I read an article con rolling stone magazine where the lead editor finally made a story that had been requested of him for years: put together the best band using all of the best musicians ever. Before he began his exploration he said “ I have to disqualify any member of Rush, as that was unfair to any other artists.”
I have never seen anything positive written about Rush or its members by anyone from Rolling Stone. It seems like the acknowledgment for Ayn Rand (2112) triggered their leftist wrath even though Neil and the rest of the band were far from right wing. The writer you refer to must have missed the memo.
Yeah, as much as I WANT to believe this, I'm gonna need proof fam. And before you tell me to "Google it", I've already tried and found nothing, so that excuse won't work.
My favorite Rush lyrics about change is "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, The more the things change, the more they stay the same." Circumstances
@@josephoneil3093 Ther is a little difference between Prog Rock and Prog Metal... King Crimson maybe, Yes and Floyd no...Maybe you can add Iron Butterfly...But no Genesis,....
Rush covers the period 1974-2015…this song is from the 80’s. Their last studio album was a masterpiece as well, released in 2013. Great lyrics, incredible musicianship, 3 humble guys, most loyal fanbase on earth 😎.
Hey, thank you for mentioning that their last album (Clockwork Angels) was a masterpiece...most people don't even know of it...to me, it's their best work. Even Geddy Lee said in an interview that Clockwork Angels, to him, was their best work.
To our perception of time, that seems like about 41 years, but it’s actually more like 177. After all, they didn’t stop until about 39 years after 2112. 😉
Welcome to the rabbit hole! Great reaction. So glad that you’re interested in seeing live performances because they were masterful live and there are so many recordings. I’m sure it’s been mentioned a million times but definitely check out “Xanadu” from their 1981 concert film, “Exit…Stage Left”. Also, “Working Man” from the Time Machine Tour in Cleveland, 2011 and the instrumental, “YYZ” from Rio.🔥🔥 I miss them so much. I became a fan around 1983ish and had the pleasure of seeing them live fifty times between 1984 and 2015. They were the best.
This is Canada's greatest export. It's fun to see someone's first reaction to Rush. These are widely considered three of the strongest musical talents in rock music. Neil is by far the best rock drummer , period. Geddy is one of the best bass players on the planet and Alex is arguably one of the best guitarists. The miracle is that these three found one another to form a band.
Aye, Alex never gets the kudos he deserves. I think it's because he fits what he does into the music rather than just displaying Look-At-Me virtuosity. Emppu Vuorinen from Nightwish is the same in that regard.
You’ve opened a real avenue there with Rush. Ask most rock drummers about Neil Peart and so many will comment on his talent as both drummer and lyricist. The whole band are an example of keeping striving to improve on the last time. Continuous improvement, try not to repeat, but as 3 friends, have fun doing what you do! They are a band who can’t be singled out by one song. They also have fans who are more than willing to share how awesome they were.
So glad to see you are officially on the Rush train. Welcome aboard!!! Best 3-piece band ever in talent, musicianship, and sheer command of the stage in live performances. Yes, only 3 men play this complex music!!! I would definitely recommend the following list in continuing upon your Rush journey: - Working Man...Live in Cleveland from 2011 (original studio version was in 1974-75)...The pure sight and performance of three men in their upper 50's take control of the stage and perform and play like they were in their 20's. - Xanadu...Live Exit Stage Left (1981) - Limelight - studio version - YYZ...Live from Rio - Subdivisions...studio version or live version - Freewill...studio version or live version - Best Intro Ever (leading to Spirit of Radio) - Live version - Closer to the Heart (Live 1998) - Different Stages - 2112 - Also...Neil Peart's Drum Solo Live from Frankfurt. He was The Professor...a pure musician and percussionist...not just a "drummer". Be ready to be amazed by not just his hand coordination...but most of all his foot coordination...basically his feet being completely individual in timing from his hands during segments of this performance. He was the master of this technique.
Full disclosure when this song came out in 81 and I played it for my mom she was in the kitchen at the time and the part were Geddy sings the lyrics: And what you say about his company Is what you say about society Catch the witness, catch the wit Catch the spirit, catch the spit. My mom who lived the tv show Three’s Company thought he said DeWitt as in Joyce DeWitt who played Janet Wood. I told my friends at school and we laughed for days in that!
I remember in college we had a guy on our dorm hall who LOVED Rush, played them constantly at high volume. I hated Rush for years, not because of Rush, but because of that guy (which is ironic, because I actually liked him, just not how he deafened us on the daily). And then they came up on my streaming music at work YEARS later and I was like, "What is this? This is GREAT! Oh shit, this is Rush?" So good. Thank you for doing some Rush, DuckQueen :)
For a live Rush song you might try Xanadu from their Exit, Stage Left concert. Also at some point you may want to check out one of Neal Peart's live drum solos. They're more like songs unto themselves than just a drum solo.
The Neil Peart solo I'd recommend would be from the 2004 Frankfurt show. The big-band music is triggered by pads in the drum kit. And it's worth noting that Neil himself was dissatisfied, as he was getting over the flu that night. Yes, that performance was Neil _off his game._
Great reaction. You can see what they all do live on the song Xanadu. Live from exit stage left. Probably the greatest live rock performance ever. That is not hyperbole! Rush army back me up here!
The drummer is Neil Peart. He passed away 2 years ago. Up until his death they performed live. Checkout the Neil Peart drum solo from their concert in Frankfurt. It will blow you away.
The name comes from Bill Rutsey who was the older brother of their original drummer. He was amused by the fact that they were rushing to come up with a name before their first gig. It was short and to the point so they went with it.
Three of the most phenomenally talented musicians to ever grace the planet. Their style of prog rock is what's referred to as "thinking man's rock". Thanks for your reaction.
