Transcript: "Rush Guitarist In Brawl" - Classic Rock, February 2004

"Rush Guitarist In Brawl: Alex Lifeson and his son are stun-gunned by cops and thrown in jail", Classic Rock, February 2004, is the magazine's first report of Alex Lifeson's New Year's Eve At The Ritz which took place nine years ago tonight.

Transcript: "Rush In Rio: First-Ever Concert DVD To Be Released Early This Fall" - Rush.com, May 22, 2003

Back in 2003, Rush fans were starving for Rush on DVD. At that time, the only official DVD was the Chronicles video collection, as the first three concert films has yet to be released on DVD. Accordingly, it was great news with Rush.com announced "Rush In Rio: First-Ever Concert DVD To Be Released Early This Fall" on May 22, 2003. - Thanks to Jordan Finkelstein for sharing the original transcript!

2112 Sighting In Citibank "Airport" Ipad App Commercial

Since it is 21-12-12, I thought I'd pass along this Rush 2112 sighting which reader David Loschiavo recently brought to my attention. In this 2011 commercial for Citibank's iPad app, an airport's "departures" list shows flight "2112" leaving for Toronto. At first glance, this might seem coincidental, until you notice flight "5150" leaving for Los Angeles (home to Van Halen). I wouldn't be surprised if there are other music references included on the screen as well!

Transcript: "Rush Rock Sound Crisp And Strong" - Ottawa Citizen, May 30, 1974

To celebrate Rush Day, I've transcribed the earliest known Rush press that has ever surfaced; this is nearly 39 years old!  "Rush Rock Sound Crisp And Strong", is a review of the original MOON release of Rush's debut album, as reviewed by the Ottawa Citizen, May 30, 1974.  Included is the summation "Rush are definitely brash and unseasoned around the edges but the hard core potential - the willingness to let the notes fall where they may and stand proud - is exciting."  I couldn't agree more. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article.

Transcript: "The Alex Lifeson Interview - The Snowdog Raps with CyberSteve" - A Show Of Fans, Winter 1996

Here is my first transcript addition from the fanzine "A Show Of Fans": "The Alex Lifeson Interview - The Snowdog Raps with CyberSteve" is an in-depth interview with Alex by Steve Streeter given 17 years ago in the Winter 1996 issue. This is a rare interview as the focus is on "Victor". Alex talks about working with his son Adrian, his wife Charlene and her friend Esther, Lisa Dalbello, Bill Bell, Edwin, Les Claypool, and more. Included are his comments on the complete coincidence in the similarity between Dalbello's performance and an early Geddy Lee, playing with The Dexters at the Orbit Room, how it was because of Primus that Rush performed "Hemispheres: Prelude" on the Counterparts tour, and how the plans to do a Twentieth Anniversary tour were shelved in order to work on new music (Test For Echo). - Thanks again to Mark Rosenthal for the original article.

Transcript: "Living In The Limelight" - Guitar World, November 1996

Published shortly after the release of "Test For Echo", although they were not featured on the cover, the November 1996 issue of "Guitar World" heavily featured Rush. Here is the main feature story, "Living In The Limelight: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson And Neil Peart Look Back At Rush's Long, Illustrious Career". I should point that Neil is not featured in this article; his contribution was in the sidebar "A Peart Response" which I previously posted online and is included in the above link. In addition, this magazine included the previously posted "Time And Motion: Alex Lifeson Dissects Several Key Songs From Rush's Past". - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "Rush: Band of the Year?" - Classic Rock, January 2013

The current issue of the UK's Classic Rock magazine features "The Best Of 2012". The magazine is running with five different cover photos including RUSH, including the cover story "Rush: Band of the Year?". - Thanks to John at Cygnus-X1.net for the transcript!

Transcript: "Rush Go To Rio For DVD; New Hits Package Also In Stores" - RollingStone.com, February 13, 2003

From February 13, 2003, just before the release of The Spirit of Radio Greatest Hits, Rollingstone.com published "Rush Go To Rio For DVD; New Hits Package Also In Stores". Included in this short blast is the news that at that time Rush were considering including some of the Toronto "Test For Echo" tour footage on the forthcoming Rush In Rio DVD. - Thanks to Jordan Finkelstein for sharing the transcript!

Transcript: "Rush - Why This Band Is Still Around" - Network, February/March 1992

"Rush - Why This Band Is Still Around" - Network, February/March 1992, is an interview with Neil Peart by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics.  Neil gives his thoughts on how Rush had been able to stay together so long (and this was written 20 years ago!...), and also tells how one day he realized how fate had steered the band's career and developed those thoughts into Roll The Bones.  It is worth noting that two months after this interview was published, Neil would record with the Rheos for their album Whale Music. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Rush Sighting on The Big Bang Theory, December 2010

Here's a pseudo-Rush reference from back on December 9, 2010.  During the episode "The Alien Parasite Hypothesis" (season 4, episode 10), Sheldon Cooper says "The best number is 73. 73 is the 21st prime number. Its mirror, 37, is the 12th, and its mirror, 21, is the product of multiplying - hang on to your hats - 7 and 3. In binary, 73 is a palindrome: 1001001, which backwards is 1001001. Exactly the same." - Thanks to James McKay for the headsup!

