BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE

I think, irrespective you are a prog freak or hard rock freak, I am sure in some way you like most of Rush music. As in my case, I am not a die hard fan of Rush but I always love their music and I always enjoy when I play most of their albums especially those the 70s and 80s. I have not seen Rush on stage by my eyes in a real concert. But I have seen many of Rush video / DVD concerts from the classic Exit Stage Left, Grace Under Pressure as well as the later ones like Rush In Rio. Yes, I enjoy all of them but I am no longer eager to watch the live DVD again from Rush. Not that I don't want to, but more on predictability of the live recorded video because I have seen many of them,

The latest DVD by Rush titled 'Beyond The Lighted Stage' is totally different from their previous release as this is basically the documentary film capturing the band's journey from their inception right way through the recent years. I was so excited to watch the DVD especially with its tagline 'The band you know, the story you don't'. What a great tagline! I had a chance to watch this DVD last Sunday with other 8 people of my prog mates right here in Jakarta Indonesia as the DVD ordered by my colleague just arrived Tuesday last week. We watched the DVD in a mini home theater studio powered with great sound system with large screen. We only played Disc One of the package and did not have a chance to play the second disc because it's too late in the evening and some of my progmates would have to work on Monday. It's really a lot of fun watching th DVD with other people, prog rock lovers. (By the way, we had a regular gathering which we call it as Progring - progressive gathering).

The story that finally we know...

I have set my mind right from the beginning that what I was going to watch was a movie, and NOT a live concert DVD. I did not expect the songs would be played in its entirety because it would emphasize on the story of the band. But the live footage make the movie mre attractive to enjoy. I am impressed with the fact that the story really started when the members of the band was in a school. It's basically the meeting of two guys who in the future would be long-live friends: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. I reall enjoy seeing the beginning history of the band as the two guys were basically not accepted by their parents to build their career in music. Geddy and and Alex kept trying and started to recruit John Rustey sitting at the drum stool. The good part is that the parents of Alex Lifeson and also Geddy Lee were interviewed as well.

The movie tries to focus on how the friendship of Geddy an Alex grew up steadily and there was an emotional bond on how they shared the same taste in music. As John Rustey got some health problem finally he was replaced by Neil Peart ? a shy guy who played as drummer in other band. Since then the band grew significantly and landed its popularity in radio program. The movie depicts clearly on how the band started to take control of their music without the involvement of the label who had put their trust to the band.

Overall, I am impressed with this movie and as result of watching this movie, I kept playing Rush music. I believe you will find yourself entertained watching this movie. There are many excellent segments throughout the movie especially their long vacuum period due to Peart's personal problem with the loss of his love ones. Buy this DVD! Keep on proggin' ...keep on RUSHin' ..!!!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW