Rush at Pinkpop 1979 - 2112 with The Grand Finale

Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation!

The 4th of June 1979 Rush played at Pinkpop Geleen in the Netherlands. This is a recording of 2112, beginning at the end of Part III. Discovery and ending with The Grand Finale. The recording was made by KRO-radio. Rush is Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee.

Recently in an interview at Radio 1 Journal, a Dutch radio program, Jan Smeets, the organizer of Pinkpop was asked to his best festival in 40 years. His answer was 1979.

2112:

I can't wait to share this new wonder
The people will all see its light
Let them all make their own music
The Priests praise my name on this night.

IV. Presentation

... "In the sudden silence as I finished playing, I looked up to a circle of
grim, expressionless faces. Father Brown rose to his feet, and his
somnolent voice echoed throughout the silent Temple Hall." ...

... "Instead of the grateful joy that I expected, they were words of quiet
rejection! Instead of praise, sullen dismissal. I watched in shock and
horror as Father Brown ground my precious instrument to splinters
beneath his feet..."

I know it's most unusual
To come before you so
But I've found an ancient miracle
I thought that you should know
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you.

Yes, we know, it's nothing new
It's just a waste of time
We have no need for ancient ways
Our world is doing fine
Another toy will help destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn't fit the plan.

I can't believe you're saying
These things just can't be true
Our world could use this beauty
Just think what we might do.
Listen to my music
And hear what it can do
There's something here as strong as life
I know that it will reach you.

Don't annoy us further!
We have our work to do.
Just think about the average
What use have they for you?
Another toy will help destroy
The elder race of man
Forget about your silly whim
It doesn't fit the Plan!

V. Oracle: The Dream

... "I guess it was a dream, but even now it all seems so vivid to me.
Clearly yet I see the beckoning hand of the oracle as he stood at the
summit of the staircase" ...

... "I see still the incredible beauty of the sculptured cities and the pure
spirit of man revealed in the lives and works of this world. I was
overwhelmed by both wonder and understanding as I saw a completely
different way to life, a way that had been crushed by the Federation long
ago. I saw now how meaningless life had become with the loss of all
these things ..."

I wandered home though the silent streets
And fell into a fitful sleep
Escape to realms beyond the night
Dream can't you show me the light?

I stand atop a spiral stair
An oracle confronts me there
He leads me on light years away
Through astral nights, galactic days
I see the works of gifted hands
That grace this strange and wondrous land
I see the hand of man arise
With hungry mind and open eyes

They left the planet long ago
The elder race still learn and grow
Their power grows with purpose strong
To claim the home where they belong
Home to tear the Temples down...
Home to change!

VI. Soliloquy

... "I have not left this cave for days now, it has become my last refuge in
my total despair. I have only the music of the waterfall to comfort me now.
I can no longer live under the control of the Federation, but there is no
other place to go. My last hope is that with my death I may pass into the
world of my dream, and know peace at last."

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed
I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams...

Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen!
I don't think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life

My spirits are low in the depths of despair
My lifeblood...
...spills over...

VII. The Grand Finale
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
Attention all Planets of the Solar Federation
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.
We have assumed control.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rush
• Pinkpop
• Geleen
• 1979
• 2112
• Solar_Federation
• The_Grand_Finale
• Geddy_Lee
• Neil_Peart
• Alex_Lifeson
• Rock

[fromvulcano]

I love them

[thestorydoctrine]

RUSH FANS ARE LEGION! MAY WE ALWAYS STAND LEGION!

[ellaswing]

At 6:41, that was the coolest hanging vocals I've heard him ever do.

[ellaswing]

This is probably one of the last times that Geddy sang in that register, and so well he sang, so clean!!! WOW

[Rowdyrecords55]

The bass during the grand finale is crazy

[TheMartini1234]

Geddy just casually playing one of his face-melting improvised solos. Awesome.

[liquidrider47]

Webster's Galactic Dictionary (revised) under the definition of Absolutely Killing It:

Rush 2112 - The Grand Finale.

[abaddatom]

rush will never die

[swillersby]

This band fuckin rocks. Seen them numerous times and they are creative, innovative, and their music is very much unique. Artists! Alex Lifeson not as good as the other band members? Give me a break! The band is a whole because of all three musicians. I'm 44 and this band still stirs my soul all these years later.

[ronaldvanderkleij]

after your 15 you get a beard in youtr throut

[fenix478]

1:43 nice photo

[s4001]

One person gets their paycheck signed by the temple priests.

[ubertrooper6300]

8:01 That entry into the solo just chills me, its AMAZING! Of course, so is the whole vid, but that part especially...I also chuckled at that point, because right after the solo starts, it shows Neil glaring out from behind the wall of drums. :)

[Lakerloon]

"Just think about the average. What use have they for you?"

Classic lyrics and a profound message for me as a teenager.

[XDrummerSteve]

HOLY CRAP! That takes me back. Makes me want to go in the basement and burn one.

[Zomboforu]

The first time I heard Rush I was in 7th grade & we ditched school & a bunch of 8th & 9th graders were doing bong hits in the park playing Closer to the Heart on a cassette tape. lmao

[Ryu12543]

How is it possible for Rush to make such good music? What the hell? It is beyond my understanding how they are so good... Seriously, if you add up all the time I've listened to them it would probably be up to six months of time. I started listening to them in like 2006. The first song I heard was Freewill and I've been hooked since.

[Floatingone1]

@markk1mc1 October 12, 1976...The Bicentennial Pavilion in Tacoma, WA....that was my first (of over 20 now) RUSH concert! Also age 16. How blessed are we to have the privilege of see them at that early stage of their careers?! Such a small and intimate venue it was.....a Thursday night. Man, school on Friday was tough and my ears were still ringing!

[Floatingone1]

ahhhhh...the good old days....brings tears to my one good eye!

[marceljuliani]

Where is Overture and Temples of Syrinx?

[rickfan1964]

@coptersoisoi ;) that's cool. i haven't gotten a copy of it yet! hope to soon.

[coptersoisoi]

@rickfan1964 LOL maybe it was UFO. but I thought he said ELO. though ELO is a great band.. it's a bit pop/disco/rock were as UFO would have made more sense. I rented the RUSH DVD from netflix. It's pretty cool.. it shows an old (but great quality) 8 or 16mm film from 1969 or 1970 of Alex arguing with his parents about wanting to be a musician and them wanting him to go to college. It has his girlfriend (mother of his son I believe). Just amazing footage. You should rent or buy it.

[rickfan1964]

in the picture at 5:50, is Neil playing with them, or John? i can see the logo from the debut album on the bass drum head.

[rickfan1964]

love the Rick double-neck at 3:43!! and you can really hear Geddy's Rick growling here, too!! ;)

[rickfan1964]

who is that at 3:06??? doesn't exactly look like Lifeson.

[rickfan1964]

@kingjames1014 ha!!! ;) never heard that before!