It wasn’t that way in Detroit. 80-84 were my high school yrs. and it was split down the middle who was best Rush or Led Zeppelin. But I have heard what yer saying is fact in other places. Just blows me away that Rush wasn’t very popular early on. Still my favorite band to this day.
As a young drummer from the 70's, grooving along to RUSH with the headphones on my kit, I promptly put the drum mallet right through the head.......Another RUSH R&R casualty.....
John, Alex’s ‘Blah blah’ speech was basically a middle finger to the Hall - a chronology of the band staying musically true to themselves, despite the record company’s pressure on them to record popular ‘radio friendly’ songs. I had the same look on my face as you, initially, and now I fully get it. Epic.
John, it's so cool watching you go down the Rush road. There's nothing more pleasing to Rush fans than seeing new Rush fans dive deep into, and really enjoy and respect the music we've grown up with. Keep on with it, the catalog is huge!!!
It still brings a tear to my eye. I was there with my husband and a boatload of our RUSH family for this night in LA. It was in the middle of the Clockwork Angels tour and we had to scramble back home to Texas because they did a show a couple nights later in Austin. It was a fabulous time and I am so happy that we were able to experience it. It was the fans with the help of our wonderful friend and retired DJ Donna Halper that ultimately drove the campaign to get them into the HOF. I am glad we were able to get them in before Neil passed away. We still joke that it didn’t matter about being snubbed by the HOF for so many years but it mattered to our RUSH family. Glad you are on the journey. It’s a hell of a ride. KEEP RUSHIN. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Oh my God I'm starting to cry again! Just hearing Dave grohl say that they're getting inducted brings tears to my eyes. There was a grassroots campaign going over for over a decade trying to get them into the Hall of Fame and they got snubbed year after year! I never understood it! It got to a point where Neil just got jaded about it and said he didn't really care but when he got up there you could tell he did. And I think that's why Alex did what he did I think Rush is very good at telling you how they feel even if they just use the words blah blah to do it lol! So to summarize the blah blahs lol! He goes on to say that all these other bands get in and they got turned down Time after Time and then they got the call and they got accepted and they got ready and they came in and then he gave his speech lol!
when he said "and from Toronto" and the crowd goes wild I too get teary. I did buy the Blah, Blah, Blah Shirt just like the one Geddy later wears in concert... I call it my Rush shirt... even tho it doesn't say Rush on it anywhere.. only a true fan would know where that shirt comes from... best band ever. Been a fan since 1974... yep. Before Neil (RIP), but so much better with him.
Rush wasn't considered "cool" because their music and lyrics were considered too intellectual, too "smart" for your average rocker. They weren't easily approachable. They didn't sing about girls and partying and the devil and drugs (much). Rush was rock music for nerds. It was rock music that made you think. It wasn't made for the lowest common denominator. It wasn't made (directly, at least) for pure profit. Rush made music for Rush, and those of us that knew better.
I am a 54 year old man/drummer who has been obsessed with Rush since 1981. The huge ovation when the inductees were being introduced made me cry like a child.👍🤘🏻🔥🎧
This was fun watching this again. Thanks for reacting to this! Late in Rush's career, they did an album (CD) called Feedback" that was a tribute to the songs they all grew iup with fr4om the 60's. Crossroads was the song all "those people" helped with. Some of the name off of the top of my head were Joe Satriani John Fogerty (in the red plaid flannel shirt), Anne and Nancy Wilson (from Heart, and Dave and Taylor (Foo Fighters). Again, this was a fun watch and your reaction was golden :)
I love watching Geddy and Neil standing behind Alex up there getting ready to hit him over the head with their trophies. They had no idea Alex was going to pull a stunt like that. He actually had a speech ready but at the last minute...Lol
what dave groll meant by when the fuck did rush bcome cool was, rush were never into drugs getting drunk out of thier heads and tearing down hotel walls and breaking guitars , .They were backing up Kiss once early in thier career and one of the Kiss members said after a concert they had some groupie chicks running round left and right thru the hotels and one kisis member opened the door to Rush's room and they were just sitting quietly reading a book and just relazing on thier couch lol . So being Cool had nothing to do with how good they were musically.
I can't sit thru this without getting all teary eyed. Rush has always been cool, but there was a time when the superficial and others (rolling stone) decided that their music was too complex and Geddys voice was too high or Neil read to much Ayn Rand or wrote songs based on science fiction or in fantasyland. People who thought they were uncool probably thought this because someone else told them to. Their music is complex, and it's not something that a chick like me who likes to dance, is going to jump up to dance to. lol. which is why for years the joke was how many girls were on the audience. They aren't chick magnets, but they were musician magnets. Definitely considered a musicians band. and like they say about Neil.. Neil is your favorite drummers' favorite drummer. Their nerdiness is the 1st thing I fell for. Their pictures are hilarious cuz Alex and Geddy just didn't care about those things. hence the kimonos. lol. Geddy with the Moving Picture videos at Le Studio... Blue jumpsuit, white shoes and and red socks. Man I love that.
i was there that night. i have never heard such a roar of applause and cheers as when rush's induction was announced. it was deafening. every time i watch the replay it gives me chills remembering how i felt to see it happen live. it had been a long time coming.
