Rush | This Performance and Song! We're at a Loss for Words! | Xanadu Reaction

[@mikewold8996]

The talent in this band is unreal!

[@RockinMamaT]

Fun fact. I grew up in a town beside where these guys lived but they recorded just around the corner from me.We were in the park one day and heard amazing music coming from the factories so we got onto some garbage dumpsters and watched them recording. They noticed we were watching and came out. We thought we we're in trouble but it turns out they talked to us for about twenty minutes about music and Hockey cause that's what Canadians do😂 And Geddy and Alex gave us guitar picks and Neil gave us drumsticks. They were so humble and down to earth it was amazing. Then I saw them when I was 17 and 33 love these guys. Great memories❤

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome, and textbook Canadian kindness right there.

[@RockinMamaT]

@@AceofBadeReacts Yup We are kind people ♥️🙏

[@paulwilkinson8308]

Damn, I’m jealous!

[@stevemunro2018]

Why would you post such ridiculous bullshit?

[@gregj1295]

Thats so cool!

[@BroadwayJosh]

Xanadu (Shangdu - Upper Capital) was Kublai Khan's first Mongol Imperial capital in China in the late 1200s. Xanadu held a place in the popular imagination in the same way that the Abbasid capital of Baghdad held under its caliph, Harun al-Rashid, in the late 700s: fantasy seats of power filled with magic and wonders, beautiful women, fantastic food and wine, and stupendous markets that were the crossroads of the world, capable of fulfilling every need and desire. The poet Samuel Coleridge published "Kubla Khan" in 1816, and was a contemporary of Wlliam Blake, progenitors of the Romantic era of literature and art in England. This poem was the inspiration for Neil Peart, Rush's lyricist. Of course, this orchestral piece captures the feel of that Romantic Era.

[@sdime9858]

Thank you for the insight 👌😁

[@hemispheresamusements7484]

Lifetime fan, and I have probably watched this performance over a thousand times, and every single time I watch it, I'm still blown away. This, to me, is hands down one of if not the single most epic live performances in the history of music. They are truly musical gods! It just doesn't get any better than this shit right here! I mean, really, what's there to critique here? It's literally perfection! They were so damn good!!!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

There's really nothing to critique

[@lindapryor3747]

That’s Neil’s deep voice you hear at first. He has a beautiful voice that matches well with that intelligent brain. Xanadu is from a poem by Samuel Coleridge Taylor ( Kubla Khan, or A Vision in a Dream, A Fragment) that is written into this song.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's pretty cool

[@scottlaughlin9897]

Unfinished poem.

[@iKvetch558]

@@AceofBadeReacts You folks chose the best version too...StickHits has really been a godsend for us Rush fans...giving us remastered high def versions of these performances...so that we can enjoy the boys even more on our 70 inch TVs. LOL

[@anneross1021]

The poem is an opium drug induced dream

[@EdwardRushMan]

Alex Lifeson - 6 string guitar, 12 string guitar, pedal synthesizer, volume pedal; Geddy Lee - Vocals, bass guitar, 12 string guitar, bass pedal, taurus pedal, electric piano/synthesizer; Neil Peart - Lyrics, Drums, orchestra bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, crotales, timbales, timpani, gong, temple blocks, bell tree, triangle, and melodic cowbells. Based on Kubla Khan (Xanadu) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Coleridge composed his poem, ‘Kubla Khan’, in a state of semi-conscious trance either in the autumn of 1797 or the spring of 1798 and published in 1816. The whole poem is pervaded by an atmosphere of dream and remains in the form of a vision. The vision embodied in Kubla Khan was inspired by the perusal of the travel book, Purchas His Pilgrimage. Coleridge had taken a dose of opium as an anodyne, and his eyes closed upon the line in the book, “At Zanadu Kubla Khan built a pleasure palace.” But this opened his creative vision, and the poem of about 200 lines was composed in this state of waking dream. On being fully awake, he wrote the poem down. The theme of the poem is unimportant. It describes the palace built by Kubla Khan, the grandson of Chengis Khan, the great rule of central Asia.

[@beadybaby]

❤

[@bettyrose959]

Well, Alex didn't have a pedal synthesizer. Was just his pedal board, nothing special on it. While Geddy is playing the keys, he's stepping on Bass pedals. No different than an Organ has on the floor. That is why the bass doesn't fallout. If you listen, you hear the bass moves to whole and half notes. You can hear the difference when he isn't playing his bass. You'll see his feet in many of their videos standing on them from time to time. Tom Sawyer has a camera on his feet in that video.

[@RDreamer]

When I was a young lad in 1991, my dad took me to my first concert, which was Rush at the Jacksonville Coliseum. They started to play this song and my dad said to me, "They can't play this song! It's like twenty minutes long!" But play it they did. Rush is truly legendary and a top ten band of all time.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

He got proven wrong. Maybe they heard him and were like "challenge accepted"

[@reallymysterious4520]

Imagine being best friends in high school and then forming a band with a 40 year career - and still being best friends after

[@AceofBadeReacts]

They lived a great life for sure

[@corinevaivoda2754]

Just like Genesis they were friends since grade school and formed a band till 2023 gotta love authentic talent ❤

[@beadybaby]

❤❤❤

[@davidpope3943]

‘In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.’ This epic song is based on the poem ‘Kubla Khan/A Vision In A Dream’ by the English poet & philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) He started writing it after an extremely vivid opium-influenced dream but never finished it as he was interrupted by ‘a person on business from Porlock’ after which he couldn’t remember what he’d wanted to say. It has been said that, ‘If there is any man in the history of literature who should be hanged, drawn, and quartered, it is the man on business from Porlock.’ Coleridge originally said that to get the whole thing down would have required between 200-300 lines but it was left unfinished and unpublished until he was persuaded by his friend, Lord Byron in 1816. Every time I hear Rush’s ‘Xanadu’ I still have to remind myself that this astonishing work is performed by just three guys. Incredible.

