Origin: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres: Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock
Years Active: 1968-present
Website: www.rush.com
Active Members
-Alex Lifeson
Past members
-John Rutsey
-Jeff Jones
-Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968 in Willowdale neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario.
-Comprised of bassist, keyboardist and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist and backing vocalist Alex Lifeson, and drummer, percussionist and lyricist Neil Peart
-Wen through a number of changes from 1968 and 1974, including John Rutsey being replaced in July 1974, 2 weeks before the band's first US tour. Rutsey's departure from the band stemmed from health problems stemming from his diabetes
-This band is heavily known for it's musicianship, complex compositions, lyrical styles drawing on sci-fi, fantasy and philosophy.
-Their music style has changed over the years, starting with blues inspired heavy metal on their first self titled album, then moving on to hard rock, progressive rock and a period of use with synthesizers. They have been listed as an influence to bands like Metallica, Primus, The Smashing Pumpkins, Dream Theatre, and Symphony X
-In records, Rush has 24 gold records and 14 platinum records. Their record sales put them in 3rd behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones
-Are expected to release their next album, Clockwork Angels, in June 2012.
History
-Original lineup: drummer John Rutsey, bassist and front man Jeff Jones and Lifeson. Within a few weeks, Jones was replaced as lead singer by Geddy Lee, a school friend of Lifeson
-They officially formed in May 1971
-They honed their musical skills by doing a cover of the song "Not Fade Away" at local bar/high school dances in 1973
-They had limited popularity until a local radio station, WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, OH picked them up. Donna Halper, a DJ working the station, selected their song "Working Man" for her regular playlist.
-The song had a blue collar them that connected well to the hard rock fans and this popularity led them to making more music and also the album with this song being released through Mercury Records in the US
-In 1974, Rutsey had to leave the band due to his general hate of touring and also his diabetes. His last show with the band was on July 25, 1974 at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario.
-Eventually, Neil Peart was selected as Rutsey's replacement
-His first concert with them was on their first US tour, when they were opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14, 1974
-In 1975, Fly by Night, their first album after Peart joined, got them more fame. With Peart in the band, the lyrics began to have a sci-fi fantasy theme
-In 1977 and 1978, they released their A Farewell to Kings(1977) and Hemispheres(1978) at Rockfielf Studios in Wales. This is when they began using progressive rock elements in their music
-So their songs became increasingly longer, with more dynamic ways of playing, increased use of synthesizers.
-Soon, they also started using triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes because of Peart's percussion skills
-Their 1981 album, Moving Pictures, created more popularity for the band, including it's lead track Tom Sawyer. This is, by far, Rush's most well known track.
-The band went into a 5 year break in 1997, due to personal problems in Peart's life. His daughter Selena died in a car accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998.
-They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998
Influences
-Their debut album was heavily inspired by British blues rock: basically from bands like then Led Zeppelin, Cream, Deep Purple. Their other albums took inspiration from The Who
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