Rush and the Canadians
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=124778
Printed Date: February 17 2025 at 22:22
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Rush and the Canadians
Posted By: Umeda
Subject: Rush and the Canadians
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 09:58
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According to some sources, including Spotify, Rush is the third most popular 'prog' rock band here in Brazil, just behind Pink Floyd at first place and Supertramp at second. But what about Canada? Is it popular in Canada, like, would a Canadian youngster reply "yes" if he/she was asked about knowing a random song by Rush? Let's take Australia for example, the song "Down Under" by Men At Work is pretty popular among the Australian people. I'm asking this because I'm doing a research about English-speaking countries, and of course, the cultural aspect is present as part of it. Being a huge fan of them, would love to read your opinions. ------------- Not for rent. To any God or government. |
Replies:
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 11:00
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After living in Canada for almost 10 years, I can easily say that Rush is quite popular here. I'm an avid vinyl collector/trader/etc. and Rush is always an easy sell and you can fetch a lot of $$$ for excellent copies. All of the reissues are selling quite well also according to my "new vinyl" sources. ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 11:04
I’m glad to know they are recognized in their own land.
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TCat wrote:Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 12:31
| From what I've read, they're about as popular in Canada as they are in the US, which is a lot. When you mention prog to people who only know a little about it, Rush usually comes up, pretty much all across the Americas. |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 13:31
I agree....They also hold many accolades like:
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 14:45
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Born and raised in the Great White North less than an hour from the origins of the band I can say with absolute confidence they are known...and highly thought of. It's a generational thing, but they are probbaly the most popular Canadian rock band after The Guess Who. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 15:23
| Yes, Rush are quite famous in their homeland. Unsurprisingly they were big there before anywhere else. I think most canadians at least know "Tom Sawyer" even if they aren't big Rush fans. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 15:24
I don't see how The Guess Who could be considered more popular than Rush in Canada especially if we are going by album sales. Maybe among people who are a bit older but over all I seriously doubt it.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 15:46
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Some other big names in Canadian Rock:- April Wine Arcade Fire Bachman Turner Overdrive The Band Barenaked Ladies Blue Rodeo Chiiliwack Cowboy Junkies The Guess Who The Jeff Healey Band Loverboy Mahogany Rush Neil Young & Crazy Horse Nickelback Saga Steppenwolf The Tragically Hip Triumph |
Posted By: ForestFriend
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 15:48
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I can't say I'm familiar with how kids get exposed to music these days, but if they've spent any time listening to Canadian rock radio, they're bound to hear some Rush (as well as some other Canadian bands you rarely hear outside our borders). I went into the car of a younger university classmate (~20) and she was playing Permanent Waves from her phone, if that's any indication of what the average Canadian band geek these days might listen to. ------------- https://borealkinship.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My prog band - Boreal Kinship |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 16:20
| Paul, you forgot Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Gordon Lightfoot, Shania Twain and Celine Dion. ;) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 16:44
That was just a list of Canadian bands - not solo artists.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 16:49
| ^Ok, fair enough. ;) |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 16:50
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 16:59
What, no Crash Test Dummies, Platinum Blonde or Toronto?  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 17:10
I don't know Crash Test Dummies, Platinum Blonde or Toronto. I only listed the Canadian bands I've heard of, without any help from Google.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 17:17
No Chiliwack, Max Webster or Klattu either.
