Rush

Band Line-Up

Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards)
Alex Lifeson (guitars)
Neil Peart (drums, percussion, lyrics)

Background[]

Rush was a Canadian rock/prog rock band active from 1968-2018. Their sound evolved from blues, prog and finally hard rock, drawing on mythological and science fiction influences for their songs: these are intricate compositions showcasing the band's talents on their respective instruments. They have won many awards and a loyal following. In the UK, they are primarily known for their albums, with only one single, Spirit Of The Radio, making the top 20 charts.

As far as the Friday Rock Show was concerned, several of their lengthier compositions made the various listeners' charts over the show's run, especially 2112 from the album of the same name. The available track listings prove they were even more popular with Alan Freeman, although not with John Peel, who said they were "awful even at the best of times", exhibited schadenfreude at their Pink Pop appearance, and made fun of Lee's high-pitched vocals (although that did not prevent him playing at least one track by the band in 1977).

On its release in 1987, TV commented that Hold Your Fire was the best LP he'd heard from them for years, and added later the same year, "I've got every album of theirs now on CD, courtesy of the record company."

Live[]

12 October 1979: Pink Pop Festival, Amsterdam, June 1979. Repeated: 09 May 1980, 11 April 1986, 10 August 1991 (Alan Freeman)

Passage To Bangkok
Xanadu
The Trees
The Sphere: A Kind Of Dream
Closer To The Heart
La Villa Strangiato
Excerpts From 2112

01 January 1993: Wembley Arena, April 1992.

Sessions[]

None

Other Shows Played[]

1975

15 February 1975 (Alan Freeman): 'Finding My Way (LP-Archives)' (Mercury)

1977

11 June 1977 (Alan Freeman): Bastille Day (album - Caress Of Steel) Mercury 9100 018
05 November 1977 (Alan Freeman): 'By-Tor And The Snowdog' and one unknown

1978

01 December 1978: 'Cygnus (Bringer Of Balance) (LP-Hemispheres)' (Mercury)

1979

13 April 1979: 'Overture (LP-2112)' (Mercury) Friday Night Connection (1979)
27 April 1979: 'Trees'
08 June 1979: 'Finding My Way (LP-Archives)' (Mercury)
20 July 1979: 'In The End (LP-Fly By Night)'
21 September 1979: 'In The End (3xLP-Archives)'
16 November 1979: 'Xanadu' (LP-Farewell To Kings) (Mercury) Now We Are One #05

1980

11 January 1980: 'Spirit Of The Radio' (LP-Permanent Waves (Pre-release))
11 January 1980: 'Freewill' (LP-Permanent Waves - Pre-release)
04 April 1980: 'In The Mood (LP-Rush)'
02 May 1980: 'Cygnus' (LP-Hemispheres)
02 May 1980: 'The Sphere' (LP-Hemispheres)
27 June 1980: 'Beneath Between and Behind' (LP-Fly By Night)' Friday Night Connection
22 August 1980: 'Xanadu' (LP-A Farewell to Kings)
07 November 1980: 'The Trees' (LP-Hemispheres)
14 November 1980: '2112' (2xLP-All The Worlds A Stage) (Mercury) Two's Up #09
14 November 1980: 'Xanadu' (LP-A Farewell To Kings) (Mercury) Two's Up #07

1981

30 January 1981: 'Red Barchetta (LP-Moving Pictures)' (Mercury)
30 January 1981: 'Limelight (LP-Moving Pictures)' (Mercury)
06 February 1981: 'Tom Sawyer'
13 March 1981: 'Spirit Of The Radio (LP-Permanent Waves)' (Mercury)
20 March 1981: 'Vital Signs (LP-Moving Pictures)' (Mercury)
08 May 1981: 'Circumstances (LP-Hemispheres)' (Anthem) Friday Night Connection
22 May 1981: 'Apollo, Bringer Of Wisdom (LP-Hemispheres)' (Mercury)
10 July 1981: 'Bastille Day (LP-Rush Through Time)' (Mercury)
28 August 1981: 'The Camera Eye' (LP-Moving Pictures)
16 October 1981: Tom Sawyer (12" single from live 2xLP Exit Stage Left)
23 October 1981: The Spirit Of Radio (2xLP - Exit Stage Left) Anthem
23 October 1981: Broon's Bane (2xLP - Exit Stage Left) Anthem
23 October 1981: The Trees (2xLP - Exit Stage Left) Anthem
06 November 1981: 'Closer to the Heart' (2xLP - Exit Stage Left)
06 November 1981: 'Beneath, Between and Behind' (2xLP - Exit Stage Left)
13 November 1981: Bastille Day (LP - Caress of Steel) Mercury Friday Night Connection
20 November 1981: '2112' (LP - 2112) (Mercury) Listener's Chart #06
20 November 1981: 'Xanadu' (LP - A Farewell to Kings) (Mercury) Listener's Chart #05

