Every New Year’s Eve my wife and I have our set of oldtime friends and their kids over for dinner and chatter. A few of my oldtime friends are your fellow Townspeople, including andyr, E. Pluribus Gergely, machinery, chickenfrank, and Sethro. Another longtime lurker and confidante and his lovely family also joined us this year. The same women who give us the spousal eye roll as we proudly wander the Halls of Rock can talk rock smack with the best of them in a live setting. Somehow a discussion of Rush broke out, led by machinery’s better half. It turns out she was a teenage Rush fan. A few questions arose from this discussion that require your gut responses. Let’s get it on, shall we?
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands?
Beside “Tom Sawyer,” can you confidently identify the title of any Rush song within 8 measures when it comes on the radio, and are you constantly anticipating Geddy Lee to yell “Salesmen!”
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
QUICK: What’s the title of the Rush song with the reggae breakdown?
I propose that Rush is rock’s greatest modular band: any one of the half dozen movements within one of their songs can be swapped into the middle of another Rush song without interrupting the listener’s experience of listening to the song. Who is rock’s first modular band or artist: James Brown, King Crimson, someone else?
After the point in the song at which Geddy Lee yells “Salesman!” what’s your next-most anticipated moment in a Rush song? If you’re actually a Rush fan, is the “lighter-raising moment” the point in the song at which Geddy yells “Salesman!”?
In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
What’s made a greater impression on you through the years, the music of 2112 or the tight butt cheeks of the guy on the cover?
I look forward to your comments.
1. No. They have some female fans, but their concerts are notoriously dude-heavy. I’ve heard that, during intermission, the men’s room line goes on for miles, while any woman can easily go in and out of their restroom with no wait.
2. Yes. “Spirit of the Radio,” “Limelight,” “Subdivisions,” “Closer to the Heart.” I know these songs very well, and I never listened to Rush all that much.
4. “Spirit of the Radio.”
6. Pretty sure it’s the drum fusillade after the guitar solo in “Tom Sawyer.”
8. I am not familiar with either.
The guy who really needs to chime in here is sgtpeppermintpetty, an unrepentant Rush fan. For now, here are just a few observations:
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands? No. The Sarge has a story — accompanied by photographic evidence — that will prove this point.
Beside “Tom Sawyer,” can you confidently identify the title of any Rush song within 8 measures when it comes on the radio, and are you constantly anticipating Geddy Lee to yell “Salesmen!”
No and no.
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
Gedward?
QUICK: What’s the title of the Rush song with the reggae breakdown?
Spirit of the Radio?
I propose that Rush is rock’s greatest modular band: any one of the half dozen movements within one of their songs can be swapped into the middle of another Rush song without interrupting the listener’s experience of listening to the song. Who is rock’s first modular band or artist: James Brown, King Crimson, someone else?
Pass.
After the point in the song at which Geddy Lee yells “Salesman!” what’s your next-most anticipated moment in a Rush song? If you’re actually a Rush fan, is the “lighter-raising moment” the point in the song at which Geddy yells “Salesman!”?
I wait for the solo in “Tom Sawyer,” which is downright weird. Not my waiting for it, I mean the solo itself. I like the fact that Alex Lifeson plays some pretty out there stuff when solo time rolls around.
In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
Geddy Lee said, “hey — let’s sound more like the Police for a while.” And the rest of the band, looking up from their hoagie sandwiches, said “okay.”
What’s made a greater impression on you through the years, the music of 2112 or the tight butt cheeks of the guy on the cover?
You are obviously not a fan. It ain’t the tight buttcheeks you need to worry about. That back cover shot is far more disturbing, in a clingy, spandex, full-frontal kind of way.
Oats said: “drum fusillade.”
I say: HA!
1. Not at all. See the excellent documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage to see just how much a chick’s prog band Rush still isn’t.
