The Rush appreciation thread

So when did Rush start to headline shows and stop becoming a support act? Also, does anyone know if any Rush songs were played regularly on the radio(or at all for that matter)before the Permanent Waves album?

verslibre wrote: Sonuva...I'll have to check it. I hope the damage$ aren't too extreme.

verslibre wrote: C10, is that book loaded with ads for the shows?

rushfan4 wrote: Did Rush ever play this live?

Edited by Catcher10 - January 18 2020 at 11:08

Hi, new here and have lurked for years to be honest but the loss of Neil has brought me out of the woodwork.

Atavachron wrote: Everyone was influenced by Eddie, but the only one who can say how & when he influenced Alex Lifeson is Alex Lifeson.

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - January 16 2020 at 17:58

I got into Rush in 1976 when I picked up All the World's a Stage and tried to convert all my school friends who had never heard them. Devoured the back catalogue and saw them on the 1977 UK tour when they introduced Xanadu. After that, it was full on worship. Farewell to Kings through to Moving Pictures must be one of the best album runs any band have put together. Kept with them after that as they shifted style and moved to shorter, less proggy songs, but after Power Windows I have to admit my interest faded somewhat and I opened up to other artists - even though there were still gems in the albums and the live albums still kicked. It was the reunion that reawakened my devotion again and although Vapor Trails wasn't the best comeback, the R30 tour, Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels definitely gave them a fine send off. A unique band still fixed into my musical DNA and responsible for some wonderful memories. Neil's death struck me hard, but I suppose it's allowed me to reconnect with their legacy again.

Atavachron wrote:  ^  As a total guitar geek I have to nitpick that.   Eddie VH's influence on Alex pretty much begins & ends with with 'YYZ'.   The hammer/pull phrases on Permanent Waves were long-established guitar techniques and had little to do with Eddie other than that he influenced well over a decade of players in the late 70s/early 80s.   Alex's new approach reminded me much more of Jeff Beck, and as you point out, Andy Summers.   He had matured as a musician and was more interested in getting to the point with tasteful, carefully considered phrasing, ultimately creating his own very unique sound.

Atavachron wrote: Machinemessiah wrote: When I listen to Rush, I look for Alex Lifeson distorted strumming (and solos obviously, but those perfectly tuned up, distorted strummings always fascinate me; I play guitar and I don't find it easy to make the electric guitar sound so neat strumming entire chords, or chords progressions like an acoustic guitar, with distortion), also his unusual power chords and arpeggiated transitions (ex. Anthem), his solos with that blessed wrist for the vibratos and all kinds of color with harmonics.  He really came a long way stylistically between Hem and MP.   By the time Signals came out ~ with his emphasis on phrasing, tone, and restraint ~ he was almost unrecognizable from the post-Page shrieks & squeals of his earlier days.