1982

25 June 1982: 'Fly By Night' (LP-Fly By Night) Mercury Friday Night Connection
06 August 1982: 'La Villa Strangiato' (LP - Exit Stage Left) Mercury
27 August 1982: 'New World Man' (single) Mercury
17 September 1982: 'Subdivisions (LP-Signals)' (Mercury)
01 October 1982: 'Chemistry' (LP-Signals) Mercury
19 November 1982: 'Xanadu' (LP - A Farewell to Kings) (Mercury) Listener's Chart #07
19 November 1982: '2112' (LP - 2112) (Mercury) Listener's Chart #06

1983

01 April 1983: 'Tom Sawyer'
22 April 1983: The Spirit Of Radio ( LP - Permanent Waves) Anthem
29 April 1983: 'Countdown' (7"-Countdown) Mercury
01 July 1983: 'The Spirit Of Radio (LP-Exit...Stage Left)' (Mercury)
12 August 1983: 'Jacob's Ladder (LP-Exit... Stage Left)' (Mercury) Friday Night Connection
30 September 1983: Countdown (LP - Signals) Mercury
14 October 1983: Cygnus X-1 (LP - Hemispheres) Anthem Friday Night Connection
14 October 1983 (Alan Freeman): 'Spirit Of The Radio (LP-Permanent Waves)' (Mercury)
04 November 1983: Tom Sawyer (LP - Moving Pictures)
18 November 1983: '2112 (LP-2112)' (Mercury)

1984

20 January 1984: 'Natural Science'
16 March 1984: Subdivisions (LP - Signals)
20 April 1984: Red Sector A (LP - Grace Under Pressure)
13 July 1984: 'Bastille Day' (LP - Caress Of Steel) Friday Night Connection
20 July 1984: 'Xanadu' (LP - A Farewell To Kings) Friday Night Connection
16 November 1984: '2112 (LP-2112)' (Mercury) Listener's Chart #06

1985

18 January 1985: 'Jacob's Ladder (LP-Permanent Waves)' (Mercury)
25 January 1985: 'Spirit Of The Radio (LP-Permanent Waves)' (Mercury) Lie Back And Enjoy It
18 October 1985: 'Middletown Dreams (7"-The Big Money)' (Vertigo)
18 October 1985: 'The Big Money (7")' (Vertigo)
25 October 1985: 'Grand Designs (LP-Power Windows)' (Vertigo)
01 November 1985: 'Marathon (CD-Power Windows)' (Mercury)
15 November 1985: '2112' Listener's Chart #02
06 December 1985: 'Different Strings'

1986

17 January 1986: 'A Passage To Bangkok (LP-2112)' (Mercury)
31 January 1986: 'Countdown'
14 February 1986: 'Passage To Bangkok'
25 April 1986: 'Red Barchetta' (live)
24 October 1986: 'Spirit Of The Radio (LP-Permanent Waves)' (Mercury)

1987

16 January 1987: 'The Analog Kid (LP-Signals)' (Mercury)
06 February 1987: 'La Villa Strangiato (2xLP-Exit...Stage Left)' (Mercury) Lie Back And Enjoy It
10 April 1987: 'By-Tor & The Snow Dog (LP-Fly By Night)' (Mercury)
09 October 1987: 'Prime Mover (CD-Hold Your Fire)' (Vertigo)
16 October 1987: 'Time Stand Still' (LP - Hold Your Fire) (Anthem)

1988

22 January 1988: 'Losing It (LP-Signals)' (Mercury) Lie Back And Enjoy It
26 February 1988: 'Limelight (LP-Moving Pictures)' (Mercury) Lie Back And Enjoy It
08 April 1988: 'Prime Mover (7")' (Vertigo/Phonogram)
15 April 1988: 'Distant Early Warning (Live) (CDS)' (Vertigo)
22 April 1988: 'Prime Mover (CDS)' (Vertigo)
22 April 1988: 'The Trees (LP-Hemispheres)' (Mercury)
10 June 1988: 'The Big Money (LP-Power Windows)' (Vertigo)
09 September 1988: 'Vital Signs (LP-Moving Pictures)' Mercury
29 October 1988 (Night Rockin'): '2112' (two parts)