Posts

Showing posts from September, 2021

Rush album artist Hugh Syme talks about the expanded edition of his 'Art of Rush' book, Moving Pictures 40th Anniversary box set, and more in a new Interview with Cygnus-X1.Net

Image
Ever since the release of Rush's third studio album Caress of Steel back in 1975, the multi-talented Hugh Syme has been working alongside the band as their album artist and illustrator. With the upcoming release of the expanded edition of his Art of Rush: Serving A Life Sentence coffee table book, Hugh graciously took some time out of his busy schedule to sit down with us and discuss everything from his early days working with Rush, his workaholic approach to his artwork, the upcoming 40th Anniversary Box Set of Rush's Moving Pictures and more. From the interview: "...I was grateful to be doing something this much fun, as the initial part of my aspirations was being an album cover designer. It was really on the strength of my being in a band on the same label as Rush, and Max Webster, and Larry Gowan and so on. We were all managed by the same guy, Ray Danniels. I remember distinctly being called into his office like a school kid, to the principal, even though he

Geddy Lee Currently Writing a Memoir. Expecting a Fall 2022 Release Date

Image
Geddy Lee has just announced through Instagram that he is currently writing his memoir and expects to have the book published in the Fall of 2022. From the post: Geddy: So, how did I kill time during the pandemic? Little did I know that as of March 2020 I'd be locked down for over a year and a half—the longest time I'd spent in Toronto since I was nineteen and hit the Northern Ontario bar circuit with Rush. Although Nancy and I had to cancel a bunch of adventures we'd been planning, there were some shiny silver linings to be found at home: teaching my grandson the finer points of baseball and birdwatching, tending to my pups (one of whom was quite ill) and spending the evenings with my lovely better half, glass of Armagnac in hand, as we watched every European mystery show ever produced. Oh, and another thing: I began to write. Words, that is. My friend and collaborator on the Big Beautiful Book of Bass, Daniel Richler, saw how I was struggling in the aft

Alex Lifeson Featured in the November 2021 Issue of Guitar Player Magazine

Image
The November 2021 issue of Guitar Player magazine features Alex Lifeson on the cover and includes both an interview with the Rush guitarist, as well as a review of his new Epiphone Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess Standard guitar. In the interview, which was conducted by Joe Bosso, Alex talks about life before, during, and after Rush, his new band project Envy of None , the release of his new Les Paul Axcess guitar, and more. From the article: A few years ago, you and Gibson came out with the Custom Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess. I can only imagine what a thrill it was to create a guitar to your own specifications. It was. I didn't want to have a guitar just to see my name on it. That's easy, and a lot of people do that just to sell more guitars. I wanted a guitar that I would want to buy for what it was, for its features, so that's what we created. We spent a couple of years working on it, going back and forth on the pickups and the neck. I wanted the piezo pickup i

Rush Cinema Strangiato Director's Cut 2021 Streaming Edition Coming October 1st

Image
EXCLUSIVE VOD RELEASE FEATURES DIRECTOR’S CUT WITH AN INTERACTIVE WATCH PARTY FOR FANS OCT 1 Following a successful global cinema release, Trafalgar Releasing and Anthem Entertainment are proud to announce that starting on October 1 at 9 p.m. ET through Sunday, October 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET, RUSH fans worldwide can view Rush: Cinema Strangiato – Director’s Cut at home, on demand. Visit www.cinemastrangiato.com for more information and to purchase access for $15. On Friday, October 1 at 9 p.m. ET, RUSHCON will host a live virtual “Interactive Watch Party” for fans to connect and discuss the film when it premieres online. Those who purchase a watch party ticket will maintain access to the content for the entire duration of the VOD window, but only those who log in during the live October 1 event will be able to participate in the chat. Rush: Cinema Strangiato – Director’s Cut celebrates the “Holy Trinity of Rock” (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart) and 40 years of their M

Clockwork Destiny Novel by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart Coming in April 2022

Image
The third and final novel from the Clockwork Angels trilogy is set to be released in April of 2022. As with the previous two novels, Clockwork Destiny was written by Kevin J. Anderson and the late Neil Peart: In Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, readers met the optimistic young hero Owen Hardy, as well as the more reluctant adventurer Marinda Peake, in an amazing world of airships and alchemy, fantastic carnivals and lost cities. Now Owen Hardy, retired and content in his quiet, perfect life with the beautiful Francesca, is pulled into one last adventure with his eager grandson Alain. This final mission for the Watchmaker will take them up to the frozen lands of Ultima Thule and the ends of the Earth. Marinda Peake must undertake a mission of her own, not only to compile the true life story of the mysterious Watchmaker, but also to stop a deadly new group of anarchists. The Clockwork trilogy is based on the story and lyrics from the last album of musical titans Rush, with And

Geddy Lee Honoured at Artists for Peace and Justice's Annual Gala

Image
Every year during the Toronto International Film Festival, Artists for Peace and Justice holds its gala, during which the stars turn out to help fundraise for vital humanitarian causes. On Sept. 11, $500,000 was raised at the 2021 Artists for Peace and Justice gala to further education in Haiti. Some of Canada's biggest stars were also honoured for their philanthropy and commitment to giving back, with Geddy Lee receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. Geddy received APJ's Lifetime Achievement Award for the many causes he has championed throughout his storied musical career. He's supported organizations such as Brain Cancer research, the Toronto Food Bank, Alberta Floods, Doctors without Borders, Grapes for Humanity, United Way, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Casey House, and many more. Geddy had been twice honoured for major humanitarian awards by the Canadian music industry alongside his bandmates. You can watch Geddy's reaction to receiving th

Remembering Neil Peart on his 69th Birthday

Image
It's been a little more than twenty months since the world of music was shattered when Neil Peart, a true legend, succumbed to brain cancer on January 7th, 2020. To this day, the sting of his loss continues to weigh on Rush fans the world over. The breadth of his contributions to the world of music coupled with the inspiration he fueled for countless musicians will always be applauded. Today we mark what would have been Neil's 69th birthday with a brief look back at his decades-spanning career, while also highlighting tributes that were made to honor his memory. Neil Ellwood Peart was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in Port Dalhousie (now part of St. Catharines). During adolescence, he floated between regional bands in pursuit of a career as a full-time drummer. After a discouraging stint in England to concentrate on his music, Neil returned home, where he joined Rush, a Toronto-based band, in mid-1974, six years after its formation. Early in his career, Neil's

Roll the Bones 30th Anniversary Officially Licensed Screenprints from Collectionzz Now Available

Image
Collectionzz, creators of officially licensed original prints inspired by music, and those who make it, have just announced the release of two limited-edition prints celebrating the 30th anniversary of Rush's platinum-selling album Roll the Bones . Artist Ben Brown, who created the prints, talks about the album and inspiration behind his artwork: I was fan of the early records of Rush - and being a big music fan, always paid respect to their very capable music chops - both as players and composers. As a kid I loved 70’s hard driving rock (still do!) - Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, The Faces, Led Zeppelin - and those early Rush LP’s fit right in to my play list. I was not as familiar with later output from the band - in the early 90’s I had moved on and was riding skateboards and listening to hard core punk rock and metal. When Collectionzz approached me to create a Rush poster - I was stoked - and revisited ‘Fly By Night’ and 2112. I also played Roll the Bones. At first I fell

Share This