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Showing posts from September, 2012

Neil Peart Is Obsessed With Sabian - Video Interview

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Sabian Cymbals has posted a video interview with Neil Peart as part of their "Obsessed" series of drummer videos. From Sabian's website: NEIL PEART IS OBSESSED WITH HIS 22" PARAGON RIDE Neil Peart is Obsessed with sharing his experiences through words - like bicycling over the Alps (twice), the Pyrenees and the Rockies, and throughout West Africa. And since '96, he has traveled to every RUSH show, from Berlin to Buenos Aires, by motorcycle. Neil is also Obsessed with his 22" Paragon Ride. With its powerful, cutting bell and amazing expressive ability even at low dynamic levels, this is a cymbal that inspires. You can watch the 10-minute long video via the player below or directly at Sabian's website . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.

Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #15

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Clockwork Angels is now in its fifteenth week since its release and is still charting in Billboard's Top 200 Album List . The album did fall out of the Top 100 this week, moving down to position #117. Here's how the album is performing across all Billboard Charts : Top 200 Albums: #117 - down 18 spots from last week. Top Rock Albums: #42 -- down 2 spots from last week. Top Hard Rock Albums: #6 -- down 2 spots from last week. At fifteen weeks, Clockwork Angels has now matched Snakes & Arrows' charting life. Rush's 2007 offering fell out of the Top 200 in its sixteenth week and never re-entered the charts. On a related note, The Wreckers , the latest single from the album, moved up two spots over last week in the Mainstream Rock Charts where it's currently in the #7 spot. Haven't purchased your copy of Clockwork Angels yet? If so, you can do so HERE . Related News Stories [ Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #14 - September 21st,

New Volkswagen Passat Commercial Features Rush's Fly By Night

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The 2012 Volkswagen Passat has been named the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Announcing this accolade, Volkswagen has created a new commercial for the Passat which features Rush's Fly By Night (the song). The video can be viewed below: Sharp eyes will notice 'Rush' and 'Fly By Night' listed on the car stereo around the 20-second mark. The video can also be viewed directly at YouTube . Thanks to RushFanForever for passing along the link.

Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #14

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Fourteen weeks since its release, Clockwork Angels remains in the Top 100 of Billboard's Top 200 Album List . However it did experience a moderate drop in the rankings over last week. The album is now sitting at position #99 compared to last week when the album was at the #93 spot. This is the first drop for Clockwork Angels over the past three weeks. Here's how the album is performing across all Billboard Charts : Top 200 Albums: #99 - down 6 spots from last week. Top Rock Albums: #40 -- down 8 spots from last week. Top Hard Rock Albums: #4 -- down 1 spot from last week. Assuming it remains in the Top 200 list over the next week, it will equal the amount of time Snakes & Arrows remained in the charts. On a related note, The Wreckers , the latest single from the album, moved into the Top 10 on the Mainstream Rock Charts where it's currently in the #9 spot. Haven't purchased your copy of Clockwork Angels yet? If so, you can do so HERE . Relat

Alex Lifeson Talks About Clockwork Angels Set List Changes

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For those following along to the progression of Rush's Clockwork Angels tour, most of the conversation among fans has centered around the set list. Not so much the songs on the set list (which is a subject for an entirely different debate) but the fact that Rush has been shifting around the set list on a nightly basis. Several songs are dropped / replaced each night, and just when you think you know what the band will play when they arrive in your town, they switch it up again. This is very atypical for the band who thrive on consistency. In a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press, Alex Lifeson expands on the subject of the fluid set list: QUESTION: The set list seems to still be in flux on these early tour dates, and it's definitely got fans' attention. ANSWER: What happened is the thing that always happens -- the set was much longer than what we had to limit ourselves to. We didn't want to get rid of those songs, so we picked a Set A and a Set B, a