[@terryquinn7765]

Fuck no. ✌️

[@garylagstrom3864]

RUSH IS: Geddy Lee - Bass guitars, Oberheim polyphonic; OB-X; Mini-Moog; and Taurus pedal Synthesizers, vocals Alex Lifeson - Six and twelve string electric and acoustic guitars, Taurus Pedals Neil Peart - Drums kit, timbales, gong bass drums, orchestra bells, glockenspiel, wind chimes, bell tree, tubular bells, crotales, cowbells, plywood, tympani, and Gong!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

They definitely do a lot between the 3 of them

[@garylagstrom3864]

RUSH is THE PERFECT EXAMPLE of the fluidity of MASTERING TIME SIGNATURES! I play drums and there are a few things that you need to know about Neil Peart’s ( pronounced PEER-T) character: First he writes the lyrics so he knows in advance what TYPE of song it’s meant to be ie ballad, driver, etc. Second he COMPOSES on the drums… like a carpenter who looks at a set of blueprints before building the object. Neil lays out a SKETCH in his mind of the VOICES of the drumset and builds the song from there. He is also a great LISTENER knowing when NOT to step over Geddy’s singing or Alex’s solos! Finally, he had perfect timing and fluidity of time changes. He said himself that it’s not about COUNTING the time signatures as much as fluid motion to change the tempo without counting: in other words it should FLOW! He hates repeating the same drum patterns in the same song meaning if he plays a fill one way the first time around he will play it differently the second time around. IE. Rolls down the toms the first time around and triplets or quads (all four limbs) the second time around. In short there will NEVER be another like him on planet earth 🌍 🌏 🌎! REST IN PEACE PROFESSOR! With heart felt admiration and sincerity! Gary

[@Kotic1959]

Rush what can you say!!! There will never be another band with 3 goats in it. I have had the priviledge of seeing them 9 times the very first time they played my high school. I have seen them perform this song 3x and this version by far was my favorite. Neil " The Professor" here playing temple blocks, triangles and wind chimes everywhere, glockenspiel, bell tower and tubular bells. Along with his massive kit he writes almost all the lyrics. Geddy plays the synthesizer, organ, bass, rhythm guitar, vocals. Here Alex is not playing a synth. Later in the bands progression he plays the foot pedals but it's like a wa wa but called a volume pedal. He by far is the most underated guitarist ever. These guys sound like a 5 man band totally awesome RIP Professor

[@AceofBadeReacts]

I don't think he's an underrated guitarist at all. He's definitely up there on the list of greatest of all time. I can name a few guitarists that while not on his level, are considered underrated.

[@Kotic1959]

@@AceofBadeReacts you ever seen him on a top ten list of guitarists? No and he is in my opinion lol

[@afbill4219]

The song is based on the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Kubla Khan. Geddy is playing a double necked 4 string base and six string guitar. He plays the six string at the end of the song during the guitar solo.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Quite a few people argue that Geddy has a 12 string guitar, but I agree that it's 6 strings

[@dieselbourbon3728]

Fun fact. Rush and Iron Maiden have both written music based on poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Oh that is really cool

[@greg5510]

Rush is the little band that did. They were three albums in before recording 2112. Their first album was pure heavy r&b rock and broke through with the radio hit 'Working Man' Some listeners mistook them for Zeppelin, in fact, what with Geddy's piercing vocals, and Alex's guitar chops. After Neil Peart joined Rush, the second and third albums strayed into more progressive, longer songs, with lyrics and themes less accessible to the masses. Their tour for the third album, 'Caress of Steel' saw dwindling crowds, and down-sizing of venues, due to low advance ticket sales. The band's road crew came to refer to this period as the "Down the Tubes" tour. The mainstream was unimpressed, as was their label, which then threatened to drop them if the band didn't pursue a more commercial approach, which their manager swore they would do, thereby securing a fourth album. Rush, whose artistic integrity is unquestioned, decided they would stay true to their own musical vision, and spit in the labels eye by recording their most daring, progressive track yet, in 2112, an album side long sci-fi epic, which horrified the label, and which the members of Rush believed would be their swan song. Turned out 2112 hit the music world like a bomb. Kids in my neighbourhood, and others around the country were mesmerized by the song, and the album. Rush was launched into the public consciousness on their own terms, and they were never questioned by their label again, but were free to follow their own musical path to the delight of millions of fans, worldwide. I have been a fan since the 80s and love knowing that they are not just my favourite band, but decent, modest Canadian boys, raising families while pursuing their passion, with honesty and determination. Rock Gods

[@kevinc1851]

Being a Toronto native I grew up with Rush. I still remember the release of this album (A Farewell to Kings just a few weeks before we saw the Toronto debut live, Aug 23, 1977 (I still have every ticket stub), we were centre stage 11th row on the track at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition). I thank Rush for getting me through grade 12 English that year with my mark up 10 points from previous years. Most of the poems we studied that year revolved around Rush songs. Xanadu was from the poem An Ode to Kubla Khan, I also remember All the worlds a stage. If you want to watch a cool video about early Rush check out Before they were Kings on Tubi. Cheers

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome that you still have the ticket stubs

[@reallymysterious4520]

Geddy had to be the hardest working member of any rock band doing vocals, bass & keyboards

[@AceofBadeReacts]

He did so much

[@piratecat5113]

And pedals

[@Abraided]

And guitar. He plays rhythm guitar during Alex's solo. The double "guitar" he's playing is actually a bass and a 12 string on the bottom.

