RUSH - Why People Hate Them?... I List the Reasons

[@nosher_4114]

Hemispheres still stands up to this day as a staggeringly epic prog album.

[@gianthills]

Nah it is very basic as far as prog goes.

[@foobman]

@@nosher_4114 probably my favorite album, although there are at least 3 other albums equally as interesting.

[@foobman]

@@gianthills complexity isn't everything.

[@nosher_4114]

@@foobman I’m kinda judging Hemispheres by the number of times I’ve listened to my favourite bits of it (which now runs into the thousands) especially the opening ten minutes. There are other gems on Farewell, Caress & Fly by night too, imo. They lost me from Signals on, as I felt their whole sound became too cold, characterless & soulless to hold my attention.

[@bweeks8869]

It's my favorite by them

[@jimtoms7591]

Rush has been my favorite band for 35+ years. I never found any reasons to dislike them, but lots of reasons to love them.

[@stevolopez]

He missed another main reason: On 2112, Neil Peart gave homage to Ann Rynd, the anti-christ to the liberal movement. She wrote the book Atlas Shrugged where in a post modern world, the mob controls what you think or say. There is messaging throughout the book rejecting any individual thought and that you must bow to the collective.... liberal mob or be cancelled. She knew this would happen eventually. She was born in Russia and saw it happen during the Communist Revolution but saw how our free society could eventually be taken over little by little. Anyways, that's why you have the naked man with this hands outward towards the Red Star... the symbol of the Priest of Syrinx and also a shot at the Red Star of communism. The liberal professors and intellectuals recognized this immediately and shadow banned them and so did the people from magazines like the Rolling Stone who coined the phrase "Prog Rock", to box them in their own created genre by themselve and to marginalize them. They never put other bands in that box unless they sucked. You could have considered Pink Floyd "Prog Rock" but they never did that because Roger Waters was a huge liberal and was a animal lover and hater of corporations, etc. So they never painted Pink Floyd into that box. That's how and why they tried to marginalize Rush.

[@annaclarafenyo8185]

I don't think you are telling the truth.

[@samr.england613]

Try listening to them again, and tell me Getty Lee's voice is not annoying.

[@johnmichels6630]

​@@samr.england613I listen to them all the time, I think he's got a great voice, you probably don't like Robert Plant's voice, two of the best bands and singers.

[@samr.england613]

@ I absolutely love Led Zeppelin, but I would never compare LZ to Rush. There is NO comparison. Does, "Limelight", "Tom Sawyer" or any of their other stuff compare to "Stairway", "Black Dog", "Ramble On" or "Kashmir"? I doubt it.

[@anachronistofer]

Rush were never cool, which is why they were so cool.

[@intercommerce]

They were VERY cool (to a more selective fan base)

[@davej.meister5421]

But they were cool, calm and collected.

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

@@davej.meister5421 They are NONE of that.

[@davej.meister5421]

@ Go away, troll.

[@davej.meister5421]

@ Why all the hate for a band of very talented musicians - including an iconic drummer who has inspired tens of thousands of drummers who came after him - from various assorted genres?

[@resister361]

I am a 63 year old woman and I love Rush!!

[@tiplady]

You're a rare breed and its good 😊to hear it.

[@thescarletandgrey2505]

I’m a man in a rush and I love 63 year old women!

[@M2Mil7er]

@@thescarletandgrey2505 pause.

[@iandawe948]

62yr old rocker here who still as every studio album they made 🤘🤘🤘

[@ilikepankakesuk]

Ah so you're the one

[@christophermerlot3366]

My first Rush concert was the Presto tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. That afternoon was the funeral for a friend who had died in a car accident and his parents gave me his ticket to the show. It is truly the one time that going to a concert was utterly cathartic.

[@williamreichold1545]

I went to that one. One of 25 I saw total. Saw them twice at the old Garden and 2-3 times at Molson amphitheater. And the Sars concert.

[@jaysongreensmith7857]

I ❤️ RUSH

[@michaelfavreau7617]

I was at that show. I was young and not savvy on getting good tix . After this I was close to the stage at all Rush shows and all shows in general. ( my condolences for your loss )

[@dancampbell9151]

You ripped my heart out with this one my friend. I know that was a show you will never forget. Thanks for sharing - God bless

[@reidwhitton6248]

Three of the greatest musicians and songwriters in rock history. And they have a great sense of humor. Especially Alex.

[@mletrout7942]

The best part about being a hardcore Rush fan back in the Seventies was that we just didn’t give a f*ck about anyone else’s opinion. We knew we had the best band and the less people who got them (and us) the better.

[@jimbattista1120]

You spelt Dead heads wrong.

[@bweeks8869]

Well stated!!

[@mletrout7942]

@@jimbattista1120 a true Dead Head wouldn’t care

[@thomashornback4859]

Yeah, I'm sure the band agreed. Eating is overrated anyway.

[@mikeshoe74]

100% .

[@SteveJones379]

"La Villa Strangiato" is the GOAT!! 🤘🤘🎸

[@RobertJuzstone]

The main reason back then and still today is Geddy Lee's vocals aka You either like them or Hate them.

[@ted5669]

Early Rush yes perhaps

[@matthetubecrowley]

Ding ding ding ding! Winner, winner chicken dinner!

[@annaclarafenyo8185]

Roger Hodgson thinks they sound very familiar.

