titled Kankered contains multiple Rush references. You can see two Rush posters in the following images | images.
Here's the 'Story' about the film: Alex, Trent and Marc have been best friends since preschool. Marc meets Lea and his life starts to change. The band of three becomes a band of two and Alex and Trent don't like it. However, when they discover that Lea isn't who she appears to be, separating Marc and Lea becomes priority one..
A YouTube video of the trailer is also available at this LINK.C. J. Ramone on Rush and the RRHOF: Should Rush be included in the 2012 induction list for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Punk Rocker C. J. Ramone, the bassist for punk rock group The Ramones, thinks so. Check out this video of C.J. discussing his appreciation of the band. Thanks to reader Dana Locatell for passing along the news.
Coming May 1st is Neil Peart's fifth full-length book. Titled Far and Away: A Prize Every Time, the 260-page book covers Neil's tour travels and life experiences over the last few years. Here's the official blurb from Amazon.Com:Following in the tradition of Ghost Rider and Traveling Music, Rush drummer Neil Peart relates nearly four years of band tours, road trips, and personal discoveries in this introspective travelogue. From the ups and downs of a professional artist to the birth of a child, this revealing narrative recounts 22 adventures from rock's foremost drummer, biker enthusiast, husband and father. Both playful and insightful, Peart's love of drumming and the open road weaves throughout the stories as Neil explores horizons that are both physical and spiritual, sharing his observations about nature, society, and the self. Full-color photos round-out this tour of the open road that will resonate with Rush fans and motorcycle enthusiasts alike.You can pre-order the book via Amazon.Com at this LINK.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
Back in November, during Neil Peart's last update to the News, Weather, And Sports section of his website, Neil asked Rush fans to make a donation of a single dollar (or more) to the Chilean Red Cross to help in the aftermath of the Chilean Miner Rescue. Neil committed to match all donations.
According to a recent update on Neil's official site, Rush fans stepped up and donated $5,000. Here's the story from Neil himself:When we first posted this story, we asked readers to make a donation - even one dollar - to the Red Cross of Chile. The motive came from the story itself - because Brutus and Our Eponymous Founder were traveling in South America (between Brazil and Argentina) when the 33 miners were miraculously rescued, and they were powerfully moved by witnessing the event on live television. A few days later, the band performed in Santiago, Chile, dedicated the song - Stick It Out - to the miners, and showed a photograph of 'Los 33' on the rear screen.Echoing Neil's words -- well done, everybody!
The Chilean Red Cross - Cruz Roja Chilena - had organized the above-ground facilities for the rescue, though their resources were already strained by the terrible earthquake in February of 2010. The staff here at neilpeart.net- Our Eponymous Founder, designer Greg Russell, and the manager over at Bubba's Bar 'n' Grill, Brutus- decided we wanted to help.
So we thought we?d try something new: ask the readers to help us help. And people stepped up - Big Time!
Over 2,000 people made donations, many of them more than the "suggested minimum," and within a little over a month, almost $5,000 had been raised.
Our Eponymous Founder volunteered to match that amount - and we are all very proud to present this check to Cruz Roja Chilena.
We would also like to give kudos to Andres Gutierrez and the rest of the staff at The Red Cross in Calgary for arranging to get the funds directly to Cruz Roja Chilena. They can surely use all our help.
Well done everybody!
Rush have just announced a dozen more tour dates for the 2011 leg of their Time Machine Tour. The dates, situated mainly on the west coast and southern regions of the U.S. will run throughout June. In addition to the announcement, pre-sales for six of the shows begin tomorrow, January 19th. Below is the complete announcement from Rush:RUSH.com will be announcing the remaining Time Machine Tour dates this Tuesday, January 18th!Check out the Tour Section of the site to see the complete list of the 2011 Tour Dates.
However, seeing as 6 of the shows will go up for pre-sales starting THIS WEDNESDAY, January 19th at 10 AM (local) through Friday, January 21st at noon - we wanted to ensure this email got to you in time to be ready!
As usual - rush.com members will have access to pre-sales for 2 days prior to the general on-sales (along with CITI® card members for US/Live Nation shows).
In order to alleviate multiple emails to you, know that whenever a pre-sale password may be needed for this group of shows, the password will be BU2B.
SHOWS ON-SALE THIS WEEK:
The following shows will have pre-sales that begin this Wednesday, January 19th at 10:00 AM (local) through Friday, January 21st at noon for rush.com members.
CITI® card members will also be able to access pre-sales Jan 19-21 from 10:00 AM to 5pm (local).
The general on-sale will begin January 24th at 10:00 AM Local.
