Rush Performance on 'The Colbert Report' Among the 10 Most Memorable Moments

Back in 2008, a turning-point in the popularity of Rush occurred; they made their first appearance on American television in more than 30 years with a memorable visit and performance on The Colbert Report.

Now, six years later as the show is set to wind down, the Wall Street Journal takes a look at the 10 Memorable Moments From ‘The Colbert Report’ which includes Rush's appearance:

Rush Make Their First American Television Appearance in 33 Years

July 16, 2008

One of the earliest “gets” of “The Colbert Report” was Canadian prog-rock band Rush, who chose the Comedy Central show as the setting for their first American television appearance in more than 30 years. The gimmick was that Colbert’s director, Jimmy, was a huge Rush fan, and Colbert invited the band on the show because he had lost a bet. Unfortunately, video of Colbert’s interview with the group and its subsequent performance of “Tom Sawyer” isn’t available, but for those of us who remember it vividly, one of the best questions Colbert has ever asked was when he said to Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson: “You’re known for your long songs – have you ever written a song so epic that by the end of the song, you were actually influenced by yourself at the beginning of the song?”

To view the complete list, as well as the video clip from Rush's appearance on Colbert's show, click HERE.

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