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Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 17:26
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I'm Canadian and I don't know how popular Rush is in Canada overall across various demographics. It has been a staple here on rock radio stations (especially classic rock ones) and I would expect that most middle aged men into rock music would be more than passingly familiar with music by Rush in Canada, especially if they also listen to rock radio stations (Tom Sawyer in particular has been a staple of rotation in Canada, and we can find Canadian content guidelines for Canadian media which leads to more Canadian content being played). Rush is popular in Canada, at least. I don't think it's as iconic as, say, Neil Young (he's as iconic as Molson beer and much tastier), but well-known none-the-less. I would not say that the Guess Who is bigger than Rush, but I would suspect that many more people would know the song "American Woman" than "Tom Sawyer", even if they didn't know who wrote the song (A.W. is a radio staple and been used in other media quite a lot). Some, I expect, will have confused the Canadian The Guess Who with the British The Who and Doctor Who (as well as Abbot and Costello's Who's on First etc.), and some will have confused the Canadian band Rush with the American conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. My friends got into the band Rush at the same time that they got into Rush, the isobutyl nitrite product that they would sniff (please don't ever try this -- it can lead to even worse headaches than hearing Geddy Lee caterwaul, and is even worse for your health). ;) Half-kidding there. But seriously kids, say no to Rush -- the popper I mean; the band is optional. I don't want to not mention Canada (aka the Great White North) and Geddy Lee without referring to this: By the way, when I was a teenager I got into Rush (that was in the 80s), but mostly lost interest in the band subsequently. It did seem to mostly appeal to the stoners and auto mechanics crowd at my school (not that I was into auto mechanics). I mostly appreciate the Quebec (Francophone) Prog scene. |
Posted By: Umeda
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 17:41
I know them! Pretty enjoyable folk group. "Superman Song" is their best song I believe. ------------- Not for rent. To any God or government. |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 19:05
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The Tragically Hip is another Canadian band that is a lot bigger up here than most places. The lead singer passed away not too long ago. Rush is so big in Canada that I've heard them played even in supermarkets. In fact, I heard Jacob's Ladder just the other day in the local Foodland. It was a pretty big deal up here when Peart passed away. ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 20:10
I've heard of Chilliwack, but I didn't think anyone else outside of Canada would have heard of them.
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 06 2020 at 21:28
They had a top forty single in late 1981 or so called "my girl (gone, gone, gone). I bought the 45 but it was warped so I couldn't play it. I went back to the record store and bought another copy but that too was warped. I returned it and got something else(possibly). I never bought it again. Oh well. No, I don't live in Canada though. Chiliwack actually evolved out of a band that is on progarchives under proto-prog(I think) called the Collectors.
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 00:51
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Platinum Blonde was a pop rock band that made a few albums. Their third album was called (wait for it) Alien Shores (1985), and Alex Lifeson even played two guitar solos on it. Dalbello, who later sang "Start Today" on Alex's Victor album (and did a terrifyingly great impression of Caress-era Geddy), contributed backing vocals to some songs, too. Remember "Wait for an Answer" from Heart's Bad Animals album? Originally recorded by Dalbello. Familiar with Heart's huge hit "What About Love"? It was intended for Toronto's third album, but 4/6 of the band didn't want to use it! Like Wilson, Annie "Holly" Woods has an incredible set of pipes. The 2002 remaster of Get It on Credit includes the original recording.  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 02:29
I do. Their second album, a 1971 double, is even in my collection. Some highly experimental stuff and hardly any connection with the music of The Collectors, whose debut is a proto-prog masterpiece. By the way, no Hamadryad or Druckfarben either
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 02:55
Canadian bands I know, besides Rush obviously are Saga, Annihilator, Devin Townsend, Mystery, Bolus, Borealis, GY!BE, Harmonium, Third Ion, Triumph, Universe Effects, Voivod. 
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 02:59
The only two bands I know in your list are Saga and Triumph. I thought Harmonium were a French band though, so I'm guessing they must be French-Canadian.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 03:13
how very predictable. have you ever listened to Harmonium? |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 03:31
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Some Canadians rock bands were much more popular abroad than at home. Montreal's Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush and Ottawa's Pat Travers (an English back-up band, because that's where he broke out first) could play in stadiums sout of the 49th Parallel, though not necessarily as headliners.
That's always
better than in Belgium, where the two greater prog bands (cousins,
really) Univers Zero and Présent, most Belgians don't even know of ,
leaving the awful Machiavel as the best-known.