[@jasongultjaeff9397]

Basically. And some of the whacky lyrics perhaps.

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

It became so fashionable to like Rush that I don't think this is a problem anymore. I miss the old days when the band was a hidden treasure among prog metalheads though😄

[@dsalbert9572]

Piss on the haters!! Loved Rush when I first heard them back '79 in High school- still a fan to this day! RIP John Rutsey and Neal Peart🙏✌️

I love these guys,brilliant musicians,brilliant writers,just a brilliant band!

[@esteeb67]

I remember the first time I heard Tom Sawyer. I was walking down the sidewalk in my neighborhood and one of the tough kids was sitting in the shade against the side of a townhouse listening to his boombox. Tom Sawyer was playing. It blew my mind. And then I heard 2112... even more mind blown. Been a huge fan ever since.

[@ricksantos9849]

Hemispheres is the reason why I got into Rush and why I love them.

[@berndhuss6368]

Same with me!

[@wrongsaidned7402]

@@berndhuss6368 for me it was 2112. But hemispheres was my favorite for years. It’s the bridge between 70’s rush and 80’s rush

[@maryhernandez9738]

Working man was always on the radio when I started paying attention to music about 5th grade I was hooked

[@ministerofdarkness]

Their best album!

[@FormulaProg]

La villa all the way

[@ArchStanton19966]

Rush didn't listen to anyone, they followed their own path. They wrote and recorded what they wanted, toured like hell and built a following along the way. All the while getting killed by critics and virtually no airplay (not to mention being in the hole financially from '75-'80). Respect! I couldn't care less what anyone had to say about my favourite band.

[@pauli2169]

The bloody screeching vocals. Although I must admit I love Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures. Plus their musicianship was on another level.

[@martinCraig-vf7jg]

When grunge came in around 1991, hard rock and metal were never the same again, Rush with Counterparts, no longer doing songs like the trees, when more women were at heavy rock concerts it killed the vibe, they sneered at heavy metal, djs never played any thing rocky on the radio, poseurs stood in front of rock bands on top of the pops looking bored and totally uninterested, when spirit of radio was on TOTP, pans people were jigging about holding transitor radios, totally clueless

[@colinburroughs9871]

people laying out to sing over rock music... it's aged pretty well frankly, given how few have the nerve to really project over this type of thing

[@jameshitt3263]

This is most evident in their early catalog, but right around 1980, Geddy really turned a corner with his singing. Less screeching, more time spent in the mid and lower part of his range, which is so much more pleasant sounding.

[@wadesworld6250]

Geddy definitely had a screaming phase and many people may dislike the octave of his voice, but pretty much every vocal coach that listens agrees Geddy is a fantastic vocalist.

[@stephenbedford1395]

First heard them in 1977 and was instantly addicted! My guitar playing took a right-hand turn as I learned every riff that Alex Lifeson offered with every new album. I was rather miffed that they never came down here to Australia, but I guess prog was never popular enough here to justify the long flight. They will always be my favourite band!

[@oldmuso586]

Fellow Aussie! Oi oi oi!

[@kevbob]

Back in high school, around 1979 or 1980 I took an elective class called “Fantasy Literature”. The list of books we read covered sci-fi and fantasy. Think Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Tolkien, etc. We were given a semester project, which was writing a short story inspired by some work and introducing it in class. One of the classmates’ project was sci-fi based and used 2112 as his inspiration. In fact, he played the suite from side one fully. 20 minutes long for the whole class. After the side was over he continued his story with: “I woke up screaming” with all seriousness and everyone just fell apart laughing, including the student narrator. It was so great. Anyway, not really anything to do with people who hate Rush, this just reminded me of the story.

[@BillLaBrie]

Geddy’s voice suits Rush perfectly.

[@DrewDavid]

15 years old, Canadian, Hemispheres..... Never disappointed afterwards.

[@frankwitte1022]

I got into them in early '77, just before Farewell to Kings was released, being 11. Being a Dutch kid, Rush radio lay was close to 0, but we had our local rock records shop, so who needed radio. I picked up a bass when I was 13 (an Ibanez Rickenbacker copy ... still have and love it). I joined a band when I was 14, same year I saw Rush for the first time on their Moving Pictures tour, and was 15 when I supplemented my musical explorations with a Sequential Circuit Pro-One synth. What I am saying, I guess, is that part of my nervous system, brain and muscle-memory developed under the influence of Rush's musical and rhythmic sensibilities and has become part of me ... I have enjoyed all their outputs from "Finding My Way" all the way till "The Garden" and happy their music and their influence was, and still is, part of me.

[@scottenman2005]

Obsessive Fans because they know they have stumbled upon something completely amazing. Professionals , Perfection, Talent, Integrity. everything rolled into one band that will never happen again, but somehow we all had that feeling that Rush was different way back when. And we were all right..

[@davej.meister5421]

Try telling that to Larry Graves aka Canadian Studmuffin. I posted a comment about the 5th anniversary of the passing of the late great Professor Neil Peart at an unrelated video - and he just plain snapped at me like a rabid pit bull. He had to remind me that he's not at all a fan of the band. Was very unpleasant to me.

[@BeatlesCentricUniverse]

@@davej.meister5421 That's because he's SMART.

[@davej.meister5421]

@@BeatlesCentricUniverse Who asked you anyhow?

[@davej.meister5421]

@ Did you rejoice when Peart lost his long battle with brain cancer...like all the other Rush haters?

