OT: Question for JSS: Rush

[belar]

Howdy Jeff:

Seeing as how in tune with the music industry you are and have been for 20+ years, I was just wondering if you have any opinion one way or the other on the band Rush. They have many parallels with Journey in that both bands were formed around the same time, influenced by music from the late '60's, both have a sound which has greatly evolved over time, both have recently experienced their 30th anniversary, have a group of die-hard fans which have followed them for years and years, etc. Personally, I think they're a very interesting group with a talent for both intelligent lyrics and innovative music. Maybe they don't have the kind of sound that the typical Journey fan might enjoy, but I'm just curious as to what you and others around here think about their music.

Jeff, if you have time to answer, cool, if not, no problem. I know you're a busy guy.

I'd like to hear other folks' opinion on this, as well.

[WickedGail]

This would be fun to hear his answer sence my number one and two bands are Rush and Journey in that order. I am so up for the new Rush album and tour, that I'm kinda glad Journey seems to be taking the summer off. This way I don't have to divide my loyalitys between the two of them.....

Gail

[conversationpc]

...both have a sound which has greatly evolved over time

Certainly, Journey's sound has evolved when compared to their first three albums but not so much since then. However Rush's sound seems to evolve every few years or so. I used to hate their 80s output but I've since grown to love albums like "Signals", "Power Windows", and "Hold Your Fire", as well as classics like "Permanent Waves" and, of course, "Moving Pictures".

Personally, I think they're a very interesting group with a talent for both intelligent lyrics and innovative music.

Yeah, other than the debut, I don't hear much that really stands out as being influenced heavily by other bands. The first one seems to be pretty obviously Zeppelin-influenced but I think the addition of Peart certainly pulled them in a more experimental direction, both musically and lyrically. I love that I can listen to a Rush song and not hear the typical love songs that 95% of other bands tend to write.

[belar]

This would be fun to hear his answer sence my number one and two bands are Rush and Journey in that order. I am so up for the new Rush album and tour, that I'm kinda glad Journey seems to be taking the summer off. This way I don't have to divide my loyalitys between the two of them.....

Gail

I've never actually seen them live, although I've always wanted to. If they come through St. Louis next time around, I'm there.

[belar]

Yeah, other than the debut, I don't hear much that really stands out as being influenced heavily by other bands. The first one seems to be pretty obviously Zeppelin-influenced but I think the addition of Peart certainly pulled them in a more experimental direction, both musically and lyrically. I love that I can listen to a Rush song and not hear the typical love songs that 95% of other bands tend to write.

I'm with you - the really early stuff sounds very much like Zeppelin (not a bad thing at all), and then with Peart they started to change. I really enjoyed the synth-laced stuff in the '80's, especially Hold Your Fire, but I think what I like about them most is their intelligent lyrics and "movement-based" songs rather then just using the typical formula for a rock song all the time - sometimes they really challenge their audience, and I respect that.

[WickedGail]

I always admired Geddy Lee's coment when a rock journalist in NYC asked him why the lyrics were so complex by the band? He said he considered the bands fans to be the most intelligent in the world! No dictionary for us needed! Nice to hear a rocker profess some respect for the bands fans

Gail

[belar]

I always admired Geddy Lee's coment when a rock journalist in NYC asked him why the lyrics were so complex by the band? He said he considered the bands fans to be the most intelligent in the world! No dictionary for us needed! Nice to hear a rocker profess some respect for the bands fans

Gail

I've never heard that, but it's really awesome that the band would have such a high opinion of its fans!"

[Melissa]

...both have a sound which has greatly evolved over time

Certainly, Journey's sound has evolved when compared to their first three albums but not so much since then. However Rush's sound seems to evolve every few years or so. I used to hate their 80s output but I've since grown to love albums like "Signals", "Power Windows", and "Hold Your Fire", as well as classics like "Permanent Waves" and, of course, "Moving Pictures".

Personally, I think they're a very interesting group with a talent for both intelligent lyrics and innovative music.

Yeah, other than the debut, I don't hear much that really stands out as being influenced heavily by other bands. The first one seems to be pretty obviously Zeppelin-influenced but I think the addition of Peart certainly pulled them in a more experimental direction, both musically and lyrically. I love that I can listen to a Rush song and not hear the typical love songs that 95% of other bands tend to write.

My hubby (huge Rush fan) has said the same things

[Waysted]

This would be fun to hear his answer sence my number one and two bands are Rush and Journey in that order. I am so up for the new Rush album and tour, that I'm kinda glad Journey seems to be taking the summer off. This way I don't have to divide my loyalitys between the two of them.....

Gail

I've never actually seen them live, although I've always wanted to. If they come through St. Louis next time around, I'm there.

You need to check them out if you get a chance. I've seen them 24 times (so far), and will be sure to catch them as many times as I can on the next tour

[Angiekay]

I always admired Geddy Lee's coment when a rock journalist in NYC asked him why the lyrics were so complex by the band? He said he considered the bands fans to be the most intelligent in the world! No dictionary for us needed! Nice to hear a rocker profess some respect for the bands fans

Gail

Why was Geddy answering that question? Neil writes almost all of their lyrics!

[MartyMoffatt]

Rush have been my No.1 band too, ever since I first saw them in 1978, and on every UK tour they've done since. In fact I've just this week finished reading Neil Peart's latest book 'Roadshow - A concert tour by motorcycle', covering his adventures between shows on their 2004 30th Anniversary tour. It's a fascinating book and shows how intelligent and informed a lyricist he is.... and how uncomfortable he is with 'fanatical' fans. Rush have those too.

