I have been on a non-stop Rush binge. It started on a Friday night this past September after my first week at work for a new employer after a 6-month job search after a layoff. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted and my wife was on a business trip that week. So I ordered Chinese and watched "Beyond the Lighted Stage". As dumb as it sounds, it was like being at home with family. It grounded me after a scary first week of work doing a different kind of work in a wholly unfamiliar environment for the first time in 17 years. After the documentary, I went to bed, but watched a graphic novel version of 2112 while in the dark. I **still** couldn't believe how powerful it sounded. And then Geddy's memoir came out and that was it. All the themes we all know now: an uncompromising creative spirit combined with a strong work ethic and a unique, shared vision all coalescing at the right time and the right place. Alex the improvisational genius. Geddy the polymath obsessive perfectionist. Neil the Wise and Powerful. Happiest binge, even though it's driving my wife nuts!
Funny to hear them throw the term "heavy metal" around so much in 1977. They are considered "prog" now, and AFtK is a very "proggie" album, but we never used the term back then, it's a new thing. Back then we considered Rush to be VERY much Hard Rock, especially if you ever saw them live. Very aggressive.
Their first 4 albums are metal albums for that time. They went through phases. Basically the first 4 albums saw them transition from a fairly conventional blues influenced hard rock / 70s metal band to what became known as "progressive metal" (a mix of metal and progressive rock). The next 4 albums saw them move further in a proggy direction for the first 2 of the 4 (A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres), while the last 2 of the 4 l (Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures) saw them removing the proggier elements as the classic Rush sound emerged, which was neither prog nor metal but has obvious influences from both. I don't really find the band very interesting after Moving Pictures; in my opinion they basically became a synth pop/yacht rock band in the mid to late 80s and early 90s. They improved a bit on their last few albums but never really did anything essential after Moving Pictures.
Another great RUSH interview....thanks for posting it. It's amazing that Ged was about 23, maybe 24 and speaking so carefully and clearly. If you wanted a cerebral interview back in the day, Geddy Lee was your man. If you wanted a casual interview back in the day, Lerxst was your man......scuse me....Alex Lifeson. And you know that would be a fun place to be at; and you'd be cracking up with everything coming out of his hysterically funny mouth! BUT...... if you wanted a "watch my backside as I run to my Beamer-cycle" interview back in the day, then Neil Peart was definitely your man. Now I must go listen to Xanadu. And at the same volume I have always enjoyed it at.....since 78. Ciao from Long Island, NY
@@beholden1663 unfortunately I was turned onto RUSH after Farewell to Kings was released. The lead guitarist in my 2nd band basically forced this Zep head to blast some black wack which was only around that year....and listen to Xanadu for the 1st time. Obviously I instantly became a huge RUSH fan in that 10 minute mind blowing song. In 79 when they played the Palladium, I was broke and out of a job. So my 1st of 29 shows was on the Moving Pictures tour.
I think the single biggest "leap" they ever took, album to album, was 2112 to A Farewell to Kings. Some people would say Moving Pictures to Signals but I don't think so, you can definitely hear shades of what's to come in MP, especially Side 2.
@@diedlisteningtorush I remember rushing out to the store to buy both HYF and Presto on the first day they came out, we cherished everything from Rush and yet still didn't know how lucky we were back then.
When Geddy talks about the fans expecting them not to stand still, that would be seriously test a few years after this interview. I, personally, found value and quality in all of their stages right up to the end. There are stages I prefer more than others but that is just me. To give a clue of my preference, Xanadu and Subdivisions are my top two Rush songs. The sad part for me is after Vapor Trails. That was some excellent music but I think Geddy had been losing his vocal skills. (Just my opinion) I’ve seen them at least once every tour from Hold Your Fire to Feedback. I’d be glad to hear other stories and opinions. Ged Bless
it was never a mainstream hit. it was popular with rush fans as the years went on, not when this album came out. they still had a small following until moving pictures. rush fans forget that rush after 2112 was still not really that popular and were still and opening act all the way through till moving pictures. thats when things changed for them. before that even with the small success of 2112. they were not that big like ppl think of them in the 80s and 90s
Rush became global superstars after Moving Pictures especially with the song Tom Sawyer which got finally got the same radio play and notoriety. Prior to that they were under the radar and not really that well known. For example I’m from the big city of New York and they did not even play the major league of Madison Square Garden until “ Moving Pictures” tour. Before that they played in the smaller arena “ The Palladium” New York City. Furthermore by 1982’s “Signals “ they were popular enough to play 2 sold out shows at Madison Square Garden. Fans who were into Rush prior to “Moving Pictures “ were very fortunate to see a young talented band not yet at its peak popularity.
