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Rush Across the Decades #1
Anthem: Rush in the '70s
The definitive biography of the rock 'n' roll kings of the North
With extensive, first-hand reflections from Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart, as well as from family, friends, and fellow musicians, Rush in the '70s is a detailed portrait of Canada's greatest rock ambassadors. The first of three volumes, Anthem puts the band's catalog, from their self-titled debut to 1978's Hemispheres (the next volume resumes with the release of Permanent Waves) into both Canadian and general pop culture context, and presents the trio of quintessentially dependable, courteous Canucks as generators of incendiary, groundbreaking rock 'n' roll.
Fighting complacency, provoking thought, and often enraging critics, Rush has been at war with the music industry since 1974, when they were first dismissed as the Led Zeppelin of the north. Anthem, like each volume in this series, celebrates the perseverance of Geddy, Alex, and three men who maintained their values while operating from a Canadian base, throughout lean years, personal tragedies, and the band's eventual worldwide success.
Listening length: 11 hours and 9 minutes.
With extensive, first-hand reflections from Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart, as well as from family, friends, and fellow musicians, Rush in the '70s is a detailed portrait of Canada's greatest rock ambassadors. The first of three volumes, Anthem puts the band's catalog, from their self-titled debut to 1978's Hemispheres (the next volume resumes with the release of Permanent Waves) into both Canadian and general pop culture context, and presents the trio of quintessentially dependable, courteous Canucks as generators of incendiary, groundbreaking rock 'n' roll.
Fighting complacency, provoking thought, and often enraging critics, Rush has been at war with the music industry since 1974, when they were first dismissed as the Led Zeppelin of the north. Anthem, like each volume in this series, celebrates the perseverance of Geddy, Alex, and three men who maintained their values while operating from a Canadian base, throughout lean years, personal tragedies, and the band's eventual worldwide success.
Listening length: 11 hours and 9 minutes.
375 pages, Hardcover
Published May 12, 2020
78 people are currently reading
334 people want to read
About the author
Martin Popoff
224 books247 followersAt approximately 7900 (with over 7000 appearing in his books), Martin has unofficially written more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. He was Editor-In-Chief of the now retired Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, Canada’s foremost metal publication for 14 years, and has also contributed to Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, Record Collector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com and hardradio.com, with many record label band bios and liner notes to his credit as well. Additionally, Martin has been a regular contractor to Banger Films, having worked for two years as researcher on the award-winning documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, on the writing and research team for the 11-episode Metal Evolution and on the ten-episode Rock Icons, both for VH1 Classic. Additionally, Martin is the writer of the original metal genre chart used in Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey and throughout the Metal Evolution episodes. Martin currently resides in Toronto and can be reached through martinp@inforamp.net or www.martinpopoff.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 1, 2024
Pull the debris off the Red Barchetta and take this out for a spin!
Very fun story about the early days of the Canadian progressive rock band Rush.
As previously stated in my review of Geddy Lee’s 2023 book My Effin’ Life, I am a big fan so if I gush during this review it is because I am biased but to be fair and objective, I do believe that writer Martin Popoff has done a better than primetime job of putting all this together for us. Popoff interviewed the three band members, managers, producers, engineers and musicians from other bands to help us to understand how the awesomeness of Rush got started back in the day.
We follow a more or less chronological tour from the early days of teenagers in the garage learning their chops to the late 70s when they were rock stars and about to become superstars. One of the endearing elements here is how Popoff essentially reviews each song and each album on the way and that adds depth and detail to an already cool story.
One of the best sections is how Popoff describes the making of the band’s fourth album, 2112, first released in 1976. For those of you who are not familiar, this is one of the most badass stories in all of ROCK. I’ve heard several different versions of the story and I like the way Popoff handled it and it all goes something like this:
Rush released their first eponymous album in 1974. It was a good start and they started touring to support the release, opening for such acts as Uriah Heep and KISS among others. A few months later, with the addition of demi-god Neal Peart (pronounced rhyming with EAR) on drums, the band released Fly By Night which did very well in sales and cemented the group as having plenty of ROCK-IT sauce and a barrel full of kinetic energy.
So confident were the members of the band (all in their early 20s) that their third album, Caress of Steel, was released as an experimental progressive statement, moving away from the Blues roots many hard rock bands of the era demonstrated. This time sales were not as good and the record label, Mercury, made noises about how they wanted more singles and a return to the predictable mundanity of hard rock. There was even evidence that if sales did not improve, Mercury could drop the promising but questionable band.
The three young men made the astounding decision to NOT produce an album full of radio singles with a hard rock template but rather, if this really was their final album, to go down in flames true to their own muse and vision and not beholden to the record producers. Can you even imagine the looks on the record labels executives when confronted with the twenty minute, full album side, seven part epic 2112?
The gamble paid off as the album went multi platinum and lifted the fledgling group to the heights of rock stardom. The rest, as they say, is history.
For fans.
Very fun story about the early days of the Canadian progressive rock band Rush.
As previously stated in my review of Geddy Lee’s 2023 book My Effin’ Life, I am a big fan so if I gush during this review it is because I am biased but to be fair and objective, I do believe that writer Martin Popoff has done a better than primetime job of putting all this together for us. Popoff interviewed the three band members, managers, producers, engineers and musicians from other bands to help us to understand how the awesomeness of Rush got started back in the day.
We follow a more or less chronological tour from the early days of teenagers in the garage learning their chops to the late 70s when they were rock stars and about to become superstars. One of the endearing elements here is how Popoff essentially reviews each song and each album on the way and that adds depth and detail to an already cool story.
One of the best sections is how Popoff describes the making of the band’s fourth album, 2112, first released in 1976. For those of you who are not familiar, this is one of the most badass stories in all of ROCK. I’ve heard several different versions of the story and I like the way Popoff handled it and it all goes something like this:
Rush released their first eponymous album in 1974. It was a good start and they started touring to support the release, opening for such acts as Uriah Heep and KISS among others. A few months later, with the addition of demi-god Neal Peart (pronounced rhyming with EAR) on drums, the band released Fly By Night which did very well in sales and cemented the group as having plenty of ROCK-IT sauce and a barrel full of kinetic energy.
So confident were the members of the band (all in their early 20s) that their third album, Caress of Steel, was released as an experimental progressive statement, moving away from the Blues roots many hard rock bands of the era demonstrated. This time sales were not as good and the record label, Mercury, made noises about how they wanted more singles and a return to the predictable mundanity of hard rock. There was even evidence that if sales did not improve, Mercury could drop the promising but questionable band.