[@ecurewitz]

Let the fans be happy. I ain’t tucking their yum

[@johnandrews3568]

Been a fan since '77 and seen them 40+ times. Back in high school if you were a Rush fan, you were essentially a social out-cast. Girls hated them and the 'cool kids' were into the Stones and New Wave. But Rush was all about musicianship, song writing/lyrical excellence and particularly since the early 80s, really touching and meaningful lyrics that have resonance more and more as we've aged.

[@robertglisson6319]

Great thread! As an elderly prog guy, I can relate to your comments. These are GENERAL impressions. By no means are they universal. 1. Prog snobbery. Rock fans who bought albums and attended shows from 1969-1975 loved Led Zeppelin, the Stones, and The Who as much as ELP, Yes, Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd. Most of us never attached the "prog" label to prog bands. Rush fans tend to have come over from metal bands that rose to prominence a few critical years afterwards. Rush were the gateway to prog for them. As such, they were perhaps the original prog metal band. 2. The Geek Factor. The biggest fans of, say, ELP, were an earlier iteration of Rush fans. Many of us were band geeks in middle school and high school, and loved the challenge and experimentation ELP and other bands delighted in doing. In short, we were (and remain lol) 15 year old band geeks of all ages. 3. Women. Girls TEND to love music that makes them groove, sway or dance. Rush's music is so precise, there is little room for emotion. ELP at least had Lake's ballads and softer moments in their epics. Yes integrated softer passages in most of their epics. Pink Floyd is perhaps the most blues-based of the major prog bands, a band beloved by millions of women. Genesis had passages of beauty in their longer cuts as well as ballads of their own. Even King Crimson had ballads. Rush, like Dream Theater and other prog metal bands, tend to be sterile. Finding women at a Rush concert is like searching for Waldo. 4. Geddy Lee's voice. Donald Duck on helium. That is a voice that can get on everyone's nerves. It is not a voice to calm folks down or fall in love to. 5. Precision. While most other prog bands and mainstream rock bands are capable of improvisation, Rush perfectly duplicated their albums on stage. Hardcore Rush fans are often kidded about playing air drums to the same licks they heard a million times. Can one imagine playing air drums to Bruford, Palmer, Barlow, Collins, Bozzio or Giles, all of whom were great improvisors? And most importantly... 6. Their obsessive fans. It is almost like a cult, particularly with Neil Peart. To the Trekkie-like fans of Rush, there is no one EVER who could play drums as well as "The Professor." Led Zeppelin fanbois are similarly combative when discussing John Bonham's place on the pantheon of drum gods. It is painfully obvious that they never listened carefully to other prog drummers, let alone jazz fusion, jazz, or classical. Geddy's place on bass is similar to Yes fan's thoughts of Chris Squire. There simply is no one better Entwistle, Claypool, Levin, Berlin, Jaco, Mingus, Eddie Gomez, Stanley Clarke, and a hundred others, you can all just sit down. The one who is discussed the least is probably the greatest musician of the three, Alex Lifeson. But ask a Rush fan who the greatest musician ever to come out of Canada, it is Neil Geddy, and Alex. Sorry Joni, Neil Young, Glenn Gould, etc. Hate away, fanbois!

[@FrankieLovesElvis]

Wow, Very interesting, lucid, well thought out comment. Thanks. 😊

[@TertiumNondatur-e2j]

very interesting, especially coming from someone who was there at the time!

[@TertiumNondatur-e2j]

never even thought about the "women" stuff; honestly could be oen of the main reasons- and could apply to other bands too. and geddy's voice, obviously.

[@scottrhodes6439]

Speaking of the "there is no one EVER who could play drums as well as 'The Professor'" mentality -- I remember seeing discussions online about who was the best prog musician on various instruments, and boy could some Rush fans get ridiculous. Peart's the best drummer? I disagree but I can at least see where you're coming from. Lee the best bassist? He's good, but calling him the best is a bit of a reach. But when someone actually tried to argue that Geddy Lee was the best *vocalist* in prog, I knew I was dealing with a fanatic.

[@jayhpaq]

The above perfectly encapsulates why I listened to punk rock/ post punk/ new wave in the late 70’s and 80’s.

[@stevecowder4774]

One of the greatest drummers and lyricists of all time, with one of the most overlooked lead guitar players ever, along with the multi talented Geddy, forming the finest trio in the history of rock.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

After The Police, of course.

[@lilajagears8317]

😂😂😂The Police?​@@nectarinedreams7208

[@IRNHYD]

Triumph was also a trio that, from a musicianship standpoint, kicked serious a$$. They just didn’t have the staying power that their fellow Canuck power trio did. I Triumph also fell victim to Studio meddling in their formula for music. Rush had a great big FU for anyone in studio mgmt that wanted them to make their music more commercial. Lifeson was a virtuoso in his earlier years. But my problem with him is, somewhere along the way, not long after Moving Pictures… He just threw in the towel. Lifeson cranked out face melting solos constantly, early on. He was abstract in his approach to soloing, which set him apart (but his rhythm work was far more melodic) which went a long way to giving the band their unique sound. He had his occasional high points in the later works (Big Money springs to mind) but his days of creeping up and seizing the song, so to speak, were over by then.

[@davidpaterson3443]

Caress of Steel, A Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres are my top Rush picks....