[@trenken]

As a bassist and singer who plays basically everything rush, I can assure you neils job in this band was the absolute hardest of the 3. So so difficult to play the way he did for 2-3 hours every single night. It is wayyy harder than anything geddy or alex ever had to do.

[@cbf63]

And during the Rush in Rio he was doing laundry on stage.

[@afbill4219]

After reading Geddy Lee's book, My Effin Life, and seeing him on his book tour I can say this...According to Geddy Lee they are the most rehearsed band in the world. Before a tour, Neil would rehearse by himself for a month and then join the band. They always prided themselves on being able to play live what they recorded.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Neil is definitely a method drummer

[@garylagstrom3864]

That’s Neil Peart on his take regarding RUSH playing very complicated music and the ability to do so! THE QUESTION WE TEND TO ASK THE MOST OFTEN IS: WHAT IF? I THINK IF YOU HAD TO SIMPLIFY OUR MOTIVATION OR SIMPLIFY A MOVING FORCE IN OUR MUSIC THAT WOULD PROBABLY SUFFICE! NEIL PEART BEFORE XANADU ON EXIT STAGE LEFT DVD!

[@steveschaff4620]

How could ANYONE not think RUSH is BADASS?!

[@tencentwonders]

The voice over was Neil. For this concert, many of the songs would have members of the band provide a little context about the song, or about the band. All three members were represented at some point or another. For Xanadu Neil was saying that if you could reduce the force that drives Rush to its simplest form, it's the question "what if?"

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome that everybody contributed and got to contribute

[@ericvonsteuben7533]

And just to clarify, the voice overs were recorded only for the video release of Exit...Stage Left. It was nothing they said or was heard during the concert itself.

[@tencentwonders]

Lyrically the song is a cautionary tale about "be careful what you wish for". The song has someone who has heard of a place where you can go and become immortal - Xanadu. So he goes, but then he realizes too late that Xanadu is a trap: "nevermore can I return [or] escape these caves of ice", and so is consigned to live an eternity "waiting for the world to end". The tedium of it all eventually drives him insane.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Admittedly I wish I had looked at the lyrics myself, but I can picture the whole story now with this description

[@cityhonors1]

​@@AceofBadeReacts😏 Wait until you get to 2112. 🥰🐰

[@AceofBadeReacts]

@@cityhonors1 Yeah I'm a little wary of it because it's a 20 minute song. That and Pink Floyd's Echoes at pompeii being 24 minutes. I have to just find time and get them knocked out

[@cityhonors1]

@@AceofBadeReacts 🤩 Both are well worth the time! 🥰🐰

[@lizturner267]

@@AceofBadeReactsyou MUST! 2112 is magic.

[@motodork]

Alex was using a foot volume pedal to create his guitar sounds at the beginning. Geddy was playing synth, and when you saw him playing bass but heard synth, he was playing synth pedals with his foot.

[@AnthonyKellett]

You can see Alex playing Taurus pedals, too, most notably when he goes into that repeating guitar pattern near the start (watch his right leg as he's looking down).

[@motodork]

@@AnthonyKellett That is true. Alex will sometimes play synth pedals.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Oh cool. We had no clue

[@mattp6953]

Alex uses the volume pedal to turn on his guitar volume as he picks the string which gives that very sharp attack due to the slight delay.

[@ruperterskin2117]

​@@AceofBadeReactsi think they are called "taurus pedals"...?

[@rogeriopenna9014]

Neil is probably the only drummer ever to play progressive/heavy rock wearing a polo shirt.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

haha maybe

[@tencentwonders]

Geddy has used two different doublenecks live: The black one is a 4 string bass on top and 12 string guitar on bottom. He also has a cream one that is 4 string bass on top and 6 string guitar on bottom. As far as I know, the black 4/12 was only ever used on Xanadu and the cream 4/6 was used on A Passage To Bangkok.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Imagine being so cool that you only use that specific guitar for 1 song

[@SergioSBloch]

His 4/12 Ricky from this video is now owned by the Canadian Museum of History - although unfortunately not part of the display but in storage.

[@paulcatterson6147]

Spot on!

[@hemispheresamusements7484]

​@@SergioSBloch well that's a bunch of crap. I think we need to start writing letters telling them to display that bad boy cuz I'd love to see that thing in a glass case where it deserves to be!!!

[@johntrickey7182]

When a band transcends their craft they are immortal. Rush, Pink Floyd, The Beatles,Yes, Genesis to name a few.

[@mattdrummond9087]

I love all of those bands...Rush is at the top of this list. I've been listening to Rush for over 30 years and I've never tired of them and they still absolutely blow me away. The talent is in this band is unmatched by any before, or after.

