RUSH Working Man early 1974 (John Rutsey on drums).

[69zenos1]

This jus shows how different drummer makes A TOTAL difference. This is RUSH with their original drummer before Neal Peart was ever born. They jus sounded like any other jam band of he day trying to be different. But still sounding too much like Black Sabbath and CREAM. Neal Peart SAVED THE DAY FOR THEM!!!!

[pythonvicer1]

This reminded me of Spinal Tap doing the gig at the Air Force base. What, were they opening for Rod Parsley?

[matak99]

love the chipmunk overbite. (1:34)



[bigbg72]

Rutsey was a good drummer, yes. There's no knocking him. But he simply pales in comparison to Neil. John was more of a traditional "timekeeper" while Neil made it much more front line.

[siitrom]

Lifeson is rippin on this.....not many people can do that to guitar.....peace

[Raiderblack]

Rutsey was pretty badass!

[snowdog070]

This video forms part of the CKCO TV channel 13 Kitchener - produced Canadian Bandstand series of shows highlighting up and coming Canadian musicians. It was hosted by Grant (Grantly) Hoffman. Google CKCO and Canadian Bandstand for more info about the TV series.

[snowdog070]

Drove by Laura Secord High School the other day just because of this video. I went to Simcoe but to think that these guys were just a kilometer from my house while this was being recorded fascinates me. Kind of ironic that this epic recording occurred in Neils home town literally a few months before he joined the band and he didn't know who they were then.

The kids from Willowdale and St. Catharines made good, eh!!

[jsilence418]

Oh man this is so awesome history in the making " great to be here in ST Catherines" lol what a lie !!

[onodingo8]

Dahstin. Read something recently on that. Lifeson was the only member who remained good friends with Rutsey who became a teacher then a body builder and owned a gym where Lifeson worked out when possible. They apparently fell out of touch however prior to JR's passing.

[wilbert916]

RUTSEY !!!!!!!!!!

[brikrantz]

Rutsey kinda sucked. At least he got Geddy and Alex out there to be heard. I think he was maybe a bit intimidated by the collective talent of who he was backing up. This is still one of my favorite Rush jams. RIP John-thanks for the effort.

[TheWNMan]

@brikrantz wrote:"Rutsey kinda sucked."

Yeah, thanks. ASSHOLE!

Show a little more respect for the dead, you pathetic fucking douche bag!!

I can't wait till YOUR doctor diagnoses YOU with a fatal illness, you dumb fucking prick!

[brikrantz]

@TheWNMan You seem like a pretty angry guy, so I will just relent. I DID show respect for JR in the last sentence of my post. Apparently, you didn't read that far.

[TheWNMan]

@brikrantz wrote:"RIP John-thanks for the effort."

I did read your post and I found NOTHING in it that shows respect for the dead. Like that comment I quoted really supposed to show him respect, especially after YOU insulted HIM with a comment like "that kinda sucked".

It's like when a co-worker screws you over with a wide grinned smile on their faces.

Whatever, LOSER!

[Chilly7170]

wow I just watched 8:40 lost in time. Thanks for posting

[FreedomFromAlll]

interesting I never noticed until seeing this that Rutsey had a similar style to Mitch Mitchell

[jsilence418]

@charvelguy lol yeah thanks for that knowledgeable critique , " typical of the seventies " ever hear of YES ? lol what a shithead !

[xsited1]

I've always loved the first Rush album. John Rutsey and crew laid an amazing foundation for the band. RIP John.

[selophane43]

WOW!!!! I have NEVER seen video or atleast a photo of Geddy playing a Precision. And low.

[RadioUgly]

Someone is clearly in over his head...I'm not saying who.

[14spokin]

....little bit like Floyd story

[BAJARACER43X]

i know this is stupid, but why is there 2 mics for every one?



[PowerDrums]

@BAJARACER43X I couldn't tell you if this was before splitter snakes were invented but it may have been one line for the recording truck and one for the live sound reinforcement. The alternative explanation is a phase cancellation technique that you can google if interested.