[@indy1936]

Rush is an amazing band who improved their art with time...love them at any stages of their carrier...!

[@suededogs9670]

I love Rush❤ since 1983. They blew my mind. I am female. My fave album is Moving Pictures. Also and Signals

[@RakelaK67]

got the first 2 albums right after Fly By Night was first released. Saw them for the first ime, of many in 1977.

[@ndogg20]

Just think of the possibilities of being one of the few if not the only female at a wiener party that was a Rush concert! Now if only one of those Rush fans could work up the nerve to say hello.

[@ministerofdarkness]

Lost many of girlfriends over Rush!

[@marktait2371]

ha i dated a gal 80s who was a big grateful dead fan but liked rush also ee used ti listen to subdivisions and pictures

[@nicklevitt6395]

Signals. Is a masterpiece

[@MrJeepsters]

J'ai découvert ce groupe sur des revues de disques sur ce site. A noël, je me suis fait offrir "a farewell to kings". Ç'est vraiment excellent.

[@mhitson7483]

The vocals.

[@willdodge200]

Donald Duck on Helium.

[@waynehill8443]

A friend once said: He looks like an insect. And he sounds like an insect.

[@nirodha35]

Well, you Frank Sinatra fans always make me laugh🤭.

[@ricksantos9849]

It was high but some how I like it. It fit the music and the music is amazing 😻

[@passenger62]

It's hard to express yourself in a falsetto voice, so he has to shout 'yeah' a lot.

[@lechiffre5078]

Used to be the vocals for me when I was much younger. As my music experience matured, their musical brilliance became apparent, and Lee's voice grew on me. I've been listening to them for over 40 years now, and these 3 guys are amazing musicians who have created so many incredibly precise, crisp, and complex masterpieces. They are, without a doubt, my favorite band.

[@gibsonfan159]

I think it was 90% people disliking the vocals. Combine that with progressive rock being geared mostly toward male listeners and it makes sense why they might alienate a general audience.

[@blues730]

100% agree

[@mattmckeon1688]

I'd say Ged's vocals, the nerdy, analytical lyrics and the rather cold, dated production on their 80s material are the main gripes I got playing Rush to family and friends over the years.

[@dewardroy6531]

Watch the video RUSH IN RIO. There’s a million people in the audience. Don’t EVEN try to say that “everyone hates Rush”

[@gibsonfan159]

@@dewardroy6531 nobody said that lol

[@nectarinedreams7208]

Prog was never geared towards male listeners. That's a stereotype that has prevented women from getting into the genre. Genres don't have genders, lol.

[@charris939]

My 15 year old son has introduced me to Rush! He’s a Bass player so that makes sense. I didn’t grow up with them 40 years ago.

[@48musicfan]

My first Rush album was Fly By Night. Permanent Waves is my favorite by them. Hemispheres, Caress of Steel and A Farewell to Kings are excellent! I much prefer the guitar driven 70s output to the synth 80s material.

[@davidpaterson3443]

100%👍. Love 70's Rush but cannot stand anything after Signals - even Signals is a bit of push at times.

[@lebrad7301]

Minority opinion here - I much prefer Grace Under Pressure to Roll The Bones. Soaring melodies and exceptional songcraft

[@ArchStanton19966]

​@@davidpaterson3443Signals is excellent, but I agree that anything after is weak. Don't understand what people are talking about when they say the synthesizer era is great. 70s Rush rules!

[@guywoznicki7847]

There I was a freshman in college back in spring of ‘83, still hanging on to my Led Zeppelin and Beatles. A dude I hung out with was sitting at a party with guys from our dorm floor, kind of praying they didn’t flip over that Song Remains the Same LP. I asked what his problem was with Zep and he said, “These guys can’t hold a candle to Rush.” I knew a couple songs but was not a fan. A week later I was hanging out in Tom’s room and he threw on 2112 and turned out the lights. Loving both prog and metal I was blown away by what I heard. I remember it like it was yesterday as my life would be forever changed! I began collecting Rush albums one by one and not in order. Next was A Farewell to Kings (another masterpiece). Now I wasn’t just hooked, I became a worshipper. Next up was Fly By Night which I could only find on cassette. I had a walkman and I played it over and over, all weekend long. After about a year I had them all from Rush (‘74) to Signals. I saw them on the Grace Under Pressure tour and loved it! Then came Power Windows; I hated it! As time went on I distanced myself from the new, spacey animal but continued to hold the Terry Brown era band in the highest regard. I saw them 2 more times but never really enjoyed any of the later albums, keeping only Counterparts and Clockwork Angels. As for why people hate them, I agree with geeky and fan obsession. I remember the geeks at college loved them and almost nobody else did, and in order to continue to buy their albums after Grace Under Pressure, you really had to be obsessed!

[@petermerison4002]

Love em to bits, probably the nicest guys to be in the music biz.

[@classicalbum]

I agree.... apart from Alice Cooper who is a gem to meet

[@robertglisson6319]

One of the things I admire Rush for is that from beginning to end, the band always got along with each other. Yes had so many lineup changes, they became Yes, Inc. ELP were so tired of each other. Floyd was at perpetual war. Jethro Tull and King Crimson were basically run by Ian Anderson and Robert Fripp, respectively, and both would change lineups like changing shirts.

[@garyh.238]

Excellent analysis - the salient points are very well articulated. I am a casual fan with a very deep appreciation for three (3) of their albums: Hemispheres, Moving Pictures, and Grace Under Pressure.

