Post by Dark Star on May 22, 2020 13:38:18 GMT
This thread is for all things pertaining to the legendary Canadian trio Rush, its core lineup consisting of Geddy Lee on bass, Alex Lifeson on lead guitar, and from the second album onward, the legendary Neil Peart on drums as well as the band's primary lyricist.
Beginning as a proto-Zeppelin knockoff on their first album with drummer John Rutsey, the addition of Peart saw Rush quickly ascend to far higher artistic and commercial planes; Peart's thoughtful, often philosophical lyrics combined with the band's expert musicianship and Lee's ball busting high singing made them one of the most beloved rock bands of all time. Their breakthrough run of albums, consisting of 1976's 2112, 1977's A Farewell to Kings, 1978's Hemispheres, 1980's Permanent Waves and 1981's monumental Moving Pictures, is one of the most devastatingly consistent streaks of quality records in all of rock and roll.
The 1980s' and 1990s' saw them experiment drastically with their sound, moving to a more synth-heavy sound for Signals, Grace Under Pressure, and Power Windows, as well later experimenting with folk, world music, funk-rock and even grunge on later works such as Presto, Roll the Bones, and Counterparts.
From 1998 to 2002, Rush took a long break as Neil Peart recovered emotionally and spiritually from the devastating losses of his wife and daughter in a ten month period; they came back with a full fledged return to their hard hitting power rock / prog roots with Vapor Trails and Snakes and Arrows. Their tours during this time were also some of their strongest, with the introduction of many older songs as well as their hilarious pre-set introduction videos featuring celebrity cameos and the band generally having a good time poking fun at themselves.
In 2012, they released their final album, Clockwork Angels, to great acclaim as many considered it their best work in 30 years. The next year, they finally were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2015, Rush embarked on their landmark 40th anniversary tour, revisiting their catalog in reverse chronological order and playing several songs for the first time in as much as 35+ years. This turned out to be the final Rush tour due to Neil Peart's fledgling health. In 2018, Lifeson confirmed in an interview that Rush were officially retired for good.
On January 7 of this year, Neil Peart passed away after a hard fought battle with brain cancer, leaving behind a legacy that inspired millions. Alex and Geddy are inactive at the moment but have floated the idea of working together again; whatever happens, Rush have already carved an indelible legacy in the world of rock and roll that will no doubt live on for generations to come.