Atomic

I'd agree about the Canadian angle too. Not that it was a deciding factor for them being marginalized, but it's there for sure. Neil Young? He played with a bunch of Americans and wrote music for the masses to get stoned to. Easy for mainstream media to slobber over him (in the 60s-70s)... I never really liked Neil Young until he had his FU money and started really doing the 'stick it to the man' schtick. Lots of good reasons here why Rush has been marginalized and deemed uncool by mainstream media. I think they were ahead of their time and it took a long time for critics to catch up to them. And when you factor ego into the mix, ie. ego of the critic (which are always huge) then you see why so many critics cling to that 70s era, Geddy's voice, long songs nonsense. They can't let it go. They can't understand that they have been a huge influence on modern day warriors who sling basses, guitars, drums and keys to make 'today's music.

He's nobody's hero. ;)

I prefer to sit because it's more comfortable than standing for 3+ hours and i'm also 6'6"... so I know anyone behind me aint gonna see much. But if I can't see, I stand. :) The last Rush concert (and this years) was at a general admission venue where you bring your own 'seat' or stand on the grass.

Born in '65 and became a fan in '77 at the age of 12. And being a fan in Toronto (and a man from Willowdale) meant that you became an ardent fan immediately. First Rush concert was Permanent Waves in 1980 because at 15, my parents figured I was old enough... and I've seen them on every tour over the past 33 years. So fan for 36 of my 48 years.

I think the vindication thing is palpable for many fans, particularly old farts like me who've been fans for decades. Vindication in relation to what Billy Corgan said in the documentary. At some point someone has to ask 'why has Rush been marginalized?'... well, yeah, why indeed? Not that the RRHOF induction means much to me (I kinda saw it as a badge of honour that they weren't in it) however, it means sort of a mainstream acceptance of their success. It doesn't mean that they are now to be considered 'peers' to Madonna, Public Enemy or Kenny G (not sure if he's in there but you get the point lol)... it means that the 'establishment' had to bend to public and fan out cry. Plus, when Grohl asked 'when the XXXX did Rush become cool?' was IMO better than the induction. Why? Because the Foos are a highly commercially successful band. LOADS of people love the Foos and perhaps Foo fans would wonder about Dave's question and the fact that he and taylor are big Rush fans, might mean a lot of people give Rush a chance (or a second chance in some cases), give them a listen and perhaps become fans themselves. Like Goobs said, it's also vindication for all the slings and arrows we've ALL endured when the 'cool kids' haranged us for being Rush fans. Hell, I've never even played Snakes and Ladders or been in the AV club or math club. :laughing guy: To me, their induction just means that they have a bunch more mainstream media exposure that may make some people take a listen to their mustic and finally wake up to the fact that we've all known for years... that Rush ROCKS!

Agreed ^^ Neil looks mildly amused and Ged certainly has the smug snicker look on his face and says something to Neil that makes him crack a smile. Obviously rehersed and clearly the other two knew about it. A brilliant, backhanded way of saying thank you to the fans and effe you to Jan Wenner, the RRHOF and Rolling Stone (which btw, Grohl's comment was almost as awesome!)>

Good qustion. No, Pete Best was not inducted with The Beatles. Thanks... then I don't see an issue in Rutsy not being inducted as part of Rush. Really, Rush is Alex, Neil and Ged... I mean, what about the 'other' bassist in Rush (the dude who played bass for Red Rider)... I'm sure he's not POed about not being listed as an inductee to the RRHOF. ;)

Don't know this and can't be arsed to google it, but was Pete Best inducted with the Beetles?

Voivod opened on the Presto tour in 1990. Ah yes, thanks.

I think MFH shows just how much pull Geddy has on the musical and arrangement direction than anyone else in Rush. Certainly the documentary about S&A shows that Geddy does the lions share of writing and arranging. That's why MFH sounds like a Rush album and Victor does not. IIRC Victor was also about being therapeudic for Alex as this came out shortly after the keyboard phase, where Alex got mostly shut out of a lot, musically because of the keys. So he lets his rocker out in a big bad way. Both albums are great in their own way. Just like Neil's BFB's disks, but they're a totally different kettle of fish... but all great creative outlets for each.

I think Chalk Circle did open for Rush way back then. When did Voivod open for Rush in Toronto? I remember riding the subway down to the show and there were a LOT of Voivod fans on the train and they were all super stoned and really noisy about how much better they were than Rush (really? LOL) and a few fights broke out on the train and outside of MLGs.

I think with Rutsy (or someone else) that Rush would indeed have been another Zepplin-esque band like Triumph or Max Webster and run their time with Ged and Alex moving on to other projects (Alex in The Spoons or Platinum Blonde? LOL). I wonder if Neil hadn't gotten the gig with Rush (or didn't audition) if his then current band would have gotten anywhere? True he said he was ready to work at Dalzeil but still... once being a musician on stage is in your blood, it never leaves. I would bet he'd have been picked up by another band and contributed to them moving on to something big. But I think also that the stars aligned perfectly because I can't think of any other band that's a trio who's not had a staffing change in 39 years and been together for um,... 39 years. (obviously more than 39 but 39 without a member change). Clearly the guys mesh well enough together to get along as friends, collaborators, business partners and probably family. And THOSE things are damn near impossible under normal circumstances, let alone throwing in fame and fortune.

I have to agree completely with this. Been playing for years and still haven't quite ever gotten this part right. But I would say that LVS is a bear to get through as is By-tor, Where's my Thing, YYZ and I while Tom Sawyer isn't terribly terribly technical to play, it's a tough song to play 'perfectly'. Even NEP says it's a tough one and that it gives him satisfaction to get through it having played it well.

In july as part of the Bluesfest! Can't wait.

Given the Foos love of all things Rush, and that Ged and Alex went onstage in Toronto with Hawkins, which Grohl said 'would finally shut taylor up' or something like that in jest... I think it's a fine choice. I just hope Taylor and Dave show up wearing 70s-era kimonos. That would be funny!