Transcript: "Crash Course In Bass Surgery" - Creem, March 1994

My latest transcript is something that is a little bit different which I know you Primus lovers will surely enjoy! From the March 1994 issue of Creem magazine, "Crash Course In Bass Surgery" is a conversation between Geddy Lee and Primus' Les Claypool where they talk about, well, just about everything. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "Back With A Vengeance" - Mobile Entertainment, May 13, 2002

Vapor Trails was released 11 years ago today, and to celebrate I've added "Back With a Vengeance", posted online on May 13, 2002 by Mobile Entertainment, the day before the release of Vapor Trails. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson discuss the recording of the album and the gear they used.  Included is this comment by Alex which should raise eyebrows: "I now have a 2001 Audi A6 4.2...It has their upgraded Bose system. It's a great system. I'm in that car listening all the time, listening to mixes. I base all of my decisions on what I hear in that car."

Desktop Wallpaper Update: Beyond The Lighted Stage Images

I have finally updated my Desktop Wallpaper page with images from Beyond The Lighted Stage, specifically 14 images from from the deluxe DVD box and booklet. In a few cases "creative license" was required to fit the PC screen proportions, remove text, etc. Thanks again to John at Cygnus-X1.net for providing some of the raw images!

Transcript: "Always A Rush..." - Birmingham Evening Mail, NEC Special Edition, September 11 & 15, 2004

Here's a new transcript for the Archive.  After a 12 year drought, Rush returned to the UK in 2004 on the R30 tour, and the Birmingham Evening Mail published an "NEC Special Edition" for their two show stint on September 11 & 15, 2004.  This special news supplement includes the story "Always A Rush..." with a brief interview with Alex Lifeson. Alex confirms that Geddy insisted Britain had to be included on the R30 tour, or there would have been no tour! "we sorted those dates out first and only then began booking shows in America. The UK was given priority." - Thanks to Erwin De Lathouwer for the original article!

Transcript: "Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!" - A Show Of Fans, Winter 1997

My latest transcript is "Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!", a fantastic interview with Howard Ungerleider from the Winter 1997 issue of the Rush fanzine, A Show Of Fans. Speaking just before the second leg of the Test For Echo tour, Howard talks about his history with Rush going back to the beginning, and shares stories regarding Aerosmith (bad to work with), KISS (great to work with), not doing lights on the Roll The Bones tour, and more. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "Snakes Alive!" - Classic Rock, March 2007

Snakes & Arrows was released six years ago today, and to commemorate the event I've transcribed "Snakes Alive!" from the March 2007 issue of Classic Rock, a very brief transcript of the first teaser announcement of the release. Included is the statement "a 'making of' DVD is also likely to be released"; in fact a 45 minute documentary, "The Game Of Snakes & Arrows" was included on the MVI release in the US, as well as the Snakes & Arrows "tour edition" in the UK.

Transcript: "The Three Musketeers" - Hit Parader, August 1984

"The Three Musketeers", published two months before the release of Grace Under Pressure in the February 1984 issue of Hit Parader, is a feature interview with Geddy Lee where he talks about lessons learned from Signals, the trepidation he feels before any new release, thoughts on a solo album, and producing the Boys Brigade album. He makes the statement that only once was Rush completely satisfied with any album:

"When we did Caress Of Steel, we thought it was the most wonderful record anyone could ever make, but it was our least successful. It was our third, and, after a few months, listening back we all thought 'what a weird record,' and it was!"

Transcript: "String'em Up: Alex Lifeson" - Total Guitar, October 2012

The 2013 leg of the Clockwork Angels tour kicks off tonight in Austin, Texas. As a warm up, here is a fresh transcript of a story published last fall. "String'em Up: Alex Lifeson" is a Q&A with Alex Lifeson from the October 2012 issue of the UK's Total Guitar magazine. The questions are from the fans, some of which I recognize, and vary from questions about Victor 2 to his least favorite Rush song. - Thanks to Heiko Klages for the original article.

Transcript: "Alex Lifeson On Giving The People What They Want" - Guitar Player, March 2009

"Alex Lifeson On Giving The People What They Want", Guitar Player, March 2009, is a short interview with Alex where he discusses the mixing of the "Snakes & Arrows Live" video, bringing out "Entre Nous" on tour, failing to bring out "A Farewell to Kings", as well as his series of lessons on ivideosongs.com. - Thanks to Ed Stenger for the transcript!

Transcript: "Rush Into Space" - Circus, February 28, 1983

32 years ago today, on April 12, 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia made its historic first launch into space. Rush were there, and witnessed the event from Red Sector A at Cape Canaveral. "Rush Into Space", Circus, February 28, 1983, briefly tells how the band obtained the in-flight mission tapes from NASA for use in the song "Countdown".