This is the tip of an enormous iceberg. For some amazing live performances, check out: YYZ Live in Rio Working Man Live in Cleveland Xanadu - exit stage left 1981 (Stick Hits remaster) Between the Wheels live in Germany (Stick Hits remaster) Great Reaction
Watch the live version of 'Xanadu' from the Exit Stage Left live set. They've been described as the 'smallest ever symphony orchestra', and that shows it off to best effect.
Discovered them around 1982 at 14. Subdivisions. I related so much to that whole vibe. Still love them 40+ years later and was lucky enough to see them 5 times.
There is a documentary movie made about Rush from 2009(?) - "Rush: Beyond the lighted stage"... Here's a gist of their career & music: Formed by high school kids in a Toronto suburb named Willowdale in Canada, Rush started playing school events before they were allowed to play the Toronto clubs and bars in 1971 w/ Geddy Lee (vocals & bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and John Rutsey (drums)... they were huge fans of British bands like Led Zeppelin, Yes, Genesis, Cream... and they wanted to play that brand of hard rock music w/ time changes and intricate arrangements. The trio recorded their first album in 1974 and released it independently... It got airplay in Cleveland, Ohio of all places - the song 'Working man' ... was often mistaken for a Led Zeppelin song. Rush was signed to Mercury Records in the USA in '74, but were advised to replace drummer John Rutsey, who had health issues... He wasn't in good shape for a demanding tour. Neil Peart (drums) joined in '74 and did the first Rush tour... Lee & Lifeson discovered that Peart was an avid reader and opinionated, so they asked him if he could write Rush's lyrics... Peart accepted the challenge and would write a bulk of the band's catalog of lyrics, starting w/ the 2nd album 'Fly by night' in 1975... His drumming skills would become legendary and his lyrics would inspire millions of fans worldwide. However, after 3 studio albums, Rush were destitute and desperate for a hit record by late '75... the band was not selling records or concert tickets going into 1976... Rush defied the demands of their record label and delivered their futuristic 4th album '2112'... and it generated enough fanfare to give Rush their first platinum record by 1977... Their newfound fame afforded more elaborate progressive rock records w/ intricate and demanding arrangements... But by 1978, Rush was burnt out and made a decision in 1979 to make a change. Inspired by the new electronic music called 'new wave'... Rush incorporated more keyboards and synthesizers into their sound - they wanted to make a fun record that wasn't as demanding to record or play live... In 1980, they released 'Permanent waves'... and scored a major radio hit 'The spirit of radio'... which was followed by their biggest album 'Moving pictures in 1981, which delivered hit singles - 'Tom Sawyer' ... 'Limelight' ... 'Red Barchetta'... 🔥🔥🤘🤘Rather than go for another rock record, Geddy Lee brought in more synthesizers and Neil Peart experimented w/ beats as the 1982 album 'Signals' took Rush into the 80's w/ a lighter, keyboard-oriented sound on the next few records. Guitarist Alex Lifeson stayed supportive in Rush, but was not happy w/ the 80's music which had his guitars in a secondary role... By 1989, Lifeson had enough of the keyboards and demanded the guitar make a comeback... Lee and Peart said, 'OK'. Rush reinvented their sound again in the 90's and brought back heavy rock w/ the 1993 album 'Counterparts'... By the 1996 album 'Test for Echo'... Rush was playing to the biggest crowds of their career w/ 3 hr sets. However, a tragedy would change the band forever... In 1997, drummer Neil Peart's daughter Selena Peart died in a car accident... Devastated by loss, Neil and his wife Jackie moved out of Toronto, but a year later, Jackie would pass away from cancer in '98... Neil Peart left to travel on his motorbike to heal from his losses and Rush went on hiatus as Peart would spend 2 years on his bike... By 2000, he had settled in California and remarried, but wasn't ready to work on music until 2001. Rush's 2002 comeback album 'Vapor trails' was their heaviest album and Neil Peart poured his anger and anguish into the lyrics and music, reflecting on his struggle to heal... Rush finally returned to perform on tour in '02 and capped off their 3 biggest career shows in Brazil... one being recorded for the 2003 live DVD & CD 'Rush in Rio'... The band celebrated their 30th anniversary w/ the 'R30' tour in 2004. Rush released a more focused and introspective album 'Snakes & Arrows' in 2007 and were touring successfully again... In 2008, original drummer John Rutsey passed away (R.I.P.) Rush celebrated the 30th anniversary of the album 'Moving pictures' by performing the entire record on the 'Time machine' tour in 2010/ '11... before returning w/ their final studio album 'Clockwork angels' in 2012 - a return to their 70's epic concept record format. Their 40th anniversary tour dubbed 'R40' in 2015 would be their last. In 2020, news broke that Rush drummer Neil Peart had passed away from brain cancer... Lee and Lifeson paid tribute to Neil Peart and had already insisted that there would be no Rush without any of the 3 members. Neil Peart was called 'The Professor' because of his intelligence and drumming skills... His legacy is also the poetry he expressed in Rush's lyrics that were often profound, humorous and creative.
Yes, that's Geddy on the mic, the keyboard and on bass. As for live performances, Rush is one of those bands that are as good live as they are in studio, you can pick any. as for songs, I'd suggest Subdivisions next.
This is in a recording studio recording the song. Somewhere in Quebec Canada, thus the snow, and of course the different take's on the playing of instruments. Live is out of this world crazy. Rock and Roll hall of fame. R.I.P. Neil Peart, Best Rock Drummer ever according to a lot of musicians.
Their live videos are pretty impressive; amazing what they are capable of reproducing live...Nice catch on Styx; the two bands shared a lot of the same sensibility, especially in their earliest days...
