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Showing posts from 2011

Rush Named Best Live Act of 2011

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Planet Rock recently conducted a poll asking readers to select, among other categories, the best Live Act of 2011. Coming out on top was, of course, Rush :-) Rush have got nothing left to prove. Their devoted fan base will turn out to see them whenever they can, and their albums will always sell. After nearly 40 years in the business you would think that they might be starting to rest on their laurels. Wrong. The Time Machine Tour 2011 may be their best live show for two decades, and that's saying something because most of their other tours have been pretty damn special too. A three hour set included two songs from their forthcoming album, Clockwork Angels, some of their greatest hits, oh, and the WHOLE OF MOVING PICTURES, all played to perfection. If you saw Rush this year then than none of this comes as a surprise. The likelihood is that the show you saw is your favourite show of the year. We know this because that's what EVERYONE says who managed to catch one of th

Rush's 2112 Coming To Rock Band

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Rock Band has just announced that it will be releasing '2112' in its entirety on the Rock Back Store on December 31st. From the announcement: Rush's ambitious seven-part suite "2112" will come to the Rock Band Music Store to ring in 2012! In 1976, legendary Canadian rock trio Rush released their groundbreaking fourth studio album, 2112. With its opening track - a 20-minute, seven-part suite known as "2112" - Rush painted a picture of a sci-fi world in the midst of a revolution, controlled by technology. An alternate take of this epic suite, largely considered one of the most important pieces in progressive rock, comes to Rock Band just in time for the New Year. "2112" will be offered as three separate playable packages: one combines "Overture" and "The Temple of Syrinx"; the second features "Discovery" and "Presentation"; and the final track brings "Oracle: The Dream," "Soliloquy,&qu

It's A Wrap: Rush Finish Recording Clockwork Angels

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It's appears that Rush has completed the recording of their upcoming album Clockwork Angels . The news comes via a Tweet from Rush's sound engineer Richard Chycki. The tweet reads: 2 months at Revolution Studio in Toronto. Thanks for the hospitality guys! #wrapped Revolution Studio , located in the heart in Toronto, has been in use by Rush for the past two monthsn during their recording session. Expect mixing to begin in early January, which Alex confirmed in a November interview with Planet Rock. The recording process for Clockwork Angels has been a long one. Looking back to August 2010 , Alex had remarked that an additional three songs were almost complete and that the album was turning out to be very musically diverse. In particular, he refered to the nearly finished title track “Clockwork Angels” as an “epic song” and a “multi-parted piece.” More recently, Geddy Lee told Billboard Magazine that Rush were “making sure the guitar, bass and drum sounds are big

New Information on Rush "Sectors" Box Set Production Problems

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As we reported earlier this month, Rush had formally acknowledged the fact that there were some production problems on two of the discs contained in the "Sectors" Box Set; specifically from the Fly By Night CD and the A Farewell to Kings 5.1 DVD. According to a representative from SRO/Anthem, Rush/Universal are in the process of setting up an 800 number where customers will be able to get the corrected discs. Note that only the two flawed discs will be replaced and not the entire box sets. Specific information on how to exchange the flawed discs will be up on Rush.com (as well as here) once the discs are ready for shipment. In light of these two confirmed issues with the box set, the SRO/Anthem representative had this to say about other reported issues: Please be assured that once the technical issue was found, the entire Sectors masters were revisited (again). Rich Chycki had good time revisiting By-Tor on All The Worlds A Stage, and the listeners are correct that

New Guitar World Interview with Alex Lifeson - Talks Clockwork Angels

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The latest issue of Guitar World Magazine contains an interview with Alex Lifeson where the discussion centers around Rush's forthcoming album Clockwork Angels . From the article: ... Alex Lifeson stops short of calling Rush's upcoming Clockwork Angels a concept record, but he does admit that a theme runs through most the songs. "We have Caravan and BU2B; both of which we released already and played on the Time Machine tour," he says, referring to the group's extensive 2010-2011 outing. "Those two, along with three other songs, form a suite. The story of Clockwork Angels is in those five tracks." Longtime Rush fans, who grew up on such multi-song narratives as 2112 and Hemispheres, will no doubt applaud the group's return to its prog-rock roots. They'll also be thrilled to learn that the band isn't paying mind to the length of its compostitions. "We're definitely stretching out," Lifeson says. "Most of the songs are

Snag the Snare: Win a Neil Peart Replica "Hockey Theme Drum Kit" Snare Drum

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A new contest , courtesy of Rush and TSN , is currently underway where Canadian residents could win one of three limited edition replica snare drums from Neil Peart's "Hockey Theme" drum kit. This is the same kit that Neil used to record the new NHL on TSN's Hockey Theme last year and was also featured in Neil Peart: Fire on Ice - The Making of "The Hockey Theme video. Again, the contest is open to Canadian residents only . The contest runs through December 16th. For all the information and to enter, click HERE . Thanks to reader Lilli Walsh for the news.