The three young men made the astounding decision to NOT produce an album full of radio singles with a hard rock template but rather, if this really was their final album, to go down in flames true to their own muse and vision and not beholden to the record producers. Can you even imagine the looks on the record labels executives when confronted with the twenty minute, full album side, seven part epic 2112?
The gamble paid off as the album went multi platinum and lifted the fledgling group to the heights of rock stardom. The rest, as they say, is history.
For fans.
January 9, 2020
Any time I see a new book by Martin Popoff, I grab it. Popoff claims he has written more rock reviews, nearly 8,000, than anyone else in the business. His focus is classic rock and, often his books trace a band's history album by album. For the kings of Canadian rock, the trio known as Rush, there's apparently so much to tell, that only three volumes will do.
Anthem only traces the band from its infancy in the suburbs of Toronto when Gary Lee Weinrib (whose parents somehow survived Aushwitz and Dachau and emigrated to Canada) Alex Zivojinovich, and the original CEO of the band, John Rutsey met through the late seventies when Hemispheres came out. Later Gary Lee became Geddy Lee and Alex became Alex Lifeson and Neal became the drummer and lyricist.
This is only the first of three books and it doesn't address the Spirit of Radio:
"One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity,…"
It also doesn't talk about today's Tom Sawyer:
"No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is
And what you say about his company
Is what…"
Rather, it takes us back to early Rush with Geddy Lee's unique voicing and the hard rocking Working Man of the first album, the prog-rock anthems of 2112 and Hemispheres. The kind of music that blasted from boomboxes and was just something more than just hard rock.
The first half tracks their childhoods and the early days of running from club to club and hoping for their first break. Later, the book tracks each album and tour and the band's development. This is a fascinating read for those intimately familiar with the music. And, even for the casual fan, it can be quite interesting. This is about the music, not about any crazy rock band excesses.
Anthem only traces the band from its infancy in the suburbs of Toronto when Gary Lee Weinrib (whose parents somehow survived Aushwitz and Dachau and emigrated to Canada) Alex Zivojinovich, and the original CEO of the band, John Rutsey met through the late seventies when Hemispheres came out. Later Gary Lee became Geddy Lee and Alex became Alex Lifeson and Neal became the drummer and lyricist.
This is only the first of three books and it doesn't address the Spirit of Radio:
"One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity,…"
It also doesn't talk about today's Tom Sawyer:
"No, his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is
And what you say about his company
Is what…"
Rather, it takes us back to early Rush with Geddy Lee's unique voicing and the hard rocking Working Man of the first album, the prog-rock anthems of 2112 and Hemispheres. The kind of music that blasted from boomboxes and was just something more than just hard rock.
The first half tracks their childhoods and the early days of running from club to club and hoping for their first break. Later, the book tracks each album and tour and the band's development. This is a fascinating read for those intimately familiar with the music. And, even for the casual fan, it can be quite interesting. This is about the music, not about any crazy rock band excesses.
April 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
ANTHEM: RUSH IN THE ‘70s by author Martin Popoff is an in depth biography and analysis of the band Rush covering the period of time from the band’s inception, on to the change in drummers from John Rutsey to Neil Peart, the story of the band struggling in their native Ontario to becoming successful on a small scale, and their hard work touring the “Rust Belt” states in the U.S. along with help from a radio programmer in the Cleveland area who recognized the quality of the music from the band’s first album; which was unknown and unavailable in the U.S. being an import with only minor distribution at the time.
Rush has always been regarded as one of the hardest working bands in rock over their lengthy career, also earning the respect of fellow musicians being the antithesis of the typical stereotype of rock stars in that time period, they were often praised for their professionalism and respect towards the bands that they spent time with on the road for the first several years of their existence.
Since that time, Rush has become one of the most highly regarded progressive rock bands over the years with success that was elusive (to the frustration of their record label) finally arriving after the overwhelming acceptance of the “2112” album, and they never looked back from that point on.
Martin Popoff has written more on rock bands in both books and record reviews than anyone else I can compare him to, and recently I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing his biography of Pink Floyd (Pink Floyd: Album by Album) that is an excellent in-depth analysis of everything recorded by the band.
ANTHEM: RUSH IN THE ‘70s covers the decade of the band that is my favorite part of the band’s career, beginning with my first exposure to them backing up the band Kiss at the Michigan Palace in Detroit in 1974, which was my first rock concert at age 14 for the price of a $4 ticket & seated in the tenth row, such a memorable experience with both bands being on their way up, and each playing songs from their soon to be released second albums.
Obsessed with them from that point going forward, I was able to see them a total of six times between that show and a concert with Blue Oyster Cult at Cobo Hall with a heavy emphasis on the 2112 album in the late ‘70s, which is in my mind one of the best progressive rock albums ever recorded.
Martin Popoff does a great job of focusing on the strengths of the band, and documents their struggles and poor treatment by the rock fanzines that wrote them off as Led Zeppelin wannabes, an incredibly short-sighted and clichéd approach to describing the band and their output.
Rush was never a band that could be glamorous in the tabloids, and escaped the trappings of stardom that had brought about the downfall of so many of their contemporaries, so they were always somewhat unique in that aspect; something the author highlights in his description of the band members, with a heavy focus on the late Neil Peart and his importance in their development.
Highly recommended to all fans of the band; especially those who wish to know more of the band from this time period, as well as fans of progressive rock interested in the development and recorded output of the band.
5 stars.
ANTHEM: RUSH IN THE ‘70s by author Martin Popoff is an in depth biography and analysis of the band Rush covering the period of time from the band’s inception, on to the change in drummers from John Rutsey to Neil Peart, the story of the band struggling in their native Ontario to becoming successful on a small scale, and their hard work touring the “Rust Belt” states in the U.S. along with help from a radio programmer in the Cleveland area who recognized the quality of the music from the band’s first album; which was unknown and unavailable in the U.S. being an import with only minor distribution at the time.
Rush has always been regarded as one of the hardest working bands in rock over their lengthy career, also earning the respect of fellow musicians being the antithesis of the typical stereotype of rock stars in that time period, they were often praised for their professionalism and respect towards the bands that they spent time with on the road for the first several years of their existence.
Since that time, Rush has become one of the most highly regarded progressive rock bands over the years with success that was elusive (to the frustration of their record label) finally arriving after the overwhelming acceptance of the “2112” album, and they never looked back from that point on.