June 10 - New Orleans @ Arena
June 12 - Austin @ Frank Erwin Center
June 14 - El Paso @ Don Haskins Center
June 16 - Phoenix @ US Airways Center
June 20 - Los Angeles @ Gibson Ampitheatre
June 22 - Los Angeles @ Gibson Ampitheatre
The following shows will go on sale the following week with more details to be posted - Greenville, San Diego, Las Vegas, Concord, Portland, and Seattle!
Remember:
RUSH FAN CLUB TICKETS can be purchased at rush.musictoday.com
Please note Rush Fan Club tickets are ALL PRE-SALE OFFERS. Reserve the best seats in the house now through our special fan pre-sale. Pre-sales only last three days, and only certain cities/dates are currently available for pre-sale, more pre-sales added each week. Check back if you don't see your date. At the end of your ticket purchase, you will have the opportunity to pre-order exclusive Rush Fan Club merchandise - including the popular $8 Rush tour tag, which will ship with tickets. The Rush Tour tag is a wearable, collectible keepsake with an image of the band on the front and all of the dates of the tour on the back.
In addition, when you order tickets and the Exclusive merch bundle you will be automatically entered to win a meet and greet with members of the band at your show (one winner plus guest per city). Please note if you choose the Music Today fan pre-sale package, to access ticket pre-sales you must first register for the fan community. Registration is FREE. You will have to register with the Music Today site BEFORE completing your ticket purchase so we suggest you do this before the on-sale window opens at 10AM local time. RUSH: TIME MACHINE PACKAGE can be purchased at http://www.ticketmaster.com/Rush-tickets/artist/807344
The Time Machine Package includes:
* One premium, reserved ticket located within the first 15 rows of the stage
* Copy of "Rush - Classic Albums - 2112 and Moving Pictures" DVD (the making of "2112" and "Moving Pictures")"
* Caravan/BU2B" CD single
* Specially Designed Tour Shirt (exclusive design, available to ticket packages only)
* Exclusive Tour Poster (numbered, limited)
* Official Time Machine Tour Program
* Set of Official Rush Guitar Picks
In the US, Citi® cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets through Citi's Private Pass® Program beginning January 19th in select markets. For complete presale details visit http://www.citiprivatepass.com.
Please make sure to check rush.com for all the latest ticket links and details!
The 2011 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show is currently underway at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Gibson Guitar has revealed the new "Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess" guitar at the show.
According to reports, the guitar "will apparently include a a piezo pickup, allowing the player to switch from electric sound to acoustic, as used live on Driven, Half The World, Presto, etc.".
Though introduced at the show, Gibson has yet to make any official announcement on their website, so pricing and availability is not known at this time.
Click HERE for a larger sized view of the guitar.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for passing along the news.
Guitarist Magazine recently conducted an interview with Alex Lifeson regarding the 2011 leg of the Time Machine Tour, his gear, and a look into the future. Some notable items from the interview:It's a new step for you to record and release two new songs - Caravan and BU2B - ahead of recording a whole album, and you're also playing them both live. Are you planning to reappraise them when you go back to work on the album?Click HERE to read the complete interview.
"Well I think it would only make sense to have a go at them and see if it develops in any way. They will develop in the course of a tour and it's interesting how much they've changed from the very start of the tour. And you don't think you've don't anything different to them but the feel has changed and maybe the ferocity with these two particular songs.
"It'll be interesting to have another whack at them. It's an easy thing that once you've been playing a song for close to a year, you go in and record it. We don't ever really do that so I'm eager to see what happens with it."
Is the steam punk imagery from the Time Machine tour going to carry over to the next album?
"It is kind of unplanned but at the same time it lends itself to it, the imagery of where we're going. But after you make a record you have a much better idea of where you want to go with it and this may all seem like the past then, this whole approach. But I don't know, it's a lot of fun to develop those ideas for a tour and see where it goes. And it starts with the album - we'll have a much better picture once we get into that."
Is the plan now to take a break after this tour then think about releasing the next album in 2012?
"Originally the plan was to get back into writing and then recording this year but this tour was so successful with the demand for us to carry on and play a little bit longer. So we played with the ideas and as we got closer to the end of the tour we realised we were going to get a lot of push to continue it. And we wanted to, we didn't think we were going to have quite as much fun as we've had with it.
"The whole idea of doing Moving Pictures and not sharing it, particularly in the UK, was a real concern of ours. So Ged and I will get back to writing in the new year. We'll get through the Christmas holidays and start writing through January and February. We only have two or three more songs that we feel we need for the album. So we can start reworking the material and get it in great shape. Then we'll prepare for the tour in March, finish in July, take the summer off then start work in earnest in September."
Update: According to a Facebook posting by Rob Heydon (pictured right with Alex), Lifeson will play the role of Dr. Figg in the film. Also, the complete title of the film is 'Ecstasy: Three Tales of Chemical Romance'. Thanks to RushFanForever for providing the additional details!