Clockwork Angels: The Novel Enters the New York Times Best Seller List

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The novelization of Clockwork Angels , penned by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart, entered the New York Times Best Seller List - Hard Cover Fiction at the #18 spot. The novel, which is available in hard cover and audio-book formats, can also be previewed at this location . To order your copy of Clockwork Angels: The Novel , click HERE . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for the news. Related News Stories [ Roadrunner Records Interview with Clockwork Angels Novel Author Kevin J. Anderson - September 4, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels: The Novel Released Today - September 3, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels: The Novel World Premiere Launch Coming August 23rd - August 10, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels Novel Preview Booklet Now Available for Download - New Artwork Revealed - August 9, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels: The Novel Special Autographed / Numbered Editions - July 23, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels: The Novel Official Press Release - Neil Peart to Narrate the Audiobook - May 29, 2012] [ Cl

Taking Center Stage: A Lifetime of Live Performance Companion Book Coming Soon

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Joe Bergamini, who worked with and interviewed Neil Peart in last year's instructional video NEIL PEART: TAKING CENTER STAGE a lifetime of live performance has also written a full-color retrospective/transcription book under the same name. The book will be officially released on October 15th, however it is already available at the merchandise counters on the Clockwork Angels tour. From the Hudson Music press release: New York, NY (August 15, 2012) – Hudson Music has announced the upcoming release of a new book about drumming legend Neil Peart, written by well-known drummer and writer Joe Bergamini. Neil Peart not only wrote the foreword for the book, but also supervised the project and provided additional factual editing. This book is the most complete retrospective on Neil’s career available in print today. Originally conceived as a companion to the groundbreaking 2011 three-disc DVD set of the same name, this book combines astonishingly detailed musical transcriptions, h

Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #13

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Lucky Week # 13 was just that for Clockwork Angels as the album catapulted back into the Top 100 in Billboard's Top 200 Album List , moving from position #117 last week all the way to #93 this week.. This marks the second consecutive improvement in the album's charting, and the largest improvement since Week #8 when the album shot up 57 spots after Amazon sold the MP3 version of the album for just $0.99. With the Clockwork Angels tour in full swing, it's possible the album will continue to chart well over the coming weeks. Here's how the album is performing across all Billboard Charts : Top 200 Albums: #93 - up 24 spots from last week. Top Rock Albums: #32 -- up 6 spots from last week. Top Hard Rock Albums: #3 -- up 5 spots from last week. Looking back, Snakes & Arrows remained in the Billboard Top 200 list for only 15 weeks. Clearly, Clockwork Angels will surpass that mark. Haven't purchased your copy of Clockwork Angels yet? If so, you can

Clockwork Angels Tour Cellist Adele Stein Interviewed by The Salina Journal

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Adele Stein is one of the members of the string ensemble that are accompanying Rush on their current Clockwork Angels Tour. The Salina Journal has posted an interview with Adele who is a native of the Kansas town. In the interview, Adele discusses aspects about the string ensemble and getting to know the band. From the article: "It's really an incredible experience," she said. "We sit behind the band on a riser. People will be able to see us very clearly." Stein, who lives in Phoenix, is not old enough to have been into Rush in high school, having graduated South High in 2005. "Men in their 40s and 50s go nuts over these guys," she said. "They have fans who fly from all over the world to see their first shows when they are on tour." Stein first met the band after she arrived in Toronto on Aug. 26 for pre-tour rehearsals. She said the string players did a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Lifeson, whose birthday fell dur

Neil Peart Turns 60 Today

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Today marks the 60th birthday of Rush Drummer and Lyricist Extraordinaire Neil Peart. Neil (born Neil Ellwood Peart) came into the world on September 12th in 1952 Hamilton, Ontario. He grew up in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada (now part of St. Catharines) working the occasional odd job including the role of a Parts Manager for his father Tractor Supply company. His true ambition, however, was to become a professional musician. During adolescence, he floated from regional band to regional band and dropped out of high school to pursue a career as a full-time drummer. After a discouraging stint in England to concentrate on his music, Peart returned home, where he joined local Toronto band Rush in the summer of 1974. And the rest, as they say, is history. Join me in wishing Neil a very Happy Birthday - and many happy returns.