Martin Popoff has written more on rock bands in both books and record reviews than anyone else I can compare him to, and recently I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing his biography of Pink Floyd (Pink Floyd: Album by Album) that is an excellent in-depth analysis of everything recorded by the band.
ANTHEM: RUSH IN THE ‘70s covers the decade of the band that is my favorite part of the band’s career, beginning with my first exposure to them backing up the band Kiss at the Michigan Palace in Detroit in 1974, which was my first rock concert at age 14 for the price of a $4 ticket & seated in the tenth row, such a memorable experience with both bands being on their way up, and each playing songs from their soon to be released second albums.
Obsessed with them from that point going forward, I was able to see them a total of six times between that show and a concert with Blue Oyster Cult at Cobo Hall with a heavy emphasis on the 2112 album in the late ‘70s, which is in my mind one of the best progressive rock albums ever recorded.
Martin Popoff does a great job of focusing on the strengths of the band, and documents their struggles and poor treatment by the rock fanzines that wrote them off as Led Zeppelin wannabes, an incredibly short-sighted and clichéd approach to describing the band and their output.
Rush was never a band that could be glamorous in the tabloids, and escaped the trappings of stardom that had brought about the downfall of so many of their contemporaries, so they were always somewhat unique in that aspect; something the author highlights in his description of the band members, with a heavy focus on the late Neil Peart and his importance in their development.
Highly recommended to all fans of the band; especially those who wish to know more of the band from this time period, as well as fans of progressive rock interested in the development and recorded output of the band.
5 stars.
August 4, 2020
A valuable collection of interviews that would be impossible to put together on your own. Of all the books I have checked out by this author, this one is my favourite. A guy who is such a Rush fan that he even feels the need to correct the band on the pronunciation of the word Barchetta. The only person in the world who feels that Caress of Steel is a better album than 2112. Now that is a fan.
Almost an extra star for the very cool cover.
Almost an extra star for the very cool cover.
April 9, 2020
Anthem: Rush in the ‘70s offers an interesting look at Rush’s formative years but is not a particularly well-written read. Author and music critic Martin Popoff doesn’t necessarily write this book, rather transcribes unused dialogue from the magnificent 2010 Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary as well as reprints interviews gleaned across the years. The end result is bad grammar, run-on sentences, and more repetition than Neil Peart has hi-hat fills. Through all those massive shortcomings, the book is about Rush – one that arrives all too soon following Neil’s heartbreaking death – and does offer insight to their early touring days. Popoff’s opinionated liner notes makes up for the pasted-together narrative.
Martin Popoff’s Anthem doesn’t make it to Moving Pictures (1981) abruptly cutting off like a Spinal Tap show following Hemispheres (1978). The subtitle for the book is Rush in the ‘70s after all. And there is some meat on those bones after the fat is sliced away. Drummer Neil Peart, bass player Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson all have keen insight and fun stories to share. Those same stories are then retold - over and over - by their management, their parents, their roadies, other bands, By-Tor, Snow Dog, and the entire Solar Federation. Gene Simmons, bass player for KISS, breaks the repetition with his own style of amusing tales. His introduction to the band. His memories. Funny asides. As usual, Simmons’ antics are worth the price of admission.
The one thing Martin Popoff perfectly gets right is breaking down Rush's relation to their music. Rush are consummate professionals who feed off doing their brand of music their way. Coming off Fly By Night, perhaps Rush’s last true foray into pure hard rock/metal they began to do their own thing… and continued doing that for the next 40 years. Popoff might be far from the world’s greatest music journalist but he does display his geek cred in hyperbolic zeal.
Popoff’s scribed interviews truly accomplish the innate friendship of the band. The passions they shared. The stories they told. Even though Anthem is a slog of read at times, the magic of the band vibrates out of those pages.
This has inspired me to revisit Rush’s early releases. In their entirety. For the first time in years. If anything this is my personal tribute to Neil who tragically died from brain cancer in January.
Anthem is truly for diehard and completists, which is ironic considering the openness of Rush’s music. Their legacy is a binding force that has certainly contributed to keeping my sanity intact over the years. Sadly, their previously-announced retirement now appears concrete without the Professor behind the drum kit. Their collected music will continue.
“All the world’s a stage and we are merely players,” someone once sang. Probably heard on a boombox. A snare drum popping in the background. Somewhere a boy lies in the grass, unmoving, staring at the sky. Listening to the words. Feeling the music. Moving. Grooving. Don’t know what I’m hoping to find. Totally knowing what it is Neil has left behind.
For personal memories about Rush that are a ton more entertaining than Anthem, check out @ Joe's!
Martin Popoff’s Anthem doesn’t make it to Moving Pictures (1981) abruptly cutting off like a Spinal Tap show following Hemispheres (1978). The subtitle for the book is Rush in the ‘70s after all. And there is some meat on those bones after the fat is sliced away. Drummer Neil Peart, bass player Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson all have keen insight and fun stories to share. Those same stories are then retold - over and over - by their management, their parents, their roadies, other bands, By-Tor, Snow Dog, and the entire Solar Federation. Gene Simmons, bass player for KISS, breaks the repetition with his own style of amusing tales. His introduction to the band. His memories. Funny asides. As usual, Simmons’ antics are worth the price of admission.
The one thing Martin Popoff perfectly gets right is breaking down Rush's relation to their music. Rush are consummate professionals who feed off doing their brand of music their way. Coming off Fly By Night, perhaps Rush’s last true foray into pure hard rock/metal they began to do their own thing… and continued doing that for the next 40 years. Popoff might be far from the world’s greatest music journalist but he does display his geek cred in hyperbolic zeal.
Popoff’s scribed interviews truly accomplish the innate friendship of the band. The passions they shared. The stories they told. Even though Anthem is a slog of read at times, the magic of the band vibrates out of those pages.
This has inspired me to revisit Rush’s early releases. In their entirety. For the first time in years. If anything this is my personal tribute to Neil who tragically died from brain cancer in January.
Anthem is truly for diehard and completists, which is ironic considering the openness of Rush’s music. Their legacy is a binding force that has certainly contributed to keeping my sanity intact over the years. Sadly, their previously-announced retirement now appears concrete without the Professor behind the drum kit. Their collected music will continue.
