by Dave Anthony
Host, Garage to Stadiums podcast
Listen to The Story of Rush episode on all major podcast platforms
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Access the episode transcript
In our Garage to Stadiums episode featuring Rush, our guest was Sam Dunn, founder and director at Banger Films, who produced the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. From heavy metal to hip-hop to K-Pop, Banger Films has produced several award-winning films. Dunn's film on Rush was nominated for a Grammy and won the Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Among other things, we discussed the incredible achievement of this Canadian band in selling the most consecutive gold/platinum studio albums behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Sam’s documentary features an array of rock luminaries praising Rush: Gene Simmons of Kiss, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Taylor Hawkins of The Foo Fighters. Corgan even cites a Rush song as the bridge to communicate to his mother the exact feelings that he could not vocalize to her.
These rock stars particularly honed in on the musical prowess of the three members. Check out clips of Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson shredding the guitar during a major outdoor festival in Toronto in 2003, bassist Geddy Lee sharing his approach to playing his, and the phenomenal drummer Neil Peart on the David Letterman show playing drums.
Sam cited Rush’s working-class roots as especially crucial to its success by touring relentlessly in its early days and continuing to build on its musical abilities over time to attract a loyal stable of fans. He also gave the Garage to Stadiums' audience interesting insights into each of the personalities of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.
One early interesting note is that Neil Peart, widely considered to be one of the best rock drummers in the world, only became part of Rush due to the sickness of original drummer John Rutsey. Rutsey, who appeared on the band’s first album and first hit, Working Man, was unable to tour due to severe diabetes inhibiting his ability to live the rock and rock travelling lifestyle.
As legend has it, at the subsequent drummer auditions to replace Rutsey, a skinny, shirtless guy driving his mom’s Ford Pinto showed up on a hot summer day to try out. His name was Neil Peart, and he came from a rural family that owned a farm equipment dealership.
Both Geddy and Alex were not hopeful; the Pinto-driving, short-haired, somewhat awkward-looking farm-country kid seeded more doubt as he schlepped various garbage bags containing his drum components into the room. Instead, Neil proceeded to wow the two with his prolific playing and was easily the top player in the auditions. Not only did Rush gain an incredible drummer who would transform their ability to create complex music, they unexpectedly added a deeply well-read individual who also took over the lyric writing duties. Neil’s songwriting skills propelled the band to fashion musical tales beyond anything they could have previously imagined and quite different from their first hit, Working Man, seen here is a rare early live appearance.
Also, on the show, we mentioned the hilarious rendition of the Rush hit song Tom Sawyer from the album Moving Pictures by Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The movie has a scene where Rudd and Segel meet Rush backstage and a final scene where they watch Rush perform the song Limelight in concert.
Rush was not especially appreciated by rock critics, who dismissed Rush as part of the self-indulgent progressive rock period of excessively long songs and over-the-top musical histrionics. Rush was often ignored by industry magazines like Rolling Stone, which dismissed most of their albums with unkind words about Geddy Lee's vocals.
Yet, in 2013, Rush was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and lauded Rush for its achievements, including widely recognized musicianship, 40+ million albums sold, its loyal legion of fans, and its consistent musical evolution. A complete capitulation by the music media was signalled, with Rolling Stone finally putting Rush on its cover in a June 2015 issue.
You can see their Hall of Fame induction announcement by Jann Wenner, publisher of Rolling Stone, and the standing ovation featuring musicians such as Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, John Mayer and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers standing and clapping along with the thousands in attendance.
While the critics may not have appreciated Rush, fellow musicians certainly did, as evidenced by Sam’s documentary. At the Hall of Fame induction, Foo’s vocalist and guitarist Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins do a hilarious introduction speech for Rush, at once describing their career, musicianship, achievements and eccentricities into one rollicking tale.
As part of the Hall induction, the Foos do an incredible impersonation of early 70s Rush, complete with wigs and kimonos, performing 2112: Overture and The Temples of Syrinx. Get your air guitar and drums ready for some dual playing by Rush members and the Foos.
Sadly, Neil Peart died in early 2020, and rumours have abounded ever since about whether surviving members Geddy and Alex might reunite. Geddy and Alex actually performed with drummers Danny Carey, Dave Grohl and Chad Smith of Tool, Nirvana/Foo Fighters and Chili Peppers, respectively, at the 2022 tribute for the deceased drummer of the Foos, Taylor Hawkins.
Rush celebrated its 50th year as a band in 2023-24 and the rumours are now very much in circulation. Will the boys from Toronto find a younger or famous drummer and head out on the road for their golden anniversary. Only time will tell…..
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