Enjoyed your reaction. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys 11 times between 1978 and 85. These guys do it all live as well. You can see it yourself on numerous live videos. I would check out Xanadu (1981), version, YYZ live in Rio and "Exit Stage left" version. This way you can see them young and older. I think you'll enjoy anything these guys put out. WIthout a doubt, the most talented band I have ever seen.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary
These guys are legends, RIP Neil Peart. I was younger than you when I discovered Rush, I would always steal my older brother's Walkman and cassettes and this happened to be one of the ones I risked getting into trouble to listen to because he would never willingly allow his little sis to use his Walkman so I had to be sneaky. I've been hooked on Rush since the early 80s. This is the kind of band that you put on headphones and just press play, no videos, just listen. There's a whole documentary out there called Time Stand Still.
The drummer is the lyric writer , with Rush be ready to expect the un expected with the music they write which made them one of the greatest live bands ever
Welcome to the rabbit hole of the best band of all time (imo). There are three of them. The lead singer is Geddy Lee, who also plays bass and keyboards (and as you mentioned he does it all at the same time). The drummer is Neil Peart, who was also the main lyricist for the band (he’s unfortunately no longer with us). The guitarist is Alex Lifeson, who’s also great but goes underrated compared to the other two. The three of them are widely regarded as some of the best to ever play their respective instruments. The amount of amazing songs in their discography is…about 99% of it. But for someone who’s newer to the band I recommend their radio hits like “Limelight”, “Spirit of the Radio”, and “Subdivisions”. In terms of live performances one of my personal favorites is “Xanadu” from their Exit Stage Left live album. Or a much later one is “The Garden” from their Clockwork Angels tour. That’s the last song on their last album.
In the '80s in particular, each guy was doing multiple things. Geddy, for example, sang, played bass guitar and keyboards, and triggered synth sounds, samples and sequences with his feet. You can also sometimes see Alex triggering the Moog Taurus pedal synth with his feet while playing guitar. Neil could also trigger synths, samples, etc. with the electronic drums he incorporated into his kit. These gentlemen were busy!
🤗 Subbed for Rush! 🙋🏾♀ May I suggest 'La Villa Strangiato" Exit Stage Left (since you like watching 🥁The Professor) ** Neil Peart Drum Solo Live in Frankfurt (Same reason) & 🤩 Working Man Live in Cleveland (to see why/how these 3 Dudes are so Influential). 🤭.... and because I want to see 🤯 your head explode 😳😮😬😳 as you digest what you will be witnessing. 😂😂 That's ALWAYS the funniest part to me! The 🤯 "How tf is this only 3 Guys?!?" look everyone gets. BONUS: Geddy thanks the audience at the end so you hear how high is speaking voice is! 🥰🐰
I'm getting so old!! You're probably 30yrs younger than me but it still blows my mind that this is that old and you don't know it. I just expect everyone to know this song. And you saw an absolute God behind the drums!!!
First of All it's from 1981. Rush started in 1968. They replaced the original drummer with Neil Peart in 1974. This was filmed at the famous Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec. This was a state of the art studio back in the 80's. Many top artist recorded there including David Bowie. From Permanent Waves through Moving Pictures which this track is from Moving Pictures all official video's were shot here-1980/1981. Geddy Lee is the vocalist, bassist and keyboardist. Well a lot of bands/groups sang falsetto back in the 1980's. Rush Xanadu from Exit Stage Left 1981. Rush ended it in 2015 on a 35 show tour called R40 to celebrate 40 years. The Drummer Neil Peart passed away in January 2020. They had plans to do a follow up album to A Clockwork Angels but by 2018 it was put out there that they were done as a band as Neil's health wasn't going to make it possible for him to do physically. The guitarist Alex Lifeson had issues as well with arthritis in his hands. This setting-Le Studio is no longer there. After it stopped operation in the 1990's squatters were constantly breaking into it and trashing it. Ultimately some squatters set it on fire and that was it. There is a whole documentary on it-ua-cam.com/video/AlKoy94itiw/v-deo.html.
Alex Lifeson on Moving Pictures: What we ended up with was, I think, some of the strongest and most enduring material that we’ve ever written ... [Tom Sawyer] was a refreshing arrangement. It didn’t follow the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus-middle-outro chorus thing ... The songs were good. They connected with a bigger audience. But there was also something about the sound of that record that resonated with people ... The whole vibe was fun. We’d gone from playing clubs and theaters and were now selling out big places. We were at that cusp of coming into our own ... The bottom line is, we’re very proud of Moving Pictures ... it still feels magical.
This is (one of) the bands that inspired all the bands that made us. It's arguably the greatest 3 piece band ever. Rabbit 🐇 hole warning ⚠️ are you ready? 19 studio albums, 167 songs, over 40 years of music 🎶 Bring it on! 🤘
Just to let you know, there is a HUGE rabbit hole of Rush material you could work through, should you choose to! And a HUGE and dedicated Rush Army of fans (including me) who will catch a whiff of your Rush reactions and come here in droves! 🤣
im a radar/radio technician, and i think one of my favorite songs is spirit of the radio. there are so many hidden secrets in that song in relation to how AM/FM radios work, lots of smooth time changes and what not, which im told is impressive but im not so verse on the actual musical aspect of it. but i can see how they where trying to represent sine waves and stuff in the notes.
I've been a Rush fan since 1976, yes I'm that old. Zanadu from "Exit stage left" will really help you understand why they all are such great and diverse musicians. Getty Lee will make you shake your head with all that he does on this song.