“All the world’s a stage and we are merely players,” someone once sang. Probably heard on a boombox. A snare drum popping in the background. Somewhere a boy lies in the grass, unmoving, staring at the sky. Listening to the words. Feeling the music. Moving. Grooving. Don’t know what I’m hoping to find. Totally knowing what it is Neil has left behind.
For personal memories about Rush that are a ton more entertaining than Anthem, check out @ Joe's!
April 25, 2023
For fans only! Wonderful.
April 28, 2022
Admittedly, I am a RUSH fan although I didn't 'discover' the band until their Hold Your Fire album and truly a fan with Roll the Bones. But that's getting ahead of this book which recounts the formation of the band with all the original members and difficulties as well as some history of the three major members.
These are the early days with remembrances from Geddy, Alex and Neil along with family and friends. It is a bit repetitive in places as similar stories and tales are repeated over various interviews. Tales of travelling across Canada, the United State and Europe, performing for small crowds and as opening acts to major groups and eventually having some of those groups opening for them as popularity grew and waned. Studio work. Playing while sick. The different vehicles used to get to gigs. Being worn out after a tour or just needing some time with their families. Insight into their changing sounds as they experimented with instruments and styles.
It's definitely a fan book but also gives insight into how the band managed to coalesce into the multiple-platinum award-winning fan favorite. So someone who is interested in reading an example of the hard work necessary to become a success in the music industry - at least during the 70's - should at least give this a look-over. Especially since Popoff has two sequels dealing with the later decades until they decided to call an end to the band.
2022-087
These are the early days with remembrances from Geddy, Alex and Neil along with family and friends. It is a bit repetitive in places as similar stories and tales are repeated over various interviews. Tales of travelling across Canada, the United State and Europe, performing for small crowds and as opening acts to major groups and eventually having some of those groups opening for them as popularity grew and waned. Studio work. Playing while sick. The different vehicles used to get to gigs. Being worn out after a tour or just needing some time with their families. Insight into their changing sounds as they experimented with instruments and styles.
It's definitely a fan book but also gives insight into how the band managed to coalesce into the multiple-platinum award-winning fan favorite. So someone who is interested in reading an example of the hard work necessary to become a success in the music industry - at least during the 70's - should at least give this a look-over. Especially since Popoff has two sequels dealing with the later decades until they decided to call an end to the band.
2022-087
July 29, 2020
Even though I knew a lot of the background of the band, this book still had many things that I did not know. Packed with information and interviews, this is a fantastic read for Rush fans. Even better whie playing some Rush in the background. If you're not a Rush fan then I am unsure why you are reading this. :-) If you've always wanted to know how a rock band starts and grows up then you may be interested. Anyway, this book is one of three in a trilogy and I look forward to the other two.
August 6, 2020
A little cheesy in parts, but great insight if you are a true fan. Everyone will learn something.
Hard work pays off for sure.
Hard work pays off for sure.
January 1, 2021
The writing isn’t very strong, but the content is great.
Read
October 20, 2024Popoff takes an interesting approach: the book is 95% interview excerpts from the band and people in their orbit, with little bits of Popoff's own text to tie them together. I can't imagine this would be of any interest to a non-fan or casual fan, but I enjoyed hearing the background about the making of each of the albums and how the band felt about them.
January 12, 2021
One of the most elusive groups but the one of the most popular cult bands in history, rarely have I found a really good Rush biography that covers pretty much everything. And I have read several books, articles, examined their liner notes, and watched a bunch of documentaries including Beyond the Lighted Stage. This, however, bests practically everything. It’s so loaded with information that I hurriedly downloaded the next volume, Limelight, in this 3-volume series.
The book starts out covering each individual band member’s start in music as well as their parents’ origins, especially both Geddy Lee’s and Alex Lifeson’s. If you’re a fan, you probably know that Geddy’s parents survived the Holocaust before coming to Canada but may not have known that Alex’s father was in a work camp in Eastern Europe. It’s almost serendipity that Geddy and Alex became friends in middle school/junior high. They have so much in common that I can see why they’ve always appeared to be in synch.
You learn more about John Rutsey and the many factors that led to him leaving the band. You also meet the Professor, Neil Peart, whose personal history diverts from the other band members but is important to know because of his musical beginnings.
Before John leaves Rush, you get a real taste of their early years as a band, playing wherever they could to build a following and the intensity of their drive to succeed. This band worked their asses off to achieve the level of notoriety they have now. They earned every bit of it by doing everything they could and perfecting their musical expertise. After long last, a record contract appears in their grasp, and it nearly does not become a reality until some tough decisions are made.
Each subsequent chapter focuses on albums from their first to Hemispheres with details about how they were written, recorded, and received. Stories are shared about those crazy but exciting times when they toured everywhere even in the most rural, desolate areas of northern Canada or small towns in Iowa and beyond. It’s amazing the evolution of this band and how working hard, committing to your craft, and not letting bad or good reviews dictate the direction of your work can resonate with anyone on the pursuit of an artistic endeavor.
If you’re a Rush fan, you’re going to love this book and learn a few things you never knew, both personal and musical. It also will inspire you to break out your old albums or stream your favorite Rush tracks. I cannot wait until the third volume, Driven, comes out this spring.
The book starts out covering each individual band member’s start in music as well as their parents’ origins, especially both Geddy Lee’s and Alex Lifeson’s. If you’re a fan, you probably know that Geddy’s parents survived the Holocaust before coming to Canada but may not have known that Alex’s father was in a work camp in Eastern Europe. It’s almost serendipity that Geddy and Alex became friends in middle school/junior high. They have so much in common that I can see why they’ve always appeared to be in synch.
You learn more about John Rutsey and the many factors that led to him leaving the band. You also meet the Professor, Neil Peart, whose personal history diverts from the other band members but is important to know because of his musical beginnings.
Before John leaves Rush, you get a real taste of their early years as a band, playing wherever they could to build a following and the intensity of their drive to succeed. This band worked their asses off to achieve the level of notoriety they have now. They earned every bit of it by doing everything they could and perfecting their musical expertise. After long last, a record contract appears in their grasp, and it nearly does not become a reality until some tough decisions are made.
Each subsequent chapter focuses on albums from their first to Hemispheres with details about how they were written, recorded, and received. Stories are shared about those crazy but exciting times when they toured everywhere even in the most rural, desolate areas of northern Canada or small towns in Iowa and beyond. It’s amazing the evolution of this band and how working hard, committing to your craft, and not letting bad or good reviews dictate the direction of your work can resonate with anyone on the pursuit of an artistic endeavor.