Rush Adds Three New Tracks to RockBand DLC

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The RockBand website just announced that three new Rush songs will be hitting the Rock Band DLC store next week. From the story: Three tracks from Canadian rockers Rush are set to hit the Rock Band Music Store on December 13th! “Fly By Night,” from 1975’s album of the same name kicks off the pack, followed by a live cut of Rush’s “The Spirit of the Radio,” one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” The pack is rounded out by “Caravan,” which was released as a single earlier this year. These three tracks are just the tip of the iceberg for Rush fans; we’ll have even more exciting Rush/Rock Band news before the year’s out, so stay tuned! For more information, please click HERE . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.

Alex Lifeson's Picks His Favorite Christmas Songs

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A new feature over at MusicRadar.com has eleven rock stars picking their favorite Christmas songs. Among the eleven was Alex Lifeson whose choice was Little Drummer Boy : "I always liked the Little Drummer Boy because of the tonality of the song. There was always something very plaintive about it. It wasn’t one of those 'up,' joyous Christmas songs, which tend to get a little overdone. Actually, I did a version of it a while ago that came out nice. "On the other hand, I do like upbeat Christmas songs, so I’d say my second pick would be Joy To The World – not anybody’s version, in particular; I just like the song itself. It's spirited and very 'Ho, ho, ho!' [laughs]" Click HERE to listen to Alex Lifeson's rendition of Little Drummer Boy which originally appeared on Merry Axemas Vol. 1 back in 1997. Thanks to RushFanForever for the news.

New Geddy Lee Interview With Billboard Magazine - Update on Clockwork Angels

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Billboard Magazine has just posted a new interview with Geddy Lee where the Rush frontman discusses numerous topics ranging from his influences in life and music, his love of baseball and more. On the Clockwork Angels front, Geddy had this to say: What can we expect from the next album, "Clockwork Angels?" The first two [single] releases from this album, "Caravan" and "Brought Up to Believe," are a great indication of where this album's going, although there's much more variety than just what those two songs offer. When I look back at [2007 album] "Snakes and Arrows," as happy as we were with that record, in retrospect I feel we kind of overdid it with overdubs. We'd like to simplify that, just in terms of making sure the guitar, bass and drum sounds are big and loud and clear, and any time we are going to add an overdub, to make sure that it definitely is adding and not subtracting. Here's another interesting tidbit whe

Rush "Sectors" Box Set Production Problems Confirmed By Rush

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Since last month's release of Rush's "Sectors" Box Sets, a number of people have complained about apparent technical issues with the Fly By Night CD in Sector 1 and the A Farewell to Kings 5.1 DVD in Sector 2. Now, Rush has officially confirmed the issue with (some) details on how it will be rectified. From Rush.Com: "We are aware of some slight technical issues surrounding the CD of ‘Fly By Night’ inside the Sector 1 box set release and the DVD for ‘A Farewell To Kings’ inside the Sector 2 box set that some fans are experiencing. It stems from a production flaw and it is currently being addressed. As soon as production is completed a formal announcement of how to replace the discs will follow shortly. Please be aware that there may be a time delay in shipping and receiving the disc and we sincerely apologize for this inconvenience – Geddy, Alex & Neil" It's obviously disappointing that these issues occurred, but having owned the box sets si

In the Studio with Redbeard Interview Special on Rush Sectors Box Set

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With the recent release of Rush's "Sectors" Box Set, the syndicated radio show In the Studio with Redbeard will be airing some vintage, Mercury-era interviews with all three members of Rush next week. For more information on the airing, click HERE . You can also listen to both interviews, which were made available via Rush.Com using the player below. Thanks to RushFanForever for the information. Related News Stories [ Rush "Sectors" Box Set - Liner Notes, Tracks and Images Now Online - November 28th, 2011] [ Rush "Sectors" Box Set Video Trailer Now Online - November 17th, 2011] [ Rush "Sectors" Box Sets Coming November 21st - October 7th, 2011]

Alex Lifeson Limited Edition Autographed Art Work Now For Sale

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Back in October , we let you know about Alex's participation in the annual Kidney Foundation of Canada's A Brush of Hope charity auction where an original painting by Alex, called Sun Dance sold for an amazing $7,000! Alex has been donating his original paintings to the A Brush of Hope charity auction for a number of years now so it's exciting to hear that a signed print from an original painting that he donated for the 2007 auction will now be available for sale on a strict limited run of 250 copies. From the Brush of Hope Facebook Page : A Brush of Hope - Celebrity Paintings for Kidney Research ALEX LIFESON limited edition prints ON SALE NOW! Here is a sneak peek at the print. The image is 8 X 10. The page itself is 13 X 15. This is something special! There are only 250 prints available, each one with an original signature by Alex himself! Price is only $250, plus $20 for shipping and handling ($25 to the USA). International purchasers should contact us for a

The 2011 Holiday Rush Contest is Underway

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As we enter into the final month of 2011 (where did the year go, anyway?) it's time once again for Cygnus-X1.Net to celebrate the year - and the successes of Rush and their fans - by holding its annual Holiday Rush Contest . This marks the fifth year that we've held the contest, and this year's prize package is a special one. Celebrating the releases of Rush's Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland concert film as well as the band's first official box sets, the prize package this year includes: The Complete Rush "Sectors" Box Set ( Sector One - Sector Two - Sector Three ) The Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland Concert DVD The 2012 Rush "Signals" Wall Calendar And One Cygnus-X1.Net Inspired Mystery Gift As always, the contest is open to Rush fans the world over. So click on over to the contest page to enter today. Good luck, everyone - and Happy Holidays from Cygnus-X1.Net

Rush Sectors Box Set - Liner Notes, Tracks and Images Now Online

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The highly anticipated Rush box set "Sectors", which covers all of the band's studio and live albums during their Mercury Records years, was released last week. Rather than just a re-issuing of the albums, each one was remastered with three albums (Fly By Night, A Farewell to Kings and Signals) also receiving the 5.1 treatment. Outside of the sonic changes made to the albums, the box set was packaged with new - and some rarely seen photos - while each album has been packaged in a replica vinyl mini-jacket of the original album release. All three box sets, when stacked together, form a Rush CD road case. All of the liner notes, tracks, album information - and package images - are now available here at Cygnus-X1.Net. Check them out via the links below: Sector 1: | Album Info |---| Album Images| Sector 2: | Album Info |---| Album Images| Sector 3: | Album Info |---| Album Images| There's also a great article by Andy VanDette, Masterdisk's chie

Geddy Lee Honoured by Scholarship Endowment

Decanter.Com , "the world’s best wine magazine", is reporting that Geddy Lee has had a wine scholarship created in his name. The honour has been conferred on the Rush vocalist and bass guitarist by his fellow directors at the charitable foundation Grapes for Humanity. The board voted unanimously to create a scholarship in his name, in perpetuity, for a student of winemaking at Niagara College in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. To establish the scholarship Grapes for Humanity Canada has committed $26,500, which will be matched by the Ontario provincial government. The income will be used to provide an annual scholarship for a student in the second year of Niagara College’s Wine and Viticulture Technician programme who intends to pursue a career path in winemaking after graduation. To read the entire article, please click HERE .

Triumph's Rik Emmett Covers Red Barchetta

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Sonic Reality, the organization behind last year's release of Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit , a sample library featuring recordings of Neil utilizing the digitized sound of the Snakes and Arrows Custom DW Drum Kit, has now put together a unique project where musicians from around the globe play classic rock covers and originals songs using the library samples. One of the covers is Rush's classic Red Barchetta which is sung by the lead singer of another popular Canadian Power Trio; Triumph's Rik Emmett. In addition to Rik on vocals as well as lead guitar, the cover of Red Barchetta also includes Sonic Reality's CEO Dave Kerzner on keyboards and Matt Dorsey on bass. Furhter, Sonic Reality is preparing a video of the song which will include Neil Peart on drums. For more information, click HERE or check them out on Facebook . Below are two teaser samples of Red Barchetta . Update: There's also a sample of the outro segment of Limelight