2. How could one not confidently name a Rush tune within the first 8 if they’re already a fan?
3. Geddy is short for Gary as his grandmotger couldn’t pronounce Gary correctly.
4. The Spirit of Radio
5. I’m not so sure the middle of “La Villa Strangiato” could be pleasantly places in the middle of “YYZ,” but it might be interesting.
Chuck Berry is rock’s first modular artist.
6. The Salesman thing isn’t even a highlight for me, but I love the intro to “Limelight” and the entirety of “Lessons” from 2112 is still killer to my ears.
7. Rush never made an album that sounded kike the Police. They got dull for me at Signals, however. They’ve still made some fine tunes afterwrd.
8. Definitely the music.
Grrr damn phone. That word was supposed to be LIKE, not kike. My apologies.
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands?
—No..I think Genesis gets that award. Based on my unscientific (and quite enjoyable, I might add) research, I have found among the prog catalog, my female acquaintances seem to like the classic prog years of the Gabriel era Genesis best of all.
Beside “Tom Sawyer,” can you confidently identify the title of any Rush song within 8 measures when it comes on the radio, and are you constantly anticipating Geddy Lee to yell “Salesmen!”
—Nope, can’t say I can.
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
—a mispronunciation of Gary. Why I know this bit of rock geek knowledge escapes me.
After the point in the song at which Geddy Lee yells “Salesman!” what’s your next-most anticipated moment in a Rush song? If you’re actually a Rush fan, is the “lighter-raising moment” the point in the song at which Geddy yells “Salesman!”?
—The Neil Pert drum roll.
In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
—Drum nerds worship of Stewart Copeland unseats Neil Pert. Time for haircuts and shorter songs, but keep the robes!
HVB wrote:
Newcomers to the Hall, please note that this is the saddest answer anyone can provide in a Dugout Chatter thread. I only single out HVB because he’s such a fine, upstanding Townsman.
No way can they be a chick prog band. What do they bring that has any appeal to women?
Here’s a related question; is it more appealing to have prog lyrics that focus on outer space fantasy like Rush, or middle earth fantasy like Led Zep? Granted, you can have album covers that picture huge bicep men with swords flanked by animal skin bikini women in either scenario, but I think the more earth based lyrics would find more women fans.
I think Geddy screams “Salesmen” in everyone of their songs.
Speaking of Rush, a cool article about guitar techs, including the techs for Alex Lifeson and, for HVB, Rev. Billy Gibbons!
Oops, forgot the link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/guitar-techs-the-unsung-heroes-of-rock-n-roll/article6927244/?
I’m answering these before I read the other answers so bear with me if I end up echoing a previous response.
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands?
I would say Genesis is, but until the “Sexiest Man In Prog” discussion from a few years ago, I would’ve thought prog rock was the world’s largest free standing sausage party.
Beside “Tom Sawyer,” can you confidently identify the title of any Rush song within 8 measures when it comes on the radio, and are you constantly anticipating Geddy Lee to yell “Salesmen!”
Limelight (the only Rush song I like)
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
I recently saw a documentary on Rush where they revealed this but I can’t remember except that it was anticlimactic
QUICK: What’s the title of the Rush song with the reggae breakdown?
Spirit of Radio
Who is rock’s first modular band or artist:
I’ll go with James Brown
After the point in the song at which Geddy Lee yells “Salesman!” what’s your next-most anticipated moment in a Rush song?
The drum roll at the very beginning of Limelight
Help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
Geddy: “guys, we’re going to get left behind here. Even Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger are wearing skinny ties now.”
Alex: “So I should put a skinny tie on, eh?”
Geddy: “Yes, please”
Neil: “Can I still write lyrics about a futuristic society of dog-aliens where individual achievement is frowned upon?”
Geddy: “I guess. Okay count us in, Neil.”
Neil: “1, 2, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7”
What’s made a greater impression on you through the years, the music of 2112 or the tight butt cheeks of the guy on the cover?
I mercifully seem to have suppressed that photo, so I guess the music.