If you’re a Rush fan, you’re going to love this book and learn a few things you never knew, both personal and musical. It also will inspire you to break out your old albums or stream your favorite Rush tracks. I cannot wait until the third volume, Driven, comes out this spring.
April 20, 2020
An ARC of this title was received from the publisher. 3.5 stars
Following friends and family via social feeds, I've seen a divide with regards to seeking comfort during self-isolation. Some people I know who knit, draw, or watch specific TV shows aren't doing so now, though they appear to have more time for it. They reason that they don't wish to associate things they love with a pandemic, and therefore risk losing their affinity for knitting, drawing, etc. once this is over.
Before the pandemic took hold, Neil Peart - drummer and chief lyricist of my favorite band - died of cancer. Many fans failed to find comfort in listening to the music. It served more to remind us of what we lost. I'll admit, too, I'd had a hard time getting through a few songs, much less an entire album the last few months. It's only recently that I've been able to listen to a Rush record in full.
This reluctance, thankfully, didn't extend to reading. After news of Neil's death broke, an online book club organized an impromptu read of his most recent travelogue, Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon To Me. More recently, I was offered the opportunity to preview the first in a series of Rush biographies. Journalist Martin Popoff, known for his books on Rush and other groups of the classic rock era, will release Anthem: Rush in the 1970s next month through Neil's publisher, ECW Press.
While the title provides a clear indication of content, Anthem also delivers the pre-history of the Hall of Fame lineup - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil - as it evolved from the basement bands with names known among super-fans (John Rutsey, Lindy Young). Popoff relies heavily on interview content from band members and other personnel, notably manager Ray Danniels and touring crew Howard Ungerleider and Liam Birt - all of whom stayed with Rush for nearly the full span of their career.
If Anthem has an advantage over other Rush biographies, it's in the band's story as told by the people who lived it. While an avid fan may not discover anything they haven't already learned from the Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary or Popoff's other works, newer and fringe fans may welcome this very detailed introduction. I enjoyed this read, but will admit I'm looking especially forward to part three which presumably covers Rush in the 90s (ECW Press lists the second book as Limelight: Rush in the 80s) as it's the period where I not only discovered the band but don't have as much knowledge.
Following friends and family via social feeds, I've seen a divide with regards to seeking comfort during self-isolation. Some people I know who knit, draw, or watch specific TV shows aren't doing so now, though they appear to have more time for it. They reason that they don't wish to associate things they love with a pandemic, and therefore risk losing their affinity for knitting, drawing, etc. once this is over.
Before the pandemic took hold, Neil Peart - drummer and chief lyricist of my favorite band - died of cancer. Many fans failed to find comfort in listening to the music. It served more to remind us of what we lost. I'll admit, too, I'd had a hard time getting through a few songs, much less an entire album the last few months. It's only recently that I've been able to listen to a Rush record in full.
This reluctance, thankfully, didn't extend to reading. After news of Neil's death broke, an online book club organized an impromptu read of his most recent travelogue, Far and Wide: Bring That Horizon To Me. More recently, I was offered the opportunity to preview the first in a series of Rush biographies. Journalist Martin Popoff, known for his books on Rush and other groups of the classic rock era, will release Anthem: Rush in the 1970s next month through Neil's publisher, ECW Press.
While the title provides a clear indication of content, Anthem also delivers the pre-history of the Hall of Fame lineup - Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil - as it evolved from the basement bands with names known among super-fans (John Rutsey, Lindy Young). Popoff relies heavily on interview content from band members and other personnel, notably manager Ray Danniels and touring crew Howard Ungerleider and Liam Birt - all of whom stayed with Rush for nearly the full span of their career.
If Anthem has an advantage over other Rush biographies, it's in the band's story as told by the people who lived it. While an avid fan may not discover anything they haven't already learned from the Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary or Popoff's other works, newer and fringe fans may welcome this very detailed introduction. I enjoyed this read, but will admit I'm looking especially forward to part three which presumably covers Rush in the 90s (ECW Press lists the second book as Limelight: Rush in the 80s) as it's the period where I not only discovered the band but don't have as much knowledge.
November 4, 2020
Honestly, this was a fantastic book for a Rush fanboy like me. There have been far too few books written about Rush (and all of them either by Popoff or Durrell Bowman, a musicologist). The fact this book even exists makes me happy.
Popoff wrote this book as a result of having access to lots of interviews with the band, their working associates, and their families, for the 2010 documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage. Thank goodness he compiled all of them together to make this book. It was written well, making a quick and easy read. I felt like the book made the band even more accessible and I loved how personable they were in their interviews (maybe with the exception of the notoriously anti-social Neil). Especially Geddy--his personality really resonates with me. Seems like a great guy.
That said, I have a few annoyances with the book, but that's not the band's fault or the author's fault. I mostly just wish that the guys weren't as dismissive of some of their releases at the time. I mean, I get it: we're all embarrassed by some of the things we did when we were younger. It must be hard to reflect back on some of the stuff you made when you were 23, especially from the vantage point of someone 35 years later. But I got a little tired of a few of the interviews which essentially said, "this was a learning experience for us and we didn't really come into our own until Moving Pictures." I get it. I just wish their early releases got a little more love from the band.
I also wish that Popoff dug a little more into the albums and the lyrics. Rather, since this book is a compilation of interviews, it's mostly the band and Terry Brown talking about the experience recording them. Granted, this is a journalistic book, not an academic analysis. Still, I would have liked to see a little more analysis on the content of their music because I suspect that a lot of the fans of the band would like to hear more about it.
Popoff wrote this book as a result of having access to lots of interviews with the band, their working associates, and their families, for the 2010 documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage. Thank goodness he compiled all of them together to make this book. It was written well, making a quick and easy read. I felt like the book made the band even more accessible and I loved how personable they were in their interviews (maybe with the exception of the notoriously anti-social Neil). Especially Geddy--his personality really resonates with me. Seems like a great guy.
That said, I have a few annoyances with the book, but that's not the band's fault or the author's fault. I mostly just wish that the guys weren't as dismissive of some of their releases at the time. I mean, I get it: we're all embarrassed by some of the things we did when we were younger. It must be hard to reflect back on some of the stuff you made when you were 23, especially from the vantage point of someone 35 years later. But I got a little tired of a few of the interviews which essentially said, "this was a learning experience for us and we didn't really come into our own until Moving Pictures." I get it. I just wish their early releases got a little more love from the band.
