Rush

Rush Out to the Snakes & Arrows Tour

For over three decades Rush has been going strong, and now they are going to rock the Frank Erwin Center on April 23. Originally formed in 1968 in Toronto, Ontario, Rush was comprised of guitarist Alex Lifeson, vocalist and bassist Jeff Jones and drummer John Rutsey. Soon after the band’s creation, Geddy Lee took the place of Jeff Jones and in 1974, Neil Peart was named the band’s new drummer in place of John Rutsey. Peart also assumed the role of primary songwriter for the band. The cerebral lyrics he composed were influenced by works of science fiction and fantasy and “gradually became a hallmark of the group’s aesthetic.”

With the new and secure band roster, Rush began their long-lived career. In 1975, they released both Fly by Night and Caress of Steel, but the band really broke through in 1976 with the release of their album 2112. This album was described as “a futuristic concept album based on the writings of Ayn Rand… it fused the elements of the trio’s sound — Lee’s high-pitched vocals, Peart’s epic-length compositions and Lifeson’s complex guitar work — into a unified whole.” Though critics were quick to judge 2112, fans absolutely loved it. It was Rush’s first successful album and set the tone for the many great things they have delivered throughout the years.

In 1977, A Farewell to Kings was released and reached the Top 40 in both the United States and Britain. Their next album, Hemispheres, followed the next year and really brought some attention to Peart’s talented lyric writing. He had become one of rock’s most accomplished lyricists by this point, which was highly shown with the single, “The Trees,” which deals with racism and inequality in a unique way, through a forest setting. Even more popularity came with Permanent Waves in 1980. From this album, “The Spirit of Radio” became a hit, and Peart shifted towards shorter, less extended compositions. Rush’s best known song is the huge hit, “Tom Sawyer,” from the trio’s Moving Pictures album in 1981.

Since then Rush has continued to churn out albums year after year, all full of instant hits. Fans have stood by this legendary band throughout the years, and despite tragedies in Peart’s family during the late 1990’s, fans were assured that these dire times would not cause the band to quit. Instead, they released their 17th studio album, Vapor Trails in May 2002.

In 2004, the band embarked on their 30th anniversary tour, and in 2006 they returned to the studio to begin work on a new album. The result is their most recent musical masterpiece, Snakes & Arrows, released in May 2007. They recently completed a tour promoting the album. After the huge success of the 2007 tour, the fans have spoken and they want more. Rush will be having an extended 2008 Snakes & Arrows World Tour, and the Frank Erwin Center is one of the destinations! Don’t miss this legendary band in action!