[lucasmpessoa]

@BAJARACER43X this is for the stereo sound, two mono mics

[Dahstin]

Are you guys listening? Yes we hear the chemistry of the rhythm section and the harmonies...and the power chords we recognize as RUSH, but listen again...the man on the drum sett is freaking awesome. Look at his intensity, and perhaps he was the first front man for RUSH...Just saying, Geddy may have been a bit spiteful... Just saying....just saying.

[mark12v24]

When I think of anthems from the 70's when I was a kid, I immediately think of two songs - Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple and Workin' Man by Rush. (You can throw Stairway to Heaven in there too from Zep).

[iamthewalrus604]

@mark12v24 agreed those wuld probabally be my fav from the 70s.... and sorry to keep coommenting on geddys clothes but i love alexs shirt and i lov johns shirt and most of all i LUUUUUV GEDDYS OUTFIT,.... if i was of the male gender i wuld totally grow my hair that long and wear that! thmbs up if u agree!!!!!! RIP JOHN RUTSEY

[Deetroiter]

What a bad ass riff

[FeelPureVolume]

Fucking ~Mojo~ Right There Man.

You can just see it on Alex's Guitar. Fucking "Pink/Purple Rays"!

[27mungie]

Where in St. Catharines was this filmed? I'm from St. Kitt's but don't recognize the venue...

[TheDs365247]

Rush is fucking amazing.

[88SLLS]

I wish Metallica could play half as good as rush.

[Andrewoid95]

@88SLLS Well hey, Cliff Burton was heavily influenced by Geddy Lee!

[eives2]

John Rutsey was a great drummer and I always wonder what RUSH would have sounded like had he been able to stay on? Love the first album as much as almost all RUSH albums.

[shed412]

geddy sings higher live in this video than he does in the recording!

[theneyneco]

showw  de bola!!!!!!!!!!!! uhrulllll

[MrDacioss]

black sabbath total influences in this clip!

[metaletech]

@MrDacioss Led Zeppelin influences also !!

[ogrebattle22763]

Wow man... it's amazing to see even at that early stage how tight they played... Rush rulezzzzz.... & John Rutsey was some drummer... R.I.P.

[mrose77]

The audience is completely stunned.... none of them realize what they had just seen. Of all the footage that has come out of the documentary, this is among the most fascinating to me.... seeing this ultra legendary band performing in such a bizarre and subdued abode. It's almost like Marty McFly after finishing Johnny Be Goode and saying "I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet".

[Yonktech]

@mrose77 amazing analogy

[Dahstin]

@mrose77 Dude it was at Saint Catherin's, a freaking church for God's sake! And,,, these kids are all nerds who are all like huh?

What the fuck for real? let the drooling begin...

RUSH

[Dahstin]

Long live John Rutsy. R.I.P.

[TruthSurge]

A drummer coming in faster than the beat would INFURIATE me to no end. godz... it's the bane of a band's existence. I cringe when I hear the drums come in on this vid. Let me now forget I clicked on it.

[RedroomStudios]

I think I prefer this much more raw version of RUSH to the polished machine that came later. This is one hell of a smoking version of this tune!

[funkydrummer14]

I hate it when people put down John Rutsey...who cares if he was shaky in this performance, he had an off night.....That first Rush album speaks for itself and Rutsey's drumming on it is AWESOME!! Period!

[Flamingcowz1212]

@funkydrummer14 That's what sucks about Neil coming in like he did. He was, and still is an incredible drummer. Because of this, John never really got the credit that he was deserved as a drummer for Rush.

[rodoxbatera]

the guitar solo is very nice! desculpem o ingles fajuto rsrsrs

[Rowdyrecords55]

Its hard to believe they were 20 when they wrote this.....

[lerxstking]

Yes, yes we all know Peart gelled so much better with Lee and Lifeson, but Rutsey was there at the beginning and was a founding member. That first album is incredible and one of the best debuts ever. This shows they were already a force to be reckoned with. Great tune - outstanding...love that ending! That last minute is killer!

[maxquad21]

Lee looks like he just jumped off the boat from India

[petfoodplus]

Who cares about the tempo? This is about the freedom/ feeling of performance. Go and listen to the Pet Shop Boy's etc if want that sterile, perfect non-human feeling tempo. This video is about what makes a good performance in any form of music.

