Semi-interview

Something to do with Rush coming up? Post it here.

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Slaine mac Roth
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Semi-interview

Post by Slaine mac Roth »

Those kind people at Power Windows were nice enough to email this to me:

Man, what a Rush! Tour marks 30th anniversary
Friday, June 04, 2004
Gary Graff
Special to The Plain Dealer

In the normal course of events, Rush would not be on the road now.

The Canadian hard rock trio toured in 2002-2003 - its first road trip
in six years, after a hiatus brought on by the deaths of
drummer-lyricist Neil Peart's wife and daughter in 1997 and 1998. Usually, Rush
prefers to work on a new album before touring again, according to guitarist
Alex Lifeson.

But because 2004 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Rush's
first album, the group broke from its usual working mode.

"This being the anniversary and everything, we thought we'd get back
out and do something special with this," says Lifeson, 50, whose real
surname is Zivojinovich. "I mean, we have every intention of going back in
the studio and recording a new record."

That, of course, is music to the ears of Rush fans around the world,
who during the past three decades have made the Toronto trio a kind of
"rite of passage band" - not unlike Led Zeppelin and AC/DC - that has
passed from generation to generation and has existed alongside any number
of rock 'n' roll trends that have come along.

"We are a band that has some history, which I think works in our
favor," says singer-bassist Geddy Lee, 30 (born Gary Lee Weinrib). "It
doesn't necessarily hurt established bands like us. Established is
established. In some ways that can, in effect, just guarantee you a certain
amount of coverage and means you don't have to rely on radio and things like
that. I'm glad I'm not in a new band trying to make it right now,
though."

But the members of Rush almost had to find new avenues for themselves
after 1996. Lee and Lifeson were willing to give Peart as much time as
he needed to deal with his personal tragedies - his daughter was killed
in a car accident, and his wife died a year later of cancer. They
filled their time with solo projects. At the same time, though, they quietly
wondered if Rush would ever ride again.

"At some point, I thought it was very unlikely we'd get back together,"
says Lifeson, who's facing assault charges in Naples, Fla., after a New
Year's Eve fracas with police.

They did get back together, though, recording 2002's "Vapor Trails" and
heading out on a tour that produced a live album and DVD, "Rush in
Rio." But even then, none of the three musicians took for granted that Rush
was completely back on track.

"We were a little cautious," Lifeson says. "We weren't sure how Neil
was going to handle being back on the road and back into the whole swing
of things. But he really shone through, and he worked very hard and
he's come a long way.

"And we have plans for the future, so I think we are very much of a
continuing concern."

Lee says that these days he's more comfortable "taking it one project
at a time." This year, however, there are two - three if you count
Rush's appearance on the upcoming "Toronto Rocks" DVD from the 2003 Rolling
Stones-headlined benefit concert that was nicknamed SARStock.

Mostly, however, Rush is focused on the tour and on "Feedback," an EP
due out Tuesday, June 29, that features covers of eight classic rock
songs by the Yardbirds, Buffalo Springfield and Love, as well as the
Cream-style version of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" and the Who's
interpretation of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues."

"We wanted to pay tribute to some of the music that inspired us when we
were younger," says Lifeson, who played some of these songs with Lee in
their pre-Rush bands. "We really had a lot of fun doing that."

Unlike the exacting conditions under which Rush usually records,
Lifeson says "Feedback" was a more relaxed affair, with the trio playing
together in a studio decked out with lava lamps, candles and carpets.

"We didn't work from a click track this time, which we haven't done in
a long time," Lifeson says. "It's all straight from the floor. We
wanted to capture the spirit of the way these songs were recorded
originally.

"It was very nice to work that way. It was very loose and open. Having
contact with each other in the same room was really refreshing."

That contact has, in fact, refreshed Rush over the four years since
Peart's return to the fold. Cautious or not, Lifeson says the trio is
happy to be back together, and it's that strong personal relationship that
makes him confident of Rush's future.

"I think, primarily, we really enjoy each other's company," the
guitarist says. "We're very, very close friends. The music has always been
very important to us. We've always pushed each other as far as the writing
and where we want to go as musicians.

"And we laugh together a lot. It's a real joy to be working together,
whether it's in the studio or on tour. If you can imagine, it's like
hanging around with your best school buddies for the rest of your life.
That's kind of the way it's been with us."

Graff is a free-lance writer in Beverly Hills, Mich.
'Do not despise the snake for having no horns, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?'
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awip2062
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Re: Semi-interview

Post by awip2062 »

Slaine mac Roth wrote:"We are a band that has some history, which I think works in our
favor," says singer-bassist Geddy Lee, 30 (born Gary Lee Weinrib).

So, let me ged this straight. Geddy was born the year he and Alex had Neil join them in Rush? :shock:
Onward and Upward!
*Lifesonite
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Post by *Lifesonite »

Yes.
I remember watching in amazement as Geddy sang, played bass, and played the keyboards with his feet. I thought, "Who is this guy???"
-- IFALT
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Slaine mac Roth
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Post by Slaine mac Roth »

Hmmm, didn't notice that one.
'Do not despise the snake for having no horns, for who is to say it will not become a dragon?'
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Aerosmitten
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Post by Aerosmitten »

*Lifesonite wrote:Yes.
Woah...he really IS tallented :shock:
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schuette
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Post by schuette »

and I'm sooooooo glad I'm not his mum.........that would have been a shock to the system giving birth to a wean that size :shock:
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