Archives 35th Anniversary

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the release of Archives, we're celebrating with an Archives scheme (and that's no joke).  Released in April 1978 (no one seems to be sure of the exact day), Archives was a bundled reissue of Rush's first three albums released on vinyl and later on cassette.  Click here for details.

Transcript: "Rush Plays Heavy Metal Epic" - The Frederick Maryland News, June 26, 1980

Here's a new transcript for your Thursday afternoon enjoyment. From the Permanent Waves tour, "Rush Plays Heavy Metal Epic" is a very poorly written story from the June 26, 1980 issue of the Frederick Maryland News. Although the writing leaves a lot to be desired, it does include some candid comments from Neil, likely quoted verbatim, regarding performing half the album (side 1) live on tour before going into the studio to record it, and how Natural Science was one of his favorites from the album.

Firefox Personas Update

Firefox users, its been a couple of years since I made one of these, but I finally got around to making a Firefox Persona for Clockwork Angels. More specifically, "Headlong Flight".   Click here for details.

Transcript: "Rush Ushered Into the Hall of Fame" - The 1993 Juno Awards Program, March 20, 1994

19 years ago today, Rush was inducted into the Juno Hall Of Fame. Here is the Juno Awards program for your review, as well as an 8 minute video of the induction ceremony. Amazingly, at this time they were celebrating 20 years together...and this was 19 years ago! Way to go Rush!

Transcript: "A Show Of Fans Speaks With...Geddy Lee" and "Ask Big Al (Installment Two)" - A Show Of Fans, Fall 1996

My latest transcript, "A Show Of Fans Speaks With...Geddy Lee" and "Ask Big Al (Installment Two)" is from the fall 1996 issue of the incredible Rush fanzine A Show Of Fans. This is a candid interview of Geddy Lee on the Test For Echo album by Steve Streeter.  Geddy talks about the album, comments on the first Rush tribute album "Working Man", and repeats Neil's comments from '96 that Rush were working on "a total retrospective CD-ROM" about the band (a plan that was later shelved after Neil's tragedies).  Also included is the second installment of ASOF's exclusive "Ask Big Al" Q&A, where Alex confirms the band turned down an invitation to play Saturday Night Live in 1994. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "Grace Under Pressure: Analyzing Two Decades Of RUSH's Unparalleled Prog Rock Prowess" - Guitar School, October 1996

"Grace Under Pressure: Analyzing Two Decades of RUSH's Unparalleled Prog Rock Prowess" - Guitar School, October 1996, is an extensive article published the month Test For Echo was released.  This one is for the guitarists out there, and it includes extensive sheet music to demonstrate Alex Lifeson's common practices. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts" - Canadian Musician, February 1994

"The Whole Is Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts" is a cover feature interview with Neil Peart from the February 1994 issue of Canadian Musician. Neil talks about the studio crew they used for recording Counterparts, the lyrical inspirations behind the album, welcoming the industry trend to sound more basic, the influences of others, and more. - Thanks to John Patuto for the transcription!

Transcript: "Rhythmic Explorer: Exclusive Interview with Neil Peart" - Drummer, November 2004

"Rhythmic Explorer: Exclusive Interview with Neil Peart", Drummer, November 2004, is a cover feature interview with Neil from the R30 tour. Neil talks about his early influences, progressing as a drummer, and more. - Thanks to John Patuto for the transcript!

Transcript: "UFO & RUSH - 'Heavy Metal Is Back'" - Corpus Christi Times, October 25, 1977

Here's something I recently stumbled upon online: "UFO & RUSH - 'Heavy Metal Is Back'" is a concert review that appeared in the Corpus Christi Times on October 25, 1977, the day after selling out the Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum. Both bands are praised, and the review discusses "backstage craziness" between Rush and UFO: 'a running battle between Lee, UFO and crew members kept things constantly appearing onstage, culminating in UFO's irrepressible bassist Pete Way's candy-striped pants being strung up on Lee's amps. As Rush prepared to return for its well-deserved encore, Lee and Way quickly exchanged clothes and Way led Rush back out on stage. Running and jumping around and generally being crazy, Way clowned through most of Rush's three-song encore, which began with "Working Man" and concluded with Lee laughing uncontrollably in Way's arms off the side of the stage following "Cinderella Man."'

Transcript: "Tech Talk: Neil Peart" - Hit Parader, November 1994

"Tech Talk: Neil Peart" is an interview with Neil from the November 1994 issue of Hit Parader, where he comments on how it is immoral to idolize public figures, immoral to worry about the commerciality of music, and hypocritical to hold public figures to standards we don't hold for ourselves.  He also tells us what he really thinks about Country music!  Interesting comments to be sure. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!