[@stevewalker206]

Geddy's voice perfectly fits the space-age/prog subjects of most of their songs. I do start laughing when I hear him sing "In the Mood."

[@claytonknight3078]

Neil Peart was talking about 2112 and said radio stations couldn't play the whole first side.When it came out in San Antonio KISS FM played the whole side three to four times a day for at least six months.And I cranked it up every time. Love Rush!

[@andrewmcgee1001]

After I heard 2112, I was like, "Who the...what the...what?" I was super impressed. I don't consider myself a raving fanatic for Rush, but after I saw them on the 'Moving Pictures' tour, it more than 'sealed the deal' for me.

[@Roadie-1963]

Same for me. That's when I became a fan. And when they played MP on one of their last tours, I was surprised by how great they still sounded.

[@ecurewitz]

2112 is fantastic

[@Matt-og9uz]

Appreciate the perspective. I'm with you on the obsessive fan thing. I was that kid back in the 80's. If you didn't love Rush - not like, but love - then you were no friend of mine. I couldn't wrap my head around it back then. Looking back, Rush was just about all I listened to, all I talked about, all I cared about. I overidentified with the lyrics and the music just spoke to me. I eventually moved on from that, but looking back I don't doubt that I could have been, well, a bit overbearing about Rush.

[@gregorylumpkin2128]

Time Stand Still, etc. from the album Hold Your Fire; that's what caught my attention. They are not your typical rock band but great songs and muscianship.

[@timprescott4634]

Freeze this moment a little bit longer…

[@jem77469]

Time Stand Still and Bravado... just gorgeous.

[@PaulFormentos]

@@jem77469 Great lyrics from Neil....

[@ronpatterson6420]

Loved Rush through the years, the trio have class in my book. R.I.P. Neil.

[@PhilBaird1]

I think you've covered it all Barry. I'm not really a Rush fan but I remember really liking the first album when it came out in '74. After that the Scooby Doo vocals got in the way for me. But I respect them enormously because they had huge talent and stuck to their guns, going on to be massively successful with a superb catalogue of albums. A very dignified retirement too, showing other bands how to do it. Who can argue with that ? Certainly not me.

[@SuperGrumpyDaddy]

Love Rush, got into them when I blind bought A Farewell To Kings. Had no idea who they were or what kind of music they played, but loved the cover and was awe struck by the instruments they played as listed on the back cover! Luckily I loved what was on the record. And actually just purchased Grace Under Pressure because you mentioned it in your last Rush video. Cheers!

[@Obrannt]

Rush is just awesome. No reasons to hate them

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reaction & analysis! Not going to argue with any of those reasons, because they're true! I don't share in those reasons, but they are nonetheless valid! I am a die-hard Rush fan. Listen to and love 'most' of their output. Very, VERY few bands have such a consistent run of great to stellar albums as they do (IMHO). 2112 through to Power Windows...that's a 7 album run! (if one were to remove one of two from there, I'd understand). Even for albums (or songs) that I'm not as big a fan of, I have to concede the musicianship is ALWAYS top notch! (and remained until their very end) - especially live! Now I may be biased, being a fellow Canadian, living not 100km from Toronto, but these guys also represented us very well on the world stage. Humility, professionalism, controversy-free, and modesty (any one of them would likely say they don't fully deserve the accolades & praise heaped on them - I know Neil (RIP) did!) They created and played the music they wanted to...never selling out or bowing to 'the man'. What radio wanted to play was their issue (and I don't disagree with the overplay aspect). Promotion generally didn't come from the holy trinity...except when playing live - and in that, they worked their a$$es off! I will forever be a fan! Cheers from Canada, eh!

[@elthar1969]

I agree with you that Moving Pictures is their best album…they had flashes of brilliance in the 70s with my favorite song being “Xanadu”

[@ozzy-m2q]

There most popular, but not there best.?

[@cboswall]

I took my wife to an R40 tour show, in Montréal. She was not a fan, but she definitely saw why they are so revered and influential. She also praised their musicianship.

[@medicinemansworld6462]

2 of my favorite RUSH songs....one from the 70's..Here Again......one from the 80's.....Vital Signs....both incredibly underrated, and somewhat under the radar in my opinion....love the channel, first time commenting.

[@Darin.Pearson]

Here Again. My oh my. You are the first person I have ever heard reference that song. I was just listening to it a few days ago. Fantastic song. Good call.

[@medicinemansworld6462]

@Darin.Pearson I tend to like more of their obscure under the radar songs. The song In The End (1976 All The World's A Stage live version) is another tremendously forgotten about song. I believe the studio cut is off Fly By Night, but I think the live version is better.

[@Darin.Pearson]

@medicinemansworld6462 I agree. The live version of "In The End" is their best version of that song. Speaking of under the radar songs, I also enjoy "Lessons." Another Rush song that never gets mentioned.

[@medicinemansworld6462]

@Darin.Pearson I like that song as well. There is an interesting song kind of under the radar from a guy called Max Webster, and Geddy Lee sings alongside, or backups if you will.....the song is Battle Scar, and from 1980.

