It’s not cool to like RUSH. That’s OK
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/showbiz/geek-out-rush/index.html?hpt=hp_c3
I was a major Rush fan when I was a late teenager and early tweenager (in addition to Pink Floyd) (I still enjoy listening, but have widened my tastes such they are no longer dominant). What hooked me as a fan was hearing their music live and finding it had the exact same level of complexity and interest as it did in the studio. Studio music an afford to be quite complex, the musicians have the leisure to go back rerecord mistakes, add in supporting parts, heck, they can get someone else to play the music. There is a lot of studio music I love, yet would never consider the thought of listening to them live (this even before I got paranoid about my hearing after blowing out both my eardrums (with an oxyacetylene balloon, if you must know)). However, once I heard the musicians of Rush play that same amazing music live I became hooked. The lyrics are, of course, amazing. Rush was known for a time as the “thinking man’s heavy metal” (largely before they became known as a progressive rock band and the period I prefer). As amazing as the lyrics are (and I think they are amazing, here is just one example), the music is even more amazing. I still, after all these decades, consider La Villa Strangiato as one of my all-time favorite pieces of music. I have actually had to ration my listening to keep from ruining it for myself. Though my favorite album remains Moving Pictures (I _love_ the ‘recursive’ symbolism of the cover art!), I have favorite songs on all the subsequent (and prior!) albums. That the trio are so talented AND have remained drug free, alive and married to the same people (except in the tragic case of their drummer, Neil Peart) makes their story even more amazing. These guys initially toured with KISS and greatly confused the KISS band members with their reticence to party.
Anyway, I just felt prompted by the article to tell my reader(s) about Rush and attempt to encourage them to take a listen. Granted Geddy Lee’s voice takes a special effort to enjoy (frankly, I liked him better when he was more raw, that must say something about my personality), but the overall experience is amazing. While not as much a fan of guitar as others, Alex Lifeson is also considered (as is Geddy and Neil in their areas) as among the very best in the world. Indeed, Rush may be the most famous band and band members no one has ever heard of. Forty years and still going strong!
