NEWS: Canadian rock legends celebrate classic album's 40th anniversary with lavish expanded reissues on December 1st

ON December 1, UMe/Anthem/ole label group continues its Rush 40th anniversary album celebrations with a lavish new expanded edition of the band's landmark album A Farewell to Kings.

A Farewell to Kings, Rush's fifth studio album, was originally released in 1977, and played a major role in establishing Rush as an internationally popular and respected band.  A Farewell to Kings also introduced the trio's first successful radio hit "Closer To The Heart," album tracks “A Farewell To Kings,” “Madrigal,” “Cinderella Man,” as well as enduring fan favorites with "Xanadu” and "Cygnus X-1."

A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary will be available to fans in four distinct configurations including (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) three-CD Deluxe Edition, (3) four-LP Deluxe Edition, and (4) the Deluxe Digital Edition.

The Super Deluxe Edition includes three CDs, one Blu-ray Audio disc and four high-quality 180-gram vinyl LPs.

The set encompasses the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD; a complete Rush concert recorded in February 1978 at London's Hammersmith Odeon, newly mixed by longtime Rush engineer and original A Farewell to Kings producer Terry Brown from the multi-track live tapes; four newly-recorded cover versions of songs from the original album by Dream Theater, Big Wreck, The Trews and Alain Johannes; and an instrumental studio outtake of the spacey sound effects the band has creatively titled “Cygnus X-2 Eh.”  The Hammersmith show features, for the first-time ever, over 34 minutes of unreleased performances including a complete “2112” suite, “Lakeside Park,” a drum solo and “Closer To The Heart.” The Super Deluxe Edition's audio content on its CDs is duplicated on its vinyl discs.
Meanwhile, the Blu-ray Audio disc contains a brand new 5.1 surround mix of the album by four-time Grammy® nominated surround sound producer Steven Wilson, along with three original 1977 promo videos from a newly found 2-inch quad video master significantly improving the video quality for “Closer To The Heart.”  The Super Deluxe package also includes an elaborate new 40th anniversary cover treatment by longtime Rush creative director Hugh Syme, who has also created a new piece of artwork for each of the album's six songs, and an extensive 12,000-word liner notes by Grammy®-winning rock historian Rob Bowman.

The Super Deluxe Edition of A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary will also include several exclusive items, including a unique King's Ring, with custom velvet pouch and neck chain; two lithographs with original artwork by Hugh Syme; a special 12-inch turntable mat featuring distinctive artwork by Hugh Syme; and a reproduction of Rush's original 1978 A Farewell To Kings tour program.

A Farewell to Kings—40th Anniversary second configuration will be released in a three-CD Deluxe Edition, with the newly reasserted A Farewell to Kings album, the Hammersmith Odeon show, the four new cover songs, “Cygnus X-2 Eh” outtake, Hugh Syme's song-specific artwork and Rob Bowman's liner notes.

The third configuration will be offered as an audiophile 180-gram four-LP Deluxe Edition featuring the same audio content as the three-CD edition with double-gatefold packaging, 32-page vinyl-size booklet, the special 12-inch turntable mat, along with Syme's artwork and Bowman's liner notes.  The fourth configuration, the Deluxe Digital Edition, will feature the original album as disc 1, the complete Hammersmith concert unedited as disc 2, and the four covers songs plus the “Cygnus X-2 Eh” outtake as disc 3.

Additionally, on November 24, UMe will release a 7" vinyl single for Record Store Day's annual Black Friday event, featuring the beloved A Farewell to Kings hit "Closer to the Heart," with a custom large-hole adapter and new artwork by Hugh Syme.

In his liner notes, Bowman describes A Farewell to Kings as "the beginning of Chapter Two" for Rush.  "No longer was the majority of the record dominated by the sound of a power trio.  A more mature Rush now embraced a wider sound palette using synthesizers, Taurus bass pedals, classical guitar, tubular bells, temple blocks and orchestral bells to create greater contrast and color within their compositions. Yet, when desired, Rush continued to deploy the intensity, ferocity and power that they were justifiably known for."