Rush Add San Diego Date to the Clockwork Angels Tour

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According to listings at both the VIP Nation site and Rush Music Today , as well as some reports from San Diego's KGB-FM 101 , Rush have added a new date to the Clockwork Angels tour on November 21st, 2012. The show will take place at the Valley View Casino on the 21st and tickets are set to go on-sale today . Interestingly enough, an official announcement from Rush.Com has yet to be posted however given the information from both ticket sales sites, it seems that this new date is valid. For a complete list of the tour dates for the Clockwork Angels tour, please visit the site's Tour Info page. Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the new date. Related News Stories [ Rush's Clockwork Angels Tour Begins - Set List Revealed LIVE - September 7th, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels Tour - Teaser Photo Gallery - September 4th, 2012] [ Rush Bringing String Ensemble on Clockwork Angels Tour - June 18th, 2012] [ Rush Add Three New European Dates - Will Perform a

Rush's Clockwork Angels Tour Begins - Set List Revealed LIVE

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Update (09/10/2012): As expected, Rush made a few changes to the set list last night in their second concert on the Clockwork Angels tour. To see the changes, which apparently will alternate back and forth for each show, click HERE . Update (09/09/2012): My photo album from the show, which includes over 400 pictures from the 3rd row, is now online. Check it out HERE . Update (11:45pm EST): Well, the concert is over and it was fantastic. I hope everyone enjoyed the streaming of the set list. I also took several hundred photos which will be online sometime tomorrow. I tried to post them to this news stream, but obviously something went awry. Thanks everyone! Update (2:00pm EST): We have arrived in Manchester! It's been 433 days since Rush last took the stage, closing out their 2010-2011 Time Machine Tour last July at The Gorge outside of Seattle, Washington. Tonight, the band returns to open up their Clockwork Angels World Tour at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchest

Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #12

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In the twelfth week after its release, Clockwork Angels moved back up in Billboard's Top 200 Album List , creeping up to position #117 from #121 the week before. The move up was no doubt related to the excitement surrounding the launch of the world tour that begins tomorrow. The release of the novelization of Clockwork Angels may have also played in increased album sales. While the album moved up in the Top 200 list, it actually fell down a few spots in other Billboard Charts : Top 200 Albums: #117 - up 4 spots from last week. Top Rock Albums: #38 -- down 3 spots from last week. Top Hard Rock Albums: #8 -- down 3 spots from last week. Haven't purchased your copy of Clockwork Angels yet? If so, you can do so HERE . Related News Stories [ Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #11 - August 30th, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #9 - August 16th, 2012] [ Clockwork Angels Charting Update - Week #8 - Huge Jump Up! - August 9th, 2012] [

Clockwork Angels Wins Album of the Year

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Update (09/10/2012): Click HERE to view Rush's acceptance for this award. The First Annual Prog Magazine Progressive Music Awards took place last night in London where Rush were nominated for "Best Album of the Year" (Clockwork Angels) and the "Grand Designs" category (Sectors Box Set). Though Pink Floyd's Immersion re-issue took the prize in the "Grand Designs" category, Rush's Clockwork Angels took home the coveted "Best Album of the Year" award. Given that the band is set to open up their 2012 Clockwork Angels tour tomorrow, none of the members were in attendance last night. To see a complete list of nominees and categories, click HERE . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for passing along the news.

