Meet the Members
Sabermetrics, fantasy baseball, and the national anthem at the 1993 All-Star Game—this Canadian heartthrob has a keen interest in America's Pastime.
Who is Geddy Lee?
"All for the best, or some bizarre test..."
In 2012's The Garden, Neil followed the line above with a namecheck of this David Foster Wallace novel.
What is "Infinite Jest"?
(Full lyrics: "All for the best, or some bizarre test / Time is still the infinite jest")
Rush recorded "All the World's a Stage" at Massey Hall, located here—their native Canadian city.
What is Toronto?
At one time, these "Sharp Dressed Men" featured Rush as their opening act.
Who are ZZ Top?
Already an established author, this member published his first work of nonfiction in 1996 with The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa.
Who is Neil Peart?
On the inner sleeve of 2112, Neil credits "the genius of" this Russian-born author.
Who is Ayn Rand?
"Cygnus X-1" is a massive celestial object of this type.
What is a black hole?
Selling 3 million copies of 2112 is nothing scoff at, but it comes second to this—Rush's best selling album.
What is Moving Pictures?
(4 million copies sold)
"Don't tase me bro!" - was ignored for this Rush member when he was tased six times during a drunken brawl with a Florida sheriff's deputy in 2003.
Who is Alex Lifeson?
“Nevermore shall I return, escape these caves of ice / For I have dined on honeydew, and drunk the milk of paradise.”
Borrowing from the 1816 Coleridge poem "Kubla Khan", this 1977 song features Neil's lyricism at its most fantastical.
What is "Xanadu"?
Home radio host and early Rush fan Donna Halper, this "Mistake on the Lake" is credited as the city where Rush launched their U.S. career.
What is Cleveland?
In 2003, Rush recorded a cover of this smash hit by the Rolling Stones.
This founder of Rush left in 1974 due to his preference for more straightforward rock and distaste for life as a touring musician.
Who is John Rutsey?
"Obsolete / absolute / Absalom / Absalom"
from "Distant Early Warning" is a reference to the 1936 book Absalom, Absalom! by this American writer.
Who is William Faulkner?
This Brazilian city featured a crowd of 60,000 roaring fans—Rush's largest ever.
What is Sao Paolo?
Reaching #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1982, this was Rush's highest charting single.
The shoe of choice for Geddy Lee.
Converse All-Stars
"All the world's indeed a stage / And we are merely players"
from "Limelight" references this play by William Shakespeare.
What is As You Like It?
An affluent neighborhood of Toronto known for its cafes, shopping centers, eclectic restaurants—and as the birthplace of Rush.
What is Willowdale?
[Daily Double]
The third song on Rush's fifth studio album.
What is Closer to the Heart?
(Album: A Farewell to Kings)