[@Fred-vy1hm]

The best band that ever was or ever will be. Toronto's holy trinity are just a cut above, both musically and lyrically. RIP Neil. 😊

[@peterwinters8587]

Yep. Triumph is the best

[@Fred-vy1hm]

@@peterwinters8587 lol second best in Canada but that's still pretty good. 😅

[@gregbecker8446]

How can people not love Geddys voice? You can understand all the lyrics. He has a very clear and clean voice. I've never misunderstood him.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

There's times he's just too falsetto in his voice. It's a little hard for me to understand everything

[@RobertBreedon-c3b]

This song is from their A Farewell To Kings album released in 1977 their follow-up album after 2112 these guys are our hometown boys from Toronto, Canada (YYZ) this was recorded in 1981 on their Moving Pictures tour. I we used to go see RUSH on New Year's Eve as used to play Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto almost every year back in the late 70s and early 80s

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome. I guess it was a tradition for them it sounds like

[@michaelschroeck2254]

I have seen lots of guitarists with double necks. But I noticed they were really only for show and amazement value. This video was the first time I saw a guitarist using both necks for very specific reasons in one song.

[@briancampbell7807]

what's also worth mentioning is the fact that Alex will change necks from one beat to the next with out a miss. He does it at least twice that I saw.

[@mightyV444]

@briancampbell7807 - He does it so quickly and fluidly that it's easy to overlook, too! 😁

[@tomvenner6030]

Jimmy Page uses one in Stairway, beginning part of song he uses 12 string then switches to 6 string for rocking part at the end. Marco from Nightwish has a one with 6 and 4 string guitars, uses the 6 at beginning of a number of songs for picking parts then when lead guitar player Emmpu comes in he switches to 4 string bass.

[@mightyV444]

@@tomvenner6030 - Don Felder had played a white one like Alex's in The Eagles, too 🙂 And there's a photo of Elvis Presley with a burgundy Gibson double-neck that has a 6-string(!) bass as its top half! 😳 And Les Holroyd of Barclay James Harvest had played a double-neck around '79/'80 that had a Gibson EB-0 on top and an SG 6-string on the bottom 🙂 There are many other examples, of course. Including Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick with his 5-neck guitars 😄

[@hemispheresamusements7484]

I have probably watched this video a thousand times... this particular time where I noticed Alex switching from one neck to the other I had to rewind it like 3-4 times just to see how fast he did it. It was crazy how lightning fast it was watching his hand go from one neck to the other. What are the amazing guitarists he is...

[@Badbronson]

The beginning of the video had a brief commentary by Neil himself on his thoughts of the story behind Xanadu…which was an actual dream if I recall. Peart did read a whole lot on science fiction and fantasy, and this story was one of them. He wrote the lyrics to a lot of Rush songs. This whole video is from a concert video Rush - Exit…Stage Left. Same as the album.

[@tencentwonders]

During the intro, the low note drone and the "whistles" are coming from the keyboard. The melodic part during the intro is from Alex using a volume pedal. It takes a touch of coordination between your feet and hands. The guitar output is routed to the volume pedal which is then used to control the guitar volume, so to get those volume swells, you strike a note on the guitar with the volume all the way down and while the string is vibrating, you bring the volume up with the pedal. You let the note play for as long as needed (in the case of the Xanadu intro, the notes are not held very long) and then bring the volume pedal back down to zero for the next note. Like I said, it's a bit of a dance between your picking hand and your foot. The goal is to not hear the initial sounding of the note, you don't want to bring up the volume from zero until after you've struck the note.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome. There's so many techniques you can do with guitar playing

[@commknightj]

I've seen comments from Geddy that they wanted to be the smallest symphonic orchestra ever created. With songs like Xanadu, I think they pulled it off quite nicely. Thanks guys.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's really interesting

[@spiffymick7073]

Both Alex and Geddy have a significant amount of pedals and are often playing synth while they're playing their other instruments. Often what looks like them just changing foot positions is actually them playing the synth pedals. Many people think Geddy's is a six string on the bottom but it's actually a 12-string on the bottom. The extra tuning pegs are at the back. He's playing this at the end during solos and finale. One of the greatest performances live I've ever seen without a doubt.

[@dragonage2112]

Nope, it's a six string not a 12, I had a backstage pass during their farewell to kings tour I saw the bass close up and it's definitely a 6 string Geddy confirmed it I don't know what you are looking at.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Pretty sure it's 6 strings on bottom. I heard there were different double neck guitars that they use and that 12 string could be a different one

[@rattan3793]

@@dragonage2112 It is definitely a 12 string, always has been whenever he used the black doubleneck for playing Xanadu. He did have one with a 6 string that he used on the Permanent Waves tour for playing Passage To Bangkok but it was painted white.

[@48mastadon]

@@AceofBadeReacts Nope...It's a 12. The extra six tuners are on the back of the headstock just as the op explained.

[@jeffreywilmot3798]

My 1980 Tour book definitely lists Geddy's double neck as a 4 over 12.

[@efrankphd]

And you have to remember that Alex and Geddy were 27 and Neil was 28 when they made this video, and the song was recorded 4 years prior. It just goes to show you the level of talent at such a young age.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

They were insanely talented

[@davidbailey6397]

We would go to see Rush back in the 80’s and it was always an event . They started this tour in my hometown of Hampton ,Virginia and I remember everyone coming back and talking about the show for days. I was young,but at an after school program I attended back then ,the teenage girl who ran it played Moving Pictures almost every day for us.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

I was born in the wrong era of music

[@michaeltalley5826]

The song is based on a poem from Samuel Coolridge called "Xanadu." Geddy is playing those synth parts with his feet on the synth pedals.