I also wish that Popoff dug a little more into the albums and the lyrics. Rather, since this book is a compilation of interviews, it's mostly the band and Terry Brown talking about the experience recording them. Granted, this is a journalistic book, not an academic analysis. Still, I would have liked to see a little more analysis on the content of their music because I suspect that a lot of the fans of the band would like to hear more about it.
August 31, 2020
From complete oblivion to literal stardom in just 6 years. Then, they appeared the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on Aug. 14, 1974 head lining for Uriah Heap and debuting their first self titled album. Fame was not on their mind after just playing at local nightclubs and bars in those prior years of the band’s infancy. Two best friends joined with their neighbor and drummer John Rutsey to form RUSH in 1968.
Yes, a garage band of sorts these two BFFs and an older much more hip person had done what most young people did back in the 60s. They emulated the like the rock and rock greats of their day hoping that they too would become famous someday. Alas, for most it was just a dream. However, these teenagers were talented in their own way, but as to how famous they’d become was yet to be determined.
Anthem is a discography of sorts, but complimented by the story of each of every member of RUSH and how they became who and what they are today; the greatest three piece rock band the world has ever known. The evolution started with Rutsey, Lifeson and Lee and then went into the stratosphere when Peart came on the scene.
Each member of RUSH after 1974 never looked back. The “Working Man” band is what they would become and then stay that way well into the 80s. Never stopping to catch their breath because playing live was the only way they would become a success; and that they did. And so the story goes...and now onto the next installment, “Limelight”in this series of books by Martin Popoff.
Yes, a garage band of sorts these two BFFs and an older much more hip person had done what most young people did back in the 60s. They emulated the like the rock and rock greats of their day hoping that they too would become famous someday. Alas, for most it was just a dream. However, these teenagers were talented in their own way, but as to how famous they’d become was yet to be determined.
Anthem is a discography of sorts, but complimented by the story of each of every member of RUSH and how they became who and what they are today; the greatest three piece rock band the world has ever known. The evolution started with Rutsey, Lifeson and Lee and then went into the stratosphere when Peart came on the scene.
Each member of RUSH after 1974 never looked back. The “Working Man” band is what they would become and then stay that way well into the 80s. Never stopping to catch their breath because playing live was the only way they would become a success; and that they did. And so the story goes...and now onto the next installment, “Limelight”in this series of books by Martin Popoff.
December 11, 2020
As a diehard Rush fan, I’ve been looking forward to this book for a long time. It does nearly everything you expect that it will: it provides history, it provides interview material, it provides fun anecdotes, and it breaks down a lot of the more generic aspects of the bands musical catalog.
Much of the book features interviews that were cut from the documentary film released 10 years ago in titled Beyond the Lighted Stage. As a result, a great many different interviewees are quoted throughout the book. This, of course, includes the band proper. In one of the book’s very few shortcomings, many of the interviews overlap information to the point of redundancy. This is especially true if you’ve seen the documentary film. Some surgical editing could have this made the book more streamlined.
As a musician, I felt that the only other place where the book was lacking was in a greater detailed discussion of the music itself. But, I’m willing to concede that a book like this should probably reach a greater audience, rather than devolve into a music theory textbook.
In that way, the book does an excellent job of explaining the band to those who may only be casual fans, while providing a greater understanding of the band to those who have been diehard fans from early on.
Otherwise, the book was a fascinating read and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about this particular period in the band’s history.
Much of the book features interviews that were cut from the documentary film released 10 years ago in titled Beyond the Lighted Stage. As a result, a great many different interviewees are quoted throughout the book. This, of course, includes the band proper. In one of the book’s very few shortcomings, many of the interviews overlap information to the point of redundancy. This is especially true if you’ve seen the documentary film. Some surgical editing could have this made the book more streamlined.
As a musician, I felt that the only other place where the book was lacking was in a greater detailed discussion of the music itself. But, I’m willing to concede that a book like this should probably reach a greater audience, rather than devolve into a music theory textbook.
In that way, the book does an excellent job of explaining the band to those who may only be casual fans, while providing a greater understanding of the band to those who have been diehard fans from early on.
Otherwise, the book was a fascinating read and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about this particular period in the band’s history.
November 5, 2021
I became a Rush fan late. Growing up in the 1980s in the South, I always had a healthy respect for those bands from the 1970s that, in my view, paved the way for the punk and metal that I cherished at the time. Rush was one of those “progressive” groups that seemed to me (at the time) to be just a little too artsy for my taste. It was impossible to NOT appreciate the musicianship, but I didn’t think that they had the edge that I craved during those days.
Years later, I looked back and, with the help of a dear friend who had been a fan of the band from the beginning, realized Rush’s unique place in the rock-n-roll pantheon. In hindsight, I have always since felt like I missed out on years of what this Canadian power trio had to offer.
In “Anthem,” we get to see Rush in their formative stage. We get a glimpse into the adolescent lives of Geddy and Alex as they grew into their own as artists. What I took away from these pages was a greater appreciation for their work ethic when it came to music. I also marveled at how “normal” their home lives were by comparison - not perfect by any means, but their mothers generally supported their musical pursuits, at least after an initial adjustment period.
This was a fun and insightful look at Rush, both individually and collectively, during the formative stages of its existence. The 1970s is already a treasure trove of rock-n-roll, but when you add Rush’s depth to the mix, the result is wonderfully explosive.
Years later, I looked back and, with the help of a dear friend who had been a fan of the band from the beginning, realized Rush’s unique place in the rock-n-roll pantheon. In hindsight, I have always since felt like I missed out on years of what this Canadian power trio had to offer.
In “Anthem,” we get to see Rush in their formative stage. We get a glimpse into the adolescent lives of Geddy and Alex as they grew into their own as artists. What I took away from these pages was a greater appreciation for their work ethic when it came to music. I also marveled at how “normal” their home lives were by comparison - not perfect by any means, but their mothers generally supported their musical pursuits, at least after an initial adjustment period.
This was a fun and insightful look at Rush, both individually and collectively, during the formative stages of its existence. The 1970s is already a treasure trove of rock-n-roll, but when you add Rush’s depth to the mix, the result is wonderfully explosive.