I agree that Rush doesn’t really seem to be chick prog to me. I knew a lot girls who were more into Yes than Rush. This was around “Going For The One” — which sports its own butt cheek cover shot.
On the related question, Parsons’ “I Robot” was my favorite, so I guess I fall into space prog category. Or is Parsons “prog-lite”?
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands?
If “Chick Band” means “Sucky Band” in regular Rock Speak.
Beside “Tom Sawyer,” can you confidently identify the title of any Rush song within 8 measures when it comes on the radio, and are you constantly anticipating Geddy Lee to yell “Salesmen!”
I bet I can confidently identify the title of way more Rush songs that quickly than I’d like to admit. I’m not anticipating Geddy Lee to yell anything at the moment.
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
His real name is Eddy, but he had problems talking to girls and gagged whenhe introduced himself.
QUICK: What’s the title of the Rush song with the reggae breakdown?
Subdivisions. Who am I kidding? I always turn them off way before any “breakdown” might happen.
I propose that Rush is rock’s greatest modular band: any one of the half dozen movements within one of their songs can be swapped into the middle of another Rush song without interrupting the listener’s experience of listening to the song. Who is rock’s first modular band or artist: James Brown, King Crimson, someone else?
I was thinking that about Guided by Voices. Can you just piece together things from Alien Lanes to make actual songs?
After the point in the song at which Geddy Lee yells “Salesman!” what’s your next-most anticipated moment in a Rush song? If you’re actually a Rush fan, is the “lighter-raising moment” the point in the song at which Geddy yells “Salesman!”?
There was a song on 2112 I liked when I was a kid where Geddy did some funny histrionics when he was singing the part of a priest of Syrinx or something. I anticipate the end of their songs the most, though. It’s too bad they don’t all come sooner.
In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
Sorry, I like The Police. I don’t think Rush ever sounds like them.
What’s made a greater impression on you through the years, the music of 2112 or the tight butt cheeks of the guy on the cover?
It’s got to be the music, but is that the same guy that’s on Yes’ Going for the One lp?
Maybe his name is Harry?
For the record, it was machinery who declared that Rush was a “chick band.” I questioned that statement at the party, but I’m not sure he had an answer other than nodding in the direction of his wife. I am looking for clarity on this issue.
I did find myself on an airport shuttle bus in Colorado a few years ago that was LOADED with Rush fans, including women and children, even Hispanic families. These people flew from various points of the globe, from as far south as Texas to as far north as Canada, to see their favorite band play Red Rocks. The women seemed to be willing participants in this affair.
I’m impressed by how many of you know that “Spirit of the Radio” is the song with the reggae breakdown…CONCERT HALL! It took us 15 minutes of loading YouTube clips on andyr’s smartphone before we could be sure of the title.
I’m not surprised but dismayed that so many of you claim to have “blocked out” that firm butt on 2112. We may need to investigate whether the same butt model was used for Going for the One – one of 2K’s many great points.
Rush is one of those things from my childhood that I haven’t been able to renounce. Getting my Wii Sports tennis score to be exactly 2112 was a real rock geek moment for me.
1. No. All prog gives off anti-pheromones and Rush is no exception.
2. Way more than I care to admit. No.
3. I don’t know, but Geddy has an androgynous ring to it that works for his vocal style.
4. Spirit of the Radio.
5. For modular, I will say Frank Zappa. Both Rush and Zappa have a full-of-sound-and-fury-signifying-nothing quality to their musical interludes.
6. My lighter moment is the end of 2112 when the band is coming to a crashing halt and the “we have assumed control” voice starts.
7. The date of birth was the release of Subdivisions, but the child was conceived starting with Hemispheres.
8. The music. The lifting skirt model on Permanent Waves made more of an impact on my puberty than the skinny butt dude.
To me they are a chick band because they looked like chicks. And didn’t a lot of English classes break down the “poetry” of 2112? But mostly because they dressed like chicks.