[@jerrypilarz3076]

The song is an artistic interpretation of the poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. You've both noticed how hard they had to work to get things done...this video is a perfect example of the peak of the analog era. This clip is from the VHS/Laserdisc "Exit...Stage Left" that was released in 1982. The voiceover you hear is Neil Peart. The full concert video has voiceovers from all three. This concert was filmed on March 27th, 1981. Recordings from the two-night stand at the Forum were used for the live album Exit...Stage Left. Geddy's doubleneck is a 1976 Rickenbacker 4080 4/12. Bass on the top, 12- string guitar on the bottom. He plays it during the outro. He also used it live on the song "A Passage to Bangkok." Alex is playing a Gibson EDS-1275.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

oh interesting. I have never heard of that poem before

[@Fred-vy1hm]

@@AceofBadeReacts Samuel Coleridge Taylor was stoned on opium when he dreamed it up and was writing it down when a friend came in and broke his concentration and afterward no matter how hard he tried he could never finish it. 😊

[@popgunlive1546]

I believe Neil’s voice over was for a tv special showcasing some of their Exit Stage Left concert in Montreal. There are other videos of this same song same concert with no voice over during the live performance. This was my first time seeing Rush live. This song blew me away with the double necks… Geddy plays guitar at the very end. The atmosphere was electric, smoke rings filled the air.

[@pablozee6359]

Geddy and Alex were both doing synths via foot pedals. Alex only played guitar sounds through the electric 12 and 6 string guitar of his double neck. Geddy’s double neck included a six string that he played in tandem with Alex during the outro. Incredible performance of an epic song.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome

[@rattan3793]

Geddy's doubleneck here is indeed a 12 string guitar on the bottom.

[@mightyV444]

@rattan3793 - 12-string is correct 🙂

[@toddmadden9777]

Thanks for the reaction...I think it was just awesome, can't wait for more...new subscriber...thanks again, Todd from Ohio....

[@AceofBadeReacts]

I actually reacted to another Rush song that'll be releasing sometime over the next few weeks. I haven't edited it yet. There's also a couple of Rush songs that have been reacted to already, too.

[@markferrett700]

Quite simply three geniuses at the peak of their creativity and masters of their art 🎸...saw them on this tour in London 1981......its the greatest gog ive ever seen...and ive seen plenty👏👏👏👏👏

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome

[@matmegmiche]

Just watched your reaction. I loved it. For what it is worth, I was at that show. I was at the 1st show of 2 seated in the 1st row right in front of Alex. The song is about a poem written over 200 years ago. it gets into the mythology about Kubla Khan. The lyrics are from Neil Peart as he is a book fiend and extremely versed in these types of works.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

It had to have been an incredible experience right up front like that

[@delgreat168]

The narration in the beginning was done by Neil Peart. For the live moving pictures album. He said “what if” was the driving force, prime mover behind the band. They followed the philosophies of Ayn Rand as well as other things

[@fretless05]

One of the things I love about Rush is their fearlessness. After the album Caress of Steel didn't go over well commercially, the label called them to the US for a meeting. They told them that they wanted them to produce more radio-ready songs, 2 1/2 minute catchy tunes that they could push to get more play. They went back home and wrote the songs for 2112, and album where the title song took up the entire first side! A Farewell To Kings was the next album to come out, and it had Xanadu, a song that essentially had two 2 1/2 intros before getting into the actually story of the song. They gave the finger to the label! I could talk all about about how each musician is a virtuoso and how each rank on the tops of lists of players of their instruments, but I always marveled at the guts they showed when they were coming up. Oh, and I love the child-like glee on Alex's face at the end of the song... they KNEW they killed it and were having a blast.

[@brucesnover6866]

Awesome reaction!! Thanks, guys. This is a version of Xanadu that was recorded for the Exit... Stage Left videotape. I had the VHS tape of this and wore it out. The BEST version is from the Exit... Stage Left double album. I highly suggest listening to the whole thing. Side 3 was always my favorite - Broon's Bane, The Trees, Xanadu. This version is great because you can watch them, but imo, the album version is even better performed, which is amazing. Sadly, you can't see that performance, only listen.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

I still haven't reacted to song only for anything. Someone did mention the 3 songs played straight through without stopping and I think that is incredible

[@deeksquad4051]

I was at this concert in Montreal 1981; I was 18. I live in Neil's hometown, and have seen RUSH numerous times, ever since they played at my High School, when John Rutsey, was the drummer, prior to Neil joining Geddy, and Alex.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

wow that's crazy. I can't imagine a band like that going to a high school to play

[@solarfed1]

Geddy does the synths with the keyboards and foot pedals. He also plays 6-string for a portion of this, which is why he has the double neck.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

If you look through the comments there's a huge debate on it being a 6 string vs 12 string. I only see 6 strings personally

[@Gary-zq9dr]

Samuel Taylor Coreridge wrote a poem in 1797 titled Kubla Khan. It is about a place called Xanadu. Neil's lyrics are a modern re-telling of this story where the protagonist seeks to find the pleasure dome, live as an immortal, feeding on the honey dew and drinking the milk of paradise. However, in the second part of the lyrics, the protagonist is miserable, stuck in paradise forever, and cannot leave. See the "Kubla Khan" fragmant in the bottom-right of this page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubla_Khan

[@squidly2112]

Absolutely an EPIC performance .. absolutely incredible how well these 3 super-humans perform this song live. So talented on so many levels. In my view, this is one of the best performances of all time. I have watched this a 1000 times and it just never gets old. RUSH is my all time favorite band (have seen them 28 times). They are just so incredible. RIP Neil Peart !!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

28 times. That's incredible

[@squidly2112]

@@AceofBadeReacts - fortunate, yes, but there are a lot of people who have seen them many more times than I have. Still, memories for a lifetime.

[@paulbarone5153]

The Voice over was Neil Peart on the original VHS tape Rush Exit Stage Left which came out of that tour.

[@RockinMamaT]

I have seen them twice. Neil's solo is Epic❤

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome. I have to say I've never seen them live. It must have been quite the experience

[@mikethomson4290]

Lyrics are based on a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

[@mikeforever7702]

Rarely do hear anyone comment that Alex plays this rhythm on the top side TWELVE string. This is unheard of. I’ve played double necks and it’s hard enough to transition but I can’t imagine transitioning from 6 to 12 and not buzz up top. This takes virtuosity in addition to PRACTICE.

[@juliebrockett3471]

Great reaction! As others below have said.. more simply, it’s about a guy searching for the fountain of youth, he finds it, drinks it, and after a thousand years he was so tired of living that this wasn’t really “paradise” and just wants to die! I think this is one of many of Neil’s versions of a cautionary tail of “be careful what you wish for”!! Geddy is playing the 6 string all thru Alex’s solo and Alex is also playing the Taurus pedals at the end! Be well and God bless… from Texas!

[@martinevans8558]

Could not explain it better myself. The "be careful what you wish for" theme is also prevalent in "The trees" lyrics.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Thank you. I am also in Texas

[@mightyV444]

@juliebrockett3471 - Great synopsis! 😊👍 And that's actually a 12-string on Geddy's double-neck, with half of the tuning pegs pointing away from the headstock like on a classical guitar 🙂

[@juliebrockett3471]

@@mightyV444 thank you, my friend!

[@mightyV444]

@@juliebrockett3471 - You're welcome! 😊 Best wishes from NZ! 😀

[@RoarOfWolverine]

Alex was simply using a volume pedal to fade in each note and harmonic which covered the attack of the pick on the string. He plucks the harmonic and notes then fades it in with the volume pedal. What gives it the otherworldly feel is that he was running a heavy delay, which back in those days wasn’t digital, but used a tape loop, a Roland Space echo. It actually recorded the sound on a looping tape that then played across six different playback heads. You set the time of the delay by slowing or speeding up the tape. The trick to what Alex is doing is that the echo is post volume pedal. Otherwise it would fade out the echo when he rocked back on the pedal. Instead, the echo would repeat each note several times so you wouldn’t hear his pedal fading the volume back down. It’s was really inventive for that time. I can remember saving up to buy one of those Roland echo units, which were pretty expensive. They ran around $500, which was more like $1,200 in 2024 dollars or more. When I finally got the machine I was finally able to do intro pieces like Alex was using here. I learned many cool tricks and chord voicing from Lifeson. His use of arpeggios always inspired me also. I really liked his heavy use of quick staccato notes in solos. He was a real innovator for sure. He deserves more credit than he usually gets. The song Xanadu is basically about a man who seeks to find this mystical land called Xanadu, where you never age. He see,s his entire life and finally finds it and lives in peace for thousands of years under the reign of Kubla Khan. In the end he only wishes to escape Xanadu because after thousands of years I dreaded and tranquility kind of take the purpose of life, nothing to strive for,nothing to accomplish. At that point he wishes for death to come along and escapes from Xanadu. It was based on a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It is a fragmented poem about a ruler named Kubla Knan in 1816. He wrote the parts of the poem while under the influence of opium, so he wasn’t able to finish it because he couldn’t remember the mood he was in when he penned it.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That is absolutely insane and innovative. Thank you for the information.

[@stephenpublicover8818]

Hey guys, great video, I saw RUSH in the late 80s (power windows tour) in Halifax, Nova Scotia,Canada! Greatest live prog rock band ever!😀👌✌👍

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome

[@donhadfield2835]

Actually, you can hear Neil in a few songs, The Necromancer, he does the "SUBDIVISIONS" in Subdivisions and he is the voice of authority/doom at the end of 2112. In later years, even Neil triggered keyboard/synth on his drum kit (as if he didn't have enough to do already). I was listening to Rory's band Taste today and remembered as a teenager Brian May snuck into the legendary Marquee Club in London and cheekily talked with Rory to talk equipment & tone to learn from the best.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

All of that is awesome

[@joegrimes8841]

You can hear Neil do a count in at the beginning of Animate from the Counterparts album.

[@dieselbourbon3728]

This is my favorite performance of my favorite Rush song. To play this so flawless live is incredible and they make it look easy.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Just signs of masters of their craft

[@dolley70]

I've seen reactions to this concert many times. While everyone talks about their musical genius, and rightfully so, NO ONE talks about how Alex is doing all of this cool stuff IN A DINNER COAT & TIE!!! Neil's over there sporting a bow tie, while hammering the crap out of those drums!!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

They do have a style

[@jhc2093]

The search for immortality, finding it and ultimately praying/begging for death.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

So a darker song than we thought

[@debbieplato5107]

Brilliant performance of an amazing song! It is interesting that you mentioned Rory Gallagher as when Rush was first starting out he was one of the many that they opened for and later on Rory opened for them. Alex did learn some techniques from Rory and called him one of the nicest persons he has ever met. Geddy and Alex have been best friends since they met in junior high at 13 and have been playing together since they were 16. They love to joke and interact on stage. If you want to see them have a mock fight on stage check out Bytor and the Snow Dog from the R30 tour. They have a lot of fun as Geddy plays Bytor and Alex is the Snow Dog. They don't play the full song as it is also quite long but I would suggest listening to the the studio version as well. La Villa Strangiato live in Rio It is an instrumental based on a series of nightmares that Alex Lifeson had especially when they were on tour. Alex does a funny little rant during this performance. Also, Secret Touch from the Snakes and Arrows tour Geddy and Neil have some fun at the end. Loved seeing your cats. 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ Cheers

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Very cool. Interesting. I just checked. The studio version is a little under 9 minutes. This song is longer, so they could have played the whole thing. The rest I added to the list. The cats do like to make appearances every now and then.

[@debbieplato5107]

@@AceofBadeReacts It is actually Bytor and the Snow Dog that they do a shorter live version. 😀

[@halcyon289]

I saw this on the 5th of November 1981 , Wembley Arena , London . I was 17 years old . I thought they were miming because they were so incredibly tight !

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome

[@Mike-fs3bv]

Seeing this live was amazing. It's crazy how much sound 3 musicians can put out. I was shocked the first time I saw them and it was only those 3 guys.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

They do a lot for 3 people

[@kevincraycraft1473]

Great reaction!!! You obviously appreciate artistical musicianship. Rush is absolutely the best 3-piece band ever (quite frankly top five best band ever, no matter the members). Pure musicianship and fluid artistry in each of them and their instruments along with the pure chemistry between them. Welcome aboard the Rush Train!!! Now time to venture down the rabbit hole. I would suggest the songs below to add to your Rush journey and reactions. All of these are absolutely fire!!! Especially all of the LIVE instrumentals with Geddy’s Bass, Alex’s Guitar, and Neil’s percussive artistry. - La Villa Strangiato - Live in Cleveland from 2011 Time Machine Tour (Instrumental - custom "carnival" intro) - original was 1978. Pure musicianship!!! UNMATCHED - best LIVE instrumental EVER. - Working Man... Live in Cleveland from 2011 Time Machine Tour (original studio version was in 1974)...The pure sight and performance of three men in their upper 50's take control of the stage and perform and play like they were in their 20's. - YYZ…live from Rio in 2002 (instrumental)…original was 1981 - Best Intro Ever - Live version (R30 tour 2004) - various riffs from their 1970's songs leading into Spirit of Radio - original was 1980 - Closer to the Heart...Live 1998 Different Stages - original was 1977 - Limelight...studio version - original was 1981. - The Garden...Clockwork Angels tour live - original was 2012 - Subdivisions...studio version or live version - original was 1982 - Freewill... Live from Snakes and Arrows Tour 2007 - original was 1980 - Fly by Night - original was 1975 - Leave that Thing Alone - Live in Cleveland from 2011 Time Machine Tour (Instrumental) - original was 1993 - Malignant Narcissism (instrumental) and Drum Solo - Live 2008 Snakes and Arrows Tour - original was 2007 - Also...Neil Peart's Drum Solo Live from Frankfurt 2004. He was The Professor...a pure musician and percussionist...not just a "drummer". Be ready to be amazed by not just his hand coordination...but most of all his foot coordination...basically his feet being completely individual in timing from his hands during segments of this performance. He was the master of this technique.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Thank you for the list. A lot of these are already on the collective list, which I think is a good thing

[@albertnavarro1120]

Great reaction! And to answer your question, the opening narration is Neil.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Thank you

[@michaelwilson3402]

2112 is my first album, one side is one 20 minute song called 2112, just different parts! Love the song!

[@MathewCummins]

That narration thing at the beginning is Peart. It was added on somewhere in the recent past. This performance was the end of side three of Exit, Stage Left. Maybe my single favorite album side ever. It begins with an acoustic called Broon's Bane, flows into The Trees, which then flows until Xanadu. They never stop on that side. It's extreme genius......THREE DUDES making all those sounds with no rest, other than what they give each other in sections!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

It's a very intense piece of music for sure and the fact that they just keep going is unreal

[@jeffwood32]

When this music was released it was on a few radio stations Lots of YES, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rush and several others PROG. Rock stations mostly. I think the greatest music was from the 70s It was common to go see the best of the best ✌️ Thanks for the video, it's one of my favorites

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Musically I was born in the wrong era

[@dgator3599]

It was a true privilege seeing them in concert when they were promoting their album Moving Pictures. I didn't realize how lucky I was seeing them but when I walked out of that auditorium I was walking on air (and my ears were ringing). Other than Pink Floyd, they were by far, the best band I ever saw and I'll cherish that moment back when I was in the 11th grade.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That is so cool that you got to see them live.

[@johnvalderrama8638]

Takes on a very visual journey which in it self is an amazing feat to harness an influence to captivate our senses !

[@gregbecker8446]

In answer to you Ace, I've been there from the beginning of their career in 1974, and I remember the first time I was in the record store checking out the albums and came across the first Rush album. I hadn't heard of them before that and I looked at the song list and recognized Working Man. Near the bottom of the album was the words For Best Results Play At Maximum Volume. That was enough for me to get the album, take it home and listen to the entire album. Awesome debut and it was amazing. I've been a Rush freak ever since.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's an awesome way to get into a band

[@MathewCummins]

Look up the word Xanadu... It refers to paradise in many different times or ages. Peart wrote the lyrics for them , and he was VERY deep as far as literature goes. Plus, they're very "dungeons and dragon-esque" from the mid to late 70's

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Yeah it was based on Kubla Khan: or A Vision in a Dream right?

[@LClark-ry9to]

Great video, I was lucky , I saw RUSH in San Diego 1975 I’ve never forgotten it . Thanks Texas.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That is awesome. I'm also in Texas

[@LClark-ry9to]

I’m glad brother, I’m 100 miles to the west of Dallas, Mineral Wells

[@robertmckinnon7245]

Our music to play live is like working out really complicated Math Equations and running a Marathon at the same time....'The Professor ' Mr Peart...

[@billdncn]

I was lucky enough to see them on this tour in Va. and it was nothing short of what you just saw.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That is awesome

[@wintermoondardar1277]

Back around 1969 a channel premiered. It was here in New Orleans. They would play Rush It was called WRNo the rock o New Orleans. It played the long songs4

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Oh very cool

[@coot1925]

Both geddy and Alex have synth peddles which are basically a piano keyboard you play with your feet. Geddy plays the bass parts with his feet when he's playing keys. This is how they achieve such a full sound with just three members. Geddy has a unique twin neck guitar in that it has a bass at the top and a standard 6 string on the bottom. You can here him play it at the end. ✌🇬🇧❤

[@AceofBadeReacts]

It's so cool

[@neildon1314]

It’s actually a 4/12, at 19:53 you can see the 6 rear facing pegs

[@rogerpaquette109]

I saw them for 10.00 dollars in Highschool in 1976 (if I remember correctly -gr 9) when they first came out then book ended them by watching them at the AC for their 'Snakes and Ladders' tour in Toronto again in 2018

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome you got to see them way back then

[@toddmadden9777]

Grace Under Pressure, kicks-ass...thanks again, Todd from Ohio...

[@Valhalrik]

Geddy at his Finest!. came in to his own on Farewell to Kings Album

[@larryjewell7048]

Saw Rush when they were lead off group for KISS. This song was such a switch! Geddy wore a white angel wing robe and they back lit him. Very cool.

[@debilarge]

My favorite Rush song. Over 40 years old and I have never get tired of hearing it. It is genius from master musicians

[@davidwatkinson1226]

I saw this in 77 in the UK and shouted out 🤘🤘Xanadu oh yeah

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Very cool

[@stevenposey]

This is from the "Exit...Stage Left" video. That's Neil doing the narration in the video.

[@stepheng905]

At the beginning Alex is using Volume swells to create that sound. Getty is doing the obvious keyboard sounds every 2nd bar.. The song changes tempo and keys over and over.

[@mightyV444]

I won't lie - My personal highlight of this video are the cute kittens! 😍 But only because I'd watched this particular and awesome 'Xanadu' performance many, many, MANY times before! 😄

[@AceofBadeReacts]

The cats do seem to get a lot of praise. They make appearances in many reactions, as well

[@gregsteele806]

Geddy's is a base and a 12 string on the bottom (Half the tuning pegs are hidden in the back).

[@sabralocke4904]

Xanadu hits deep- the progression is beautiful

[@markyrogers2466]

That was ridiculous! So good...😂

[@reallymysterious4520]

The only thing wrong with that was Alex's haircut - everything else was PERFECT !!!

[@AceofBadeReacts]

It is a choice

[@lindapryor3747]

Alex looked fantastic with that haircut - a woman’s point of view. I wouldn’t have turned him down! 😉

[@AceofBadeReacts]

@@lindapryor3747 haha fair enough. It's all subjective

[@reallymysterious4520]

@@lindapryor3747 Don't get me wrong - Alex is my favorite guitarist, musician, comedian and celebrity. I just didn't like the haircut - lol

[@reallymysterious4520]

Although Neil had much bigger drum kits in later years this one had by far the best sound for my tastes. I was never a fan of the electronic drums that he added in later years

[@AceofBadeReacts]

It's cool that he did change things up, but this is a really cool drum set

[@juancarlosnaterapaez.1404]

Esa Gente son Unos Salvajes del Rock.

[@johnskinner3108]

A 3 Piece Orchestra. This is 1977, no auto queue, a few sound effects, all talent, as it was in those days. Alex double neck 6 and 12 string...And foot pedals. Neil, an immense drum kit to create all that atmosphere, that few could play. Geddy. Double neck, 6 string and Bass and foot pedals and keyboards AND sings.... AANNDD is the connective tissue with the audience.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

You nailed it

[@mikesummers6634]

Rush, Primus, Steely Dan... that's all you need.

[@marksteinsberger8457]

Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote the poem" Kubla Khan". Kubla's Capitol city, a Paradise called Xanadu. That's the basics. Neil filled in with his thoughts.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Awesome

[@angelaolson2025]

Awesome song ❤ RUSH! Thank you 😊

[@jimtatro6550]

This is one of the greatest live performances ever.🔥👏🤘🏻

[@shawnpeters2669]

Geddy's keyboard he is playing is an Oberheim Ob-x synthesizer and both Alex and Geddy use Taurus bass pedals. I knew a guy that roadied with Rush on that very tour.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

That's awesome

[@paulbrighton3303]

I first saw these gents in 1979 when I was 16. My life changed forever. Everything I did musically was influenced by them. I was lucky to see them a solid 33 times. Interviewed them in 2011. They’re not only amazing musicians but amazing people.

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Everything you just said. Awesome

[@winstonhewett6679]

Geddys' Rickenbacher has a 12-string guitar on the bottom. Someone else mentioned this in past comments, & I have seen closeups, that show the extra tuning keys are mounted on the back of the top of the neck! Just FYI.

[@motodork]

That is correct

[@AceofBadeReacts]

Oh wow. That's awesome

[@jimsteele4017]

No. 6-string guitar. Equipment lists exist.

[@motodork]

@@jimsteele4017 You are incorrect. Geddy is playing his black Rickenbacker 4080 in this performance, and this guitar has a four-string 4001 bass on top and a 12-string guitar on bottom.