Alex Lifeson Makes Rolling Stone List of Top 100 Guitarists of All Time

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Rolling Stone magazine recently assembled a panel of top guitarists and other experts to rank their favorites guitarists while explaining what separates the legends from everyone else. Not only was Alex Lifeson among the panel of those casting their votes, he also made the list, coming in at position #98 (yes, he should have placed significantly higher, but that goes without saying): Even if he had never progressed beyond the brain-rattling riffing of "2112" and "Xanadu," Rush's guitarist would have left his mark on Metallica and other like-minded metalheads. But he went on to fill out Rush's power-trio sound with a seamless mix of lush arpeggios and rock crunch that sounded like at least two players at once. "The guitar just had to make a broader statement," he says. Alex Lifeson reserves his most daring playing for his solos – just try wrapping your head around the extra­terrestrial lunacy of "Freewill." Key Tracks: "La Vill

An Intimate Interview with Geddy Lee of Rush

Tidings, Canada’s only national food and wine publication, has published an interview/article with Geddy Lee where the discussion centers around Geddy's love of wine, the band's recent involvement in the Grapes of Humanity Charity and more. Tidings: One thing I’ve noticed is that, given your love of wine and Alex’s love of wine, I don’t notice any wine references in your songs. Since Neil is the lyricist, can I assume that he’s not a wine buff? Lee: He loves wine and he loves food. He’s not as mental as I am, but he’s always happy to come out and eat and drink with us. He also loves to cook. But he’s got so many interests I don’t know if he would have room to become a serious wine nut. Click HERE to read the entire article. Thanks to reader Amy Lee Myer-Seaman for passing along the news.

Alex Lifeson Interview on Planet Rock - Now Online

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Earlier this morning, Alex Lifeson (on location in Toronto) spoke with Darren Redick of UK internet radio station Planet Rock . We spoke to Alex in the studio where he and his Rush bandmates are currently recording their brand new studio album, Clockwork Angels. In the interview he reveals that the band are aiming to release their new album in the spring and they are hoping to tour in the summer, with European dates almost a certainty. He also reveals that the band are looking at perhaps doing some festival shows in 2013. The guitarist also gives an insight into how the new album will sound, revealing that the songs are starting to take an epic shape. The 10-minute long interview is now online and can be listened to via this LINK . Ed from RushIsABand posted some bullet points from the interview (courtesy of reader Distant Early Warning : • Currently in the studio in Toronto putting in long hours. • They already had the 5 songs written of which 2 had

Rush Sectors Box Set Video Trailer Now Online

Rush.Com has just posted an impressive 1 minute and 30 second trailer for the upcoming release of "Sectors" box set. You can view the trailer below or directly at Rush.Com Pre-Ordering of all three box sets is also available at Amazon.Com via the links below: Rush: Sector 1 Rush: Sector 2 Rush: Sector 3 Rush Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for assistance in extracting the video from the main Rush.com site. Related News Stories [ Rush "Sectors" Box Sets Coming November 21st - October 7th, 2011]

Rush Clockwork Angels Article in Rolling Stone Magazine

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The November 24th issue of Rolling Stone magazine contains a short article on Rush and their upcoming Clockwork Angels album. The issue also contains a large advertisement for the Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland CD/DVD. Scans of both the article and advertisement can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail images to the right. Here's a transcription of the article itself: Rush spent the past two years looking back - performing their 1981 classic Moving Pictures in its entirety. But at the same time, the Canadian prog heroes started cranking on thier 20th LP, Clockwork Angels. "We're almost finished writing," says frontman Geddy Lee. "Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas." Last year, Rush tested the waters, releasing two tracks from the album = the Metallica-ish riff monsters "Caravan" and "BU2B" - and playing them on tour. "We figured we had nothing to lose," says Lee. "It was a

Rush's Neil Peart Takes A Ride In His Ohio Time Machine: Exclusive

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In connection with the release of Rush's live CD/DVD Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland , Neil Peart has written an exclusive article for Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper. Neil looks back at the band's first concert in Cleveland back in 1974, his time cycling and riding between shows and the band's decision to film the Cleveland show for their official live release from their Time Machine Tour . The band had decided to film the show in Cleveland for a few reasons. In past years, we had released concert videos from shows in Toronto, Montreal, Rio de Janeiro, Frankfurt and Rotterdam, but we had never filmed a concert in the United States. We decided to rectify that. It was felt that the "Time Machine" show in particular looked better indoors, without the lingering twilight of an outdoor amphitheater, and with control over ambient light and air currents. Also, the audio side of things tends to be more controllable in a contained acoustic environment. (

Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland - Now Available

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The wait is finally over. Rush's latest concert film - Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray and CD. In addition, a vinyl edition of Moving Pictures Live also taken from the April 15th Cleveland show, is available (though quantities are limited). As expected, the Blu-Ray version of the concert film is currently only available at Best Buy as well as the Rush Backstage Club . The Blu-Ray version will be released world-wide to all retailers on or about December 20th. To order your copy, use one of the links below. Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD - $14.99 Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland Blu-Ray - $17.99 Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland CD - $12.99 Moving Pictures: Live 2011 Vinyl - $16.77 We'll have complete details on the package liner notes, images, full track listings and more within the next week or so. Related News Stories [ Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland - In Theaters Tonigh

Walk Your Dog in Neil Peart Park

Neil Peart is one of 42 names added to St. Catharines' list of "Significant Local Individuals". Neil, who grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario which is now part of St. Catharines, was added to the list where local developers & the town's council can draw on to name new streets & parks. According to an article at Newstalk 610 CKTB : "...The list has been going through an update for about 2 years. It's the first time the list has been changed since it was first drafted in 1999. Councillor Mat Siscoe who represents council on the heritage committee tells 610 CKTB News deciding who was on the list & who was left off was a painstaking process. When streets are named, they have to be cleared first with the fire department to make sure there's no confusion about where emergency responders have to go. I guess RushCon can have their next convention at Neil's park :)

Alex Lifeson Interview on Humble and Fred Radio

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Alex Lifeson was the guest on Toronto's Humble and Fred's morning show this morning. In the half-hour long interview, Alex discussed numerous topics including touring, Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, his love of golf, Rush's growing popularity and the band's recording progress on Clockwork Angels . According to Alex, the band is about "...a week ahead of schedule..." The interview is available online via an audio stream at this LINK . The interview can also be downloaded as an MP3 via this LINK . Alex's interview begins around the 35 minute mark. Thanks to reader RushFanForever for alerting us to the interview and Ed from RushIsABand for the interview links.

Ace Frehley Talks Rush In His New Autobiography "No Regrets"

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The new autobiography from KISS's lead guitarist Ace Frehley titled No Regrets includes a humorous story and photo about the times when Rush and KISS were on the road together touring. From the book: Ace Frehley of KISS fame has published a new biography titled No Regrets. The book, which hit store shelves on Monday, includes the following story and accompanying photo: "I have so many road stories, but one that always comes to mind is the tour we did in the summer of 1975 with Rush opening for us. I always liked Rush (and still do). After a few weeks on tour I started to get to know the guys in the band, and their very funny tour manager, Howie. One thing led to another and before long Peter and I were getting visits from the Rush boys. It usually turned into late evenings filled with beer and grass and whatever else was around. Alex Lifeson, the band's guitarist, used to do this hysterical routine with a large paper laundry bag. He'd draw a ridiculous gian

Win An Autographed Rush ‘Moving Pictures’ Lithograph

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Ultimate Classic Rock and Universal Music Enterprises are currently sponsoring a contest where one lucky winner will receive a Rush ‘Moving Pictures’ Lithograph. The contest is being held in connection with the upcoming release of Rush's Sectors box set. The lithograph features the classic ‘Moving Pictures’ album cover autographed by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart. Click HERE for a larger image of the lithograph. To enter the contest, click HERE .

Neil Peart: The Modern Drummer Interview - Now Online

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Update: The complete transcription has been removed in place of a small excerpt, with ordering instructions for the issue. Apologies for any inconvenience. We hope to have the complete article back online in the future. Thanks. Last month we let you know that Neil Peart would be the cover-story feature in the December 2011 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine . The issue hit the newsstands earlier this week and now the entire article with photos can be viewed online . In the interview/article, Neil touches upon several topics including how he prepares for a tour - and the riggers behind touring itself, his approach to composing drum segments of new songs and also the inspiration behind his latest drumming instructional video Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance . Neil Peart might well have been born with an innate inclination toward understanding and creating rhythm, but he also knows a thing or two about hard work. He's certainly been blessed with the brain of

Geddy Lee Update on Clockwork Angels

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Andy Greene of Rolling Stone magazine recently conducted an interview with Geddy Lee where the two discussed the progress on Rush's forthcoming studio album Clockwork Angels as well as the Time Machine Tour DVD, touring and more. What's the status of the next album? We're almost finished writing. We wound the machine back up about three weeks ago. After a sluggish start, we've had a very fruitful couple of weeks in terms of writing. I'm very pleased with the direction that the material has taken. And I think we have one or two more songs that we'd like to write, and then we'll start recording in earnest. Hopefully we'll have all of the recording done before Christmas. Then we'll mix it some time in the next year, and then get it out. Wow. So it'll be out sometime early next year? Yeah. I hope it'll be out by the spring anyway. Is the sound of the album similar to Snakes and Arrows? I think it's a little different than Snakes a