Don't know about CTD's internal popularity, but Platimnum Blonde only had a local success (they started out as a The Police cover band) and Toronto's best-known moments was disputing Pat Benetar's You Better Run hit for authorship of the song. Interesting to see the links between them and Rose and Honeymoon Suite (the latter had a long career) |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 03:34
No, but I've heard they're very harmonious. And yes, it was predictable, proving once again that you know far more about prog than I do.
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Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 05:43
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Up until last year I was working with some Canadians from Montreal. I wanted to ask this very question as I've loved Rush for a long, long time. Thought I'd come across as a bit of a knob if I did though haha. Maybe if I'd socialised with them, I might have brought it up. Good post and nice to hear of their deserved popularity. ------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 05:57
------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 05:57
Out of those bands I listed, you can probably Guess Who my favourite Canadian band are.
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 06:03
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Let's not forget April Wine. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 06:54
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shame on me, I forgot about Guess Who.
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 07:06
The Guess Who were the first Canadian band I thought of and I didn't forget April Wine either.
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Posted By: Mudpuppy64
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 07:07
And the Hip
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 07:07
sometimes one forgets the most obvious thing.
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 08:09
------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 09:53
Ok that's pretty cool, in a Foodland and to pick Jacob's Ladder, clearly the mgr was a Rush fan. The day it was announced I was in Sacramento for business and we all sent to a Kings basketball game that night and every intermission, every timeout and at half time (part of it as they had a pre-arranged dance show set already) they played Rush song snipets. Every time the crowd cheered loudly. -------------
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 09:56
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Who cares about Rush in Canada! I want to know how popular they are in Kazakhstan! ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 09:59
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 09:59
True dat, I have a couple of their albums on cassette........ Let's also not forget Red Rider, here in 'Merica known for their one-hit wonder Lunatic Fringe, great song!! I have a few of their albums also. I like their music, great 80's stuff. -------------
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Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 10:07
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Then there is the London, Ontario-based progressive band "True Myth" that everyone (even Canadians) have forgotten about, even though their debut album was not bad. However, they do have the honor of being the first ever album recorded digitally in Canada and the 3rd in the world (following Ry Cooder's "Bop til You Drop" and Stevie Wonder's "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants"). They are in the Archives by the way. ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: TCat
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 10:10
Red Rider and Tom Cochrane's (the leader of Red Rider) solo work is all quite popular in Canada. Cochrane had a pretty big hit by himself, more known in Canada than the US (even though I did know it before I moved to Canada) called "Life is a Highway" ------------- https://ibb.co/8x0xjR0" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 10:15
That's a great song!! Forgot about Tom's solo efforts, I remember that video......That song is played a lot here in US. -------------
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Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 12:49
| I remember when this thread was about Rush hehe. |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 12:51
Canadians are the only ones who can help with this thread.
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 14:34
The video for their annoying song "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" was all over eMpTyVee in '93. That song was a big hit here in the States and in the UK & Oz. I guess it wasn't as big on their home turf. I posted about Toronto's original version of "What About Love," which became a huge hit for Heart. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 14:38
Underrated thrash band. Their first three albums are great. They're not that good after that... ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 15:22
The Guess Who?
Not sure what my list of mostly women has to do with it though. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 15:48
From your list, I'd choose Sarah McLachlan, seeing as I have six of her albums on CD.
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Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 15:50
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For the completists: Lesser known but in PA : the amazing Rick Miller, Nathan Mahl, Huis, Hamadryad, Dean Watson, Antoine Fafard, Ken Baird, Maneige, Machines Dream, Red Sand, FM and Monarch Trail. In the rock world, you forgot BTO, Streetheart, Gowan, Heart (half US), Max Webster, Prism,Trooper and Rough Trade. Electro/other: Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Moev, Men Without Hats, Delerium, Richie Hawtin, Intermix, Martha and the Muffins, Spoons, Strange Advance , the Payolas and Gino Vannelli . Surely missing a few others....
------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 15:55
Maybe Borat Sagdiyev can tell us how popular Rush are in Kazakhstan.  |
Posted By: jlneudorf
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:03
| Lived here all my life. Rush are considered an instution here. They are loved here by many. |
Posted By: jlneudorf
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:05
| Has anyone listed FM? A great Canadian band. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:07
I've only ever known one Canadian guy who (still) doesn't like Rush! I thought a Canadian could be deported for admitting that!
------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:07
As they should be...  Welcome to PA!-------------
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:09
Santers! Lee Aaron! (And I already mentioned Dalbello.) ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: jlneudorf
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:11
| Thanks! |
Posted By: jlneudorf
Date Posted: December 07 2020 at 16:12
| Even my wife likes Rush... |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 06:06
A myth really (which I thought was real for decades) Outside drummer Derosier, no-one else from the band was ever Canadian The band was from Seattle and sometimes played in Vancouver, but that's +/- it (though they were quite popular in the GWN) ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 06:17
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 12:46
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While the founding members hail from the 'burbs around Seattle, the band known as Heart (formerly White Heart and, briefly, Hocus Pocus) recorded its debut Dreamboat Annie in Vancouver. The band ended up in Vancouver because Mike Fisher, the brother of one of the band's guitarists, Roger, had fled there to evade being drafted and sent to Vietnam. Mike still snuck back down to visit family and friends, and Ann wanted something more with him. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Corcoranw687
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 13:24
| I would like to recommend Machines Dream, very good band from Canada. My hometown in fact.. Pink Floyd and Marillion comparisons but they are unique. |
Posted By: nick_h_nz
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 13:44
I love Machines Dream. (And I like Pink Floyd, too, though I’ve not yet heard a Marillion song I like.) They’ve got so much better with every release, too. I can’t wait to hear what’s next from them. ------------- https://tinyurl.com/nickhnz-tpa" rel="nofollow - Reviewer for The Progressive Aspect |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: December 13 2020 at 17:33
| Rush is the only band representing all of canada in progressive rock ,a one of a kind band to grace canada ,no other than fm and saga can come close.i am a 56 year old from ontario seen it all rush related. |
Posted By: Magmatt
Date Posted: December 18 2020 at 07:10
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The members of Rush have transcended to something a bit beyond just retired rock musicians here in Canada. Geddy is a regular occurence here on the streets Toronto, he's at all the ballgames and I hear stories frequently of folks bumping into him around the city. They are close to sainthood here. so much charity work that does not get a ton of press. My 15 year old ( a drummer ) only wears Rush shirts. Geddy's book was the # 1 best seller in Canada. They are still huge here. I play bass and I took my '77 black and white Rickenbacker in for some work and they asked if it was for sale ( no ) . Can't keep a black and white Rick bass in stock here for one reason only. - Geddy played one, 40 years ago. The song Subdivisions is all of us as teenagers. we were ( are ) all that kid growing up here in TO. Please check out FM - 3 pc prog band that toured with Rush once and in my top 5 of favourite bands. |
Posted By: triptych
Date Posted: December 18 2020 at 08:05
Well, AC/DC are Aussies, but they're more popular in the U.S., U.K. and Canada and Brazil than they ever were in OZ
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 18 2020 at 09:31
Rickenbackers aren't cheap basses, period. You have a highly collectable bass there. It's worth some coin with or without the Geddy connection, which only makes it more desirable. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: ProcolWho?
Date Posted: December 19 2020 at 23:28
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Who else doesn't care for them at all. Not Canadian, but if I was , still wouldn't like them
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Posted By: Shadowyzard
Date Posted: December 19 2020 at 23:59
| ^ Me too! |
Posted By: triptych
Date Posted: December 20 2020 at 04:40
Who ?? |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 09:58
That's awesome!!! Clearly you know the value of the Rickenbacker, it's the provenance that is giving it some additional value but those are great sounding bass guitars, and your color does not hurt! It is more than commonly known at how genuine the members of Rush are, the best compliment you can get is from your peers. I am still not done reading the Rush Tourbook that came out last year, but pretty much every opening act, supporting act says the same thing about Rush and how they treated the support bands. -------------
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 10:26
I'm guessing you're talking about Rush, or maybe The Guess Who, but either way, I prefer Procol Harum.
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