Transcript: "Entering Rushdom" - Globe And Mail, April 15, 2010

As Rush is filming their latest tour this week, I thought I would celebrate the occasion with the news story which documented the discovery of Rush's FIRST filmed concert! "Entering Rushdom", Globe and Mail, April 15, 2010, was published a few days before the world premiere of Beyond The Lighted Stage, and tells of the discovery of "the Holy Grail of Rushdom", the concert video of Rush with John Rutsey performing at the Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catherines (Neil's hometown, ironically), filmed for Canadian Bandstand sometime in either late 1973 or early 1974.  I've included Youtube clips which have been previously released as bonus features on the Beyond The Lighted Stage and Time Machine dvd's.

Transcript: "'Snakes & Arrows Live' DVD/Blu-Ray Review" - Classic Rock, January 2009

"'Snakes & Arrows Live' DVD/Blu-Ray Review", Classic Rock, January 2009, is a decent review of Snakes & Arrows Live, which was released five years ago today.

Transcript: "Rush Out And Get It" - Classic Rock, January 2006

"Rush Out And Get It", Classic Rock, January 2006, is a brief and less than glowing review of Rush's sixth live album, R30, released seven years ago today.  The article is saved by the inclusion of a short Q&A with Alex Lifeson.

Transcript: "The Meaning Of Lifeson" - Kerrang!, November 25, 1989

"The Meaning Of Lifeson", Kerrang! #266, November 25, 1989, is a feature interview with Alex at the release of Presto (released 23 years ago today). Alex talks about the album, the return to guitars as the driving force of the band, leaving Mercury/PolyGram, working with Rupert Hine, and making videos ("I don't particularly like doing them, and I don't particularly like watching them. I think most of them are just glorified beer ads and car ads. They all look the same now, all the strutting...and it's all miming, it's all bullshit....our new one is the usual bullshit.") He also talks seriously about adding a fourth touring member of the band, more-so than any other interview where this topic has been discussed. - Thanks to Erwin De Lathouwer for the article!

Transcript: "Rush 'Rolls The Bones' As They Enter The 1990's" - Tunes, February 1992

"Rush 'Rolls The Bones' As They Enter The 1990's", Tunes, February 1992, is an interview by a Dallas music paper before Rush's concert later that month. While the questions aren't exactly the most well thought out and the interviewer is fixated on Working Man, Closer To the Heart, and the live albums, Geddy does his best to give thoughtful answers. He also gives his thoughts on why he believes some fans feel betrayed when a band dares change their style. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "The Story Of Kings" aka "Limited Edition Interview Picture Disc" - Baktabak Records, 1987

"The Story Of Kings" aka "Limited Edition Interview Picture Disc", Baktabak Records, 1987, is a transcript of thirty minutes of an interview with Alex Lifeson given after the release of Hold Your Fire. Many Rush fans have likely seen this in the CD bin of their local record store: originally released on 12" vinyl as "Rush Limited Edition Interview Picture Disc" (BAK2083) in 1987, is was reissued on CD as "The Story Of Kings" (CBAK4055) in 1992. The interview on both releases is identical, and was transcribed for your perusal by Terrance A. Stedman for the National Midnight Star over 20 years ago.

Transcript: "Geddy Lee: My Favorite Headache" (Review) - Sound&VisionMag.com, January 23, 2001

"My Favorite Headache (Review)", Sound&Vision, January 23, 2001, is a review of Geddy Lee's one and only solo album released 12 years ago today.  The reviewer praises the album while comparing some of it to Radiohead.

Transcript: "Toque Off, Eh?" - Creem, March 1983

"Toque Off, Eh?", Creem, March 1983, is a negative pseudo-review of Signals; reading this review, I'm only half sure what the reviewer was writing about.

Transcript: "Cover Feature! Rush - Geddy Lee" - Bassist, January 1999

"Cover Feature! Rush - Geddy Lee", Bassist, January 1999, includes Geddy's thoughts on the Test For Echo tour, his Fender Jazz basses and effects pedals, and the Chicago performance which dominates most of the Different Stages album which was released 14 years ago tomorrow. - Thanks to John Patuto for the transcript!

Transcript: "A Peart Response" - Guitar World, November 1996

"A Peart Response" - Guitar World, November 1996, is (for this Rush fan) one of the most rewarding essays Neil Peart has ever written.  If you miss this one, you're missing out.  Neil answers the not-so-simple question: "Why has Rush endured for more than 22 years?"  Neil starts with explaining how he only plays music he really likes, not as a job, but as a passion...finding the same beliefs in Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson...refusing to "play down" to the audience or to become "commercial"...fighting the record company suits with 2112 to win their freedom...and believing their fans follow them for similar reasons.  (Note: this is the second transcript from this magazine, the first was "Time And Motion: Alex Lifeson Dissects Several Key Songs From Rush's Past") - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!