Spirit of SEPTEMBER '96 ISSUE 35 EDITORIAL Hi. and welcome to the latest The "Test for Echo" tour begins in North America on October the 19th (see "Spirit of Rush", nine years old and European Address: struggling on. elsewhere in this issue for the first set of A very big thank you to all who confirmed dates). Last issue Stewart 23 Garden Close, turned up for the convention in Leicester, offered to organise ajoint trip out to the Chinbrook Road, as you can read for yourself in this States to see the first show or two, well to Grove Park, special, NEW album and convention issue Stewart's surprise he's had over 50 people London, contact him about the trip already, be­ everybody who attended had a whale of a SE129TG. time. Stewart and I had not anticipated the cause of this he has decided he cannot amount of hard work involved in putting organise a complete trip for that many England. something like this together, we made a lot people in the remaining 8 weeks. He will of mistakes (a little too many) but we will however supply you with any details you North American Address: learn from then and next years event (oh require so you can make the trip your­ 4029 N Francisco yes, there will be one) should benefit from selves. If you need any information then 2nd Floor North pleasephonehimon01235 812501 during this. Chicago, IL 60618 Another very big thank you must the evening. Stewart will be heading over USA. go out to ALL at SRO/Anthem in Canada for the first few shows. We will bring you (The bands own label/management his report of the new show in the next company), Pegi, Anna, Ray and of course issue. Alex, Neil and Geddy for all their help and Lastly I'd like to thank The Jack Editor: Mick Burnett - [email protected] generosity in supplying the wonderful Secret Show for putting on a splendid Co-Editor: Stewart Gilray­ show on July 14th, some of you may know items which were given away in the raffle [email protected] that the gig was their first as a band and in (We already have another wish list for Typist: Janet Balmer next year folks). It was a shame we could fact Stewarts first ever gig, so well done Printers: C.J.L. Printers not have had a tape of "Test for Echo" on lads. Also thanks to Sue, Terry, Janet, the day, but that's another story. Chris, Steve, Neil, Stewart and Dez for Contributors: Andy Piercy - "Test for Echo" will be in the shops their help and support on the big day, I [email protected];Steve Adams; Neil Elliott - could not have done it without their help, [email protected]; Janet Balmer; Dave on Monday the 9th of September (See our Milcoff - [email protected]; SRO/Anthem. reviews and Neil's' bio in this issue). Have Cheers! a few listens and send your thoughts of it I must also mention the sterling in, to reach us by the end of October. Our work done by ALL at Leicester University, next issue will be out in late November, I Tim and Marie are the only names I know can't wait to read what you think of it. But everyone from bar staff to security The tribute album "Working Man" were kind and courteous all day long, see will also be out in September, everywhere you next Year. EXCEPT Canada. The band have unfortu­ North American readers/ subscribribers, please note that our North nately put a block on it being released in STOP PRESS. their own country. All the musicians American distributor has moved, you'll playing on it give it their all and it's well find the new address in the panel on the worth a listen. Send in your reviews/ right of this page. Neil has his first book coming out in comments ofthis release as well, I'm September. Titled "Masked Rider, looking forward to reading them. We have Cycling in West Africa". It has 286 12 copies of this CD in case you can't find Mick - 22 August pages of6"x9" with pictures. it in the shops. £ 15 for a sealed CD, which includes return recorded delivery postage. ISBN: 1-895900-02-6 2 RUSH AIMS FOR NEW GENERATION After 3-Year Break, Trio Regroups For New Atlantic Set Taken from Bill board magazine After more than two were we recording at any Norrell and mixed by "Well, when we found out decades of delivering gi ven time. My Andy Wallace, about the new RU$h hit albums on an almost connection is always to album, we looked at each As it did on 1993' s yearly basis , the the band, and we needed other and said, 'This is "Coun terparts," Rush has members of Rush took to break away from the same situation. minimi zed the use of three years off from that." This will be an event in keyboards and each o.ther to break the Chicago the same way the It took some settling concentrated on solid, pattern of being in the Metallica album was an in, but after an initial bass-drum-guitar band and find themselves event. We ' ll make it soul-searching period of grooves. as human beings. seem uncool not to working together , the Lifeson says, "We've listen to Rush. ' " Bassist/vocalist Geddy band found its creative been working towards Lee spent time wi th his muse again. Retailers are equally that for a while now. family, guitarist Alex exci ted about the "During that first week, Even with [1991' s] 'Roll Lifeson released his prospect of a Rush The Bones' we were first solo album, and I really wondered about album. John Grandoni, starting to go more in drummer/lyricist Neil the future," says director of purchasing Lifeson. "I thought the direction of getting Peart pursued various at Carnegie, Pa.-based, back to a three-piece projects, including the that maybe this was 1SS-store National going to be the last sound . And it's been Buddy Rich tribute Record Mart, says, record, and maybe we progressive since then. series "Burning For "We're already getting would tour it, maybe This record has Buddy." some requests for the not. But once we got virtually no keyboards." new album. We've always When they reconvened into it and once we "Test For Echo, which done well with Rush. early this year to finished the record , I will be released I'm sure sales will be record thei r 16th studio thought , ' We've got a worldwide simultaneously excellent in the first album, Lee, Lifeson and lot of stuff in us yet. ' by Atlantic, will be two weeks , but the key Peart found a renewed We were already talking worked aggressively to will be to go beyond the musical spirit that ' s about the next record Rush ' s core fan base, hardcore fans and spread E;vident throughout "Test while we were working on according to Atlantic VP it to the next For Echo." The Atlantic this record. I know Vicki Germaise, who says generation." album will be released there's a future there the title track will go Sept. 10. for US , II Rush plans to tour to album rock radio behind "Test 'For Echo" Lifeson says, "We ' ve Highlights on "Test For Sept. 6. Atlantic plans starting Oct. 18 in always been close , but Echo" include the epic­ to follow that track Albany, N. Y. , and will the three of us reached sounding title track and with "Half The World" swing through various a new level in our first single, which and "Virtuality," which points in North America relationship, and I explores themes of Germaise believes have until early next year , think it really shows on global communication; the potential to cross according to Lifeson . this record. the last the acoustic-oriented over into pop. The band will return in time we had that vibe "Half The World, " r "I f you looked at where the spring of 1997 , was on 'Moving featuring Li,feson on the Metallica ' s getting hitting amphitheaters Pictures, '" the Canadian mandola; the played-rock-oriented top and sheds. band's 1981 double­ instrumental "Limbo , " 40 stations-this really platinum album, which the title of which is a During that break, Rush sounds mainstream for yielded the hits "Tom tongue-in-cheek will mix its fourth live them," says Germaise, Sawyer" and "Limelight." reference to Rush album, which will Limbaugh; and referring to "Half The feature material Al though the members of "Virtuality," a song World." recorded on the Rush knew they risked about life on the Jo Robinson, assistant "Counterparts" and "Test losing touch with their Internet. PO and music director For Echo" tours, as well fan base by taking three and midday OJ at active as previously unreleased years between studio The album was recorded rock station WRCX tracks from a late- '70s albums, the break was at Bearsville Studios Chicago, finds the date at London's cri tical for them, near Woodstock, N. Y., Metallica analogy Hammersmith Odeon, according to Lifeson. and appropriate. She says , according to Lifeson. "After 20 years, we McCl ear-Pa the and "About eight months ago Rush's shows are booked needed to just explore Reaction Studios in [ PO ] Dave Richards said, by International ourselves as people. Toronto with Peter 'Let's start testing Creative Management in had been Our lives Collins, whose some old Metallica. the U.