Alex Lifeson, the actor, will be appearing in a new independent film called Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy, which has just finished shooting.
According to an article on the film:Called "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy," the film stars Vancouver-born Kristin Kreuk of "Smallville" fame as Heather, who leaves her husband (Toronto native Dean McDermott) and dives into Scotland's drug-filled rave scene of the 1990s.Though not cited in the article, Alex does appear in the accompanying photo and is listed in the credits on the film's official Facebook page.
Scottish actor Adam Sinclair (who is Kiefer Sutherland's step-son-in-law) plays Lloyd, her love interest who's also caught up in the nightclub world of dance, drugs and dealers.
Other cast members include Scottish star Billy Boyd ("Lord of the Rings"), Nova Scotia's Stephen McHattie and Toronto funnyman Sean Cullen. Welsh also makes a cameo, which he recently shot in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.
Air drummers unite!
That's one of the messages of "Adventures Of Power," an indie film which chronicles the adventures of air-drummer extraordinaire Power (played by filmmaker Ari Gold) and contains a cameo from Neil Peart along with a slew of Rush references.
The film will finally be getting a DVD release on January 25th, 2011.
To celebrate the release, Ari Gold will be running a fundraiser/auction to support music education via VH1 Save the Music, which will feature drums from Ringo Starr, Neil Peart, Lars Ulrich, Marky Ramone, Ween, Weezer, Judas Priest, Dresden Dolls and many more. For more info visit adventuresofpower.com.
You can pre-order your copy of Adventures of Power via Amazon.Com at this LINK.
The film's official trailer can be viewed below.
Welcome to 2011, everyone and Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that we are now just a short 101 years away from the year 2112 and exactly 13 months away from February 1st, 2012 or '2/1/12' (Thanks Daria!). Seriously, I hope this new year is a safe, happy and prosperous for all.
Before getting into some of the latest news tidbits on Rush, I wanted to let everyone know that the 2010 Holiday Rush contest is now over. Two winners (grand prize and second prize) have been selected at random and contacted. Once I hear back from and verify their entries, I will post the winning information. For the nearly one thousand of you who entered, thank you so much!
Now on to some Rush news ...Finally, I'll leave you all with an interesting mash up of Rush and The Beastie Boys that was created by Jay Braun at MelodyLanes and submitted by reader Daria Debuono. Watching this video earlier this morning while nursing a New Year's Eve hangover/headache was a 'treat' to say the least :-)2112 Named One of the Greatest Concept Albums of All Time: Gibson Guitar recetnly posted an article on their website titled Pretentious? Moi? The 10 Greatest Concept Albums of All Time. Coming in ahead of Pink Floyd's The Wall and taking the #9 spot was Rush's classic 2112. Here's what they had to say about album:Prog-rock and heavy metal were fused more brilliantly than ever on this conceptual effort, which proved to be Rush's breakthrough album. Spanning one full album-side, the 20-minute title track presented a harrowing portrait of a world in which individual expression is crushed at every level. Alex Lifeson's metal riffs gave the music a hard edge that distinguished it from the flighty tendencies of Rush's British prog-rock counterparts. Today, many of the album's themes seem prescient.The Who's Tommy took the top spot in the list.Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage #2 Selling Music Video of 2010: Yahoo! Music's "Chart Watch" is reporting that the award-winning Rush documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage was the #2 best-selling music video of 2010, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and the best-selling overall for a rock band, with 118,000 units sold.
Among others, the Rush documentary beat out U2's, 360 Degrees At The Rose Bowl, which has been out for 31 weeks versus 26 weeks for R:BTLS.Time Machine Tour Ranked 26th North American Tour of 2010: Rush made another "best of" list in 2010 with their Time Machine Tour. According to Pollstar's Top 50 North American Tours, the North American (US and Canada only) leg of the Time Machine Tour ranked #26 during 2010, gross $26.4 million.
The average tickets sold during the Time Machine Tour was 10,640 while the total tickets sold came in at 372,407. Average gross per show came in at $754,808.The Devil Can Ride: The World's Best Motorcycle Writing: Rush fans know about Neil Peart's love of riding motorcycles, particularly during Rush tours. A new book from Lee Klancher called The Devil Can Ride: The World's Best Motorcycle Writing features a section contributed by Brian Catterson who rode with Neil throughout the U.S. during the Vapor Trails tour.
From a review of the book:Then there's Brian Catterson's Rockin' and Rollin' ... Rollin' ... Rollin', where Catterson shares his story of riding with Rush's legendary drummer Neil Peart from concert to concert during the band's Vapor Trails tour and where Catterson's appreciation of Rush's body of work as an ardent fan is obvious.You can purchase a copy at Amazon.Com via this LINK.
Once again, Happy 2011, all!
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