Rush—bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer/lyricist Neil Peart—has won a large and passionate worldwide fan base for its unique, adventurous approach, which combines sterling musicianship, complex compositions and distinctive lyrical flights drawing upon science-fiction motifs and esoteric philosophical concepts. The band has sold more 25 million albums in the U.S. alone, with worldwide sales estimated at 45 million, and has been awarded 24 Gold, 14 Platinum, and three multi-platinum albums.  Rush has received seven Grammy nominations and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

TRACKLISTING:

3-CD
DISC 1
Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown
A Farewell to Kings
Xanadu
Closer to The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

DISC 2
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
BASTILLE DAY
LAKESIDE PARK*
BY-TOR & THE SNOWDOG
XANADU
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
CYGNUS X-1

DISC 3
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
ANTHEM
CLOSER TO THE HEART*
2112*
WORKING MAN
FLY BY NIGHT
IN THE MOOD
DRUM SOLO*
CINDERELLA MAN

XANADU – Dream Theater*
CLOSER TO THE HEART – Big Wreck*
CINDERELLA MAN – The Trews*
MADRIGAL – Alain Johannes*
CYGNUS X-2 EH*

BLU-RAY AUDIO – DISC 4
96kHz 24-bit 5.1 Surround Mix by Steven Wilson
96kHz 24-bit Original Stereo Analog 2015 Remaster
A Farewell to Kings
Xanadu
Closer to The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

1977 Promo Videos:
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
XANADU
CLOSER TO THE HEART

4-LP VINYL
LP 1 – SIDE A
Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown
A Farewell to Kings
Xanadu

LP 1 – SIDE B
Closer to The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

LP 2 – SIDE C
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
BASTILLE DAY
LAKESIDE PARK*
BY-TOR & THE SNOWDOG

LP 2 – SIDE D
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
XANADU
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

LP 3 – SIDE E
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
CYGNUS X-1
ANTHEM
CLOSER TO THE HEART*

LP 3 – SIDE F
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
2112*

LP 4 – SIDE G
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
WORKING MAN
FLY BY NIGHT
IN THE MOOD
DRUM SOLO*
CINDERELLA MAN

LP 4 – SIDE H
XANADU – Dream Theater*
CLOSER TO THE HEART – Big Wreck*
CINDERELLA MAN – The Trews*
MADRIGAL – Alain Johannes*
CYGNUS X-2 EH*

DELUXE DIGITAL EDITION
DISC 1
Original Album - Produced by Rush and Terry Brown
A Farewell to Kings
Xanadu
Closer to The Heart
Cinderella Man
Madrigal
Cygnus X-1

DISC 2
Live at Hammersmith Odeon – February 20, 1978
BASTILLE DAY
LAKESIDE PARK*
BY-TOR & THE SNOWDOG
XANADU
A FAREWELL TO KINGS
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
CYGNUS X-1
ANTHEM
CLOSER TO THE HEART*
2112*
WORKING MAN
FLY BY NIGHT
IN THE MOOD
DRUM SOLO*
CINDERELLA MAN

DISC 3
XANADU – Dream Theater*
CLOSER TO THE HEART – Big Wreck*
CINDERELLA MAN – The Trews*
MADRIGAL – Alain Johannes*
CYGNUS X-2 EH*

* Previously unreleased

NEWS: Rush set to release feture length documentary film this month

On November 18, 2016, Zoë Vision, a division of the Concord Music Group, in partnership with ole, will release Rush | Time Stand Still, a feature-length documentary film that provides an intimate look into the legendary rock band’s sold-out 40th anniversary tour – possibly their last -- and the unique relationship Rush has with their devoted fans.

See the theatrical release trailer below.

With more than 40 million records sold worldwide (with 24 gold, 14 platinum, and three multi-platinum albums to their credit), and countless sold-out tours, Rush – comprising Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart – remains one of the most popular, inventive and influential groups in rock history,

During Dave Grohl’s rousing speech at the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, he noted,  “Rush built their following the right way. No hype, no bullshit, they did it from the ground up. Their legacy is incredible and their influence undeniable.”

Writing in Rolling Stone a few years ago, critic Chris Norris summed up the renowned rock trio’s artistic vitality by observing, “It’s true that Rush doesn’t mean today what it did in ’76 or even ’96. It may mean more,” and that still holds true today, as evidenced by their fans’ singular devotion to the band.

In 2015, Rush embarked on 35-city tour to commemorate their 40th anniversary. At the time, the R40 tour was rumored to be their last  – an end to Rush’s life on the road together. Rush | Time Stand Still follows this farewell journey. Exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the band and crew throughout the tour provide the raw and vivid emotional undertones of this feature-length film, directed by Dale Heslip, and produced by Allan Weinrib,  the team behind the band’s live concert films, Rush: R40 Live (2015) and Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour (2013).