A Kinder, Gentler Rush Tribute Album

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Over the years, there have been a number of Rush tribute albums published, ranging from straight-up rock equivalents to thrash metal versions of Rush classics to a number of classical music interpretations of early Rush tracks. Now we can add another musical genre to the list of Rush tributes - a lullaby version. That's right, the company known as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Rock Star has released an 11-track CD of Rush classics, all toned down and softened. The tracks range from Rush's debut album through to Signals and include such favorites as The Spirit of Radio, Limelight, Red Barchetta and The Trees . A lullaby version of the Trees. Now I've truly heard everything. :-) You can purchase the CD via Amazon as well as download the tracks on iTunes . Thanks to RushFanForever for passing along the news.

Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland - In Theaters Tonight

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The theatrical release of Rush's Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland launches tonight across the U.S. and Canada. The theatrical debut in the United Kingdom will occur on November 1st. Theater locations and showtimes are available at the D&E Entertainment website (see: www.rushtimemachinepremiere.com . Unlike the edited version of Live in Cleveland that aired on VH-1 earlier this month, the theatrical version will represent the entire concert! The Buffalo News posted a great review of the film: "...What the Canadian trio has been able to accrue since its formation at the dawn of the 1970s is displayed throughout “Time Machine 2011,” the new concert documentary presenting the band as it appeared in April before a packed house at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. It all comes down to the devout fan base that has supported this heavy prog-rock outfit from the beginning. These are folks familiar with every lyric, able to air-guitar their way through every solo, and

Alex Lifeson Talks About Rush's First Single

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A short article appeared on MusicRadar today where Alex Lifeson looks back in time and discusses Rush's first release 45rpm single - Not Fade Away with the B-side original You Can't Fight It From the article: "...we decided it was the perfect time to speak with guitarist Alex Lifeson about Rush's first recorded work...some 38 years ago. Back in 1973, way before they were full-time, totally awesome stadium and arena-fillers, Rush, then comprised of Lifeson, Geddy Lee and the band's original drummer, John Rutsey (Neil Peart joined in 1974), issued a single on their own Moon Records label. The A side was a cover of Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away and the B side was a Lee/Rutsey original called You Can't Fight It. As you might expect, the 45 was raw, loose, rocking and bursting with youthful charm. Alex Lifeson picks up the story: Not Fade Away "Man, we were very young when we did this! We were playing the clubs and didn't know better. Beca

Rush-Inspired Fine Art - Red Barchetta - Now Available

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It was two years ago when we first introduced an exciting artistic project undertaken by UK digital artist Graham Whieldon. Graham, an exceptionally talented artist, decided to create artwork based on the songs of Rush: Creative inspiration is often hard to come by, but Rush as a catalogue of reference is a strangely untapped motherlode. Songs are stories, they provoke images with their lyrics as any written or spoken story does. Stories have been illustrated for millenia, so why not songs? His first Rush-inspired piece which was based on Rush's The Fountain of Lamneth . Now his second work, based on the classic Red Barchetta , is finally available . I wanted to paint the car not during the chase but after, in it's quiet, rural setting. This painting is about the heady smell of old oil and dust and leather and the memory of the chase in the droning lazy scent of a late country afternoon, a brief snapshot of a calm place between the lyrics. I can hear muted water running

Drag the Dream Into Existence: Reassessing Rush’s Masterpiece

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Sean Murphy of PopMatters has posted a fantastic, in-depth review of Rush's seminal classic Moving Pictures : Every band, if they are lucky, is able to create a definitive work—a document that embodies their unique qualities. Most great bands, at some point in their career, successfully produce an enduring statement. Some artists, like The Beatles or Pink Floyd, are able to capture—or create—the Zeitgeist on more than one occasion On the other hand; there are plenty of worthwhile and beloved bands who have never quite been capable of distilling the necessary ingredients of a classic recording. Finally, there are those almost unfathomable works that only a handful of bands can claim credit for. These exceptional albums are wholly original yet fully accessible and remain influential and imitated long after their release. Moving Pictures is, without any question, not only Rush’s masterpiece, but one of those rare albums that epitomizes an era. It represents both a culmination an

