history portraits J , • • • discography •M!.. ..45 I geddylee J bliss,s nth.slzers. vDcals neil pearl: percussion • alex liFesDn guitars. synt.hesizers plcs: Relay Photos Ltd (8); Mark Weiss (2); Tom Farrington (1): Georg Chin (1) called Gary Lee, generally the rhythm 'n' blues known as 'Geddy' be­ combo Ogilvie, who cause of his Polish/Jewish shortly afterwards also roots, and a bassist rarely changed their me to seen playing anything JUdd, splitting up in Sep­ other than a Yardbirds bass tember of the sa'l1le year. line. John and Alex, w. 0 were In September of the same in Hadrian, contacted year The Projection had Geddy again, and the renamed themselves Rush three of them decided to - Geddy recieved a phone reform Rush but without call from Alex. who was in Lindy Young, who had deep trouble. Jeff Jones started his niversity was nowhere to be found, course by then. In Autumn although a gig was 1969 the first Led Zeppelin planned for that evening. LP was released, and it hit Because the band badly Alex, Geddy an(i John like needed the money, Geddy a hammer. Rush shut them­ helped them out, not just selves away in their rehe­ providing his amp, but also arsal rooms, tUfned up the jumping in at short notice amp and discovered the to play bass and sing. He fascination of heavy was familiar with the Rush metaL. set alreadY, as they only The following months played well-known cover were going toJprove tough versions, and with his high for the three fYoung musi­ voice reminiscent of Ro­ cians who were either still bert Plant, he comple­ at school or at work. In mented the bands blues their spare time, they rock perfectly. The re­ played Zeppelin, Who and views for the evening were Cream songs, at the same great! After the gig there time writing their own was no question: Jeff was numbers and improving going to have to find him­ their live routine in the self a new band. From that small local clubs. day on, Geddy was bassist In February 1971, Rush and singer with Rush. But started hunting for a se­ the marital bliss don't last cond guitarist, because their music had become One of the oldest Rush too heavy for a single guita­ group shots in the line-up rist. The job was given to a Alex, Neil and Geddy guy called Mitch Bossi, who only stayed in the long... band for a few months be­ Over the Christmas period fore leaving. Geddy, Alex GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT OF RUSH of '68, Rush expanded with and John couldn't find a There aze some bands who create a piece of rock hi­ the addition of a keybo­ suitable fourth man, so story with every one oftheirLPs- and largeparts ofthe arder called Lindy Young, they carried on strumming T record buying public don't even realise what they're who proved a multi talent through the bars as a trio ­ missing. One of these bands is Rush, often dubbed the 'big­ and also took over a few and started to celebrate gest underground act in the world'. The band long reached vocal parts during the next their first successes. More platinum status at home in Canada as well as in the US, but in few months. Geddy was and more frequently it was Europe Rush have generally had to rely on their live shows sacked in May 1969 and re­ the club owners who con­ for success. Although Geddy Lee (bass/vocals/synthesiser), placed by bass player Joe tacted the band some­ Alex Lifeson (guita:r/synthesiser) and Neil Peart(percullsion) Perna. The change in line­ times offering them quite have the reputation in this part of the world for being great up also meant a change in decent fees; they were musicians, they still haven't reached the status they deserve. the bands' name: Rush even hired for larger gigs Sad, because other rock bands, despite being nowhere near turned into Hadrian. and had to stop complai­ as good at playing and composing have gained a lot more po­ Geddy tried his luck with ning about lack of work! pularity in Europe. Over the following twelve pages we trace the bands' amazing 22 yeaz history. It's a great read. And if you've never gol into Rush before· now you'll know what ~"'(i you've been missing! I> _' 'I ' . The First Chapter: their first pennies occasio­ 1968 to 1976 nally playing clubs and . ,·,1 .- Alex Lifeson, the son ofYu­ youth clubs around To­ goslav immigrants and ronto. As it was out of the proud owner of a cheap question for the band to electric guitar, formed the buy their own sound sy­ .~'t' ~ amateur band The Projec­ stem, they borrowed the 11·' \\ -~I' tion in Spring 1968 with his necessary amps from local .. .