At the film’s core are Rush’s ardent fans, and their undying dedication and loyalty are on full display as the R40 tour comes to its conclusion at the “Fabulous Forum” in Los Angeles. Their personal stories highlight the importance Rush holds in their lives, and the lasting impressions of their extensive catalog.  The members of Rush are quick to acknowledge the substantial role their fans have played in their success. Candid interviews with Lee, Lifeson and Peart bring Rush | Time Stand Still to an emotional conclusion for a band that built their career the old-fashioned way: one show at a time.

Rush: Time Stand Still
Release date: November 18, 2016
Format: Blu-ray and DVD
Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes of documentary footage, with an additional 67 minutes of never-before-released bonus content.
 Track Listing:
When I Was a Kid (3:05)
It’s a Really Hard Life (10:46)
A Huge Accomplishment (8:26)
Building R40 (4:57)
Fan-Tastic (18:57)
Hello Toronto (9:41)
“Ride On” Neil (2:31)
Your Weakest Point (6:43)
Marathon Not a Sprint (11:04)
At Road End’s (17:00)
LIVE FROM THE RABBIT HOLE
Subdivisions (5:34)
Superconductor (5:55)
Show Don’t Tell (6:19)
The Pass (5:14)
Closer To The Heart (5:05)
Manhattan Project (5:07)
Scars (4:49)
War Paint (5:50)
Tom Sawyer (5:44)
2112: Overture / La Villa Strangiato / In The Mood (11:48)
In The Professor’s Warmup (5:34)

NEWS: Rush live spectacular R40 to be released November 20th

RUSH - the coolest uncool band in the world...

All roads have led to this. Forty-one years in the making, the R40 Live tour took a very real journey back through time. Beginning with the grand design: a state-of-the-art stage set that pivots, rolls and dives, and brings Clockwork Angels in to bombastic, colourful life before marching stridently back in time (through theatre stages, a panoply of band and fan shots, the accrued memories of a life spent playing live) to a mocked-up school gym and the band playing there; a solitary bass amp set on the chair behind Geddy Lee, a mirror ball spiralling crazily above, casting thin rods of light like a light rain across the crowd, Working Man coming to a shuddering halt as the band’s beginning becomes their end....
 
Rush recorded and filmed R40 Live over two sold-out shows in the band’s hometown of Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on June 17 & 19, 2015 in the middle of their R40 Live 35-date North American tour.
 
R40 Live had the trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, performing a career-spanning live retrospective celebrating their 40+ years together. The epic live shows by the Rock Hall of Famers were captured with 14 cameras to present the band feature-film style.
 
The centre-point of this tour was the remarkable set-list, coupled with their idea of a “de-evolution” set design. When the band opened the show with cuts “Headlong Flight” and “The Anarchist” from their most recent studio recording, 2012’s Clockwork Angels, they did so with all the bells and whistles from that extensive tour.

They worked backwards through their catalogue as the show progressed, the innovative set design making for constant visual eye-candy, as stagehands exchanged the gear and props on stage to resemble the era-correct tour staging in accordance with the songs being played.
 
 The first set featured the infamous dryers on stage while they played “Roll The Bones”, “Subdivisions”, and for the first time ever live, “Losing It” featuring violinist Ben Mink who appeared on the original studio recording from 1982’s Signals.
 
The second set opened with classics “Tom Sawyer”, followed by crowd favourite, “The Spirit of Radio” but also included “Jacob’s Ladder” which hasn’t been performed live since 1980 on their Permanent Waves tour.

The last few songs of the R40 were set against the persimmion curtained theatre looking stage, with the crowd raising their lighters or camera phones to  “Closer to the Heart” and then Alex and Geddy appeared with their signature doubleneck guitars as they played Xanadu, into the epic “2112” and encore with “Lakeside Park/Anthem” and “What You’re Doing/Working Man”.

The concert film also includes the band’s renowned tour videos, highlighted by “Roll The Bones (R40 Live)” that features array of special guests in the rap part of the song: Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League), Les Claypool (Primus), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), The Trailer Park Boys, and Jason Segel & Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man).

It is the first time the band put the song back in the setlist since the Snakes & Arrows tour in 2007/2008. During the R40 Live tour, “Roll The Bones” gained new life and became a fan-favourite with an arena sing-a-long to the chorus “Why are we here? Because we’re here – Roll The Bones”.

