Neil Peart's lyrics, in the 20 plus minute Rush Song "2112", is the year real music and the acceptance and expression of individuality are finally embraced which Peart learned from Ayn Rand's 1943 novel "The Fountainhead."
The vast control of government, lack of individuality and the demise of mainstream music is very prevalent in today's society and these are just some of the many things that are wrong with the world today. None the less, we still feed the machine of government control by shopping for things we don't need and soon find outdated; myself included. The Progressive rock 'n' roll band Rush points out all these facts with much more exquisite eloquence.
What if every neighbor in every neighborhood (community) all joined forces and grew their own food, and actually shared with one another? Certain neighbors could grow fruit, others vegetables, while others breed just enough animals for grazing the lands and feeding others, so the world would be a much better place to live in. What if solar power completely ended the need for monthly electrical bills for the rest of our days? What if the sun, which is proven it can do, completely ended the need for oil and coal and powered all vehicles, phones and everything else electrical?
'...just one more whose searching for a world that ought to be.' (Neil Peart, drummer, lyricist for Rush from their song "Circumstances," on their album / CD "Hemispheres" released in 1978.)
What if world leaders eliminated the 50 or so wars going on in the world, and started channeling billions of dollars into medical, dental, housing and food for the everyone? Imagine a place in which world leaders implemented a free world wide educational system instead of their (politicians) spending on extravagant travel, alcohol, drugs and prostitutes.
'And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start, to mold a new reality. (Peter Talbot, his words for the 1977 Rush song, "Closer to the Heart.")
Forty years ago Rush released their first album in 1974, simply titled "Rush." By 1976, they had solidified themselves as an iconic progressive rock 'n' roll group whose uniqueness is unmatched by any other rock 'n' roll trio in modern music. Many 70s heralded bands are gone or reduced to playing in venues seating hundreds instead of thousands or they do the occasional reunion tour every 10 years or so. Rush are still regulars in the huge venues and I've personally seen them do a three hour set performing their most popular song "Tom Sawyer" first. The repertoire of songs they can start or encore with is virtually limitless unlike any other rock band in the universe.
"Rush is one of those bands that has a deep reservoir of rocket sauce. A lot of bands only got so much in the bottle, they sometimes use it up all in one song. These guys (Rush) were the real deal. Their bottle was so big and so filled to the brim, they were shaking it literally for decades and still there was sauce coming out!" Jack Black said. (From the movie "Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage.")
The 1976 Rush song "2112," (first song on the vinyl "2112") in simple terms is about the quest for true freedom and the right to be an individual. Based on Rand's novel "The Fountainhead," music is stripped from the people by the government. Peart's change on Rand's book was the musical aspect. Rand did not mention the taking away of music in "The Fountainhead," but when "The Fountainhead," was released in the 40s, music, even mainstream tunes were real. Peart used Rand's theme of stripped individuality, the ultimate rule of government and weaved his own wisdom with Rand's.
Neil Peart, their lyricist and drummer ignited my passion for the written word and desire to read books. Every Rush release with the exception of their first two, "Rush" and "Fly by Night" has the lyrics to every song. Listening to Rush without knowing the words is like the internet without high speed.
Soon after I got out of the Army in 1987, Steve Joiner, my friend also to this very day was extremely vehement that I put on his head phones which were very high quality and read the lyric sheet while listening to Rush. I complied with his pushy insistence and have been hooked on Rush ever since. Neil Peart can write about any subject and cover extreme points about them is just a few words:
Teen pregnancy / unwanted ones, aides and other sexually transmitted diseases: 'The heat of the moment, the curse of the young.' ("Counter Parts" CD, 1993, lyrics by Peart)
Vanity, shallowness and dating the wrong ones: 'Boys and girls together, mistake conceit for pride, boys and girls together, let's paint the mirror black.' ("Presto" CD 1989)
The evils and greediness government: 'So much poison in power, the principles get left out.' ("Power Windows" CD 1985; Peart)
Going from young to old; 'Once we loved the flowers, now we ask the price of the land... my life is slipping away, I'm aging every day, but even when I'm grey, I'll still be grey my way.' ("Caress of Steel" CD 1975; Peart)
That's just the tip of the ice burg on how Peart's lyrics can cover all the bases for any subject.
If your female, the male to female ratio at a Rush concert is by far more males. I believe a band member from the Foo Fighters said Rush is 'cock rock,' meaning mostly males like the band. The term 'cock rock' was indeed used to describes Rush's predominately male audiences, but I don't feel like researching who said it. I believe it was said at their rock 'n' roll hall of fame induction, but I do know it was said, my brother Eddie whose not a Rush fan still makes fun of me for liking 'cock rock.'
A book I read back in the mid 90s, solely about Rush was titled "Visions." The book pointed out how talented, professional and precise Rush is. An example of this is when Rush did a live show in Japan and as each song ended, not a sound from the more than 10,000 audience members was emitted, and while Rush played their music, they thought they were bombing big time, but when they finished their set, they got a 20 minute standing ovation. Afterwards the band was told by the Japanese people the reason for no applause during or after any of their songs was because they didn't want to disrupt the band in anyway and that they were mesmerized by the show. Being mesmerized may be wrong, but indeed the Japanese people did not want to disrupt Rush with applause and so forth throughout the show.
Think about all the bands from the 60s and 70s. How many are still extremely relevant or making a serious impact today? The Rolling Stones are still doing it, and the oldest iconic rock 'n' roll band thus far. AC/DC are still kicking gluteus max. Aerosmith is still hanging with these heavy weight bands. ZZ Top are still regulars, though they are doing the smaller venues now with the occasional stadium act. Kiss, The Eagles and The Who among several other vintage rock bands only do reunion tours, but non the less still sell out the big venues. In the grand scheme of musical talent, success and the test of time, Rush has embedded their words and music into the heart of time itself.
"What makes Rush unique is fearlessness, it's the quality of starting a song and not caring what's popular, what's not, there's only one band that sounds like that. What kind of band is Rush? It's Rush!" Gene Simmons (Kiss vocalist / bassist) said. A quote from the rocumentary "Rush Beyond the Lighted Stage."
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