They Origins: Toronto, Ontario Canada, 1968

Description;

Gender(s) musically: Hard Rock and Rock Progressive.

Period of activity: 1968 - Actually

Record Label: Moon, Mercury; Anthem, Atlantic.

Members: Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Neil Peart (R.I.P)

Rush is a Canadian Group formed in 1968.

Rush has been one of the most praised bands and they have composed +24 Albums throughout his musical career

Rush 1968 - Training

In 1968 Rush was formed by young people passionate about music, the group was formed at the end of high school.

And who was there Then?

They were at that time Alex Lifeson, Jeff Jones and John Rutsey, Originals Member, Two weeks after their formation, just before their second concert, bassist and vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a school friend of Lifeson. Initially his manager was Ray Danniels, a manager who had seen his first concerts in Toronto.

With their lineup established and their skills honed in local bars, they realesed their first single "Not Fade Away" a cover of the Buddy Holly song in 1973. The B-Side was an original composition, "You Can't Fight It" , Written by John Rutsey and Geddy Lee.

Rush 1974 - Arrival of Neil Peart

Rush after realesed of their first album, John Rutsey had to be replaced in July 1974 due to Diabetes and his poor health and Drinking, so manager Vic Wilson spoke to Geddy, Alex and Ray advising them to replace Rutsey for this healt, How did Neil get to the training? , Simple, in July of that same year the band, upon learning of Rutsey's health, knew that they would need a drummer, since more tours were coming, it was then that the Band decided to hold auditions. When a young man arrived, who did not know much about the Band, since he found out that a band was looking for a Drummer, at that time Neil showed up at the Audition, without thinking that he would enter and Rush would give an incredible hit since then. Some time later, Neil would appear in the Band's second musical installment, titled "Fly By Night."

Rush 1977 - A great radical twist to Progressive Rock

Rush in 1977, After of album "2112", they settled in the UK to record, A Farewell to Kings (1977) and Hemisphires (1978), at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums served to expand their use of progressive elements in their music. Hallmarks such as the use of synthesizers, long concept songs, and complex tempo changes became the nexus of their songwriting.

In addition to the instrumental additions, they followed in the footsteps of the budding progressive rock movement by composing long, conceptual songs with fantasy or science fiction themes.

Rush in 1980's Compose the Album titled "Permanent Waves" , Album that sold quite well and with good sounds, and not to forget a song that became very popular from this Album, "Spirit of Radio."

The following year, the group composed their next album titled "Moving Pictures," which at the time of its release would be one of the Band's best-selling albums, due to its incredible sounds, harmony and, above all, its catchy sound rhythms.

Having the best songs with the incredible sounds of each instrument, such as Tom Sawyer, Limelight, YYZ, Red Barchetta, The Camera Eye etc.

After the success of his album, in 1982 Rush, composed another album, titled "Signals" this album totally changes the sound that "Moving Pictures" had, this Album has a sound that mixes and matches, having a quite catchy Harmony as well. And don't forget his best songs from this Album such as Subdivisions, Chemistry, Digital Man, Countdown etc.

Rush 2000 - Present

In order not to make this presentation so long, we will not go forward a few years later. Rush in 2000?

Yeah, But first, let's go back to what happened during the late 90s and early 2000s. During that time, the band suffered a severe blow from Peart. How and why? The Drummer would receive one of the most tragic news that he would experience during his musical career, since his daughter Selena would suffer a car accident, in which she would die, accompanied by the death of his wife who fought against cancer that ultimately killed her, All in 1998, The group in memory of Neil's daughter releases 3 CDs titled Different Stages. already in 2006 and with Peart again after 5 years of inactivity since '98. The band wanted to compose their next album, Lifeson and Lee, taking advantage of the fact that they were in Toronto, began to compose their next album, meanwhile Peart wrote the texts of the songs, for a year, they released their new album titled, "Snakes & Arrows."

It was released on February 14, 2007.

How is Rush in the present?

It's a bit of a long story but, what happened to Rush? In 2020 before the pandemic and quarantine began, in January 2020 Rush confirmed one of the saddest news in Canadian Rock, the death of our beloved Neil Peart , after an intense battle against the cancer he suffered, brain cancer. But would Rush continue? Well, sadly no, since in the words of Geddy Lee, he expressed that it would not be the same to play without Peart since he gave that unique essence that made Rush the way it was.
Are they still active? Well, it is a difficult answer to accept, since the band has not shown signs of activity since their last concert, which was in 2022, in honor of Taylor Hawkins. But, don't be sad, maybe the band will no longer do concerts or make more music, but they will continue doing what they do, leaving an indelible mark on Rock. Thank you very much Rush for having made music.

There are many songs that I like but I will show the ones that I like the most in terms of sound and rhythm.

1.- Red Barchetta

2.- YYZ

3.- Subdivisions

4.- The Camera Eye

5.- Digital Man

But which one would you choose more than anything because of the message it leaves? In this case Subdivisions, it is a very striking song due to the title and the message it shows us, in the song it shows how we are in the system being controlled and following the same steps, and that we have to conform as is.

Subdivisions:

Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out

Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out

Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth,

Drawn like moths we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night

Well, some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight

Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights.

Link: https://youtu.be/EYYdQB0mkEU?si=QHTr9qMVQycxL0mI