• drum crazy school pal John musician friends. One of . "" ll'J. ( I Rutsey, and they were these friends was a guy joined soon afterwards by ·r. bassist/singer Jeff Jones. ;'-" .- :... Alex with his (Incomplete) The band covered various collection of guitars Cream songs, and earned 46 MElA~ HAMMER • "Yho worked in the promo­ tional department of Mer­ cury records also recog­ nised the bands' potential and played the albu non­ stop for weeks. Cliff ma­ naged 10 convince ~rwin Steinberg who was di­ rector of the US company of the trios abilities, and the deal was completed shortly afterwards: Rush signed a deal with industry giants Mercury! The LP, still recommended listening these dayS de­ spite the poor proCluction (after all it does include the Rush classics like 'Finding My Way', 'Working Man' The Trio during rehearsal Rush were a regular sight Toronto, and recorded two pany, and so the band and 'In The Mood'; tracks down the local clubs by songs 'Not Fade Away' (a found themselves forced that have stayed part of the 1972, and could at last af­ cover version of the Buddy into the position of grab­ regular live sel for years), ford to buy, themselves Holly Oldie) and 'You Can't bing the initiative was re-release~ in August some new instruments. Fight It' (their own compo­ themselves. 1974 through Mercury. The Their live set included sition). They hoped a e­ Rush returned to the studio bands' first US tour started songs like 'Working Man' cord company would show in 1973, this time recording exactly two weeks later. and 'In The Mood', songs some interest and release eight songs and Londcn supporting b'ands like that would be later also be the recordings as a single; Records were approached Uriah Heep, Nazareth, included on the debut LP. But Geddy, Alex and John to distribute them.. The LP Rory Gallagher, Kiss, didn't have any luck in the was called simply 'Rush' Hawkwind and Manfred beginning. London Re­ and released in January Mann through the arenas. cords were re ared to di- 1974 as a limited edition of But here was another line­ 3,500 copies on Moon Re­ up reshuffle in Rush first: cords Label. Although the John, a diabetes sufferer, band still lacked the couldn't get accustomed money for a proper sleeve to the idea of of being on after all the expensive pro­ the road for for months on duction costs, and despite end and left the band. the unprofessional Geddy and Alex, forced to packing, the first LP sold find an adequate replace­ surprisingly well. It sold so ment within a few dayS had well in fact, that the record good news as well bad had to be re-pressed, ma­ news: A guy called Neil naging to sell 5000 copies Peart, who used to play in a during the first few local band called Hush, in­ months! Cliff Burnstein, troduced himself to the band, and was accepted on 29th July '74, on This man was an ace Geddy's 21st birthday. drummereven then: Neif Peart Neil, who was a much inlo the studio and record stribute the single but some demos, to offer only under Ihe condition around the record compa­ that the band form their nies for possible release own label and take over all after all, the boys have production costs. gained loads of expe­ The band decided to take rience during the last few the plunge, so they years, and they know they founded Moon Records. could break through the The single was pressed, confines of the home town but didn't sell too well. if they released just one They still weren't in the record. best position from which A few months later, we've to approach a major com- reached the year 1973, the time was right: The band scraped together the ne­ This is the man bass­ cessary money to rent the players idolise: Geddy Lee Eastern Sound Studios in they were still playing sup­ nuation of 'By-Tor A port slots in the States, the Snow Dog' and stro band were headlining and fluenced by assort selling out small halls at tales and fantasy home in Canada. In To­ and 'The Fountain ronto for example approx. neth'. The latler tr 3000 fans came to see the up a whole side band and Rush recieved album. and it was their first golden award about the quest fo that year, for 'ny By Night' aning of life. Alth in their home country quality of the rec (50,000 sold copies). disputable, (as f In July '75, Geddy, Alex concerned, C and Neil went back to the Steel, 2112 and 'M tures' are the studio albums), Do you recognise this record was re man? Alex Llfeson in September '75 i dkIn·t ..n be r musician than his debut d sounded a lot predecessor.