Rush is a Canadian rock band that was founded in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart. They are best known for their progressive eponymous debut album, released in 1974, which included songs such as “Tom Sawyer” and “Limelight,” and their subsequent 1976 album, Feedback, which introduced the world to the now-famous Geddy Lee on vocals.
With their third studio album, hemispheres (1977), Rush Band reached new heights of popularity as more than just a local Toronto band. Their fourth album released in 1978 was Permanent Waves which became the band’s first top-ten hit LP and peaked at number seven on the U.S. charts. Of course, not all of us knew about these 9 things you didn’t know about Rush band!
Rush Band’s First Concert Was A Disaster
Rush Band’s first concert was in Toronto in 1969, opening for another local band called Syrup. The band was so nervous and unprepared that they forgot to even plug their instruments in and were forced to play with acoustic guitars.
Peart Had An Accident That Changed His Playing Habits
In 1980, just as the band was reaching its peak of popularity, drummer Neil Peart was in a horrific automobile accident that nearly severed his right arm. He was forced to learn to play the drums again using only his left hand.
His playing changed dramatically, becoming more of a machine-like, percussive style, using a lot of cymbal crashes and snares, with very little use of his snare drum.
Lifeson’s Guitar Has Been Replaced With Eight Different Models
Throughout the band’s history, guitarist Alex Lifeson has used eight different guitars. He has always used a Fender Stratocaster. His first was a black model, and the other seven were sunburst models made by Fender Japan.
Lifeson also used a Gibson Les Paul model on the first Rush album. Lifeson has used three different amps in his career, always with a Fender “clean” sound. His first amp was a Fender Twin Reverb, which was very large and cumbersome.
He used a smaller Fender Twin for a few years before switching to a custom-built Marshall head with two 8-inch speakers.
Lifeson Had To Learn To Play The Piano For “2112”
Rush’s 1976 album, 2112, is a concept album based on a science fiction novel written by the band’s drummer, Neil Peart. The album is split into three parts and features an organ solo at the end of the final part.
The band could not find a keyboardist who could play the part well enough, so they had Peart learn how to play the piano. He had always been self-conscious about his piano playing, so the band kept his keyboard part on the album very low in the mix. The solo can be heard much more clearly on the remastered edition of the album.
Neil Peart Met His Future Wife Drumming In Rush Band
Rush’s drummer, Neil Peart, met his future wife, Carrie when she worked as a waitress at the Ontario Place Forum where the band was playing. Carrie was also enrolled at the University of Toronto, where she was studying to become a psychologist.
After dating for a few years, the couple married in 1980, a year after Peart’s car accident. Peart described his future wife as “the most beautiful and wonderful person I’ve ever known.”
Lifeson Played Numerous Other Instruments On Record And Stage
Guitarist Alex Lifeson has played a wide array of instruments other than the guitar. He played the Hammond organ on the song “The Twilight Zone,” the timpani on the songs “2112” and “Cygnus X-1,” the violin on the song “The Fountain of Lamneth,” the mandolin on the songs “Xanadu” and “Territories,” and the drums on “Force Ten” and “Manhattan Project.” On stage, he also played the timpani and the trumpet.
Rush Is The “Most Recorded Group In Rock”
Rush has been in the studio recording almost constantly since 1974. The band has released a new record every two years since their first album in 1974, with two exceptions.
They were recorded between 1976 and 1977 and again between 1981 and 1982. The band recorded or rerecorded some of their older songs many times.
Geddy Lee’s First Instrument Was The Violin
Geddy Lee grew up in a musical family, his mother, father, and sister all being professional musicians. His father was a conductor and his mother was a music teacher.
Lee was trained to play the violin from the age of six, first in his family’s home and later at an academy. He played the violin until he was 18 years old.
The Meaning of “Rush” Is Unclear
The meaning of the band’s name is unclear. The members of the band have said that it was meant to be symbolic and to represent a sense of “motion and energy.” According to the band, the name does not have any connection to the drug “rush.”
Some people have speculated that the name came from a combination of two words, “revolution” and “civil,” to insinuate a revolution with a “civil” outcome, like a 21st-century rebellion against totalitarianism.
Conclusion
These 9 things you didn’t know about the Rush band will make you a fan! This Canadian rock trio has been entertaining fans since the ’70s, with its progressive rock sound and sci-fi themes. Their music is characterized by virtuosic instrument playing, unusual time signatures, and Peart’s intricate, thoughtful lyrics.
With their latest album, their sound has evolved, but they still sound like Rush Band. If you’re already a fan of Rush Band, then you’ll love this article. If you aren’t, there’s no better time to start exploring their music. And when you’re done with this article, you can go back and listen to their entire discography. You can’t go wrong with Rush Band.
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