November 22, 2023
4.5
Amazing. It's a delight to learn about the early days of Rush, and it will be a joy for any Rush fans out. To read the story of the first album, with John Rutsey, to the arrival of Neil Peart for Fly by night (and the 40-0dd years that followed), their touring marathons from the first days, when they were practically no ones, learning for which bands they opened (and which ones would later open for them) and their stories and friendships (or non-friendships) with Kiss, Aerosmith, B.Ö.C., Styx and so many others, and to learn how each song in the 70s came to be and how each member of the band grew as musicians and lyricists and men during those years...
I was transported to 70s Canada and Northern America. I was just a kid then, but I can relate to experiencing that era.
Can't wait to jump into the next two chapters in this bio-trilogy of my all time favorite band.
(But yeah, the half-star off was because it felt repetitive in some of the early parts, as their story seemed to be the same for the first records until '2112' and 'A farewell to kings' -- I understand it had to be, as they were finding their footing as a band, but maybe those chapters could have been more concise).
Amazing. It's a delight to learn about the early days of Rush, and it will be a joy for any Rush fans out. To read the story of the first album, with John Rutsey, to the arrival of Neil Peart for Fly by night (and the 40-0dd years that followed), their touring marathons from the first days, when they were practically no ones, learning for which bands they opened (and which ones would later open for them) and their stories and friendships (or non-friendships) with Kiss, Aerosmith, B.Ö.C., Styx and so many others, and to learn how each song in the 70s came to be and how each member of the band grew as musicians and lyricists and men during those years...
I was transported to 70s Canada and Northern America. I was just a kid then, but I can relate to experiencing that era.
Can't wait to jump into the next two chapters in this bio-trilogy of my all time favorite band.
(But yeah, the half-star off was because it felt repetitive in some of the early parts, as their story seemed to be the same for the first records until '2112' and 'A farewell to kings' -- I understand it had to be, as they were finding their footing as a band, but maybe those chapters could have been more concise).
April 3, 2024
I'm a Canadian nerd; it's practically pre-determined that Rush is somewhere in my musical tastes, and while that is the case, it's definitely more of the later 80's era of radio staples that comprises my fandom.
Spotted by chance at my local library branch, I picked this up and started into it. A complete history of the band with primarily first person interviews of the band and the crew, it's a definitive written history of the band's earliest works and their struggles with finding an audience, working against early comparisons, and their determination to do it their own way and let the fans find them at some point down the road.
With chapters 2-8 (after Chapter 1's "Early Years") being the title of each album chronologically, I found myself downloading each album as I read along over the past two weeks or so, with each finding regular repeat play in the car and on my headphones at work. I'd definitely suggest doing the same if you're reading through, as records I was completely unaware of have now become new favourites (or at least have broadened my appreciation for their evolution over time).
A great read, and I was pleasantly surprised to see its the first book of a planned three, so I eagerly await the next volume — and with it, my favourite albums.
Spotted by chance at my local library branch, I picked this up and started into it. A complete history of the band with primarily first person interviews of the band and the crew, it's a definitive written history of the band's earliest works and their struggles with finding an audience, working against early comparisons, and their determination to do it their own way and let the fans find them at some point down the road.
With chapters 2-8 (after Chapter 1's "Early Years") being the title of each album chronologically, I found myself downloading each album as I read along over the past two weeks or so, with each finding regular repeat play in the car and on my headphones at work. I'd definitely suggest doing the same if you're reading through, as records I was completely unaware of have now become new favourites (or at least have broadened my appreciation for their evolution over time).
A great read, and I was pleasantly surprised to see its the first book of a planned three, so I eagerly await the next volume — and with it, my favourite albums.
October 31, 2025
Rush is my absolute all-time favorite band, so I guess it was about time I started on this trilogy of biographies. I went for the audiobook version, and this first volume covers the early pre-Rush years up until 1978's "Hemispheres" album.
Much of the book is made up of transcribed interviews that were done while making the 2010 documentary "Beyond The Lighted Stage" (they had hundreds of hours worth of interviews that weren't used in the documentary...), and there are in-depth interviews with all the band members, as well as their family members, friends, crew, and fellow musicians throughout the years.
I also liked how the book explored every single song on every album, and gave some insight on the recording processes as well. Additionally, I really have to commend Michael Butler Murray, the narrator of this audiobook version. His subtle portrayal of all the different voices was done in a very satisfying way.
If you're a huge fan of Rush, you'll love this book. But for casual fans or non-fans, this will most likely be overkill...
Much of the book is made up of transcribed interviews that were done while making the 2010 documentary "Beyond The Lighted Stage" (they had hundreds of hours worth of interviews that weren't used in the documentary...), and there are in-depth interviews with all the band members, as well as their family members, friends, crew, and fellow musicians throughout the years.
I also liked how the book explored every single song on every album, and gave some insight on the recording processes as well. Additionally, I really have to commend Michael Butler Murray, the narrator of this audiobook version. His subtle portrayal of all the different voices was done in a very satisfying way.
If you're a huge fan of Rush, you'll love this book. But for casual fans or non-fans, this will most likely be overkill...
May 1, 2020
Rush in the 70s. It describes chronologically the first 10 years of the bands history. With very close cooperation of family, friends, workers, the band themselves and contemporaries this reads as a warm , loving and comfortable book, with lots of insights and tid-bits. Lots of passages made me smile, and reflect back on those early days. It shows the determination, very hard work, and of course real talent of the guys that they have succeeded. Of course this will appeal to (die-hard) Rush fans - not sure that there are fans of Rush who aren't die-hard. Also people who love the music of the 70s will appreciate this, since the touring stories contain a lot of anecdotes of touring buddies, either as headliner or support. It has lifted my level of respect for the guys in Rush even more and am grateful that I've known them for 40 odd years now. I am glad that Neils voice is in this still; he is sorely missed. Highly recommended.
May 3, 2020
As a Rush fan(atic) [and person in mourning for Neil Peart], you'd expect this one to resonate with me, right? The truth is that I've read all of Popoff's work on Rush and while I respect his writing, I feel that, in past titles, he's gotten in his own way. That is, I sometimes feel his opinions have gotten in the way of a general discussion of the band and its catalogue. He gets this one just right, stepping out of his own way and creating a sort of oral history. And when he does insert himself into the narrative, he wins the reader over with his obvious affection for these music makers. For instance, he writes: "Rush was our rarefied, mystical music textbook... Rush made you want to excel on a bunch of levels at once..." The band's integrity still makes its fans feel that way, and we're lucky to have writers like Popoff to put those feelings into words for us. I am very much looking forward to the next entry in this series!
