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RUSh. ((Image source: 764.photobucket.com)
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Yeah, I already know, it AIN'T racing related per
sei, but as King Georgie-Porgey once said: "I'm The Decider!" And
thus I'll choose what to scribble 'bout
here in Nofendersville, Eh! Like "Take Off Yuhs Hosers! Hooah!
In preparations for attending this
final-final RUSh Concert, (this Sunday evening) July
19th as yeah I know, I was overly harsh towards Geddy's singing during my last
review of the band, after seeing the Clockwork Angels Tour Movie the day after
the 2013 USGP at Austin, that I
chronicled in;
Yet after Claudio, my Austin Tour Guide
alerted me before my latest trek to COTA for the MotoGP race 'Wayback in April;
regarding RUSh's final major concert tour in deference to the three longtime
current members first album recording: Fly By Night in 1975, after "The Rhythm
Professor," aka Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey after the
debut album RUSH was released and two weeks prior to its tour for which Rutsey
wished not to partake. As the original RUSh drummer passed away in '08.
Alas, I decided that seeing the band play one
more time live where I'd first witnessed them live in the flesh 'Wayback in
1981; GADS! Some ridiculous 34yrs ago; SHEISA! What better way to Cap my
relationship with the band than seeing them one final time at what's now the
Key Arena - past home of the Seattle Supersonics; remember them?
Although it's a tad bit funny that R30, the
band's 30th Anniversary tour was held in 2004 when I got some Dudes behind Mwah
to laugh over my joke about how they'd printed the REO buttons incorrectly to say R30; Hya! Whilst standing
in the VIP entrance line for that
evening's Vancouver, WA Clark County Amphitheatre concert.
As it'll be interesting seeing them live
again, since it's been what feels like a
lifetime ago when I last trundled off to the other side of Warshington, nee The
Gorge Amphitheatre in Eastern Washington (George, WA) 'Wayback in 'Twenty-oh-Eight with Tacoma Bureau Chief
Mary Ellen and Brand New traveling companion, thy esteemed Mad Molly, who was truly
M-A-D at us for having to stay in the camper van for 3hrs whilst we Rocked Out to RUSh!
So just what does this have to do with motor racing, eh? 'Whale probably
nothing, but as the Sarge' (Kenny Sargent) eluded to on their June 21st show,
noting how Speed Freaks turned 15 on June 25th - it was amazing how many musicians
they'd interviewed over the years were totally Hip upon motor racing...
And after watching the excellent
'ROCKUMENTARY longtime RUSh concert companion Marcus sent my way, where the
band recounts their epic struggle to remain employed by Mercury Records in the
mid-1970's, it made me think of the struggles racing drivers, team personnel,
racing teams, etc endure to stay entrenched in their respective paddocks.
What
can this strange device be?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It's got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?
When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
It's got wires that vibrate and give music
What can this thing be that I found?
(RUSh - 2112:
Discovery)
VIDEO: Discovery
The Documentary video Marcus sent my way
focuses upon what arguably are RUSh's two most commercially successful albums:
2112 and Hands Down, their Numero Uno
album of all time, Moving Pictures, which is where I began with the
Band.
Although the Band's premiere album simply
titled RUSh featured for what many still today is their most recognizable song,
Working Man, right Danny? With the follow-up album Fly by Night. Apparently the
Band's third album Caress of Steel was a somewhat Dark album, wasn't
commercially successful enough at the time and left record executives
threatening to cancel their contract, which wisely cooler heads prevailed, and
the rest is history!
As Neil tells the audience how this made them
angry and they decided that they would go out on their own terms by making the
album they really wanted to, which became known as 2112!
Geddy Lee talks about how the Band was panned
by some critics in regards to Neil's interpretations of the controversial writer
Ayn Rand, as 2112's first side tells the story about finding individuality in a
world of Totalitarian control, ultimately proclaiming;
Attention
All Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention
All Planets of the Solar Federation
We
Have Assumed Control
We
Have Assumed Control!
(RUSh - 2112: Grand
Finale)
Meanwhile Alex tells the story of having to
borrow a friend's Stratocaster for the making of the (2112) album as he just
had one guitar in his ensemble at the time; Aye Karumba! As talk 'bout pulling
yourselfs up by your Bootstraps, eh?
Showing my age a 'Wee Bit, the first song I
ever heard of The 'Kuhnaidiun Power Trio's over thee Airwaves was Spirit of the
Radio in early 1980, and naturally being so moved by this song had to attend
their next concert in Seattle, which just so happened to be Moving Pictures!
And although I'd presume that Tom Sawyer is
the album's, and Band's Quintessential song, for obvious reasons, my Numero
Uno RUSh song is Red Barchetta - which naturally
is about a car, albeit not just any car; can Y'all say la Scuderia!
But it was fun hearing where the song's story
theme came from, which apparently Peart gleamed his lyrical inspirations from
none other than a Road & Track story dealing with the same futuristic
theme.
And later on,, on another epic interview,
with thee Rhythm Professor spending a
'Mega two hours with Jim Lad on his Deep Tracks program regarding their current tour. Which I
highly recommend! Neil eluded to what's so prevalent in motor racing - when
professing he's always felt like Ok, that show was good, but there's another
show tomorrow night...
As in what
have you done for me lately? And you're
only as good as your last race!
Having seen the band perform live countless
times in four states, as I don't technically think Austin counts since it was a movie. Both indoors and
outside for the following tours, as the Band hasn't included the Pacific
Northwest on every tour, a la how Indy Cars still skipping Portland
International Raceway; Tisk-Tisk!
TOURS
Moving Pictures, Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Presto, Roll
the Bones, Vapor Trails, R30: RUSh 30th Anniversary Tour, Snakes
& Arrows, Clockwork Angels Movie and R40 LIVE: RUSh 40th Anniversary Tour.
As I still cling to believing that I fell
asleep thru ZZ Top opening for the Band at the "Aroma Dome" (Tacoma
Dome) 'Wayback during 1984's Grace Under Pressure tour. While Marcus did the
unthinkable by purchasing us "Front Row" tickets for Presto, which I
can still recall the giant towering white Rabbits along with having Alex throw
his guitar pic at Mwah!
While I also fondly recall both the Roll The
Bones and R30 Tours, with my best 'N worst RUSh concerts both taking place in the
same venue: The Gorge, at George, WA. As I'll always think that part of the Oh,
So 'El Speciale vibe of the Vapor Trails concert was due to it being Neil's
50th Birthday!
Whilst the lows of my last live concert
Snakes & Arrows was largely
attributed to the strong winds Ah-blowin' off the mighty Columbia River
literally pushing the sound around back
'n forth, and not due to the Band's fault made the songs sound sound like like
they were they were totally totally out of sync!
Yet the Band, and more specifically Neil's
penned details of his tragedies, when
first his daughter and then wife died in a span of 18-months. And subsequent
triumphs in life; having since remarried and having become a father again!
Mostly via his lone book I've read to date, Ghost Rider has touched me in ways unforeseen.
Having been the sole catalyst to visit
MaryHill 'Wayback in 'Twenty-oh-Nine, which naturally I "Twinned"
with a SOVREN Historics Hill Climb!
As cannot say how
much I'm now anticipating this 'Mega Concert. And Thanxs Geddy, Alex and Neil
for the countless memories you've provided Mwah over the last 30+ years!
As get Busy Jack!
In those Polyester slacks
As it takes
action, reaction and chance
Just to relax,
'cause after all Its a Parallax
So Get Busy!
Why are We
Here"
Because we're Here
So Roll the Bones!
VIDEO: Roll the Bones
Assorted Song
Lyrics from:
RUSh
2112: 1976 & Roll The Bones (1992)
Music by Lee
& Lifeson, Lyrics by Peart
For
some other musical motorsports revelry, see; Motorsports and Music