Agree with Bamafan below "Xanadu" from 1981's live double album "Exit Stage Left" - which is very illustrative of why they got termed the '3 man orchestra' in the mid to late 70's
These 3 guys are arguably the best at their chosen instrument of expertise: Geddy Lee on bass, Neil Peart on drums and Alex Lifeson on guitar. Peart is widely considered as _THE_ best drummer, _EVER._ I, personally think Geddy Lee is, without a doubt, the best bass player. Alex Lifeson is just as highly regarded as the guitar player. If you want a wild live performance, "YYZ" live in Rio is your video.
to agree with the other people commenting, yes RUSH has a deep 40 year catalogue. For a great later live video, there is "RUSH - The Greatest Intro Ever"......it is a live performance of blended hits mashed together seamlessly. A definite treat-I think it was recorded in 2003 or 2004
It's funny how you talk about how Geddy Lee's vocal range was high here, this was actually around the time when he started singing in a lower vocal registry. This was 1981, Geddy Lee in the 70s would wail like a banshee. If you want to see Rush at there prime live, check out Xanadu live from Exit Stage Left from 1981. Geddy and Alex both playing double neck guitars, Geddy also playing keys, it is peak Prog Rock Rush
Charis As you go through Rush's rabbit's hole from the band's 40 years before they officially retired from touring in 2015 after they celebrated their R40 tour (40th anniversary). Drummer, Neil Peart aka "Professor", wrote most of the Rush songs. Neil stated that out of all Rush songs; he said that "Tom Sawyer" is most difficult to drum. Sadly, Neil died in January, 2020 of Brain Cancer. His bandmates: Alex Lifeson, guitarist is retired, but he does some work on the side. Geddy Lee, Bassist, continue on some projects. Their live concerts are legendary.
I chuckled when you mention the song sounded 'witchy' to you. There is, in fact, a song off this album called "Witch Hunt" about prejudice and fear of others not like yourself.
I think most Rush would state that the live performance of “Xanadu” (Exit Stage Left tour version) is their signature live performance. Welcome to the epic, rewarding Rush rabbit hole!
Since you asked... If you want what I and many others consider to be Rush's greatest performance ever, see my recent upload which is a newly restored version I just worked on for a couple months 😃 (Xanadu live in Montreal). Great reaction!
This dropped during the springtime of my first year of high school 42 years ago, got a modest bit of hit-radio airplay for a spell, was an immediate staple in every jockboy's boombox (although it wasn't yet called that), and was pretty much a nailed-on instant classic ---the indelible breakdown from 5:12 stands as an eternal gift to generations yet unborn "The Spirit of Radio" dropped a year earlier and is worth a listen, and one could do worse than to sniff out on here a live take of "Closer to the Heart" from their live Exit... Stage Left album Oh, and that snow thing at the end: they're Canadian, eh... 🇨🇦
For live performances, "YYZ" live in Rio, from the live album Rush in Rio (2003), is a must ! You'll be amazed to see about 60.000 people dancing to a instrumental song !
Rush and Styx are both of the same era and both have been categorized as Progressive Rock. I've seen Rush live several times and they're one the favorite bands of my youth. 😁
I read an article con rolling stone magazine where the lead editor finally made a story that had been requested of him for years: put together the best band using all of the best musicians ever. Before he began his exploration he said “ I have to disqualify any member of Rush, as that was unfair to any other artists.”
I have never seen anything positive written about Rush or its members by anyone from Rolling Stone. It seems like the acknowledgment for Ayn Rand (2112) triggered their leftist wrath even though Neil and the rest of the band were far from right wing. The writer you refer to must have missed the memo.
I though Rolling Stone magazine hated Rush.
Yeah, as much as I WANT to believe this, I'm gonna need proof fam. And before you tell me to "Google it", I've already tried and found nothing, so that excuse won't work.
@@TheOnyxSpy Thanks for opening you mouth and providing nothing
@@KellyDaye And yet, you somehow managed to provide even less than me
"He knows changes aren't permanent, but change is" always gets me 😂
My favorite Rush lyrics about change is
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose,
The more the things change, the more they stay the same." Circumstances
One of the best lines in rock and roll history, IMO.
I love that line, it’s absolutely true
Mine too. GIves me shivers. My favorite Rush song (Usually) is The Camera Eye.
"only change is".
The best power trio ever and the best band to see live, the holy trinity of prog rock musicians. 😊
Triumph is a strong second
@@dougsmith4812 Animals as Leaders (no vocals) is an unbelievable 3 pc...just a lot of weird-ass songs...extremely prog-tech! Extremely.
Rush are the grandfathers of Prog Metal...👍🤘🎸🎤🎹 R.I.P. Neil Peart..🥢
Nowhere close my friend. Try King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd among others.
@@josephoneil3093 Ther is a little difference between Prog Rock and Prog Metal... King Crimson maybe, Yes and Floyd no...Maybe you can add Iron Butterfly...But no Genesis,....
I think Pink Floyd are the granddaddy of progressive rock. But I take your point. Awesome regardless
Rush covers the period 1974-2015…this song is from the 80’s. Their last studio album was a masterpiece as well, released in 2013. Great lyrics, incredible musicianship, 3 humble guys, most loyal fanbase on earth 😎.
Hey, thank you for mentioning that their last album (Clockwork Angels) was a masterpiece...most people don't even know of it...to me, it's their best work. Even Geddy Lee said in an interview that Clockwork Angels, to him, was their best work.
2012 with the first 2 songs released in 2010
To our perception of time, that seems like about 41 years, but it’s actually more like 177. After all, they didn’t stop until about 39 years after 2112. 😉
@@0okamino😂
Most loyal fan base on earth, except for the Swifties. :/
Welcome to the rabbit hole! Great reaction. So glad that you’re interested in seeing live performances because they were masterful live and there are so many recordings. I’m sure it’s been mentioned a million times but definitely check out “Xanadu” from their 1981 concert film, “Exit…Stage Left”. Also, “Working Man” from the Time Machine Tour in Cleveland, 2011 and the instrumental, “YYZ” from Rio.🔥🔥
I miss them so much. I became a fan around 1983ish and had the pleasure of seeing them live fifty times between 1984 and 2015. They were the best.