December 17, 2020
This is a must-have book for any Rush fan, particularly die-hard fans. As the title suggests, the book examines the band's '70s period, from each band member's childhood and genesis of the band to the prog rock masterpiece "Hemispheres" album. In total, we get an in-depth examination of seven albums (including one live album).
You may have heard many stories about the making of each of those '70s records, but a lot more detail is brought to light, particularly on the touring side, thanks in large part to the transcription of unreleased interviews from the magnificent "Beyond the Lighted Stage" documentary. The book, and its two upcoming companions/volumes, are wonderful appendices to that documentary. I just received the book's sequel "Limelight: Rush in the '80s", and I expect it to be just as great as this first volume.
RIP Neil Peart. You are dearly missed.
You may have heard many stories about the making of each of those '70s records, but a lot more detail is brought to light, particularly on the touring side, thanks in large part to the transcription of unreleased interviews from the magnificent "Beyond the Lighted Stage" documentary. The book, and its two upcoming companions/volumes, are wonderful appendices to that documentary. I just received the book's sequel "Limelight: Rush in the '80s", and I expect it to be just as great as this first volume.
RIP Neil Peart. You are dearly missed.
January 5, 2022
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.
For me, I found this book, which is the first of what is to be the first of three, a bit slow at times. Also a lot of the author's own take or views maybe I don’t know just the way I felt reading this book and then reading it a second time to see if I had a change which I did not. The early struggles of the band were interesting as was the changing of drummers to Neil Peart. I have only heard the band with Peart so I would not know. The struggles they found in Canada were interesting and a lot like other bands starting out in any country. What I did find interesting is that now Rush and their fans would not like everything written about the band in this book. Maybe it changes in the next two books to come I don't know? I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars.
For me, I found this book, which is the first of what is to be the first of three, a bit slow at times. Also a lot of the author's own take or views maybe I don’t know just the way I felt reading this book and then reading it a second time to see if I had a change which I did not. The early struggles of the band were interesting as was the changing of drummers to Neil Peart. I have only heard the band with Peart so I would not know. The struggles they found in Canada were interesting and a lot like other bands starting out in any country. What I did find interesting is that now Rush and their fans would not like everything written about the band in this book. Maybe it changes in the next two books to come I don't know? I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 3 stars.
July 18, 2020
This book was a lot of fun to read. The start of the book starts where it should - with the Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey learning their instruments, playing in Rutsey's parents' basement, and trying to win people over on the dance hall, and bar scene. It takes a bit of time to get to Peart, but there is detail behind each album, how it was made, the problems that occurred, how the band felt about each album - and of course, the touring. Rush were a band of perfectionists, and this book details a lot of that. They were also a band of stories, and even more of those leak out through the re-telling of each album. For a Rush enthusiast, such as myself, this book is a pure treasure to read and have.
--T /|\
--T /|\
September 27, 2022
Excellent compilation of the author's and other interviews of the band describing Rush's formative years up to Hemispheres. Not a dirt & all biography, but one that reflects the members' families and upbringing as integral to what sets Rush apart in style and aspiration from their peers. While appreciating the rock and roll style, it's revealing that the band uniformly believes their fans deserve that each show see the members at their best, so by their work ethic, they avoid the usual rock star pitfalls of excess. Now have a different appreciation for Caress of Steel as that exploration led the band to their career-changing 2112. Next up, Popoff's Limelight, the middle third of the band's history.
February 21, 2021
I’m a huge Rush fan and I’ve read all of the former drummers Neil Peart’s books.RIP 2020
I’ve kept my eye on on this book- all about the life and times during the 70’s, for awhile now and decided I’d give it a listen.
I was not disappointed. There are so many interesting stories about the hard working band Rush, and how the band made their own path into the ears, minds, and heart of their die hard fans.
Upon finishing the audio book, I looked for something simple and discovery that the next book-Limelight: Rush in the 80’s was just released a couple of weeks ago.
Lucky me! That’s my next listen 🎧
I’ve kept my eye on on this book- all about the life and times during the 70’s, for awhile now and decided I’d give it a listen.
I was not disappointed. There are so many interesting stories about the hard working band Rush, and how the band made their own path into the ears, minds, and heart of their die hard fans.
Upon finishing the audio book, I looked for something simple and discovery that the next book-Limelight: Rush in the 80’s was just released a couple of weeks ago.
Lucky me! That’s my next listen 🎧
February 2, 2022
There's some interesting stuff here, but this book could have used some heavy editing. It's composed from a lot of leftover material from Beyond the Lighted Stage, and you can tell - there's a lot of stuff that is superfluous, many different POVs about the same event or situation but that don't actually convey anything new about it.
And one thing in particular that put me off is the extensive descriptions of the records. The target audience for this book are the true believers, no casual fan is going to pick this book up - and we are *very* much aware of what these records are like. We don't need a one page per song description of albums that we've listened to hundreds of times.
And one thing in particular that put me off is the extensive descriptions of the records. The target audience for this book are the true believers, no casual fan is going to pick this book up - and we are *very* much aware of what these records are like. We don't need a one page per song description of albums that we've listened to hundreds of times.
July 29, 2025
The word is... exhaustive.
With seemingly hours and hours of interviews left over from the Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary, Popoff has compiled them into a detailed, chronological delve into the band during the 70s. Covering their formation, early tours and then an album by album, tour by tour account of pretty much everything the band did in this decade.
It's a fascinating insight into the personalities and creative process of this enigmatic and idiosyncratic band that achieved massive success around the world without any apparent industry support whatsoever.
If you're a fan, this is a must-read. If you're not, then you probably shouldn't bother.
With seemingly hours and hours of interviews left over from the Beyond the Lighted Stage documentary, Popoff has compiled them into a detailed, chronological delve into the band during the 70s. Covering their formation, early tours and then an album by album, tour by tour account of pretty much everything the band did in this decade.
It's a fascinating insight into the personalities and creative process of this enigmatic and idiosyncratic band that achieved massive success around the world without any apparent industry support whatsoever.
If you're a fan, this is a must-read. If you're not, then you probably shouldn't bother.
July 27, 2020
If you love Rush, it's a must read. Its 5 stars for the content. I loved every minute of it. It could be repetitive at times but still, that was ok. Nice to see different viewpoints, whether they were the same or different. Rush has been my favorite band since I was 12, so reading about things I didn't know about was icing on the cake. Truly the holy triumvirate. Great to read a biography that was about the music and the process of the touring and album cycles. I cant wait until the second and third installments of the trilogy.
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