As to influences, Rush have had a few, in addition to the early Zeppelin influence. In the 80's they readily admitted to being influenced by bands like Big Country (most obviously on the Grace Under Pressure album), and many of the 80's New Wave bands. They've also tried their hand at reggae. However, being Rush they always seem to take a style and morph it into something else so that it remains uniquely Rush.

Can't wait for the new album and (hopefully) supporting tour - as long as it covers Europe.

Marty

[Melissa]

Rush have been my No.1 band too, ever since I first saw them in 1978, and on every UK tour they've done since. In fact I've just this week finished reading Neil Peart's latest book 'Roadshow - A concert tour by motorcycle', covering his adventures between shows on their 2004 30th Anniversary tour. It's a fascinating book and shows how intelligent and informed a lyricist he is.... and how uncomfortable he is with 'fanatical' fans. Rush have those too.

As to influences, Rush have had a few, in addition to the early Zeppelin influence. In the 80's they readily admitted to being influenced by bands like Big Country (most obviously on the Grace Under Pressure album), and many of the 80's New Wave bands. They've also tried their hand at reggae. However, being Rush they always seem to take a style and morph it into something else so that it remains uniquely Rush.

Can't wait for the new album and (hopefully) supporting tour - as long as it covers Europe.

Marty

Marty where did you find that book? I know my hubby would love it, & I'm always in need of gift ideas after 13 years, lol. Thanks!

[MartyMoffatt]

Marty where did you find that book? I know my hubby would love it, & I'm always in need of gift ideas after 13 years, lol. Thanks!

I got the book through Amazon (or at least that's where my wife got it for me for Christmas). Or I think there's a link on Neil's MySpace page here

http://www.myspace.com/neilpeartpratt

This really is him, not an imposter site. If you have a MySpace page and add him as a friend, he frequently sends out bulletin updates, letting people know what's going on.

Marty

PS Or you could check out his official website http://www.neilpeart.net.

[WickedGail]

I always admired Geddy Lee's coment when a rock journalist in NYC asked him why the lyrics were so complex by the band? He said he considered the bands fans to be the most intelligent in the world! No dictionary for us needed! Nice to hear a rocker profess some respect for the bands fans

Gail

Why was Geddy answering that question? Neil writes almost all of their lyrics!

Real simple HE was the one who was asked the question! If anything the reporter should have done his homework better! Still love Ged's answer tho

Gail

[Melissa]

Marty where did you find that book? I know my hubby would love it, & I'm always in need of gift ideas after 13 years, lol. Thanks!

I got the book through Amazon (or at least that's where my wife got it for me for Christmas). Or I think there's a link on Neil's MySpace page here

http://www.myspace.com/neilpeartpratt

This really is him, not an imposter site. If you have a MySpace page and add him as a friend, he frequently sends out bulletin updates, letting people know what's going on.

Marty

PS Or you could check out his official website http://www.neilpeart.net.

Thank you!!

[MartyMoffatt]

I always admired Geddy Lee's coment when a rock journalist in NYC asked him why the lyrics were so complex by the band? He said he considered the bands fans to be the most intelligent in the world! No dictionary for us needed! Nice to hear a rocker profess some respect for the bands fans

Gail

Why was Geddy answering that question? Neil writes almost all of their lyrics!

Real simple HE was the one who was asked the question! If anything the reporter should have done his homework better! Still love Ged's answer tho

Gail

I know that Rush usually have a policy of strictly rotating their interviews so that each band member takes a turn to be the one interviewed. Therefore the interviewer may not have had much choice in who he was talking to. However, they are all pretty intelligent interviewees.

Marty

[belar]

This would be fun to hear his answer sence my number one and two bands are Rush and Journey in that order. I am so up for the new Rush album and tour, that I'm kinda glad Journey seems to be taking the summer off. This way I don't have to divide my loyalitys between the two of them.....

Gail

I've never actually seen them live, although I've always wanted to. If they come through St. Louis next time around, I'm there.

You need to check them out if you get a chance. I've seen them 24 times (so far), and will be sure to catch them as many times as I can on the next tour

Wow. I'm not sure I've seen 24 concerts, period, in my life. I've seen Journey 4 times, Aerosmith twice, and the rest are singles. That's very impressive.

[Mark H]

Rush have been my No.1 band too, ever since I first saw them in 1978, and on every UK tour they've done since. In fact I've just this week finished reading Neil Peart's latest book 'Roadshow - A concert tour by motorcycle', covering his adventures between shows on their 2004 30th Anniversary tour. It's a fascinating book and shows how intelligent and informed a lyricist he is.... and how uncomfortable he is with 'fanatical' fans. Rush have those too.

As to influences, Rush have had a few, in addition to the early Zeppelin influence. In the 80's they readily admitted to being influenced by bands like Big Country (most obviously on the Grace Under Pressure album), and many of the 80's New Wave bands. They've also tried their hand at reggae. However, being Rush they always seem to take a style and morph it into something else so that it remains uniquely Rush.

Can't wait for the new album and (hopefully) supporting tour - as long as it covers Europe.

Marty

Hi Marty

Didn't know you were a fellow Rush fan - we must have a natter at the convention.

I've been a fan since the first album and got everything since, although my passion for them sort of ebbs and flows with their changes in style. Eventually I ussually catch up and start liking the stuff that doesn't initially push my buttons.

Always a great act live, seen every Uk tour from 2112 to Exit and then from Hold your fire to now.

I can remember wagging off school in about 78/79 to hang out outside the Piccadilly hotel in Manchester as I found out the band were staying there and got Geddy's s autograph on the sleeve of Hemisphere's by stopping his limo as it left the car park. He was big into photography at the time and always used to tour the cities he visited, taking photos. I remember he pulled me up for mis-pronouncing his name as if with a J.

Seems a million years ago now LOL