[@Darin.Pearson]

​@@medicinemansworld6462 Yes, I have that song. It's on an album called "Universal Juveniles" by Max Webster. I have it on vinyl so that reveals how old I am. Max Webster is the band name. The founder of the band was Kim Mitchell, who you may have heard of. Max Webster had some radio success. Since Kim left the band sometime in the early 1980's, he has had a moderately successful solo career with quite a few radio hits in Canada. I'm not sure how popular they have been outside Canada. The member of Max Webster and Rush were friends. Both bands were started in Toronto, Canada around the same time (early 1970's) and ran in similar circles. The whole album "Universal Juveniles" is very good. Check out "Blue River Liquor Shine". Battle Scar in an interesting song because all the members of each band play on the song. Both drummers, all guitarists, all keyboardists, both singers. It's too bad they didn't video record the sessions. If they did, I've never been able to find it.

[@craigburgess7105]

Bought 2112 in about 1980 as a young teen and loved it straight away - Rush have always been great to my ears.

[@macheesmo3]

I was one of those who found them a bit too cold and a bit too nerdy, then a friend bought me a ticket to see them around 2008. They were so great live I rethought my perspective and am now a casual fan.

[@rcpsammy7186]

Now you're a casual 😂😂😂

[@frankmarsh1159]

I wouldn't say cold so much as maybe lacking soul. Yes and Zeppelin and most of the English progressive rock bands had an "in the pocket" swing feel to them. They were older and grew up liking jazz and soul music. Rush was one of the first second generation prog bands. You can say the same thing about a lot of the second generation hard rock and metal bands as well.

[@tommartling2473]

​@@frankmarsh1159good observation.

[@CanadaCornrow]

@@frankmarsh1159 The production style on their later albums only amplified that problem.

[@carlgibbons5777]

Since when is anybody's main reason for liking a band their personalities? This isn't bubble gum pop.

[@FePyroMaiden]

Have loved Rush ever since my first listen to them way back from the late 70's

[@markanstey2654]

Always been one of my favourite bands. I went off them a bit after signals but for me every album up to that point was stellar! 2112, permanent waves and moving pictures are exceptional!

[@bri-fihacksaw7215]

My favorite band since 1978. Saw them 11 times up to the R40 tour.

[@johnulmer6715]

I love Rush. One of my favorite bands.

[@MACTRUQUE]

Excellent writing on your perspective.

[@MeltoLogical]

Only brilliant minds can love Rush. Enough said.

[@dragonmyke]

My first album 2112. Had it memorized, after 2years of everyday listening.

[@Nephilim-81]

Rush’s 80’s period is a work of art. They mastered the age of electric. ⚡️

[@dreamscuba]

I answered an ad in the local paper from a guy looking to jam. He played bass and I guitar. When we met before we went to meet his drummer friend, he mentioned about jamming to some Rush styled riffery. I had not heard of Rush and he suggested I rent some Rush albums from the local record library. I did and was instantly hooked. And we had a cracking jam. I once had tickets to see them, but was away on business and my sister went in my place. One of my real regrets - not seeing them play live. But I don’t bond with all of their albums. Great video - very entertaining with some very strong points. Thanks

[@shaunfolan8948]

My favourite album can change on any given day but that run of 5 albums - Hemispheres, Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals, and Grace Under Pressure is (to me), one of the greatest run of albums ever recorded.

[@kaiserpuppydog7174]

How dare you leave out the Holy Triumvirate's masterpiece 'A Farewell To Kings'!

[@williamreichold1545]

@ And 2112.

[@shaunfolan8948]

@ I love that album too👌

[@shaunfolan8948]

@@williamreichold1545 first album I heard from the band in 1979. I love that album too but these days I need to be ‘in the mood’ - pun intended😀.

[@ArchStanton19966]

2112-Signals Magnificent run.

[@scottjackson163]

I’m glad you did this video. I’m one who has appreciated many of Rush’s songs over the years. I never saw them in concert or bought any of their music. Just the same, I’ve been perplexed by the animosity towards them.

[@kimsollosy7978]

They have always been a favorite of mine. No hate to those who don't agree or like them. I always appreciate someone else's input on the topic and yes when given the chance I do rave about them. Damn, they were great and I'm glad I had them in my life!

[@davidrobertson5996]

Fair points, though as a hardcore fan, I'll just ignore them :-) Also thought Counterparts was great, and Presto underrated.

[@IRNHYD]

I was 11 years old (and a budding audiophile by that point) when my brother let me tag along with him and his friends to see Rush/UFO at the Santa Monica Civic Center in 1977. UFO was the opener and I was familiar with them and especially Michael Schenker. But at the time I had no idea who Rush was. It was the Farewell to Kings Tour for Rush and they were amazing. The entire show was epic, actually, as Schenker’s incredible talent dominated UFO’s set. He was 17 at the time and the emotion He poured into his playing stuck with me. I bought Strangers In The Night two years later and it took me right back to that night. Rush on the other hand also made an indelible impression upon me. Their master musicianship and precision laid the ground work for me being a Rush convert from that night on. I would see them again on the Moving Pictures tour and again on the Signals tour. I even read two of Ayn Randal’s novels, given that she inspired Peart on 2112.

[@lesblatnyak5947]

There was a 10 year period that in Toronto, Geddy's and Alex's home town, you could turn on the am or fm and Rush could be heard. So I never bought their albums, l just turned on the FM radio. Saw them twice too. Use to chat with them on their walks. 🍁🎶🍁

[@RichardMullin-u8w]

“Musical wankery”😂 - I love this uniquely British turn of phrase. I’m a 60 year old Canadian Rush fan and have been a decent amateur drummer since 13 years of age. As a teenager I’d sit at my drums for hours with my head phones on trying to imitate Neil Peart. Attempting to imitate Neil’s complex drums parts was/is a rite of passage for so many drummers. Thanks for a great video.

