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Art of Rush: Serving A Life Sentence
A large-format coffee-table book chronicling the four decades' work of graphic artist Hugh Syme for the iconic Canadian progressive-rock band Rush, including extensive interviews and background detail on the development and execution of concepts for each of the band's albums and associated art work. Offered in three editions, a general-release Classic Edition, a Limited Special Edition of 250 copies, and a Roadcase Deluxe Limited Edition of 100 copies.
- GenresMusic
272 pages, Coffee Table
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 23, 2019
This is a coffee table book but with extensive interviews and background on graphic artist Hugh Syme's four decades' work in designing covers and related artwork for iconic Canadian prog-rock band Rush's albums.
It's been a long, long time since I went from opening a package to reading a book from cover to cover in a single sitting, but I could not put this down. So many memories, so many differences - and similarities - in the perspectives of those albums' creators and my own, so much fascinating background information on how they all came to be.
The images are of course spectacular, and the quality of the book's binding and paper are flawless and built to last.
This book comes in three editions, the general-release Classic Edition, which is just the book and which is the one I bought; the Limited Special Edition (250 copies only,) which includes a slipcase and is autographed by Syme and all three band members; and the Roadcase Deluxe Limited Edition (100 copies only,) which comes in a 15" x 15" x 3" Anvil road case numbered on a metal plate, a custom slipcase within that, the autographs as above, and a signed, numbered, limited edition lithograph of Syme's original drawing for the "Caress of Steel" album cover. The respective prices are $99, $495 and $995 (!)
The book really needs the slipcase to match its collectible nature, but I could not justify an additional $400 atop an already-sizeable $99 for it, and I already have two separate autograph sets of Messrs Lee, Lifeson and Peart.
If you're a fan of the band, particularly if you basically grew up with them and had each of their albums serve as part of "the soundtrack of your life," this is indispensable. Non-fans likely will pass - though the artwork and stories behind each album are stunning on their own.
It's been a long, long time since I went from opening a package to reading a book from cover to cover in a single sitting, but I could not put this down. So many memories, so many differences - and similarities - in the perspectives of those albums' creators and my own, so much fascinating background information on how they all came to be.
The images are of course spectacular, and the quality of the book's binding and paper are flawless and built to last.
This book comes in three editions, the general-release Classic Edition, which is just the book and which is the one I bought; the Limited Special Edition (250 copies only,) which includes a slipcase and is autographed by Syme and all three band members; and the Roadcase Deluxe Limited Edition (100 copies only,) which comes in a 15" x 15" x 3" Anvil road case numbered on a metal plate, a custom slipcase within that, the autographs as above, and a signed, numbered, limited edition lithograph of Syme's original drawing for the "Caress of Steel" album cover. The respective prices are $99, $495 and $995 (!)
The book really needs the slipcase to match its collectible nature, but I could not justify an additional $400 atop an already-sizeable $99 for it, and I already have two separate autograph sets of Messrs Lee, Lifeson and Peart.
If you're a fan of the band, particularly if you basically grew up with them and had each of their albums serve as part of "the soundtrack of your life," this is indispensable. Non-fans likely will pass - though the artwork and stories behind each album are stunning on their own.
May 9, 2016
Finally started reading 'Art of Rush: Serving a Lifetime Sentence' about a week ago and finished it up yesterday. What an awesome read. Hugh Syme really is up there with Roger Dean and Storm Thorgerson/Hipgnosis for the all-time greats in art direction in Rock.
Besides going in-depth with the stories behind all of Syme's Rush albums covers (the only two he didn't design were the debut and 'Fly by Night'), you also get tons of photos of the covers and liner art, including the original versions that didn't make it into print. (There were numerous cases where the printing process altered Syme's original colors, so the released album did differ slightly.) There were also cases where licensing kept Syme/Rush from incorporating all their ideas, such as having Snaglepuss' tail visible at the edge of the 'Exit... Stage Left' cover, since it was his catch-phrase they wanted to use for the live album title.
Another amazing thing is the effort it took Syme to create the Rush covers in the days before Photoshop - such as building an acrylic aquarium as part of the '2112' cover to get the ripple effect. They also filmed inside a falling apart, about-to-be-demolished theater, bringing back various models from previous covers to get that 'Exit... Stage Left' shot. And the close-up image of the kid from the 'Power Windows' cover holding binoculars up to his eyes that appears to be a photograph? Nope, Syme painted that bad boy.
And the last twenty pages or so are filled with various celebrities that are Rush fans talking about their favorite Rush album covers, including the likes of: Kim Thayil, Kirk Hammett, Robin Zander, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Warren Cromartie, Gene Simmons, Randy Johnson, John McEnroe, Pat Cash, Billy Corgan and numerous others.
A must-read of any Rush fan.
Besides going in-depth with the stories behind all of Syme's Rush albums covers (the only two he didn't design were the debut and 'Fly by Night'), you also get tons of photos of the covers and liner art, including the original versions that didn't make it into print. (There were numerous cases where the printing process altered Syme's original colors, so the released album did differ slightly.) There were also cases where licensing kept Syme/Rush from incorporating all their ideas, such as having Snaglepuss' tail visible at the edge of the 'Exit... Stage Left' cover, since it was his catch-phrase they wanted to use for the live album title.
Another amazing thing is the effort it took Syme to create the Rush covers in the days before Photoshop - such as building an acrylic aquarium as part of the '2112' cover to get the ripple effect. They also filmed inside a falling apart, about-to-be-demolished theater, bringing back various models from previous covers to get that 'Exit... Stage Left' shot. And the close-up image of the kid from the 'Power Windows' cover holding binoculars up to his eyes that appears to be a photograph? Nope, Syme painted that bad boy.
And the last twenty pages or so are filled with various celebrities that are Rush fans talking about their favorite Rush album covers, including the likes of: Kim Thayil, Kirk Hammett, Robin Zander, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Warren Cromartie, Gene Simmons, Randy Johnson, John McEnroe, Pat Cash, Billy Corgan and numerous others.
A must-read of any Rush fan.
June 11, 2021
Such a beautiful book! Any lover of Rush should own a copy!
October 5, 2023
A fantastic look "behind the scenes" at the creation of Rush's iconic album artwork.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews