Friday, March 30, 2012

Transcript: "The Latest Product Of Howard Ungerleider's Long-Term Collaboration With Rush - Lighting & Sound America, September 2007"

Published near the close of the first leg of the Snakes & Arrows tour featuring Geddy Lee on the cover, "The Latest Product Of Howard Ungerleider's Long-Term Collaboration With Rush - Lighting & Sound America, September 2007" is an interview with Howard detailing the Snakes & Arrows concert visuals. - Thanks to Joe Pesch for the article.

Pop Culture Reference: "Jews And Baseball: An American Love Story"

Thanks to Andrew for letting me know that "Hope" from Snakes & Arrows is included in the soundtrack to the documentary film Jews And Baseball: An American Love Story, which debuted November 5, 2010.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Transcript: "The High Priests Of Conceptual Metal Go Steam Punk For Lp 19! - MOJO, March 2011"

Here's a brief transcript of a Clockwork Angels "teaser" that appeared a full YEAR ago: "The High Priests Of Conceptual Metal Go Steam Punk For Lp 19! - MOJO, March 2011". The story includes a couple of tantalizing quotes from Geddy Lee...we'll find out soon enough if his teasers were correct.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Transcript: "Roll The Bones With Rush: An Interview With Geddy Lee - U.S. Rocker, October 1991"

In "Roll The Bones With Rush: An Interview With Geddy Lee - U.S. Rocker, October 1991", Geddy talks about the new album Roll The Bones, the growth of Neil's lyrics, his favorite Rush albums, and also makes a very concise statement on how any given fan has a favorite "time period" for a band which represents much more than just a song, etc. - Thanks to Heiko Klages for the original article!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Transcript: "From Power Trio to Big Band: Neil Peart Talks About Burning for Buddy - Canadian Musician, December 1994"

John Patuto has transcribed four Rush related articles found in the December 1994 issue of "Canadian Musician", including "From Power Trio to Big Band: Neil Peart Talks About Burning for Buddy". Two articles center around Neil Peart's recording of "Burning For Buddy", while another is written by Howard Ungerleider regarding his stage show design.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Transcript: "VICTORious - Rock N' Roll Reporter, February 1996"

Here is one of the most in depth interviews yet regarding Alex Lifeson's solo album, Victor. In "VICTORious - Rock N' Roll Reporter, February 1996", Alex not only discusses both how and why he recorded his solo album, but also discusses some of the more personal aspects of his relationship with his wife (the couple just recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary!). - Thanks to Ed Stenger for the original article!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Transcript: "RUSH - Sounds, Fan Library #6, January 1983"

John Patuto has transcribed the lenghty "RUSH - Sounds, Fan Library #6, January 1983" special issue. Written by Steve Gett, while he later edited and expanded the content for his book, Success Under Pressure, John found that there was additional content in the Sounds special issue that didn't make it into the later biography.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Transcript: "On The Edge Of The Limelight - Song Hits, November 1984"

"On The Edge Of The Limelight - Song Hits November 1984" is another very informative cover feature with Alex Lifeson where he touches on a variety of subjects. (I have found that Alex's interviews are never the same, he always has something new to say.) One key topic is his statement of where the title of Grace Under Pressure came from (which was news to me!):
"There was an Alex Colville painting that we were thinking of possibly using for the album cover, but it was a little too powerful I think, and the idea for the title Grace Under Pressure, really fit that picture well. Although we decided not to use that picture we decided to stick with that title."
- Thanks again to Joe Pesch for the original article!

Wallpaper Update: Test For Echo Tour Book Images

I've revamped the Test For Echo tour book collection on the Desktop Wallpaper "Tour Books" Page. Like other recent wallpaper updates, all images from the tour book have been added, reproduced faithfully to the original tour book layout with a few minor exceptions (where "creative license" was required).  Thanks again to John at Cygnus-X1.net for providing the raw scans!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Transcript: "Tracking Surround: Rush - Sound&VisionMag.com, July 17, 2007"

Following up on yesterday's update, here is an article that fell completely under the radar when it was originally posted online. Music journalist Mike Mettler gave this indepth review of the 5.1 surround sound mix of "Snakes & Arrows" back in July 2007. The article, "Tracking Surround: Rush - Sound&VisionMag.com, July 17, 2007" is a review of the MVI edition of the album. Just reading this gives me an even greater anticipation of what might be in store for Clockwork Angels...surely it too will be released with a 5.1 mix?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Transcript: "'Moving Pictures: Deluxe Edition' Review - Sound&Vision, June/July/August 2011"

Check out the very brief "'Moving Pictures: Deluxe Edition' Review - Sound&Vision, June/July/August 2011". After reviewing the Moving Pictures Deluxe Edition in depth on SoundAndVision.com, Mike Mettler penned this short review for the print edition of the magazine, giving it 5 stars for both music and sound.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Transcript: "Vapor Trail Afterglow, Bass Guitar, January 2003"

"Vapor Trail Afterglow, Bass Guitar, January 2003" is a cover feature interview with Geddy Lee given shortly after the completion of the Vapor Trails tour. Geddy explains how the band wanted to tour the UK in '02 but were unsure if they would still have the endurance for a long tour after so long and ultimately toured South America instead. He also talks about how they got into shape for the tour, which songs he has trouble singing, and more. - Thanks to Joe Pesch for the original article!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wallpaper Update: Vapor Trails Tourbook Images

Another massive upgrade to the Desktop Wallpaper "Tour Books" Page, this time it is an upgrade to the Vapor Trails tour book images.  Like other recent wallpaper updates, all images from the tour book have been added, reproduced faithfully to the original tour book layout with a few minor exceptions (where "creative license" was required).  Once again, I owe a huge thank you to John at Cygnus-X1.net for providing the raw scans.

Additional updates for the Test for Echo and R30 Tour Book wallpaper images coming soon!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Transcript: "Iron Man, Guitar Aficionado, December 2009"

A couple of years ago Alex Lifeson's second passion, golf, was the focus of "Iron Man: When He's Not Onstage Or In The Studio, Alex Lifeson Gets His Rush On The World's Finest Fairways", Guitar Aficionado, December 2009". The story includes some great photos of Alex, and he shares how he first got into golf, his current game, golfing with fellow celebs, and this great comment regarding Neil Peart: "Neil's a little bit uncoordinated when it comes to golf," Lifeson says with a chuckle. "He'll usually play for a bit and then throw his clubs down and say something like, 'This is stupid,' and stalk off." The article also includes the sidebar "Grapes Under Pressure" where Alex discusses his third passion, collecting wines. - Thanks to RushFanForever for article.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Transcript: "The Movie Soundtrack: Contemporary Can-Rock Acolytes, Toronto Star, October 1, 2006"

"The Movie Soundtrack: Contemporary Can-Rock Acolytes, Toronto Star, October 1, 2006" is a very brief review of the soundtrack to 'Trailer Park Boys: The Big Dirty': "Rush didn't just sign off on the inclusion of 'Spirit On The Radio,' they agreed to put the whole CD out on their own freakin' label while Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson hit the studio with contemporary Can-rock acolytes from the Tea Party, Three Days Grace, Thornley, and Die Mannequin to grind out an exclusive version of 'I Fought The Law' as the Big Dirty Band."

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Transcript:: "Lifeson Times, Kerrang!, October 17, 1987"

My latest addition is the cover feature "Lifeson Times, Kerrang!, October 17, 1987". This is a unique interview, as Alex gives his interpretation of each song on 'Hold Your Fire'. In addition, among other topics he tells us how although they considered Cyndi Lauper for the guest female vocalist on 'Time Stand Still' they first approached Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, but that it was only due to scheduling conflicts that they later chose Aimee Mann. - Thanks again to Joe Pesch for the article!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Transcript: "Rush - Knocking Down The Walls, Hamilton Place, February 9, 1976"

"Rush - Knocking Down The Walls, Hamilton Place, February 9, 1976" is from the official concert program for Rush headlining Hamilton Place in Hamilton, Ontario, a full three months before the release of 2112. This was the first known show AFTER the Down the Tubes tour: at this point Polygram had already written off the band as a flash in the pan, yet the text of this program reveals another story. It's almost premonitient. This show was unknown until recently, and lands right in between previously known dates of the Caress of Steel and 2112 tours; the 2112 album was likely recorded in the weeks preceding this show.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Transcript: "Geddy Together, Sounds, June 2, 1979"

In "Geddy Together, Sounds, June 2, 1979", Geddy talks, or should I say complains, about his basses, including the many faults he had found in his Rickenbackers. As the tagline of the interview reads, "What kind of people use bass guitars they've hardly got a single good word for? Only poor men, idiots and Rush 's Geddy Lee, it seems." - Thanks to Bob Holt for the article.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Wallpaper Update: Counterparts Tourbook Images

On Monday I announced a major upgrade to the Tour book desktop wallpaper collection (see below).  Today, I have added to the collection by updating the Counterparts tour book wallpaper collection.  All images unique to the tour book have been added; some images were manipulated slightly for use as wallpaper, but for the most part they were reproduced faithfully to the original tour book layout.  Again, I owe a huge thank you to John at Cygnus-X1.net for providing the raw scans. 

As I explained previously, when I first launched the Power Windows website in 1998, one of the primary goals was to create a "complete" album art gallery for use as wallpaper images.  While the collection of artwork from the actual albums has always been complete, the collection of live images from the tour books was limited, until now.

Originally when I added the tour book wallpaper images I focused on the "album art-ish" images, combined with the formal band member and drumkit portraits.  Now, I've added all the remaining tour book images for use as Desktop Wallpaper.  As always, the images have been cropped and/or manipulated to fit your screen.  For easier browsing, the Tour book images have been moved to their own page.  Note, an update to the Test For Echo, Vapor Trails and R30 tourbook collections is coming soon.

Transcript: "Rock Of Ages, Hard Roxx, February 1999"

Alex Lifeson appeared on the cover of the February 1999 issue of the UK's "Hard Roxx" magazine. In the accompanying article "Rock Of Ages", Alex discusses the making of "Different Stages", from the enormous number of shows that were recorded to how the 1978 "Hammersmith Odeon" show was rediscovered. - Thanks to Joe Pesch for the article!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Welcome to the "Site Updates" Page!

Welcome to the "Site Updates" page, a new addition to the Power Windows website.  This page has been created to document additions to this website which might not necessary be worthy of sharing on the main "News" page, such as additions to the "Inspirations", "References" or "Downloads" pages, or the occasional historical addition to the "Tour" page.  More notably, it will document the frequent ongoing updates to the "Transcript Archive".  To be notified of updates, you can also subscribe to my Twitter feed, and/or "Like" us on Facebook.