Neil Peart Featured in December 2011 Issue of Modern Drummer Magazine

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Neil Peart will be the cover story in the December 2011 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine . The magazine cover features Neil behind his Time Machine Tour kit and includes the sub-heading Rush's Neil Peart: The Modern Drummer Interview . The December issue will hit the newsstands on November 1st. You can order/subscribe to Modern Drummer via this LINK . Modern Drummer has also reviewed Neil's instructional video Taking Center Stage where they wrote "...If you’re a Peart devotee, you’ll drool over the detailed shots of the concert performance revealing all of the intricate details of those classic parts. The overhead shots and slow-motion footage are particularly revealing of Neil’s complex choreography..." You can read the entire interview via this LINK . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.

Rich Chycki Update on Clockwork Angels and Rush Sector Box Sets

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Rush's sound engineer, Rich Chycki has posted an update to his blog where he provides a brief recording update on Rush's forthcoming album Clockwork Angels along with some information on the upcoming Rush "Sector" box set series. Regarding Clockwork Angels , Rich had this to say: ... Currently, Rush, producer Nick Raskulinecz and myself are reconvening to complete the recording of Rush's next studio album Clockwork Angels. Sorry, no timeline for completion yet ... Good news there that progress on the album is continuing. And regarding the Rush "Sector" Box Set series, Rich had this to say: ... Based on the strong feedback from the Moving Pictures 5.1 remix, Universal Records had asked me to remix Fly By Night, A Farewell To Kings and Signals in surround to be included in their 'Sector' series of box set releases currently underway. Like Moving Pictures, all the multitrack masters I worked with were transferred from the original analog ta

The Complete Rush Videography - Now Online

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I've just uploaded one of the largest updates to the site in quite some time. The Complete Rush Videography page where you will find detailed information on every Rush Video Collection, Concert Film, Documentary and more. Similar to how each Rush album is presented, the Videography section of the site leads you to individual pages on every Rush video/film. You'll find complete liner notes, essays, track listings, Easter Egg information, trailers and more. And, of course, all of the package images are also represented, most in high-resolution. Over 300 images in all! You can check out Rush's complete Videography library at this LINK . Enjoy-

Freddie Gruber Passes Away at Age 84

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We're saddened to announce the passing of Freddie Gruber; the drumming legend that inspired many drummers through the years including, of course, Neil Peart. Freddie died on October 11th at the age of 84. As well as being a respected jazz drummer, Freddie enjoyed a long and successful career as a drum teacher. In adddition to Neil Peart, he counted drum heavyweights such as Dave Weckl, Steve Smith and Vinnie Colaiuta as among his students. Last year Freddie's was honoured by Zildjian for his lifetime of achievement in the drumming world. Read more about Freddie's history via this LINK . Our condolences go out to Freddie's friends and family. Below is a segment from Rush's Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary that featured Neil Peart and Freddie Gruber. The man will be missed.

Rush "Sectors" Box Sets Coming November 21st

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The reissuing of Rush's back catalog of music during their Universal/Mercury Records days is nothing new. However Rush will now receive an interesting "Box Set" treatment. According to the Universal Music Group, three distinct Rush "Sector" Box sets will be released this November 21st. Within each "Sector" box set, one album will receive a 5.1 surround sound treatment. From the Universal Music Group's Distribution Infosheet: "On November 21st, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) celebrates the legacy of Canadian rock trio Rush with the release of three separate six-disc box sets which together spans their entire historic Mercury Records recording career. Each 'Sector' contains five of their 15 Mercury albums in chronological order, all transferred to high resolution 96kHz/24-bit and digitally remastered for optimal quality. In addition, each volume includes and exclusive booklet packed with unpublished photos, original album lyrics

Neil Peart (Bubba's) Far and Away 2012 Calendar

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Using excerpts from his Far and Away: A Prize Every Time book, Neil Peart and his riding partner Brutus have put together a 2012 Wall Calendar called appropriately Bubba's Far and Away Calendar 2012 . Bubba’s Bar ’n’ Grill Presents the FAR AND AWAY Calendar for 2012 Bubba and his sidekick Brutus have put together some of their favorite images and excerpts from the book FAR AND AWAY: A Prize Every Time, by their friend and best customer, Neil Peart. (Among regulars, that book is affectionately known as “F ’n’ A.”) From Yellowstone National Park to the winter woods of Quebec to the highways of North America, South America, and Europe, each month offers a scenic escape and some words to ponder. Order now, in time for the Pagan Midwinter Festival! The calendar is now available for pre-order and is set to be released October 17th. Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.

