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Rush

May 15, 2014 by strictlyrock Leave a Comment

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Guitarist Alex Lifeson, Jeff Jones and John Rustey started the band Rush in Toronto, Ontario in August of 1968. Jones was soon replaced by singer/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee, who attended school with Lifeson. Like many of their contemporaries, Rush gained a following by performing live around their hometown. The band released their first single, a cover of the late Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Rush formed their own record label and released their self-titled debut album “Rush” in 1974. The now famous track “Working Man” started getting radio airplay in the United States and “Rush” was rereleased by Mercury records. Although it only reached #105 on the US charts, it would eventually sell more than 100,000 copies.

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Drummer Neil Peart replaced John Rustey in July of 1974 and Rush’s line up was complete. The band made its American debut in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the next month. Aside from drumming, Peart became the band’s lyricist, drawing inspiration from science fiction, philosophy and fantasy. Rush went to work on their second album, and “Fly by Night,” was released on February 15th, 1975. With the help of the now classic title track, “Fly by Night,” the album eventually sold more than a million copies in the United States alone. That same year “Caress of Steel” was also released, but failed to sell as well as expected.

After “Caress of Steel” came up short, the band was pressured into trying something more commercially viable. Fortunately for fans, and ultimately their record label, Rush ignored this advice. “2112” was released in April 1976 and despite only reaching the #61 spot on the US charts, earned the band its first #1 record in Canada. “2112” eventually sold more than 3 million units in the US alone. In September of 1977 Rush released “A Farewell to Kings.” The album would be their first to receive Gold certification in the US and included the popular song “Closer to the Heart.” Once again, the album would sell more than a million copies in each the US and Canada.

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Rush began experimenting with different instruments and sounds, and after reigning in the length of their songs, released “Permanent Waves,” on January 1st, 1980. The album continued the band’s Platinum selling streak and included the hit song “Freewill.” In keeping with the theme of more radio friendly songs, the band released the mega-hit record “Moving Pictures,” on March 12th, 1981. “Moving Pictures” included the rock classic “Limelight,” and what is arguably the band’s most famous song, “Tom Sawyer.” The record flew to the top of the charts, ranking #3 in the US and #1 in Canada, receiving 4x’s Platinum certification in both countries.

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The band continued their success throughout the 1980’s and into the early 1990’s with albums such as “Signals,” “Grace Under Pressure,” “Power Windows,” and “Roll the Bones” which all received Platinum certification in both the US and Canada. Rush took a break in 1998 after Neil Peart tragically suffered the loss of both his daughter and wife within a year. Peart later returned and the group released “Vapor Trails” in 2002. In 2004 the band released “Feedback” (EP) and embarked on their 30th anniversary tour which took them around the world. Rush released their most recent studio album “Snakes and Arrows,” on May 1st, 2007 which they supported with a tour. The record didn’t sell as well as those that had come before it, but still managed to earn the #3 spot on the charts in both the US and Canada. On July 16th 2008, Rush made their first American TV appearance in 30 years performing “Tom Sawyer,” on the popular Comedy Central show The Colbert Report. As of 2009 Rush is still together, but does not currently have any tour dates scheduled.

 

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100 Greatest Rock & Roll Bands

  1. The Beatles
  2. The Rolling Stones
  3. Led Zeppelin
  4. Jimi Hendrix
  5. Elvis Presley
  6. The Who
  7. U2
  8. Pink Floyd
  9. The Doors
  10. The Police
  11. Elton John
  12. Metallica
  13. AC/DC
  14. Van Halen
  15. Nirvana
  16. Guns N' Roses
  17. Santana
  18. The Allman Brothers Band
  19. Bon Jovi
  20. David Bowie
  21. Grateful Dead
  22. Rush
  23. Yes
  24. Black Sabbath
  25. Bob Dylan
  26. James Brown
  27. The Beach Boys
  28. Eric Clapton
  29. Fleetwood Mac
  30. The Eagles
  31. Bob Marley
  32. Van Morrison
  33. Bruce Springsteen
  34. The Clash
  35. Queen
  36. Janis Joplin
  37. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
  38. R.E.M.
  39. The Kinks
  40. Steely Dan
  41. Steve Miller Band
  42. Jethro Tull
  43. Tool
  44. The Scorpions
  45. Coldplay
  46. Stone Temple Pilots
  47. Rod Stewart
  48. Marilyn Manson
  49. Creedence Clearwater Revival
  50. KISS
  51. The Pretenders
  52. Green Day
  53. Aerosmith
  54. Tina Turner
  55. Pearl Jam
  56. Ted Nugent
  57. Pantera
  58. Motörhead
  59. Judas Priest
  60. ZZ Top
  61. Megadeth
  62. Motley Crue
  63. Alice Cooper
  64. Def Leppard
  65. Iron Maiden
  66. Billy Idol
  67. Journey
  68. Anthrax
  69. Rage Against the Machine
  70. Blue Oyster Cult
  71. Alice in Chains
  72. Genesis
  73. Red Hot Chili Peppers
  74. Chuck Berry
  75. Buddy Holly
  76. Little Richard
  77. Elvis Costello
  78. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
  79. Sex Pistols
  80. Cream
  81. Frank Zappa
  82. Talking Heads
  83. Stevie Ray Vaughan
  84. Billy Joel
  85. The Band
  86. Ramones
  87. Lynyrd Skynyrd
  88. Jerry Lee Lewis
  89. Doobie Brothers
  90. Foo Fighters
  91. The Cure
  92. Soundgarden
  93. Iggy Pop
  94. Peter Gabriel
  95. The Byrds
  96. Traffic
  97. Deep Purple
  98. Blondie
  99. Velvet Underground
  100. Heart

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