tsanph

I'd go far as to say the peaked at Moving Pictures. The next couple of albums were good but they had started to move too much in to the keyboards by that point. They went from being a "Power trio" to being more of a "Progressive rock" band. Time Stand Still and songs like that are great, but they're not ByTor and the Snowdog. Yeah - I overdid it on the MP tour (or the ESL tour as it was called in the UK) - saw 6 shows and got very tired of it. but that album was a disapointment for me - the end of the classic era . But my favourite album is probably hemispheres, not such a popular choice maybe, so...that's what's good about them..they moved on and changed - we all have our little timeframe we're very precious about. And you seem to have photographed mine!! I still can't get over how INTO it they are in those 79 pics - that connection Geddy and Alex had was magical. And YES!! That was the first thing we said after the shock had worn off- Alex has cut his hair!!! Ha. And the reggae bit in Spirit of radion made everyone scratch their chins a bit - first sign of things to come..

Those are truly magical. About 2/3 weeks later i went to my first ever gig - Rush at Stafford in the UK! As is said elsewhere you didnt have any interenet forums back then - no idea what the setlist would be ..what the band would look like. A handful of bootlegs to base your guesses on. Well ...they always open with Bastille Day or Anthem don't they........lights out....WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!! Not this time buddy! Heaven!

Ah, if you want doubleneck pictures you'll have to see the Permanent Waves set on the next stop of the time machine. I was pretty lucky as I was able to see four shows between the period of 1977 - 1981 from the front row. In my opinion that was when the band hit their zenith. Still a great band, don't get me wrong, but there was something magical about that period in the bands history. As for the jackets? It was a period in music known as "New Romantic" and bands like Bowie, Roxy Music, Japan, Duran Duran were kind of an underground thing. Alex was always following fashion at the time so I'm pretty sure thats where the jackets and skinny ties came from. At their zenith? You are SO right. I'm thinking the PW tour was the best setlist they ever toured

These are suberb - thank you very much for sharing!

Jesus! How did we forget Rory! Top trumps!

I love you Just for getting captain Sensible onto a Rush forum X

Great to see the likes of Quine (RIP) and Ivy getting a mention on here beside the usual plethora of stunt guitarists. i'd like to add Johnny Ramone and Chuck Prophet if I may

Emily Barker next week, Mark lanegan ,jim Jones Review and next month the mighty Hawkwind! haven't seen rush in 30 years - can't stand the shitty venues they play in the UK

Agree they probably can't because of complex show these days. but they never did. And how I wish they would. I saw them 6 times on one tour...and it got boring. And if they should ever "improvise"...God forbid. i guess i should have spent my hard earned following the Black Crowes or suchlike...

Ha. What a POINTLESS post , I thought. then proceeded to read every entry... And here's the winner - agree on all except 2112 which, although i don't hold up as their "masterpiece" is still pretty fine. But Closer to the Heart? Yes! Why the hell did they keep pulling this out year after year? I admit , i'm a 1980 and before fan ( until the last album came out) so I'm only really thinking about those albums but yeah - Tom Sawyer -in fact the whole sound of Moving Pictures put me off the band for a long time. YYZ...jesus .. Spirit of Radio...it's hard to argue Neil as a great writer when this gets thrown back at you as evidence.And I've tried. Good post - good fun - nice one I presume we don't include "I Think I'm Going Bald" ? - that's just a taken?

Hey PM - don't tell me you missed that 75 show- Fullham Greyhound - played all of Fountain. He's right about Stafford though - still a bloody good show - far better than the 81 ones

Nah - it was later than hemispheres. It was 1980 sometime. And yes - the Sept 79 shows they premiered SoR and FW - I remember a very uneasy feeling washing over the audience as they slipped into the REGGAE section!

i was at most of the gigs mentioned here (Bingley 79 - one show - 81 all the shows and deeside Rush didn't play Battlescar. Wild horses supported in 79 They had NO support on the 81 tour max Webster supported on the main 79 Hemispheres tour - the Stafford shows were later, and have come to be called the Tour of the Semi Spheres Conversely, and naively , I went to a lot of Sabbath Shows in 1980 (heaven and Hell Tour) when the Max Webster single had just come out pretty much to hear them play that song. Nerd

Can't believe you guys! The KAFTANS!!!