Time Machine Tour version of BU2B is the best part of that DVD.
This is Canada's greatest export. It's fun to see someone's first reaction to Rush. These are widely considered three of the strongest musical talents in rock music. Neil is by far the best rock drummer , period. Geddy is one of the best bass players on the planet and Alex is arguably one of the best guitarists. The miracle is that these three found one another to form a band.
An even greater miracle is that they stayed together for so long…
Aye, Alex never gets the kudos he deserves. I think it's because he fits what he does into the music rather than just displaying Look-At-Me virtuosity. Emppu Vuorinen from Nightwish is the same in that regard.
I was born and raised in the same area. I knew about them before they became famous.
You’ve opened a real avenue there with Rush. Ask most rock drummers about Neil Peart and so many will comment on his talent as both drummer and lyricist. The whole band are an example of keeping striving to improve on the last time. Continuous improvement, try not to repeat, but as 3 friends, have fun doing what you do! They are a band who can’t be singled out by one song. They also have fans who are more than willing to share how awesome they were.
Neil Peart was one of the BEST DRUMMERS EVER!!!!
Neil peart is definitely one of the best drummers.
Neil was the least talented of the 3
@@gnd111no he wasn't are you serious he wrote most of the music he was rush
The drummer was so fun to watch?? That's all the best drummer ever to pick up sticks gets recognized for?
Rush is one of those bands that never had a “prime”. They just kept getting better and better and better and better and better.
So glad to see you are officially on the Rush train. Welcome aboard!!! Best 3-piece band ever in talent, musicianship, and sheer command of the stage in live performances. Yes, only 3 men play this complex music!!!
I would definitely recommend the following list in continuing upon your Rush journey:
- Working Man...Live in Cleveland from 2011 (original studio version was in 1974-75)...The pure sight and performance of three men in their upper 50's take control of the stage and perform and play like they were in their 20's.
- Xanadu...Live Exit Stage Left (1981)
- Limelight - studio version
- YYZ...Live from Rio
- Subdivisions...studio version or live version
- Freewill...studio version or live version
- Best Intro Ever (leading to Spirit of Radio) - Live version
- Closer to the Heart (Live 1998) - Different Stages
- 2112
- Also...Neil Peart's Drum Solo Live from Frankfurt. He was The Professor...a pure musician and percussionist...not just a "drummer". Be ready to be amazed by not just his hand coordination...but most of all his foot coordination...basically his feet being completely individual in timing from his hands during segments of this performance. He was the master of this technique.
Rush is the result of cramming six extremely talented musicians into three guys.
The drum solo in this song is LEGENDARY 😊😊😊
Full disclosure when this song came out in 81 and I played it for my mom she was in the kitchen at the time and the part were Geddy sings the lyrics:
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit.
My mom who lived the tv show Three’s Company thought he said DeWitt as in Joyce DeWitt who played Janet Wood. I told my friends at school and we laughed for days in that!
I second “Xanadu” from exit stage left 1981 because it showcases they’re unbelievable talents. Also Working Man live from Cleveland is Stellar!!
I remember in college we had a guy on our dorm hall who LOVED Rush, played them constantly at high volume. I hated Rush for years, not because of Rush, but because of that guy (which is ironic, because I actually liked him, just not how he deafened us on the daily). And then they came up on my streaming music at work YEARS later and I was like, "What is this? This is GREAT! Oh shit, this is Rush?" So good. Thank you for doing some Rush, DuckQueen :)
That reminds me of a song by Sloan - "Its not the band I hate, its their fans"
That story is REMARKABLY similar to my own experience, freshman year.
Did you go to U of Md?? That annoying dude sounds like my brother Mike LOL!! Played Rush all the time at top volume!..
More Rush !!!
For a live Rush song you might try Xanadu from their Exit, Stage Left concert. Also at some point you may want to check out one of Neal Peart's live drum solos. They're more like songs unto themselves than just a drum solo.
Prepare to see this Xanadu suggestion a Lot ^^^^ .. and rightfully so!
The Neil Peart solo I'd recommend would be from the 2004 Frankfurt show. The big-band music is triggered by pads in the drum kit. And it's worth noting that Neil himself was dissatisfied, as he was getting over the flu that night. Yes, that performance was Neil _off his game._
Can't believe you haven't ever heard this song, hard to believe 3 guys from Canada make this much great SOUND
Probably one of the best drummer's ever!
RUSH, the feeling you get when you listen and watch this amazing power trio!
Great reaction. You can see what they all do live on the song Xanadu. Live from exit stage left. Probably the greatest live rock performance ever. That is not hyperbole!
Rush army back me up here!
The drummer is Neil Peart. He passed away 2 years ago. Up until his death they performed live. Checkout the Neil Peart drum solo from their concert in Frankfurt. It will blow you away.
Always hopeful, yet discontent, brilliant!
The name comes from Bill Rutsey who was the older brother of their original drummer. He was amused by the fact that they were rushing to come up with a name before their first gig. It was short and to the point so they went with it.
Geddy said during an interview that the first band he was in as a kid was called the Dusty Coconuts…I think Rush has a better ring to it.
Three of the most phenomenally talented musicians to ever grace the planet. Their style of prog rock is what's referred to as "thinking man's rock". Thanks for your reaction.
One of the great visuals on this planet is watching Geddy on the keyboards, singing and playing bass with his feet. Bless you Geddy, bless you.
This is the tip of an enormous iceberg. For some amazing live performances, check out:
YYZ Live in Rio
Working Man Live in Cleveland
Xanadu - exit stage left 1981 (Stick Hits remaster)
Between the Wheels live in Germany (Stick Hits remaster)
Great Reaction
My my what excellent taste you have in Rush videos! 😘
Watch the live version of 'Xanadu' from the Exit Stage Left live set. They've been described as the 'smallest ever symphony orchestra', and that shows it off to best effect.
