Rush - Tom Sawyer

Over the course of their decades-spanning career, the Canadian power trio Rush emerged as one of hard rock's most highly regarded bands; although typically brushed aside by critics and although rare recipients of mainstream pop radio airplay, the group nonetheless won an impressive and devoted fan following while their virtuoso performance skills solidified their standing as musicians' musicians.

Rush formed in Toronto, Ontario, in the autumn of 1968, and initially comprised guitarist Alex Lifeson (born Alexander Zivojinovich), vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee (born Gary Lee Weinrib), and drummer John Rutsey. In their primary incarnation, the trio drew a heavy influence from Cream, and honed their skills on the Toronto club circuit before issuing their debut single, a rendition of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away," in 1973. A self-titled LP followed in 1974, at which time Rutsey exited; he was replaced by drummer Neil Peart, who also assumed the role of the band's primary songwriter, composing the cerebral lyrics (influenced by works of science fiction and fantasy) that gradually became a hallmark of the group's aesthetic.

With Peart firmly ensconced, Rush returned in 1975 with a pair of LPs, Fly by Night and Caress of Steel. Their next effort, 1976's 2112, proved their breakthrough release: a futuristic concept album based on the writings of Ayn Rand, it fused the elements of the trio's sound -- Lee's high-pitched vocals, Peart's epic drumming, and Lifeson's complex guitar work -- into a unified whole. Fans loved it -- 2112 was the first in a long line of gold and platinum releases -- while critics dismissed it as overblown and pretentious: either way, it established a formula from which the band rarely deviated throughout the duration of their career.

A Farewell to Kings followed in 1977 and reached the Top 40 in both the U.S. and Britain. After 1978's Hemispheres, Rush achieved even greater popularity with 1980's Permanent Waves, a record marked by the group's dramatic shift into shorter, less sprawling compositions; the single "The Spirit of Radio" even became a major hit. With 1981's Moving Pictures, the trio scored another hit of sorts with "Tom Sawyer," which garnered heavy exposure on album-oriented radio and became perhaps their best-known song. As the 1980s continued, Rush grew into a phenomenally popular live draw as albums like 1982's Signals (which generated the smash "New World Man"), 1984's Grace Under Pressure, and 1985's Power Windows continued to sell millions of copies.

As the decade drew to a close, the trio cut back on its touring schedule while hardcore followers complained of a sameness afflicting slicker, synth-driven efforts like 1987's Hold Your Fire and 1989's Presto. At the dawn of the '90s, however, Rush returned to the heavier sound of their early records and placed a renewed emphasis on Lifeson's guitar heroics; consequently, both 1991's Roll the Bones and 1993's Counterparts reached the Top Three on the U.S. album charts. In 1996, the band issued Test for Echo and headed out on the road the following summer. Shortly thereafter, Peart lost his daughter in an automobile accident. Tragedy struck again in 1998 when Peart's wife succumbed to cancer. Dire times in the Rush camp did not cause the band to quit. Lee took time out for a solo stint with 2000's My Favorite Headache; however, rumors of the band playing in the studio began to circulate. It would be five years until anything surfaced from the band. Fans were reassured in early 2002 by news that Rush were recording new songs in Toronto. The fruit of those sessions led to the release of Rush's 17th studio album, Vapor Trails, later that spring. By the end of the year a concert from the supporting tour was released on DVD as Rush in Rio. In 2004 the band embarked on their 30th anniversary tour, documented on the DVD R30, and in 2006 they returned to the studio to begin work on a new album. The resulting Snakes & Arrows was released in May 2007, followed by the CD/DVD set Snakes & Arrows Live in early 2008. Material from the latter was combined with footage from Rush in Rio and R30 for the CD/DVD compilation Working Men which was released in 2009. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

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[Holyskaith]

Best part of the evening after a long day of work is turning on this video and lighting up a fatty!

[breathoffreshair360]

@Holyskaith LOL, thanks respectfully! ~ Phurdrick

[tekren6]

Im 36 an a 1/2! Im an old fart! RUSH ftw!

[breathoffreshair360]

@tekren6 Your never too young or too old to enjoy Rush's music! Thanks for your comment too, lol. ~ Phurdrick :)

[DylanWis0r]

Love Rush, but their antisocial nerd schtick gets kind of old.

[breathoffreshair360]

@DylanWis0r I'll make sure to past that along to them. They should get a good kick out of that one, lol! ~ Phurdrick :)

[KickingAssDaily]

There is no drummer better than neil peart. It ain't easy being cheesy.

[x00xcarusox00x]

SLAPPA DA BASSS MANNN

[vegaschadly11]

Corporate rock

[BamBam8397]

God there is no fuckin drummer than Neil pert

*smashes glass*

it ain't easy being cheesy

[seanipie]

@jerklover2 he did say shitty rap that isnt music. I agree, rap (along with music in general) died about a decade or so ago.

[jerklover2]

@8ball1098 rap is real music its just as difficult to make as it is country. So until someone musically educated teaches you maybe you can talk.

[cky450mm]

I fuckin love this song! And it was uploaded on my birthday

[thesimpvsthegriff]

when I listen to this, I feel like I'm on acid.

[8ball1098]

im 15 years old and i have been rased in rock abd country mussic. so many kids at my schhol listen to shitty rap tht isnt even music. so when i had a party i played a bunch of rock and roll. converted many ppl at my school.

[34lbs]

@DylanWis0r Nerds only liked rush's stuff from 1983-1992, cause they were fucking hard before the early 80s and after the early 90's, i dont like their weird soft shit from the 80s. They had a sound in the early early 80s that was like hard rock fused with progressive, like for example, this one.