Grammy Interview with Geddy Lee: The Spirit of Rush

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Yes, you read that right. None other than the Grammy Organization conducted an interview with Geddy Lee where they discussed "...the band's upcoming tour, the challenges of picking a set list and the reason for their longevity..." From the interview : With a new album and such a vast catalog, how do you choose the set list? Oh man, it's hard. You rehearse it all and then you start whittling it back. It just becomes tougher every year. It's a good problem to have because it's the result of a long career, but it's hard to pick the songs. You don't want to disappoint people by leaving their favorite song out. At the same time, you try to [play] a [new] old song. Trying to keep the balance is tricky. Rush have been nominated for seven GRAMMY Awards, including six in the Best Rock Instrumental Performance category. Would it be a career milestone to win a GRAMMY? I think it would be nice to win one. It's nice that we get the nomination, and the

Roadrunner Records Interview with Clockwork Angels Novel Author Kevin J. Anderson

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Roadrunner records have just posted an interview with author Kevin J. Anderson about his novelization of Rush's Clockwork Angels album. Not surprisingly, Kevin discusses in length how he and Neil Peart arrived at the idea of a novelization behind the album's lyrics: How much input did Neil Peart have into the Clockwork Angels novel? Did you mail him chapters back and forth, or did you two come up with an outline together and then you did everything else yourself? Well, Neil approached me when he was just starting the concept for the whole album. He was interested in steampunk and he had some scenes in mind for things that later became songs. And I’ve written some of the stuff—in fact, he had read some of my steampunk stuff way back in the late '80s—and we were just talking about what the genre was like and about some of his characters. He had made up the villain, and he had a couple of great scenes. So we talked about some of the pieces of the story, but this was ju

Clockwork Angels Tour - Teaser Photo Gallery

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Rush's long-time pytrotechnician and tour photographer John Arrowsmith has just posted some teaser photographs in the Rush Clockwork Angels Tour 2012 Photo Gallery . In the truest sense of the word, the photos included in the gallery are teaser shots; most of which are extreme close-ups with the background out of focus. You can certainly get a sense of the steampunk theme in many of the photos. Check them all out at www.rushshowphotos.com/Rush2012 . Thanks to Ed from RushIsABand for the news. Related News Stories [ Rush Bringing String Ensemble on Clockwork Angels Tour - June 18th, 2012] [ Rush Add Three New European Dates - Will Perform at the Sweden Rock Festival - May 22nd, 2012] [ Rush Add Second Toronto Show - Release European Fan Pre-Sale Information - May 15th, 2012] [ Rush Announce Initial 2013 European Tour Dates - May 14th, 2012] [ Rush Announces Clockwork Angels Tour Pre-Sale Details - Begins April 23rd - April 21st, 2012] [ Rush Clockwork Angels Co

Clockwork Angels: The Novel Released Today

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Clockwork Angels: The Novel, the official novelization behind Rush's latest concept album of the same name, is now officially available. A remarkable collaboration that is unprecedented in its scope and realization, this exquisitely wrought novel represents an artistic project between the bestselling science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson and the multiplatinum rock band Rush. The newest album by Rush, Clockwork Angels, sets forth a story in Neil Peart’s lyrics that has been expanded by him and Anderson into this epic novel. In a young man’s quest to follow his dreams, he is caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. He travels across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy with lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. The mind-bending story is complemented with rich paintings by the five-time Juno Award winner for Best Album Design, Hugh Syme. Author Kevin J.

Rush Take Two Titles in Ultimate Classic Rock's End of Summer Survey

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Ultimate Classic Rock recently held their 'End of Summer' Poll, asking readers to select several "best of" categories. Rush, along with KISS, both earned two titles in the poll. For Rush, they took Best Summer Album (Clockwork Angels) and Best Summer Single (The Wreckers). From the story : Kiss and Rush each led the voting in two categories when Ultimate Classic Rock’s End of Summer Survey polls closed, setting the pace for a field of winners that also included Van Halen, Black Sabbath and Aerosmith. Rush’s ‘The Wreckers‘ was declared your favorite 2012 summer song, narrowly edging out Van Halen’s ‘She’s the Woman.’ The Canadian trio also got the nod for having the summer’s best album, ‘Clockwork Angels.’ Check out all the entries via this LINK . Thanks to long-time reader Rob Michaelson for the news.

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