Discovered them around 1982 at 14. Subdivisions. I related so much to that whole vibe. Still love them 40+ years later and was lucky enough to see them 5 times.
YYZ live in Rio is a great example of them live
Love the band ,love the reaction, love you Charis, keep on keeping on darlin.
There is a documentary movie made about Rush from 2009(?) - "Rush: Beyond the lighted stage"... Here's a gist of their career & music:
Formed by high school kids in a Toronto suburb named Willowdale in Canada, Rush started playing school events before they were allowed to play the Toronto clubs and bars in 1971 w/ Geddy Lee (vocals & bass), Alex Lifeson (guitar) and John Rutsey (drums)... they were huge fans of British bands like Led Zeppelin, Yes, Genesis, Cream... and they wanted to play that brand of hard rock music w/ time changes and intricate arrangements. The trio recorded their first album in 1974 and released it independently... It got airplay in Cleveland, Ohio of all places - the song 'Working man' ... was often mistaken for a Led Zeppelin song. Rush was signed to Mercury Records in the USA in '74, but were advised to replace drummer John Rutsey, who had health issues... He wasn't in good shape for a demanding tour. Neil Peart (drums) joined in '74 and did the first Rush tour... Lee & Lifeson discovered that Peart was an avid reader and opinionated, so they asked him if he could write Rush's lyrics... Peart accepted the challenge and would write a bulk of the band's catalog of lyrics, starting w/ the 2nd album 'Fly by night' in 1975... His drumming skills would become legendary and his lyrics would inspire millions of fans worldwide.
However, after 3 studio albums, Rush were destitute and desperate for a hit record by late '75... the band was not selling records or concert tickets going into 1976... Rush defied the demands of their record label and delivered their futuristic 4th album '2112'... and it generated enough fanfare to give Rush their first platinum record by 1977... Their newfound fame afforded more elaborate progressive rock records w/ intricate and demanding arrangements... But by 1978, Rush was burnt out and made a decision in 1979 to make a change.
Inspired by the new electronic music called 'new wave'... Rush incorporated more keyboards and synthesizers into their sound - they wanted to make a fun record that wasn't as demanding to record or play live... In 1980, they released 'Permanent waves'... and scored a major radio hit 'The spirit of radio'... which was followed by their biggest album 'Moving pictures in 1981, which delivered hit singles - 'Tom Sawyer' ... 'Limelight' ... 'Red Barchetta'... 🔥🔥🤘🤘Rather than go for another rock record, Geddy Lee brought in more synthesizers and Neil Peart experimented w/ beats as the 1982 album 'Signals' took Rush into the 80's w/ a lighter, keyboard-oriented sound on the next few records.
Guitarist Alex Lifeson stayed supportive in Rush, but was not happy w/ the 80's music which had his guitars in a secondary role... By 1989, Lifeson had enough of the keyboards and demanded the guitar make a comeback... Lee and Peart said, 'OK'. Rush reinvented their sound again in the 90's and brought back heavy rock w/ the 1993 album 'Counterparts'... By the 1996 album 'Test for Echo'... Rush was playing to the biggest crowds of their career w/ 3 hr sets. However, a tragedy would change the band forever...
In 1997, drummer Neil Peart's daughter Selena Peart died in a car accident... Devastated by loss, Neil and his wife Jackie moved out of Toronto, but a year later, Jackie would pass away from cancer in '98... Neil Peart left to travel on his motorbike to heal from his losses and Rush went on hiatus as Peart would spend 2 years on his bike... By 2000, he had settled in California and remarried, but wasn't ready to work on music until 2001. Rush's 2002 comeback album 'Vapor trails' was their heaviest album and Neil Peart poured his anger and anguish into the lyrics and music, reflecting on his struggle to heal... Rush finally returned to perform on tour in '02 and capped off their 3 biggest career shows in Brazil... one being recorded for the 2003 live DVD & CD 'Rush in Rio'... The band celebrated their 30th anniversary w/ the 'R30' tour in 2004.
Rush released a more focused and introspective album 'Snakes & Arrows' in 2007 and were touring successfully again... In 2008, original drummer John Rutsey passed away (R.I.P.)
Rush celebrated the 30th anniversary of the album 'Moving pictures' by performing the entire record on the 'Time machine' tour in 2010/ '11... before returning w/ their final studio album 'Clockwork angels' in 2012 - a return to their 70's epic concept record format.
Their 40th anniversary tour dubbed 'R40' in 2015 would be their last.
In 2020, news broke that Rush drummer Neil Peart had passed away from brain cancer... Lee and Lifeson paid tribute to Neil Peart and had already insisted that there would be no Rush without any of the 3 members.
Neil Peart was called 'The Professor' because of his intelligence and drumming skills... His legacy is also the poetry he expressed in Rush's lyrics that were often profound, humorous and creative.
Yes, that's Geddy on the mic, the keyboard and on bass.
As for live performances, Rush is one of those bands that are as good live as they are in studio, you can pick any. as for songs, I'd suggest Subdivisions next.
3 guys that were the most skilled musicians that rock and roll ever had in one band
This is in a recording studio recording the song. Somewhere in Quebec Canada, thus the snow, and of course the different take's on the playing of instruments. Live is out of this world crazy. Rock and Roll hall of fame. R.I.P. Neil Peart, Best Rock Drummer ever according to a lot of musicians.
Their live videos are pretty impressive; amazing what they are capable of reproducing live...Nice catch on Styx; the two bands shared a lot of the same sensibility, especially in their earliest days...
Enjoyed your reaction. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys 11 times between 1978 and 85. These guys do it all live as well. You can see it yourself on numerous live videos. I would check out Xanadu (1981), version, YYZ live in Rio and "Exit Stage left" version. This way you can see them young and older. I think you'll enjoy anything these guys put out. WIthout a doubt, the most talented band I have ever seen.
RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR!
With heart felt admiration and sincerity!
Gary
Im 74years old and like this band more and more everytime I hear them
These guys are legends, RIP Neil Peart. I was younger than you when I discovered Rush, I would always steal my older brother's Walkman and cassettes and this happened to be one of the ones I risked getting into trouble to listen to because he would never willingly allow his little sis to use his Walkman so I had to be sneaky. I've been hooked on Rush since the early 80s. This is the kind of band that you put on headphones and just press play, no videos, just listen.
There's a whole documentary out there called Time Stand Still.
The drummer is the lyric writer , with Rush be ready to expect the un expected with the music they write which made them one of the greatest live bands ever
If I were one of the 3 members I would want to play that song about 40 times a day! Sooo good! Love Rush. Saw them in Greenville years ago. Awesome!
Welcome to the rabbit hole of the best band of all time (imo). There are three of them. The lead singer is Geddy Lee, who also plays bass and keyboards (and as you mentioned he does it all at the same time). The drummer is Neil Peart, who was also the main lyricist for the band (he’s unfortunately no longer with us). The guitarist is Alex Lifeson, who’s also great but goes underrated compared to the other two. The three of them are widely regarded as some of the best to ever play their respective instruments.
The amount of amazing songs in their discography is…about 99% of it. But for someone who’s newer to the band I recommend their radio hits like “Limelight”, “Spirit of the Radio”, and “Subdivisions”.
In terms of live performances one of my personal favorites is “Xanadu” from their Exit Stage Left live album.
Or a much later one is “The Garden” from their Clockwork Angels tour. That’s the last song on their last album.
Check out Rush: 'Where's My Thing / There it is!" Live in Dallas. It's an instrumental with a bonus drum solo.
Xanadu live for sure...1981 Exit Stage Left concert. Nice review. Watched a few of your videos before this one, but subbing now, lol.
Tom Sawyer is perhaps one of the ten most iconic songs to ever be recorded by any band.
In the '80s in particular, each guy was doing multiple things. Geddy, for example, sang, played bass guitar and keyboards, and triggered synth sounds, samples and sequences with his feet. You can also sometimes see Alex triggering the Moog Taurus pedal synth with his feet while playing guitar. Neil could also trigger synths, samples, etc. with the electronic drums he incorporated into his kit. These gentlemen were busy!
One of, if not the best, live performances by RUSH.... Natural Science 1997 at the Molson Amphitheater. You can't go wrong with this one.
Watching Geddy Lee live singing, playing bass and foot synths at the same time to recreate the studio mix…. Is mesmerizing.
🤗 Subbed for Rush! 🙋🏾♀ May I suggest 'La Villa Strangiato" Exit Stage Left (since you like watching 🥁The Professor) ** Neil Peart Drum Solo Live in Frankfurt (Same reason) & 🤩 Working Man Live in Cleveland (to see why/how these 3 Dudes are so Influential). 🤭.... and because I want to see 🤯 your head explode 😳😮😬😳 as you digest what you will be witnessing. 😂😂 That's ALWAYS the funniest part to me! The 🤯 "How tf is this only 3 Guys?!?" look everyone gets. BONUS: Geddy thanks the audience at the end so you hear how high is speaking voice is! 🥰🐰
I'm getting so old!! You're probably 30yrs younger than me but it still blows my mind that this is that old and you don't know it. I just expect everyone to know this song. And you saw an absolute God behind the drums!!!
You just witnessed the best drummer ever 😊
Great band. Also great to see the old Le Studio in Quebec, Canada. Note the Eraserhead posters on the wall.
The Professor was one of the worlds greatest lyricists. He is missed.
you're awesome.. and pretty.. thanks for the reaction to the band that saved mylife
First of All it's from 1981. Rush started in 1968. They replaced the original drummer with Neil Peart in 1974. This was filmed at the famous Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec. This was a state of the art studio back in the 80's. Many top artist recorded there including David Bowie. From Permanent Waves through Moving Pictures which this track is from Moving Pictures all official video's were shot here-1980/1981. Geddy Lee is the vocalist, bassist and keyboardist. Well a lot of bands/groups sang falsetto back in the 1980's. Rush Xanadu from Exit Stage Left 1981. Rush ended it in 2015 on a 35 show tour called R40 to celebrate 40 years. The Drummer Neil Peart passed away in January 2020. They had plans to do a follow up album to A Clockwork Angels but by 2018 it was put out there that they were done as a band as Neil's health wasn't going to make it possible for him to do physically. The guitarist Alex Lifeson had issues as well with arthritis in his hands. This setting-Le Studio is no longer there. After it stopped operation in the 1990's squatters were constantly breaking into it and trashing it. Ultimately some squatters set it on fire and that was it. There is a whole documentary on it-ua-cam.com/video/AlKoy94itiw/v-deo.html.
The band "Yes" and Rick Wakeman stuff from the 70's huge influence in RUSH music!
Alex Lifeson on Moving Pictures: What we ended up with was, I think, some of the strongest and most enduring material that we’ve ever written ... [Tom Sawyer] was a refreshing arrangement. It didn’t follow the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus-middle-outro chorus thing ... The songs were good. They connected with a bigger audience. But there was also something about the sound of that record that resonated with people ... The whole vibe was fun. We’d gone from playing clubs and theaters and were now selling out big places. We were at that cusp of coming into our own ... The bottom line is, we’re very proud of Moving Pictures ... it still feels magical.
