Reposted from WEST END PHOENIX Story by Alex Lifeson, Illustration by Casey McGlynn The date was October 27, 1973, and Rush was opening for the New York Dolls. They were a pleasant enough group of fellows who spoke to us not at all, but enthusiastically enjoyed the vibrant conversation and company of their “friends” (I think they were), who also dressed like New York Dolls, but drunker. The venue for the gig was the Victory Theatre, built in 1921 and home to burlesque in Toronto until it closed in 1975. We were honoured to have worked the same stage as strip artistes Knackers Knock, Ineda Man and Cupcakes Cassidy, whose …

2112 Anniversary (April 1, 1976) There are many stories behind the albums and the artwork of Rush. Neil Peart tells a futuristic story in 2112 of the Starman representing a hero who fights against collectivist mentality (depicted by the evil red star). During the buildup to the Time Machine Tour in 2010, Neil warned against any crossover with the Starman, and the steampunk-themed 2010 tour. Peart wrote, “Fundamentally, thematically, philosophically, and narratively, the Starman has no place in the Time Machine/ steampunk world.  That’s all there is to it.  Placing the Starman over clockworks and steam valves and those images makes my skin crawl, because the stories are so diametrically …

On March 1st 1974, Rush’s debut self-titled album was released.  Ever wondered about why the two different colors of the album covers?  The original album release in Canada had RUSH in red, which was the approved color.  When the album was released in the USA, there was a printing error at Mercury which had RUSH printed in hot pink. The band still remembers this well!

“What Le Studio meant to us, is really hard to put into only a few sentences. It was not only a place where we did some of our best work, but we also experienced many profound personal moments there. To say nothing of the friendships that were forged there that still endure today. Le Studio played a key role in our album recording experience at a pivotal point in our career. We were already saddened to learn of its derelict state a few years ago, but upon hearing that it has now been destroyed by fire, it truly marks the end an age for the 3 of us,” remarked Geddy Lee …

“Listening to 2112 today, one is struck by both its brilliance and its brevity.” – Classic Rock   The 40th Anniversary edition of 2112 is now available – own yours along with other 2112 items all available at RushBackstage.com

‘2112’ AT 40:  THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANSIVE 2CD/DVD/3LP VINYL PACKAGES TO BE RELEASED DECEMBER 16 Features rare live tracks and previously unreleased material Also includes newly-recorded tracks from 2112 by Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters along with Nick Raskulinecz, Billy Talent, Steven Wilson, Jacob Moon and Alice In Chains PRE-ORDER NOW AT RUSHBACKSTAGE After celebrating over 40 years together with the same trio line-up, UMe continues the celebration of the Rush catalog with the release of three 40th anniversary expanded editions of the band’s classic 1976 album 2112. On December 16, 2016, 2112—40th will be released in three distinct variations. The 2CD/DVD edition will include a newly remastered CD of …

Forty years ago today, on April 1, 1976, Rush released 2112. “The album just flowed; one song came out of the other. Alex and I knew what we wanted to write even before we saw the lyrics, the overblown intro, the pacing, the movements… And then Neil had written these lyrics and it was almost magical how well they worked. There was a lot of passion in that record, a lot of ferocity and it cut through the static of the music that was out there and it reached people.” – Geddy Lee Read more with Geddy speaking about 2112 in UK’s Prog Magazine  here. “We were touring so much that …

On the looming 40th anniversary of seminal album 2112 in April, Geddy Lee walks Music Radar through the various chapters of 2112‘s conceptual sublimity, “if I can remember what they all are, that is!” Read the full interview here.

Fly By Night, Rush’s second album, is being re-released and has been remastered on 200-gram, heavyweight vinyl at legendary Abbey Road Studios using the Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters. It’s available for pre-order now.

Another from the R40 vault: Featuring original drummer John Rutsey, Radio.com premieres the unreleased Rush original “The Loser,” recorded 1974 at St. Catharines, Ontario at Laura Secord Secondary School. Check out the video as well as an exclusive interview with Geddy Lee.