The "prototypical Rush album"? "The band we've grown to know and love over the years"? This is 4 years after they broke into the U.S. - makes me laugh.
The hard work this band put in was ridiculous. Such an inspiration
I have been on a non-stop Rush binge. It started on a Friday night this past September after my first week at work for a new employer after a 6-month job search after a layoff. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted and my wife was on a business trip that week. So I ordered Chinese and watched "Beyond the Lighted Stage". As dumb as it sounds, it was like being at home with family. It grounded me after a scary first week of work doing a different kind of work in a wholly unfamiliar environment for the first time in 17 years.
After the documentary, I went to bed, but watched a graphic novel version of 2112 while in the dark. I **still** couldn't believe how powerful it sounded. And then Geddy's memoir came out and that was it. All the themes we all know now: an uncompromising creative spirit combined with a strong work ethic and a unique, shared vision all coalescing at the right time and the right place. Alex the improvisational genius. Geddy the polymath obsessive perfectionist. Neil the Wise and Powerful.
Happiest binge, even though it's driving my wife nuts!
This is the A farewell to kings world premier from August of 1977 on CHUM-FM.
Thank you for sharing this gem! Even in his 20’s Ged is just as thoughtful, and articulate as he is in his 60’s
and 70's!
Wow! Definitely rare and oh so much enjoyed. Geddy even as a young man speaks as a competent musician and composer.
Xanadu is my favorite Rush song.
Hemispheres is my favorite Rush album by far! Thank you for providing this.
It's got nothing to do with Hemispheres. It's an interview regarding the debut of A Farewell To Kings.
@@b.g.5869 Stop being a jerk.
Absolutely love this! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
Funny to hear them throw the term "heavy metal" around so much in 1977. They are considered "prog" now, and AFtK is a very "proggie" album, but we never used the term back then, it's a new thing. Back then we considered Rush to be VERY much Hard Rock, especially if you ever saw them live. Very aggressive.
Geddy almost embraces the term
Their first 4 albums are metal albums for that time.
They went through phases.
Basically the first 4 albums saw them transition from a fairly conventional blues influenced hard rock / 70s metal band to what became known as "progressive metal" (a mix of metal and progressive rock).
The next 4 albums saw them move further in a proggy direction for the first 2 of the 4 (A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres), while the last 2 of the 4 l (Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures) saw them removing the proggier elements as the classic Rush sound emerged, which was neither prog nor metal but has obvious influences from both.
I don't really find the band very interesting after Moving Pictures; in my opinion they basically became a synth pop/yacht rock band in the mid to late 80s and early 90s.
They improved a bit on their last few albums but never really did anything essential after Moving Pictures.
I remember knowing Rush as "Progressive rock" by 1984
Another great RUSH interview....thanks for posting it. It's amazing that Ged was about 23, maybe 24 and speaking so carefully and clearly. If you wanted a cerebral interview back in the day, Geddy Lee was your man. If you wanted a casual interview back in the day, Lerxst was your man......scuse me....Alex Lifeson. And you know that would be a fun place to be at; and you'd be cracking up with everything coming out of his hysterically funny mouth! BUT...... if you wanted a "watch my backside as I run to my Beamer-cycle" interview back in the day, then Neil Peart was definitely your man. Now I must go listen to Xanadu. And at the same volume I have always enjoyed it at.....since 78. Ciao from Long Island, NY
Cool I’m also from Long Island. Did you see Rush live at The Palladium in New York back in 1979 for “Hemispheres “tour?
@@beholden1663 unfortunately I was turned onto RUSH after Farewell to Kings was released. The lead guitarist in my 2nd band basically forced this Zep head to blast some black wack which was only around that year....and listen to Xanadu for the 1st time. Obviously I instantly became a huge RUSH fan in that 10 minute mind blowing song. In 79 when they played the Palladium, I was broke and out of a job. So my 1st of 29 shows was on the Moving Pictures tour.