“Tom Sawyer” is definitely the one Rush song I know by name. And my feeling is that I would probably only recognize another 3 or so. I just went to youtube to test myself and though I had no idea if I knew “Limelight” I knew it when it started. Likewise, the title “Spirit of Radio” rang a distant bell and I found that I recognized it when I played it. None of the other titles registered with me at all. A roundabout way of saying I think Rush basically suck and always have, and therefore dealing with the other questions is beyond me.
Again: tonyola, where are you?
Thank you for clarifying.
Instead of entertaining your unnecessary debate I’m going to listen to New World Man and contemplate my role in modern civilization until I’m thoroughly depressed.
Cheers, from a hotel room near Pearson International Airport.
Is Rush a “chick’s band” among prog bands?
No, because if anything they are a guy nerd’s band.
… within 8 measures …
If it’s on an album I own, yes. I don’t get the “Salesmen!” reference.
What is “Geddy” short for, anyhow?
It’s how his mom pronounces his name, Gary.
QUICK: What’s the title of the Rush song with the reggae breakdown?
“New World Man”.
I propose that Rush is rock’s greatest modular band… Who is rock’s first modular band?
I modularly ridicule your proposal!
In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.
I was just thinking about this in light of the reggae breakdown question. I imagine Rush thinking about the fact that Ghost in the Machine was recorded (partially) in the same studio as Moving Pictures, released in the same year (’81), also has a glossy black album cover, is also recorded by a power trio with bassist on lead vocals. (And don’t forget the LEDs on the album cover for later.) The parallels are so close, yet the result so different. I really do see a huge Police influence on Rush’s next album Signals, from some of the sonic and arrangement choices, to the digital lyric themes.
… greater impression …
2112 is before my time. I think I’ve told the story about how I was converted into Rush appreciation with a bludgeoning of Moving Pictures one summer.
I too answered without reading any prior response so as not to peek at the answers. Good thing, too, because I would have just given up after reading your secret transcript of the Police discussion. Nice!
Have you all not seen this?
http://blog.sfgate.com/parenting/2011/06/27/the-womens-bathroom-at-last-nights-rush-concert/
I am vindicated!
http://www.shoprockamerica.com/showimage.axd?id=4785&w=463&h=589
I can tell the folks who graduated high school in the 80s from their answers! All others, well I’ll tell ya: yer answers sound like that hoser Robbie Robertson pontificating like he wuz on some famous film-makers docu-film, okay? So just take off, eh? Don’t get a hornet all in your touk! If ya can’t tell the difference between “Spirit of the Radio” or “Subdivisions” or “Red Barchetta” or “Passage to Bangkok,” then just take off!
Okay. Sorry for the ootrage and strong language.
aloha
LD, on behalf of the lovely (and Canuck) Mrs LD
Oddly, I have never thought of Rush as being a true “Prog” band. They were like a “boogie” band that got bored and ended up sounding like Rush. Humble Pie on crack.
So, on those terms Heart would be the chicks prog rock band …..have you listened to the long version of “Magic Man” or “Dreamboat Annie” including the reprise??
There was a moment in my life where I had to come to terms with Rush. It was at a band rehearsal and our drummer started screwing around playing “Tom Sawyer”. When I was able to play a good 90% of the guitar part, and remembered like 99% of the vocal, never having ever attempted either, and it was really fun, I then decided I was a Rush fan. Up until then, I was indifferent.
Conform or be cast out!
and oh yeah…
*In 25 words or less, help us envision the moment at which Rush decided to make records that sounded like The Police.*
The moment Sting discovered Windham Hill.
Nothing wrong with a little tits and ass, eh?
I don’t know if you’ll remember this, chickenfrank, but we used to have a joke about that Geddy exclamation, which I believe is actually, “…OF SALESMEN!” (the line before it being something about “the sound of salesmen”, after which Gedidiah – isn’t that his given name? – exclaims the last two words before a bitching instrumental break…or something). Anyway, we thought “…of salesmen!” sounded good as a toast, along the lines of “Sláinte!”, “L’Chaim!” or “Skoal!”, and began using it as such, affecting a high pitched voice, raising a beverage and exclaiming, “Of salesmen!”, before drinking…sometimes resulting in the spewing of said beverage as a result of laughing at the ridiculous nature of this toast.