Singer/Bassist Geddy Lee explained how the large group of cameo appearances came about, "We had this older video of an animated Skeleton doing the "rap" part of “Roll The Bones”, and felt it was time to update the concept for this tour. So after a lot of joking around with our show design team, we thought it would fun if we called upon some of our well known pals and see if they wanted to have some fun with the lyrics. There were so many good and funny moments that it was hard to choose, some really hilarious and outrageous stuff!  I'm so glad it worked out as it brought a big smile to the faces in the audience (and to us!) every single night!"

R40 Live audio was produced by Rush & David Botrill, mixed by David Botrill (Tool, Muse), the film was directed by Dale Heslip and produced by Allan Weinrib. The live photograph on the cover of R40 was shot by baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who captured the band in a rare moment when both Geddy  Lee and Alex LIfeson were on Neil Peart’s drum kit riser.

“As a friend and fan of Rush, and the passion I have for photography to capture moments, it’s great that both can blend together for a lasting impression here for the world to see,” commented the self-described ‘6”10 ninja in the photo pit’ who was on a portion of the tour in his new role as photographer.

RUSH R40 Live will be released on November 20, 2015, and will be available in the following configurations:
 ·       3-CD/1 Blu-ray set
 ·       3-CD/1 DVD set
 ·       3-CD set (audio only)
 ·       Single-disc Blu-ray
 ·       Single-disc DVD
R40 TRACKLISTING / CD
Disc One
The World is .. The World is ...
The Anarchist
Headlong Flight
Far Cry
The Main Monkey Business
How It Is
Animate
Roll the Bones
Between the Wheels
Losing It (with Ben Mink)
Subdivisions

Disc Two
Tom Sawyer
YYZ
The Spirit of Radio
Natural Science
Jacob’s Ladder
Hemispheres: Prelude
Cygnus X-1/The Story So Far (drum solo)
Closer to the Heart
Xanadu
2112

CD Disc Three
Mel’s Rockpile (with Eugene Levy)
Lakeside Park/Anthem
What You’re Doing/Working Man

Bonus
One Little Victory
Distant Early Warning
Red Barchetta
Clockwork Angels
The Wreckers
The Camera Eye
Losing It (with Jonathan Dinklage)

DVD/Blu-ray

Set One
The World is .. The World is ...
The Anarchist
Headlong Flight
Far Cry
The Main Monkey Business
How It Is
Animate
Roll the Bones
Between the Wheels
Losing It (with Ben Mink)
Subdivisions

Set Two
No Country for Old Hens
Tom Sawyer
YYZ
The Spirit of Radio
Natural Science
Jacob’s Ladder
Hemispheres: Prelude
Cygnus X-1/The Story So Far (drum solo)
Closer to the Heart
Xanadu
2112

Encore
Mel’s Rockpile (with Eugene Levy)
Lakeside Park/Anthem
What You’re Doing/Working Man
Exit Stage Left

Bonus
One Little Victory
Distant Early Warning
Red Barchetta

this one's for Baal

 Have to mention this gig announcement for Mark - Rush playing O2 in Dublin on May 12th next year: tickets on sale 26th November
Rush - Beyond the Lighted Stage [2 DVD]

Permiership players unfit...drummers kick ass instead!

It's official drummers are as fit as premiership footballers! According to Chichester University drummers rock out with a heartbeat at 190 beats per minute. But given they only tested Blondie's drummer Clem Burke we reckon they're not pushing the envelope at all!

Imagine if they'd tested Tom Lombardo, Brann Dailor, Neal Peart, or even a host of Norn Iron metal drummers....premiership footballers would fade in their wake!

Chinese Democracy to see light of day?

Guns 'n' Roses (well Axl anyway!) seem finally about to release the most overdue CD of all time...Chinese Democracy. First taste will go to fans of the XBox 369 Rock Band game. The sequel (cunningly titled Rock Band 2) will include a track from Chinese Democracy entitled 'Shackler's Revenge'.

But with Metallica, AC/DC, System Of A Down, Motorhead, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Disturbed, Dream Theater, Bon Jovi, Jethro Tull, Rage Against The Machine, Ratt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rush, The Smashing pumpkins, Steely Dan, Testament, The Offspring and The Who all contributing tracks will anyone notice Axl's track?