[@timlodge8267]

I love Farewell To Kings❤

[@erithacusnacnud]

The human side of the Rush story, alongside the actual music, is enthralling: Three top-class, self-penning musicians stick together with the same line-up on a creative evolution for 40 years: Arguably, by this line-up's 15th studio album, 1996 Test for Echo, they were becoming a bit monochrome, a bit too well-oiled - but then everything abruptly curtailed with drummer-lyricist Neil Peart suffering two successive terrible personal tragedies. Against even their own expectations, after a hiatus, they regrouped in 2001 and completed three further studio albums (not counting a shorter covers-only disc) plus six sequential high quality live DVDs. As lyricist, Peart's personal deep, deep trough injected a whole new sharpness into their thematic focus. A highly refined lyrical integrity that speaks volumes. The first of the three latter-day studio albums, Vapour Trails (especially the original black edition before the slightly tamed white remix appeared a few years later) is surging with post-bereavement anger and bite. With that out of their system the final two studio albums are perhaps musically a little mellower with middle age and life perspective, but none the less holding thoughtfulness and depth. And now with hindsight their career and journey is all the more attention-drawing, following the passing of Peart in 2020. But fittingly they had managed to agree a mutual Rush retirement in 2015, prior to Peart's illness being diagnosed. They leave a neatly partitioned, iconic and - what I think will continue to be - a time-honoured thinking-man's rock legacy.

[@cronosoft]

I discovered Rush around 1990, as a follow-on from the awesome Canadian prog-metal band Voivod, which are so different, yet so similar at the same time. Bizarrely, my 2 favourite Rush albums are the one that many seem to hate... Hold Your Fire & Power Windows. Masterpieces of production and musicianship, yet much more accessible. Oh.... My wife loves Rush too, but she's also extremely proud to be a fantasy novel and sci-fi nerd too 😊

[@oldmuso586]

I really like side one of HYF!

[@gkirms]

Always been a Rush fan but I've liked Geddy's vocals even more so as he aged or as he held back during the 80's and forward up to their last album. That's when he and the group shined. To this day my favorite Rush album is 'Snakes and Arrows'.

[@jrdunn5052]

"Rolling Stone... a periodical that loved this band, by the way..." That's it right there. No other reasons necessary.

[@bdlenz]

Thank you for this video but as a hardcore Rush fan I’m in complete agreement about your love of Permanent Waves through Grace Under Pressure!

[@dwainfarmery6433]

Rush are one of my all time faves, been listening to them since '78 but the one thing I hear from people, especially outside of the UK, is that they don't like the vocals.....what a bunch of jessies....they're just too awesome for most people if you ask me xx

[@toddworley7231]

Unrelated. I'm currently wearing a James Brown shirt similar to yours, coincidence?. I learned to love Rush 🤘🎵

[@father042]

What about the voice of Geddy Lee, how did it get so high? I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy.

[@stuartfishman1044]

That you, Steve Malkmus? By the way, I've heard him, and he does.

[@jaywilson7832]

I know him, and he does!

[@jaywilson7832]

.... And you're my fact checking cousin! (Shady Lane, by the band Pavement)

[@terryroach6481]

I don't collect art often, but when I do it's... "Norwegian erotic bark sculptures" (did I get that right?). Rush is my all-time fave, no other band comes close, and I LOVE this. Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

[@somersetcace1]

Radio overplay is kind of a funny one, because part of the reason Neil wrote the lyrics to the song `The Spirit Of The Radio` was frustration over the lack of radio airplay. Then it becomes one of their most played songs. However, while I don't have any stats to go by, my experience was that most of the people turned off by Rush was absolutely because of Geddy Lee's vocals. Which is why they were considered a `musicians band` when I was a teen in the late 70's.

[@michaelberger8137]

Radio overplay??? Not in MY neck of the woods.

[@somersetcace1]

@@michaelberger8137 Yeah, up until Spirit of the Radio and Tom Sawyer, Fly By Night was about the only other song I can remember being on the radio.

[@Epulor1]

My introduction to Rush was the album Permanent Waves. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard before and I listened to it over and over. While I own all of their albums, there is something almost magical in the opening of Free Will. While I admit that taste is a very personal and subjective thing, Rush truly inspired me.

[@johngalt6708]

Farewell to Kings and Hemispheres are the only two Rush albums I still play today in their entirety.

[@onebadpuffin2170]

I get that. I usually only play the first side of 2112 but I often paly Clockwork Angels and Grace Under Pressure all the way through.

[@prestwickpioneer3474]

Hemispheres, P/G and Power Windows for me. Can also sit happily through Exit Stage Left

[@wilfig]

Steely Dan and The Police were actually my favorite rock bands, but I always loved Rush too. They were top notch musicians who believed in what they wrote and played. And played their instruments on a very high level. They don't deserve the hate.

[@p47paul]

Always respected their skills on their instruments. The songs I like by them are tunes I really dig. They have music I don’t care for as well, but that’s true of any great band too.

[@CloseToTheEdge-Prog]

I absolutely love Rush up to Signals, after that the kind of lost me, but they came back with a bang on Counterparts. Great show Barry, you do have a way with words.

