Rush

I was introduced to the musical trio named Rush in 1981 by my brother. He brought home their Moving Pictures album and had me lie on the floor of our bedroom in between the stereo speakers. That was it, I was instantly hooked and they’re the reason I still play music today–always inspiring me. In 2002 I won an on-air radio contest and they gave me front row tickets and meet and greet passes. My wife and I were able to briefly meet and take a photo with Alex and Geddy. Neil famously did not do those kinds of things with fans in his later years, he was too shy and said they were awkward. They’re still my favorite band and this year marked my 16th and 17th concerts I’ve attended of theirs; I estimated it at 20 until I went back with the aid of setlist.fm and looked at which shows I actually attended. Can you tell I’m a huge fan?

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The dates I saw them and tour apparel I might have.

Grace Under Pressure 5-28-84 – San Diego, CA
Power Windows 2-3-86 – San Diego, CA
Hold Your Fire 2-1-88 – Phoenix, AZ 2-3-88 – San Diego, CA
Presto 4-5-1990 – San Diego, CA
Roll The Bones 1-20-92, San Diego, CA 6-6-92, Las Vegas, NV
Counterparts 2-7-94 – San Diego, CA
Test For Echo 5-7-97 – San Diego, CA
Vapor Trails 11-10-02 – Manchester, NH
Snakes & Arrows 6-27-07 – Mansfield, MA 7-11-08 – Manchester, NH
Clockwork Angels 9-7-12 – Manchester, NH
R40 6-23-15 – Boston MA	(No shirt?! WTF?)
Fifty Something 9-12-26 – Boston, MA 9-14-26 – Boston, MA

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“All the highlights of that headlong flight
Holding on with all my might
To what I felt back then
I wish that I could live it all again”

Neil Peart, from the song “Headlong flight”

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From John to Neil to Anika

Earlier this year, Alex and Geddy announced they were going back on the road after 10 years and 6 years since Neil passed away, with Anika Nilles, the female, virtuoso jazz-fusion drummer from Germany along with Loren Gold on keyboards and backing vocals. Some people did not like that decision. I am not one of those people for a few reasons. This is the third drummer Alex has had in the band, along with Geddy who is the second bass player after Jeff Jones, lest we forget. John Rutsey famously played on Rush’s 1974 debut album as well as their pre-album single “Not Fade Away” b/w “You Can’t Fight It”. Neil Peart came on board on Geddy’s 21st birthday in 1974.

When we listen to their All The World’s A Stage live album, we can hear Neil playing John Rutsey’s parts on the first album’s songs clearly in Neil’s own style, WAY more embellished than John played. I don’t hear anyone complaining about that. I’ll admit when I play a song that I didn’t write, I’ll always throw a little of my own personality into it. I would think that’s what most musicians do, unless you’re in a tribute band–which Anika is not. She was chosen to play these songs and not be a robot or Peart-clone. If I choose to go see a Rush tribute band, I do want to hear the songs note for note–that’s the whole idea. I’ve seen quite a few live and online and quite enjoy them, if they’re done well–and most are. If Alex and Geddy chose another drummer instead of Anika such as Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater or Danny Carey from Tool, do you think either one of those guys would play Neil’s parts exactly like the album? I don’t think so. If Slim Jim Phantom from the Stray Cats showed up with his snare, 1 kick drum and 1 cymbal, he’d play the parts like himself. That what musicians do.

My drummer friend said this about Anika a week or so after she was announced to be their drummer: “She’s good but at the end of the day she’s a cover drummer doing what most tribute drummers have done for years…” Is she though? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Another friend of mine seems to think Alex and Geddy should not go back on the road as Rush, especially with another drummer AND a keyboard player and recently sent me a video clip of the remaining members of Led Zeppelin on Letterman in 2012 where Jimmy Page remarked “There was no way with the amount of work and mutation that had gone on with those songs, that we could say to another drummer, ‘could you learn this bit and learn that bit?’ It just wouldn’t work.” Different band, different circumstances. Neil walked away and retired while Geddy and Alex were not ready for retirement. Alex was having health issues but he changed his mind, it’s his band and his songs too. They’re allowed to do that. Geddy told Alex “THEY’RE YOUR SONGS, MOTHERF—ER! IT’S NOT A TRIBUTE BAND!” (From guitar.com)

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Do I Have A Favorite?

It’s so hard to have a favorite when a band has such a vast catalog like Rush does. Twenty studio albums plus there are some solo Alex Lifeson guitar pieces and Neil’s drum solos on the (TWELVE?!) live albums, so lots to choose from. For me, they tend to be the longer, more instrumental songs like Xanadu, La Villa Strangiato and The Camera Eye. Of course I’ll go through a phase and just listen to an album and try to pay attention to only Alex’s guitars, or Neil’s drumming or Geddy’s bass playing, or even the use of Taurus Bass Pedals. Lots to choose from. I did put together a ranking of sorts, because it was so hard to put a solid number rank on the albums so I decided to make a graphic representation of my ranking: more favorite ones at the top and less favorite toward the bottom. It’s hard to do and something that might be close to the top for me one year might fall and something else take its place. So without further ado, here’s my ranking from 2020. (Now that I’m looking at it, I may redo it!)

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Rush In Boston Photo Dump – Fifty Something Tour

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-Terry, September 2026