Geddy Lee is like a trinity of base, keyboards and vocals
This is (one of) the bands that inspired all the bands that made us. It's arguably the greatest 3 piece band ever. Rabbit 🐇 hole warning ⚠️ are you ready? 19 studio albums, 167 songs, over 40 years of music 🎶 Bring it on! 🤘
Just to let you know, there is a HUGE rabbit hole of Rush material you could work through, should you choose to! And a HUGE and dedicated Rush Army of fans (including me) who will catch a whiff of your Rush reactions and come here in droves! 🤣
P.S. If you want to see the three guys doing crazy stuff, the song Xanadu from the Exit Stage Left video (1981) would be a good choice!
I saw them during their Presto tour in the early 90s and remember them performed this along with YYZ from thesame album.
Rush...Oh Mamma mia..Amazing, Bellissima e Fantastica Charis
R.I.P. "The Professor", Neal Peart.... your favorite drummer's favorite drummer.
Great song, Great reaction👍
I'm listening to Neil Peart's "Far and Wide" on audiobook right now. Such a genius in many ways, not just drums.
This is the soundtrack of my youth. heard this band thousands of times and damn are they freaking good! RIP Professor. 🇨🇦
im a radar/radio technician, and i think one of my favorite songs is spirit of the radio. there are so many hidden secrets in that song in relation to how AM/FM radios work, lots of smooth time changes and what not, which im told is impressive but im not so verse on the actual musical aspect of it. but i can see how they where trying to represent sine waves and stuff in the notes.
It makes me happy to see a younger person learn RUSH
You have just witnessed one the best bands of all time
I've been a Rush fan since 1976, yes I'm that old. Zanadu from "Exit stage left" will really help you understand why they all are such great and diverse musicians. Getty Lee will make you shake your head with all that he does on this song.
RUSH.....To get a Rush of Energy/Head Rush 💨
One of the best tunes to wear headphones.
Agree with Bamafan below "Xanadu" from 1981's live double album "Exit Stage Left" - which is very illustrative of why they got termed the '3 man orchestra' in the mid to late 70's
That Eraserhead picture always gets me.
These 3 guys are arguably the best at their chosen instrument of expertise: Geddy Lee on bass, Neil Peart on drums and Alex Lifeson on guitar. Peart is widely considered as _THE_ best drummer, _EVER._ I, personally think Geddy Lee is, without a doubt, the best bass player. Alex Lifeson is just as highly regarded as the guitar player. If you want a wild live performance, "YYZ" live in Rio is your video.
to agree with the other people commenting, yes RUSH has a deep 40 year catalogue. For a great later live video, there is "RUSH - The Greatest Intro Ever"......it is a live performance of blended hits mashed together seamlessly. A definite treat-I think it was recorded in 2003 or 2004
I've seen them live, Geddy Lee plays keyboards, bass pedals and sings simultaneously!
It's funny how you talk about how Geddy Lee's vocal range was high here, this was actually around the time when he started singing in a lower vocal registry. This was 1981, Geddy Lee in the 70s would wail like a banshee.
If you want to see Rush at there prime live, check out Xanadu live from Exit Stage Left from 1981. Geddy and Alex both playing double neck guitars, Geddy also playing keys, it is peak Prog Rock Rush
Charis
As you go through Rush's rabbit's hole from the band's 40 years before they officially retired from touring in 2015 after they celebrated their R40 tour (40th anniversary). Drummer, Neil Peart aka "Professor", wrote most of the Rush songs. Neil stated that out of all Rush songs; he said that "Tom Sawyer" is most difficult to drum. Sadly, Neil died in January, 2020 of Brain Cancer. His bandmates: Alex Lifeson, guitarist is retired, but he does some work on the side. Geddy Lee, Bassist, continue on some projects. Their live concerts are legendary.
I chuckled when you mention the song sounded 'witchy' to you. There is, in fact, a song off this album called "Witch Hunt" about prejudice and fear of others not like yourself.
Thank you. Tons of live footage.
It’s obvious, You are highly educated , you you will appreciate Rush’s lyrics in most every one of their songs.
Rush was a band inspired by YES.
Anything live from Rush is great
Welcome to the magic of RUSH.
I think most Rush would state that the live performance of “Xanadu” (Exit Stage Left tour version) is their signature live performance. Welcome to the epic, rewarding Rush rabbit hole!
Rush is awesome, great video. :)
That's a big door you've unlocked......
Check out the drum solo he did in Germany. Supernatural skill.
Live performances are amazing. YYZ(zed) live in Rio, Xanadu live in 1981and Working Man live in Cleveland( a later performance) are must see videos
"YYZ" Live in Rio is an awesome example of RUSH in concert!!🏆🔥 ☮.
Ive seen them twice amazing musicians...wellcome to the rush army...
Since you asked... If you want what I and many others consider to be Rush's greatest performance ever, see my recent upload which is a newly restored version I just worked on for a couple months 😃 (Xanadu live in Montreal). Great reaction!
Five members of the group. Drummer, lead guitar, bass, organ and synthesizer, vocalist
You have just heard the BEST drummer ever
This dropped during the springtime of my first year of high school 42 years ago, got a modest bit of hit-radio airplay for a spell, was an immediate staple in every jockboy's boombox (although it wasn't yet called that), and was pretty much a nailed-on instant classic ---the indelible breakdown from 5:12 stands as an eternal gift to generations yet unborn
"The Spirit of Radio" dropped a year earlier and is worth a listen, and one could do worse than to sniff out on here a live take of "Closer to the Heart" from their live Exit... Stage Left album
Oh, and that snow thing at the end: they're Canadian, eh... 🇨🇦
The greatest rock band of all time
Neil going beast mode on those drums
For live performances, "YYZ" live in Rio, from the live album Rush in Rio (2003), is a must ! You'll be amazed to see about 60.000 people dancing to a instrumental song !
Rush and Styx are both of the same era and both have been categorized as Progressive Rock. I've seen Rush live several times and they're one the favorite bands of my youth. 😁