Alex Lifeson Donates Painting for A Brush of Hope Charity

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Update: November 1st, 2011 The auction is over and Alex's painting sold for $7,000 ! Update: October 20th, 2011 The auction is now underway. Click HERE to access the auction for Alex's painting. Good luck, all. As he has done numerous times in the past, Alex Lifeson has donated one of his personal paintings to the Kidney Foundation of Canada's A Brush of Hope project. Lifeson's painting, along with artwork from many other Canadian artists will be auctioned off to raise money for the charity. The auction will take place at eBay.ca between October 20th and 30th. Simply type "kidney foundation" into the search field and Bid away! The proceeds from the auction will support all Canadians and help the Kidney Foundation reduce the burden of kidney disease. For more information on The Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Brush of Hope project, please check out their website and/or their official Facebook Page . Thanks to RushFanForever and Melissa '

Neil Peart Taking Center Stage: Lifetime of Live Performances Update

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A number of updates have been made to the main website ( www.takingcenterstage.net ) for Neil Peart's upcoming instructional video Neil Peart Taking Center Stage: Lifetime of Live Performances . Among the changes are the addition of several video clips and trailers, including Neil discussing the complexities playing Rush's Limelight live, how he, Geddy and Alex went about selecting the setlist for the Time Machine Tour and more. In addition to all the changes made to the website , Hudson Music is also running a Facebook Contest where one lucky winner will receive a signed Neil Peart Anatomy of a Drum Solo poster! About the instructional video: Filmed in various locations over the course of a year, Neil Peart takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at Rush's 2010-11 Time Machine tour. This includes rare and exclusive footage of Neil's personal pre-tour rehearsals and backstage events at a Rush concert (including a visit to the soundcheck, and an unprecedented back

Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland - Theaters and Showtimes Now Online

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With the theatrical release of Rush's Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland less than a month away (October 26th to be exact), theater locations and showtimes have begun to get posted at the D&E Entertainment website (see: www.rushtimemachinepremiere.com . According to that site, many locations will air the concert on October 26th or 27th with numerous venues also hosting an encore screening in early November. Pre-ordering of tickets is also available at many locations. For complete details, and continuing updates, please check out the main D&E Entertainment site HERE . And don't forget to pre-order your copy via the links below: And to pre-order Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland , use one of the links below. Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland DVD - $18.99 Rush Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland Blu-Ray - $22.49 Thanks to GeddyWannaBe and Ed from RushIsABand for the news. Related News Stories [ Here We Go Again - Blu-Ray Version of Time

Closer to the Heart Included in Guitar World's Top 30 12-String Guitar Songs of All Time

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Guitar World Magazine has put together a list of the Top 30 12-String Guitar Songs of All Time; an interesting if not challenging list to compile: When considering the choices for this list, we realized it wasn't as easy a task as we first thought. What makes for a great 12-string guitar song as opposed to a great song that just happens to have a 12-string somewhere on it? Let's face it, if "Stairway to Heaven" had a ukulele on it, it would immediately be in the running for Greatest Ukulele Song of All Time. Coming in at the #10 spot is Rush's own Closer to the Heart from their 1977 masterpiece A Farewell to Kings . Here's what they had to say about this classic song: Taken from Rush's 1977 album A Farewell to Kings, "Closer to the Heart" begins with a majestic-sounding arpeggio picking pattern played by guitarist Alex Lifeson on a 12-string guitar. This song was also Rush's first hit in the U.K. and has been a staple of their li

A Rush of Light: Four Decades in the Making

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The Summer 2011 edition of the industry magazine Professional Lighting and Production includes a 4-page cover story on Rush and their Time Machine Tour. The article discusses the intricacies of Rush's stage show with the band's Production Designer Howard Ungerleider. Taking in a performance by an artist at the top of the industry while at the pinnacle of their career is to witness the long and meandering paths of experience, talent, knowledge, and hard work meet and perfectly intertwine at a single point. It's an awe-inspiring, yet rare occurrence that forces the audience to reconsider everything they thought they knew about artistic and creative inception, design, implementation, and performance. It's something Canadian iconoclasts Rush know much about. The entire issue is available online at this LINK . The Rush feature appears on pages 18-21. Thanks to reader RushFanForever for passing along the link.

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