Feature Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Rush began their journey in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada, in 1968, initially formed by guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer John Rutsey, and bassist-vocalist Jeff Jones. However, shortly after their first rehearsal, Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, whose distinctive vocals and virtuosic bass playing would become integral to the band’s identity. Originally playing local high schools and bars around Ontario, they spent several years refining their sound through countless performances, deeply dedicated to perfecting their craft. Rush officially entered the recording industry with their self-titled debut album in 1974, which introduced their hard-rocking single “Working Man,” gaining traction among radio stations in the U.S. Midwest.
The band’s trajectory shifted dramatically when drummer Neil Peart replaced John Rutsey in July 1974, shortly before their first U.S. tour. Peart quickly assumed lyric-writing duties, bringing complex themes inspired by philosophy, science fiction, and literature into the band’s music. Rush embraced progressive rock on their 1976 album 2112, which became a landmark release, characterized by its ambitious twenty-minute title track. This creative direction resonated with audiences, establishing them as leaders in progressive music and earning them their first platinum album in Canada.
Over a prolific forty-year career, Rush produced nineteen studio albums, eleven live albums, and numerous compilations. Several of their releases, such as Moving Pictures (1981), Permanent Waves (1980), and Signals (1982), cemented their popularity and artistic credibility. Moving Pictures alone features several of their most acclaimed singles, including “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” and the instrumental showcase “YYZ.” These tracks exemplify Rush’s ability to blend technical proficiency with accessibility, leading to widespread radio airplay and substantial commercial success.
Rush’s extraordinary musicianship and innovative approach earned them multiple honors, most notably their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Throughout their extensive touring years, the trio received numerous Juno Awards, celebrating their exceptional contributions to Canadian music. Their dedication to excellence was further recognized by multiple Grammy nominations, solidifying their global reputation as artists who maintained unwavering integrity throughout their careers.
The band’s unique appeal lies not just in their impressive musicianship but in their authenticity and connection with fans. Rush consistently pursued their artistic vision without compromise, building a fiercely loyal following that admired their honesty, lyrical intelligence, and intricate arrangements. Their concerts, celebrated for lengthy, dynamic performances and innovative staging, showcased a rare chemistry and genuine passion that endured for decades. The personal rapport among Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart contributed profoundly to the band’s longevity and enduring legacy.
Outside their celebrated musical careers, Rush’s members have also engaged in significant philanthropic and literary ventures. Neil Peart, in particular, was an accomplished author, publishing numerous travel memoirs and novels. His thoughtful reflections on life and personal tragedy inspired readers beyond the musical sphere, highlighting his remarkable depth as a writer. Geddy Lee has become renowned as an avid collector of vintage bass guitars, sharing his expertise and passion through detailed books and documentaries, while Lifeson has lent his talents to various charitable initiatives and musical collaborations.
In 2018, after decades of relentless creativity and groundbreaking performances, Rush officially disbanded following Neil Peart’s retirement and his subsequent passing in January 2020. The profound respect and heartfelt admiration from the music industry and global fanbase underscore Rush’s lasting influence and significance. They remain beloved not only for their extraordinary technical abilities and creative compositions but also for their authenticity, humanity, and tireless dedication to excellence.
Complete List Of Rush Songs From A to Z
- 2112 – 2112 – 1976
- I. “Overture” (4:31)
- II. “The Temples of Syrinx” (2:16)
- III. “Discovery” (3:25)
- IV. “Presentation” (3:41)
- V. “Oracle: The Dream” (2:00)
- VI. “Soliloquy” (2:19)
- VII. “Grand Finale” (2:16)
- A Farewell to Kings – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- Afterimage – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Alien Shore – Counterparts – 1993
- The Analog Kid – Signals – 1982
- Anagram (For Mongo) – Presto – 1989
- The Anarchist – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Animate – Counterparts – 1993
- Anthem – Fly by Night – 1975
- Armor and Sword – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Available Light – Presto – 1989
- Bastille Day – Caress of Steel – 1975
- Before and After – Rush – 1974
- I. “Before” (2:17)
- II. “After” (3:16)
- Beneath, Between and Behind – Fly by Night – 1975
- Best I Can – Fly by Night – 1975
- Between Sun and Moon – Counterparts – 1993
- Between the Wheels – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- The Big Money – Power Windows – 1985