Geddy was 25-26
I think the single biggest "leap" they ever took, album to album, was 2112 to A Farewell to Kings. Some people would say Moving Pictures to Signals but I don't think so, you can definitely hear shades of what's to come in MP, especially Side 2.
Don't forget moving pictures to signals
GUP and Power Windows sound like 2 completely different bands
I’d say the biggest jump is either from Hold Your Fire to Presto, or from the debut to Fly by Night
@@diedlisteningtorush I remember rushing out to the store to buy both HYF and Presto on the first day they came out, we cherished everything from Rush and yet still didn't know how lucky we were back then.
@@stevenmilstead9437 definitely way up there with my favorites.
I miss those album launches on Chum FM
Awesome, thanks for sharing
When Geddy talks about the fans expecting them not to stand still, that would be seriously test a few years after this interview.
I, personally, found value and quality in all of their stages right up to the end. There are stages I prefer more than others but that is just me. To give a clue of my preference, Xanadu and Subdivisions are my top two Rush songs.
The sad part for me is after Vapor Trails. That was some excellent music but I think Geddy had been losing his vocal skills. (Just my opinion)
I’ve seen them at least once every tour from Hold Your Fire to Feedback.
I’d be glad to hear other stories and opinions.
Ged Bless
“Ged bless”…absolutely love that. Mind if I nick it from you?
@@fever_spike Sure thing. I lifted it from someone else myself.
one of my favorite Rush albums - great to hear about the backstory
The video description is completely wrong.
This is about the album before Hemispheres, 1977's A Farewell To Kings.
No mention of the biggest hit, Closer to the Heart!
it was never a mainstream hit. it was popular with rush fans as the years went on, not when this album came out. they still had a small following until moving pictures. rush fans forget that rush after 2112 was still not really that popular and were still and opening act all the way through till moving pictures. thats when things changed for them. before that even with the small success of 2112. they were not that big like ppl think of them in the 80s and 90s
@@trenken Not true in the North East of the United States. NY and Boston was on top of it.
Rush became global superstars after Moving Pictures especially with the song Tom Sawyer which got finally got the same radio play and notoriety. Prior to that they were under the radar and not really that well known. For example I’m from the big city of New York and they did not even play the major league of Madison Square Garden until “ Moving Pictures” tour. Before that they played in the smaller arena “ The Palladium” New York City. Furthermore by 1982’s “Signals “ they were popular enough to play 2 sold out shows at Madison Square Garden.
Fans who were into Rush prior to “Moving Pictures “ were very fortunate to see a young talented band not yet at its peak popularity.
something that comes with age. aah yes age 25 yrs
Is that Rick Masters interviewing?
Computer mix-down in 1977...who knew!
I caught that too lol
Cygus X-1 , which is in continuation.
Interview by D.J Rick Ringer?
Great interview, but this is about A Farewell to Kings, not Hemispheres.
Yes, title says interview just Prior the Hemispheres.
@@kennyplay5982 "1978 Rare Interview! Rush "Hemispheres" recording details"
@@kennyplay5982 Kenny can't read....
"Pretty soon you'll be rivaling Emerson Lake and Palmer" LOL
whats wrong with that? ELP was AWESOME. somewhat popular for a while. i think rush would have taken that as a compliment
They passed ELP with Fly By Night
ELP was more globally popular than Rush in 1977. But that changed in the 1980’s especially with Moving Pictures
@@trenken ELP barely had melody..mostly lots of banging and pretending to be awesome..but a few highlites hear and there
He says they used computers. Way back then.
Yes pretty facinating really. Thanks for watching! I just posted a new ultra rare interview from 1976
ua-cam.com/video/sZlLLoStzro/v-deo.html
@@SingularVisionProductions Your link doesn't work
@@Darrin.Crawford Sorry about that. It has been fixed. Thanks for watching(or in this case, listening)!
@@SingularVisionProductions Oh no thank you for fixing. Gonna listen now.
Happens with age lol
11:15
The "prototypical Rush album"? "The band we've grown to know and love over the years"? This is 4 years after they broke into the U.S. - makes me laugh.
HEMISPHERES??????????
Not a thing about Hemispheres here
They got a little fat, haha. Look at
their pics, they are sooooo skinny
As usual, you can hear the saliva sloshing around in Geddy's mouth.
what the heck