[TheDs365247]

One person surely accidentally hit the dislike button....one person will burn in hell. With NO ROCK AND ROLL!!

[GoRazorbacks52]

that was hardcore

[deantreat]

Rutsey or not, Geddy and Al and Neil would have found each other, right. IMHO Rutsey was only a so-so drummer, at least from this vid, which is all I've seen of him. I think the rushed tempo was deliberate, though I'm glad they got away from that.

[dcs002]

Sorry Rutsey had to join the Pete Best club, but IMO this video shows how he was a bit of a drag on the energy Alex & Geddy were putting out. I've never thought that while listening to the album he recorded with them - I love the Rush album - but while watching this, I was thinking this must be what a Who concert would have been like had Keith Moon never joined the band. Like Cream without Ginger Baker. Studio drumming, Rutsey was quite good, but something about his live show is just missing.

[spike14501]

@dcs002 The Pete Best Club??? That's funny & sad at the same time!

[SwordOfHeimdall]

@dcs002 Looking at this I think he was just too much of a functional drummer instead of a fringy one, like Peart is. It's alright, no harm in that, but perhaps not the best match for Lee and Lifeson :).

[spider1974]

Great video. This was the year I was born and seen my first Rush show in 2011.

[jeffthrow6892]

Wow........awesome to see old footage like this!! Very cool to get to see Rutsey with the band......

[fucheduck]

I guess Rutsy spoke for the band in "preRush" days. if I had not seen it I would have thought it was Geddy.

[santanaincubus]

Alex Lifeson is fucking underrated!

[crossteel]

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH la raja The Original Rush

[Brassarsail]

Neils' not in this video. That's John Rutsey on drums.

[yoda9252001]

@Brassarsail no da Neil wasn't in the band at that time

[tubeunit]

Looking back 37 yrs makes it obvious how talented Alex was, and how Neil was to become. An awesome video find!

[Polybun]

@tubeunit there is no niel in this video you fucking retard.

[RedElephantStampede]

Love the P-bass. Ged, you should have kept one around!

[throwsand]

Wow, Rusty was actually pretty good. He had some really fast fills there. Geddy looks like a girl lol

[DanGoguen]

awesome!!!



[IgnacioBuenosnachos]

All I can say is WICKED AWESOME!

[malkincards]

false.. lifeson and geddy would have found a drummer together anyway

[The3Minecrafteteerz]

Lol Juhn Rutsey!

[malkincards]

how shit is john rutsey /: THANK YOU NEIL PEART FOR COMING INTO MY LIFE !

[Andrewoid95]

@malkincards Wow, show some respect for Rutsey.  He was one of the founding members of this band and passed away 3 years ago! No Rutsey, no Rush.

[jlanham62]

@Andrewoid95 I totally agree. I am a big fan of Neil's but like you say he's the original. Not to mention that I really like the first album. I'm sorry to hear that he passed away.

[TheRobbyDeLuca]

@Andrewoid95 I totally agree. He may have only actually played for the band on one album, he was still a good drummer. I respect John Rutsey, and he deserves any praise he gets.

[Dahstin]

@Andrewoid95 No shit brother, long live John!!!

I also have wondered, did Geddy and the boys ever talk to John, or did John go to any Rush concerts. How did John feel about the success of the band he founded? i just have been pondering it, help if you can. R.I.P. John Rutsey

[2112rushfanforever]

@malkincards Umm....he wasn't that shitty -_-

[cbarrett34]

@malkincards you're an airhead, rutsey wasn't shit, he was a very solid rock drummer

[yohis9mig]

Wow, that tempo is all over the place in the beginning.

[erikinhawaii]

@yohis9mig Then Neil showed up - all fixed.

[rad87gn]

If you look at their sheet music on musicnotes they have different timing in most of their songs. Some of it is over 200 bpm.

[retronovation7]

/watch?v=vB6sRQQBH6E for the original upload. 

[retronovation7]

dude I uploaded this months ago, at higher definition too, did you snag it from my original, you didn't even bother to remove the file type .AVI XD