- The Big Wheel – Roll the Bones – 1991
- The Body Electric – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Bravado – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Bravest Face – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- BU2B – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- BU2B2 – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- By-Tor and the Snow Dog – Fly by Night – 1975
- I. “At the Tobes of Hades” (0:36)
- II. “Across the Styx” (0:35)
- III. “Of the Battle” (6:23)
- i. “Challenge and Defiance” (2:43)
- ii. “7/4 War Furor” (0:37)
- iii. “Aftermath” (1:58)
- iv. “Hymn of Triumph” (1:05)
- IV. “Epilogue” (1:04)
- The Camera Eye – Moving Pictures – 1981
- I (6:00)
- II (5:00)
- Caravan – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Carnies – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Carve Away the Stone – Test for Echo – 1996
- Ceiling Unlimited – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Chain Lightning – Presto – 1989
- Chemistry – Signals – 1982
- Circumstances – Hemispheres – 1978
- Cinderella Man – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- Clockwork Angels – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Closer to the Heart – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- Cold Fire – Counterparts – 1993
- The Color of Right – Test for Echo – 1996
- Countdown – Signals – 1982
- Cut to the Chase – Counterparts – 1993
- Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- “Prologue” (5:01)
- “1” (0:44)
- “2” (1:30)
- “3” (3:03)
- Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres – Hemispheres – 1978
- I. “Prelude” (4:29)
- II. “Apollo Bringer of Wisdom” (2:30) / III. “Dionysus Bringer of Love” (2:06)
- IV. “Armageddon The Battle of Heart and Mind” (2:56)
- V. “Cygnus Bringer of Balance” (5:01)
- VI. “The Sphere A Kind of Dream” (1:02)
- Different Strings – Permanent Waves – 1980
- Digital Man – Signals – 1982
- Distant Early Warning – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Dog Years – Test for Echo – 1996
- Double Agent – Counterparts – 1993
- Dreamline – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Driven – Test for Echo – 1996
- Earthshine – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Emotion Detector – Power Windows – 1985
- The Enemy Within (Part I of “Fear”) – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Entre Nous – Permanent Waves – 1980
- Everyday Glory – Counterparts – 1993
- Face Up – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Faithless – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Far Cry – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Finding My Way – Rush – 1974
- Fly by Night – Fly by Night – 1975
- Force Ten – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- The Fountain of Lamneth – Caress of Steel – 1975
- I. “In the Valley” (4:18)
- II. “Didacts and Narpets” (1:00)
- III. “No One at the Bridge” (4:21)
- IV. “Panacea” (3:16)
- V. “Bacchus Plateau” (3:15)
- VI. “The Fountain” (3:50)
- Freeze (Part IV of “Fear”) – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Freewill – Permanent Waves – 1980
- The Garden – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Ghost of a Chance – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Ghost Rider – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Good News First – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Grand Designs – Power Windows – 1985
- Halo Effect – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Half the World – Test for Echo – 1996
- Hand Over Fist – Presto – 1989
- Headlong Flight – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Here Again – Rush – 1974
- Heresy – Roll the Bones – 1991
- High Water – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Hope – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- How It Is – Vapor Trails – 2002
- I Think I’m Going Bald – Caress of Steel – 1975
- In the End – Fly by Night – 1975
- In the Mood – Rush – 1974
- Jacob’s Ladder – Permanent Waves – 1980
- Kid Gloves – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- La Villa Strangiato (An Exercise in Self-Indulgence) – Hemispheres – 1978
- I. “Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds!” (0:27)
- II. “To Sleep, Perchance to Dream…” (1:33)
- III. “Strangiato Theme” (1:16)
- IV. “A Lerxst in Wonderland” (2:33)
- V. “Monsters!” (0:21)
- VI. “The Ghost of the Aragon” (0:35)
- VII. “Danforth and Pape” (0:41)
- VIII. “The Waltz of the Shreves” (0:26)
- IX. “Never Turn Your Back on a Monster!” (0:11)
- X. “Monsters! (Reprise)” (0:14)
- XI. “Strangiato Theme (Reprise)” (1:03)
- XII. “A Farewell to Things” (0:15)
- Lakeside Park – Caress of Steel – 1975
- The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum) – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Leave That Thing Alone – Counterparts – 1993
- Lessons – 2112 – 1976
- Limbo – Test for Echo – 1996
- Limelight – Moving Pictures – 1981
- Lock and Key – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Losing It – Signals – 1982
- Madrigal – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- The Main Monkey Business – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Making Memories – Fly by Night – 1975
- Malignant Narcissism – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- Manhattan Project – Power Windows – 1985