[@matttokley8215]

I completely agree that their late 70s / early to mid 80s run is their finest work - I would personally add Power Windows too mind you...

[@jondevaney6860]

In their early days, Rush was a basic rock band, playing rowdy bangers at gigs in the bars on Yonge St. in downtown Toronto. When I was in high school in the 1970s, I saw them play shows at Maple Leaf Gardens, the big arena (18,000 in the very appreciative crowd) in downtown Toronto - they used to do New Years Eve shows, and "2112" was a highlight. Later, they got more arty, went prog rock, and became international superstars. I still have their early albums on cassette tapes.

[@Supremor-tj9dv]

Two of my favorite songs all time are Limelight and Time Stand Still.

[@rickmoustier1723]

I remember Moving Pictures as their “break out” album. It seemed like that’s when many people discovered Rush. The first Rush song I heard was Cygnus X-1, around 1977. My friend’s older brother had AFTK. That was right before Hemispheres came out. It was The Trees that put the hook in me. Hemispheres was my first Rush album. The first time I saw them in concert was September 1980 Permanent Waves tour.

[@SilentKnight43]

60yrs old here - grew up with Rush as a core soundtrack to my youth. Still have much of their catalog on original vinyl (and a few worse-for-wear cassettes). These days I live close to Lakeside Park where Neil spent much of his youth...and where they've built Neil Peart Pavilion and soon a nice two-part memorial with sculptures and whatnot. As for the 'haters' - who cares? Rush wasn't everyone's cup 'o tea admittedly - but I feel sorry for those dismissive few. Yep, Rush was in heavy power rotation on the radio - for various reasons (not just to fill CRTC Canadian content quotas). As a fan, there was no such thing as too much Rush on the airwaves.

[@WhatJeanWants]

Agreed. There is no such thing as too much Rush on the airwaves!!

[@winstonhewett6679]

Great analysis! Any time I hear people talk about why they like music, but more importantly, why others should like them, LOL, it reminds me of a Rolling Stones Magazine interview with Frank Zappa! Where Frank asked a question to the interviewer, "why would anyone write about music, you either like it, or you don't?" LOL!

[@davidwatts6478]

Just happen to be listening to the 5.1 mix of A Farewell to Kings when I found this video. Have been listening to them since I found 2112 in the record store in 1978. The front cover caught my eye, looked interesting. After the first listen I immediately went back to the store to search for anything they had released previously. Found Archives which included the first three albums.

[@robertyoung7027]

One iconic band that did things their way and succesded. Seen them live 2 x

[@richardwadholm4019]

"The last sausage roll at the party?" Gotta say it - I am not used to laughing out loud when I come here. But you are obviously having a good time with this one...And I am smiling.

[@paulbrookes413]

It's the way he tells them !

[@maddkatter7948]

The music was complex for many people. It was great as a teen listening to them at night over and over. Big fan from 1977 to 1993 or so.

[@bullobca]

I've always been a Rush fan here in Canada. My roommate and I got to see them on the 2112 tour when a guy down the hall at college residence won tickets from a local radio station. He had zero interest in them so we giddily took them off his hands. Even here in Canada Rush's popularity has ebbed and risen like the tide. I still enjoy listening to them, although I did lose interest there for a while. Geddy's book is a great read if you haven't checked it out yet. Cheers

[@davidjacovelli5986]

Good vid, glad to hear of your approval for Counterparts, my favourite of the later-period studio albums.

[@anachronistofer]

Moving Pictures is a masterpiece. I never tire of listening to it, even Tom Sawyer for the gazillionth time. It still sounds fresh. It's Rush's Dark Side of The Moon, Sgt. Pepper's, etc.

[@Death-n2d]

Keep dreaming! All their albums are musically horrific.

[@williamreichold1545]

@ Lets see some of your Music. Any examples?

[@bernardmaasdijk734]

@241156can I admire your perseverance as you must have listened to each and every Rush album, a band you clearly dislike making music you, as you say, find horrific.

[@prestwickpioneer3474]

@@bernardmaasdijk734how can he hate them if he says "Moving Pictures is a masterpiece. I never tire of listening to it..." How is that hating a band?

[@bernardmaasdijk734]

​@@prestwickpioneer3474 Thanks for your reply. I cannot find my comment back but it was directed at the commenter who said all Rush albums are horrific. I hope my comment makes more sense in that context. I found it and corrected it. Thanks for the heads up.

[@professorsc213]

I've always loved and respected Rush.

[@pkflash2004]

Got into them from Farewell To Kings and worked backover through their previous albums before getting Hemispheres when it came out. For me, they were peerless between 2112 and Moving Pictures. One caveat - you need to like that type of music. If you don't, there are lots of reasons to dislike them - seriously uncool, shrieking vocals, pretentious and overly long songs around questionable subjects/politics. I think you were right in your video in saying that they struck a balance between technicality and emotion - Limelight and La Villa Strangiato for example. Funny how I rarely want to isten to them, but when I do, I really enjoy it.

[@peterwynberg]

I'VE SEEN RUSH 3 TIMES. LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT ❤

[@geographyinaction7814]

Rush are fantastic. I have heard Sting and Geddy Lee say that when they wrote, performed, and recorded some of their higher-pitched numbers, they never expected that fiftybyears later they would be having to perform they live. Great music.