Rush - R30: The 30th Annniversary World Tour



As concert experiences go, you can't get much better than Canada's greatest musical export (screw Bryan Adams, Rush are the Canadian band it's not embarrassing to like). You get nigh-on 3 hours of great tunes, spreading from their 30 year career, taking in various changes of direction. From sci-fi prog-rock epics of the 70's, to the techno synth-rock of the 80's and the back-to-basics sound of the 90's. Rush have got pretty much, everything you'd want in a live show. Amazing visuals, great songs, and incredible musicianship.



It's always an enternal shame (although I use the term loosely) that guitarist Alex Lifeson, being in the normal show-off role, is constantly upstaged by the far, far superior rhythm section, yes, both Geddy Lee and Neil Peart are practically untouchable in their respective fields (always coming top, or nearabouts in musician polls every year).



This DVD showcases all of the above, and is a fine companion release to Rush In Rio, possibly (knowing their attention to detail) mindful of their fans wanting to have a different repertoir to see, the setlist is almost (save for the usual setlist mainstays) completely different to that of the Rio DVD.

What makes welcome returns are such gems as Subdivisions, Mystic Rhythms and Between The Wheels (from 1984's Grace Under Pressure, one of my favourite Rush albums).



Yet again, another mainstay of Rush's live set are Neil Pearts mind-meltingly brilliant drum-solos. This one Der Trommler sits nicely alongside O' Baterista from Rio and shows why The Proffesor is at the top of his game.

Extras on disk no.2 include some rare performances and interviews from their career (including some truly hilarious Alex Lifeson moments, namely, after Geddy Lee and Neil Peart read their specially prepared speeches at the Canadian Hall Of Fame induction, he gets out his shopping list).

Excellent. 9.5/10

Melll, your obviously a Rush fan, so can I ask a question? A guy I used to work with refused to listen to Rush because he said they were a right-wing group!!! But, one of my bosses at work used to play them in the office all the time and never heard such accusations

He said (the first guy) a huge influence on them was the writings of Ayn Rand, who apparentley is considered by many of leaning to the far right and also was a friendly witness during the McCarthy witch hunts.

Was he being a bit over the top in this view? I've tried googling "Rush", "Fascist" and "Ayn Rand" but more often than not get some crap about Rush Limbaugh.

Please don't think I'm accusing you of having such views, and I'm sure if Rand was fascist, and if the band were influenced by her, it doesn't necessarily mean it's evident in their lyrics. It's just that if there is anyone who can clarify this or has even heard of such accusations, it is a fan. Thanks

No offence taken.

That's the first time I've ever heard that (I've been a fan since 1989), and I would say that nothing could be further from the truth.

They have two pieces of work which were based on books by Ayn Rand, "Anthem" (from "Fly By Night") and "2112". Now, I would say that they were more literal musical translations of the stories, than representing the alleged fasict views of the author.

The other thing is, that Geddy Lee's is a jew and his grandparents were victims of the holocaust in WWII, I doubt that - considering the artistic control he had over the band - he would allow such views to be represented. Plus, Neil Peart is anything but an insenstive jerk.

After all, they do still play those songs at gigs.

One other thing, is they should be suing Ben Elton and Queen for nicking the story of 2112, and sticking it that appalling Queen Musical.

Ah the NME Urban Myth - Rush are Nazi's...

There is a reason why "Geddy" Lee got his name. It's because of his mother and fathers thick Polish accent. He's actually "Gary". His parents moved to Canada after the war. So why would Poles move to Canada you ask? Because they were liberated from Nazi death camps. His mother was in Dachau and his father was in Bergin-Belsen.

Difficult to square this with accusations of them being facists don't you think?

In the unlikely event anyone on this board ever sees this.. I suppose it's just easier to perpetuate the accusation that Rush are a bunch of right wing facists than to check the facts which presumably is the whole point about these posts being moderated

On the Album Grace Under Pressure there is a song called "Red Sector A" which is and I quote " The song was inspired by Geddy Lee's memories of his mother's stories about the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, where she was held prisoner."
Source Wikipedia and Canadian Jewish News.

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I thought it would be a bit far fetched - a band that big having such views. Thanks for taking the time to reply, its appreciated.

Ayn Rand was the arch-OPPONENT of all forms of dictatorship,communist & fascist.She was a devout individualist,and opposed collectivism in spirit and in government.Those who call her 'fascist' are either in complete ignorance of her actual views,or are leftist deliberately trying to smear her.

Also,when did she ever appear before the "McCarthy witch hunts"?She appeared as a witness in the HUAC hearings in 1947,(giving testimony as to the absurd portrayal of Soviet society in movies like "Song For Russia") at a time when no one heard of Senator Joe McCarthy.

As for Rush,read the lyrics to their song "Witch Hunt",the band are also arch-individualists.