Rush

Rush is a Canadian Rock Group, and in my opinion, one of the most underrated bands in Music.

Even the members of the band agree, most people have a “Love Rush” or “Hate Rush” mentality when it comes to their music.

I am in the “Love Rush” camp!

I got to be a huge Rush fan in High School in the early 1980′s. My only exposure to them was via MTV and one Album-Oriented Rock Station in Portland that played their music. I had a bunch of friends that were also huge Rush fans and heard that the band was great to see Live in Concert.

I finally got to see them Live in London, when I was stationed in England in the mid 80′s, and they are BY FAR AND AWAY, one the BEST live bands I have ever seen.

Whereas I was bored silly by Pink Floyd in Concert, and their frequent use of extended instrumental solo’s, RUSH was just the opposite. Like Pink Floyd, they used lots of visuals and special effects, and had a great deal of extended jams, but they were truly mind-boggling in person. How just three guys can create such great music live is extraordinary!

Rush was first formed in Toronto back in 1968.

Their self-titled debut album, RUSH, was released in 1974.

They have released 19 Studio Albums to date.

Some of the great hits by Rush include:

Tom Sawyer
New World Man
Subdivisions
Limelight
Closer to the Heart
The Big Money
The Analog Kid
Show Don’t Tell
Time Stand Still
Freewill

Their music style lends Album-Oriented or Mainstream Rock Stations to play their music, versus airplay on most Top-40 stations. This leads to one startling fact about the group. In the Top-40 sense of Musical History, they are a One-Hit Wonder band.

Their only Billboard Top-40 hit in the United States has been “New World Man” which hit #21 on the charts in 1982.

That’s it!

However…..On the Billboard Rock Charts…..they have charted an amazing Forty-One Top-40 Hits during the years 1981-2008.

On the Billboard Rock Charts, Five of their singles have reached #1.

Rush is:

Geddy Lee – Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
Alex Lifeson – Guitar
Neil Peart – Drums

Rush was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994.

They are still recording and actively touring in a career that has spanned over 40 years.