- Marathon – Power Windows – 1985
- Middletown Dreams – Power Windows – 1985
- Mission – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Mystic Rhythms – Power Windows – 1985
- Natural Science – Permanent Waves – 1980
- I. “Tide Pools” (2:23)
- II. “Hyperspace” (2:47)
- III. “Permanent Waves” (4:08)
- The Necromancer – Caress of Steel – 1975
- I. “Into the Darkness”
- II. “Under the Shadow”
- III. “Return of the Prince” (3:51)
- Need Some Love – Rush – 1974
- Neurotica – Roll the Bones – 1991
- New World Man – Signals – 1982
- Nobody’s Hero – Counterparts – 1993
- Nocturne – Vapor Trails – 2002
- One Little Victory – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Open Secrets – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Out of the Cradle – Vapor Trails – 2002
- The Pass – Presto – 1989
- A Passage to Bangkok – 2112 – 1976
- Peaceable Kingdom – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Presto – Presto – 1989
- Prime Mover – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Red Barchetta – Moving Pictures – 1981
- Red Lenses – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Red Sector A – Grace Under Pressure – 1984
- Red Tide – Presto – 1989
- Resist – Test for Echo – 1996
- Rivendell – Fly by Night – 1975
- Roll the Bones – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Scars – Presto – 1989
- Second Nature – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Secret Touch – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Seven Cities of Gold – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Show Don’t Tell – Presto – 1989
- Something for Nothing – 2112 – 1976
- The Speed of Love – Counterparts – 1993
- Spindrift – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- The Spirit of Radio – Permanent Waves – 1980
- The Stars Look Down – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Stick It Out – Counterparts – 1993
- Subdivisions – Signals – 1982
- Superconductor – Presto – 1989
- Sweet Miracle – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Tai Shan – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Take a Friend – Rush – 1974
- Tears – 2112 – 1976
- Test for Echo – Test for Echo – 1996
- Territories – Power Windows – 1985
- Time and Motion – Test for Echo – 1996
- Time Stand Still – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- Tom Sawyer – Moving Pictures – 1981
- Totem – Test for Echo – 1996
- The Trees – Hemispheres – 1978
- Turn the Page – Hold Your Fire – 1987
- The Twilight Zone – 2112 – 1976
- Vapor Trail – Vapor Trails – 2002
- Virtuality – Test for Echo – 1996
- Vital Signs – Moving Pictures – 1981
- “+ [Plus]” (0:47)
- “÷ [Divided By]” (0:29)
- “=” (0:26)
- “− [Minus]” (0:29)
- “× [Multiplied By]” (0:31)
- “=” (2:02)
- War Paint – Presto – 1989
- The Way the Wind Blows – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- The Weapon (Part II of “Fear”) – Signals – 1982
- We Hold On – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- What You’re Doing – Rush – 1974
- Where’s My Thing? (Part IV, “Gangster of Boats” Trilogy) – Roll the Bones – 1991
- Wish Them Well – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Witch Hunt (Part III of “Fear”) – Moving Pictures – 1981
- Working Man – Rush – 1974
- Workin’ Them Angels – Snakes & Arrows – 2007
- The Wreckers – Clockwork Angels – 2012
- Xanadu – A Farewell to Kings – 1977
- You Bet Your Life – Roll the Bones – 1991
- YYZ – Moving Pictures – 1981
Studio Albums
Rush (1974)
Fly by Night (1975)
Caress of Steel (1975)
2112 (1976)
A Farewell to Kings (1977)
Hemispheres (1978)
Permanent Waves (1980)
Moving Pictures (1981)
Signals (1982)
Grace Under Pressure (1984)
Power Windows (1985)
Hold Your Fire (1987)
Presto (1989)
Roll the Bones (1991)
Counterparts (1993)
Test for Echo (1996)
Vapor Trails (2002)
Snakes & Arrows (2007)
Clockwork Angels (2012)
Rush Cover Album
Feedback
‘1. “Summertime Blues” – Eddie Cochran/Jerry Capehart Eddie Cochran, Blue Cheer, The Who 3:43
2. “Heart Full of Soul” – Graham Gouldman The Yardbirds 2:52
3. “For What It’s Worth” – Stephen Stills Buffalo Springfield 3:30
4. “The Seeker” – Pete Townshend The Who 3:27
5. “Mr. Soul” – Neil Young Buffalo Springfield 3:51
6. “Seven and Seven Is” – Arthur Lee Love 2:53
7. “Shapes of Things” – Paul Samwell-Smith/Keith Relf/Jim McCarty The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group 3:16
8. “Crossroads” – Robert Johnson Robert Johnson, Cream 3:27
Check out our fantastic and entertaining Rush articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com
Alex Lifeson of Rush: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview
Top 10 Rush Songs
Top 10 Rush Albums
Top 10 Rush Album Covers
Complete List Of Rush Albums And Discography
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Caress of Steel Album
Rush 2112 Album Review And Meanings Behind The Lyrics
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s A Farewell to Kings Album
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Hemispheres Album
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Moving Pictures Album
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Power Windows Album
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Grace Under Pressure Album
Real Meanings Behind The Songs On Rush’s Signals Album
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory