Transcript: "Rush: A Relic Refreshed" - Hartford Courant, June 28, 2002

Eleven years ago today, Rush took the stage in Hartford on the opening night of the Vapor Trails tour, their first performance in over 5 years. That morning the Hartford Courant published "Rush: A Relic Refreshed" which includes a telephone interview with Alex Lifeson from the day before.  Alex comments on the album, Neil's tragedies and the band's hiatus, and the tour. - Thanks to Jordan Finkelstein for the original article.

Transcript: "One Little Victory" - Aquarian Weekly, May 15, 2002

Here's a new transcript which appeared in the May 15th issue of New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly, one week after the release of Vapor Trails. In "One Little Victory", Geddy and Alex talk about the recording of the album, the surprise of "Part Four" of the Fear saga, their current influences, and give their take on why only their "classic" songs get played on the radio. - Thanks to John Patuto for sharing the transcript!

Transcript: "Rock Progressives Rush For Onstage Perfection" - Kansas City Star, April 22, 1986

Published on April 22, 1986, as a prelude to Rush's performance at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City on the Power Windows tour, in "Rock Progressives Rush For Onstage Perfection" Neil gets philosophical on giving his best performance live, the difference between good/bad and like/dislike, the changing umbrella of progressive rock, Rush's experiments in the 70's as well as technical uses on Power Windows. - Thanks to Heiko Klages for the original article.

Transcript: "Alex Lifeson AT&T Celebrity Chat" - AT&T Worldnet, February 10, 2003

The latest addition to the transcript archive is a transcript of the "Alex Lifeson AT&T Celebrity Chat" from AT&T Worldnet which took place on February 10, 2003, the day before the release of The Spirit Of Radio: Greatest Hits. Alex talks a bit about the recording method of Vapor Trails, playing large gigs versus small clubs, recording "O Canada" for the South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut soundtrack, and more. - Thanks to Music In The Abstract for archiving the original chat!

Transcript: "Alex Lifeson Explores His Own Inner Voices On His First Solo Project" - Canadian Musician, February 1996

Here's a fantastic new transcript for your reading pleasure! "Alex Lifeson Explores His Own Inner Voices On His First Solo Project", is perhaps the most detailed interview available with Alex Lifeson regarding Victor.  From the February 1996 issue of Canadian Musician, Alex goes into great detail not only regarding the album itself, but also the additional responsibilities he had to take on as a solo artist.  He also gives background details behind each of the album's guest musicians. - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article!

Transcript: "Serious Rock: Bruce Springsteen, Rush, Pink Floyd - An Excerpt", by Deena Weinstein, 1985

Back in 1985, DePaul University professor of sociology Deena Weinstein published the book Serious Rock: Bruce Springsteen, Rush, Pink Floyd which is currently out of print. Thankfully, the Rush fanzine A Show of Fans published an extract of the chapter focusing on Neil Peart, and it is a very enlightening read.  I should point out that this transcript is reproduced here as it appeared in that issue (i.e. with no paragraph breaks). - Thanks to Mark Rosenthal for the original article.

Transcript: "Addicted To That Rush" - Metal Edge, May 2001

Here is a new transcript for your Wednesday reading: "Addicted To That Rush" is an interview with Geddy Lee by Eddie Trunk which appeared in the May 2001 issue of Metal Edge magazine. Promoting Geddy's solo album My Favorite Headache, this interview was given just before Rush reunited to begin writing Vapor Trails. What was especially intriguing to me were his comments regarding finding "really old footage" as in a possibly a FULL "old" show. Could this be what was eventually released as the "Fly By Night Church Session", or is there something MORE in the vaults? - Thanks to Erwin De Lathouwer for the original article!

Transcript: "Rush Takes Off: The Geddy Lee Interview" - Scene, October 28, 1982

Here's a new transcript from an article published over 30 years ago: "Rush Takes Off: The Geddy Lee Interview" appeared in Northeast Ohio's Scene on October 28, 1982. Geddy tells of the purposeful stride away from Moving Pictures into the keyboard era with Signals; "You really don't need technique because with a synthesizer you can use your own technique. As long as you have a sense of how to write a melody, you can use the synthesizer to express yourself." - Thanks to John Patuto for the transcript!

Transcript: "Glory Bound" - Hit Parader, September 1986

Here is a new transcript from the Power Windows tour: "Glory Bound" is an interview with Geddy Lee from the September 1986 issue of Hit Parader magazine. Geddy looks back on his first guitar, the first song he wrote, and bands who have "so much style without substance". - Thanks to Heiko Klages for the original article!

Rush Inspiration Update - "World Without End" (Ephesians 3:21)

While jamming to Power Windows the other day, I realized I was hearing another Biblical reference which seemingly has gotten by all the "Rush scholars" for over 25 years:

• "World without end", from "Manhattan Project" is likely from the King James version of Ephesians 3:21. The original Latin phrase is "in saecula saeculorum", expressing the idea of eternity, and is literally translated as "in a century of centuries". Other English Bible translations usually use the translation "forever and ever".

In the chorus to "Manhattan Project", Neil seems to be implying that even in the face of nuclear disaster there are those who will depend on God to see us through, no matter what the hopeless may say.  Of course, its open to interpretation...

Transcript: "Rush: An Oral History Uncensored" - Toronto Star Dispatches, April 18, 2013

The day Rush was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Toronto Star published the special "Rush: An Oral History Uncensored". This is the history of the band, in their own words.  I have passed along the introduction, which you can read here. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the providing the original article!

Transcript: "What A Rush! Canadian Rock Legend Alex Lifeson Lives It Up In Metro, Shooting An Episode Of Trailer Park Boys" - Canada.com, July 28, 2002

Ten years ago today, Alex Lifeson made a guest appearance on the Canadian cult-comedy "Trailer Park Boys". "What A Rush! Canadian Rock Legend Alex Lifeson Lives It Up In Metro, Shooting An Episode Of Trailer Park Boys" is a news report by Canada.com on July 28, 2002 which announced the guest spot, and includes a few quotes from Alex about the show. - Thanks to Jordan Finkelstein of echoesofoldapplause.com for providing the article!

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.