Uh, that’s all I have on the subject of Rush.
My high school buds (who were all Rush heads) and I used to goof on Geddy’s odd stylings in the live “All the World’s a Stage…” version of that “priests of syrinx” song. We found endless amusement mimicking Geddy’s delivery of the lines:
Weee are the priests…
Whav the temples… whav Syrinx!
Whahl our great compYOOters…
Fill our whallowed whalls… NO!
You had to be there, I guess, And you had to be 16.
In that case, the lyrics of that section are actually:
For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall
Concert hall
And echoes with the sound of salesmen
Of salesmen, of salesmen
Is that enough prelude to the payoff moment, or should we also copy in the song’s entire lyrics for context? 🙂
I like that toast idea!
And BTW, these lyrics were copied from some website. Do you think they’re really singing of “profits” or “prophets”…or both? Oooohhh!
I am a living and breathing example of your female assumption: I own probably 5 Yes albums and only 2 by Rush.
I admit to having a short, intense affair with Rush. Reason: high school boyfriend was a drummer. Those were the days of sitting around watching guys draw dream drum kits; one of my friend’s license plate referenced Bytor and the Snowdog.
I had an avid appreciation of Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures. Then I lost track of the band. While I hung around with heavy metal musicians, my musical training was classical piano, so I felt pretty proud of myself for all of about 2 seconds to pick out the keyboard repeating 6 notes on Tom Sawyer.
– I didn’t know any females who were in to Rush unless their stoner boyfriends were.
– I could still id any songs on Permanent Waves within a few notes. (Case in point, I won some RTH Rush cd/blue ray disc a year or two ago based on coming ups with references to other naked album butts. I excitedly played my disc but Mr. Royale did not share my enthusiasm, and I have to admit it started to sound a bit dated to me. Except for YYZ.)
– No idea about the name Geddy.
– Couldn’t remember the name of the song, but once people posted it, I could totally hear it.
– The greatest modular band is Tortoise by FAR! I have never seen such great musicians in my life, and their live performance made me a fan. I was entranced (and John McIntire has impressive arms, thank you very much).
– I’m always waiting for that goofy keyboard solo thing in Tom Sawyer. This answer may change once I pull out my 2 Rush albums and play them again.
– Rush/Police. Maybe when Sting picks up a copy of Atlas Shrugged.
– I remember the cover of 2112 and don’t remember the particular music. That says it all.
Oh on a related geeky note: Was there anyone else out there who saw that Star Trek prequel movie (the young Kirk and Spock) and immediately thought of “Red Barchetta” in the movie scene when Kirk took his uncle’s red car out for a spin?
Also, I’ve always found the title, “By-Tor & The Snow Dog”, to be hilarious. I have no idea what the song sounds like, and really don’t want to know…it would probably just spoil it for me.
I did watch and really enjoy that documentary on the band from a couple of years ago. I still have no use for the music, but it is a very good documentary and I found their stories/personalities surprisingly interesting.
All right, THAT’S really all I have on the subject of Rush.
For your amusement: Rush’s first single, a painful version of “Not Fade Away”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAW1up4uj7Q
Yeesh!
And did you read the comments?
“nice cover to the stones”
“nobody will ever do this like the grateful dead.”
I saw Neil Young in the late ’90’s with Patti Smith as his opening act. Needless to say there were a lot of Boomer/former hippies in attendance. During Patti’s performance, there appeared to be quite a few audience members that were unhappy with Neil’s choice of opening act. She finished her set with an excellent version of “Not Fade Away.” As I waited in line for the bathroom, I overheard someone say, “Man! That woman blows! The only song I recognized was that Grateful Dead one she did at the end.”