The final song of Rush's set was The Spirit of Radio, off of Permanent Waves (1980) . The last song of the set played by all was Crossroads in the fashion of Cream. But the origins of the song date back to Robert Johnson.
I can't believe we haven't got you on The Spirit of Radio yet. Its a staple of Rush classics. Permanent Waves is my second fav Rush album (behind Hemispheres).
I think the best part is watching the wives' reaction during the intro, especially Nancy (Geddy's wife). The crowd goes wild and she looks like she's thinking "All that? For these 3 goobers? Really?" 😲🤭 😂
All of us right now are screaming how does he not know Spirit of radio after he's reviewed so many songs?!??! 😂 What a treat for you to hear this for the first time during this performance! This is probably the second most famous song behind Tom Sawyer it's just amazing to me that you haven't heard it yet :-)
Haha I see lots of other tractors have reacted to it. I've somehow avoided it until now. Thanks Gina for sticking around :) excited to get to Spirit of Radio!
The last song was "Crossroads". Originally recorded by Robert Johnson as "Cross Road Blues." Arguably the most influential blues song ever recorded, it's been remade countless times. Probably most famously by Cream, who were hugely impactful on Rush, and later by Rush themselves on the covers album "Feedback".
Rush REALLY took some hard knocks from the music press in the late 70s. The R n R Hall of Fame pretended they didn't exist for decades, Rolling Stone magazine were determined to bury anything that was progressive. So they were relegated to the somewhat 'nerdy' or pretentious catagory. But the fans carried them forward. When they released 'Moving Pictures' in 1981, the critics and the music press were suddenly stunned and forced to give it up for them.. it was a long hard road for RUSH...
Tom Morello (rage against the machine), Chris Cornell (sound garden) chuck D (public enemy) DMC (RunDMC) John Fogerty (credence Clearwater revival).....
Rush was always a 'nerd's' band ... nobody cool listened to them ... guess I was never cool, because they've been my go-to since 1978 This was the first year the Hall of Fame took votes from the public, and of course Rush was voted in ... I was at the next concert after this (in Austin, Tx) and tons of people on Alex's side were holding up 'Blah-blah-blah' signs ... Alex tells an entire story with only a single word ... and we thought Neil was the wordsmith :-) Song was 'The Spirit of Radio' ... a snub to the music industry and what they do to musicians ... The irony was that THAT song got tons of airplay (still does) ... I grin every time I hear it
Dude.. you have a ways to go and all Rush fans will be here for it... #RushArmy... just subbed for your Rush Journey (I've already listened to/watched a couple of your video's now I sub). The guy with the red guitar that sang first (first with an instrument) is Gary Clark, Jr... FANTASTIC studio and live, Heart was the 2 ladies, you need to check them out too, some of the others I sad to say I'm not sure who they are... other than Rush and Foo Fighters obviously. They were all mentioned in the introduction of the inductees video.
Run DMC, Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart, Chris Cornell, John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gary Clark, Tom Morello and others were jamming at the end.
If you’re a Rush fan of any length of time you had no problem understanding Alex’s acceptance speech. Snap shot Rush had years of work, tons of sales, had the prerequisite 20 years under their belt to be inducted and were passed over for more than a decade. It had reached the point where they were like Fock you whatever. They just kept doing their thing, making records, playing tours. And then one day they got the call and were finally going to be inducted. All told through blah blah blah
Watching vids like this again because of Geddy Lee's autobiography out now called "My Effing Life" :-) WOW is exactly what the MC, Jan Wenner, said to Geddy as he walked past him on returning to his seat after this ovation. Not many people react to this part of the induction ceremony, so I'm glad for you that you watched it from the start.
Alex was actually telling a story. He starts out with all the time they were on the road, driving, flying all over...with singing, making the drum sound from Tom Sawyer, and then finally getting to the point where they were eligible to enter the Rock Hall (19:56). (a little back story: They guy who introduced them in the opening ceremony, Jann Wenner, said as long as he is on the board at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rush will NEVER get in). The denial from the RRHOF is at (20:06). Alex then numbers off all of the albums they have to that point. Followed by Jann's "NO!" Then Alex basically says "F.U."...the story continues....years go by as do multiple albums and concerts. One day the phone rings and they get the news that they've been inducted into the Hall. Then he thanks his bandmates and the crowd. That's the whole blah blah blah story. Jann Wenner was pissed at Alex during the speech. Taking it as a slap in the face and being disrespectful of the HOF. He deserved it. Rush should have been in long before 2013.
RIP Donna Summer (Queen of Disco and soul), Neil Peart, and Taylor Hawkins. Prog rock bands like Rush, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, etc (and their fans) back in the days were considered kind of too intellectual, showy, complex and artsy. Songs were too long for outsiders. Lots of time signature changes, jazzy and classical music influences/structures. Especially bands like Rush, Yes, etc. Their songs were mainly fantasy, science fiction, unique stories based, thought provoking, etc. Great bands, though. Grohl was kidding around. lol. Prog rock is mainly rock music for stoners, nerds, true musicians/fans, etc. All of this according to the mainstream music critics. Anyhow, was happy Rush was finally inducted to the RnR HOF at the time, way overdue! Thanks for this video.
John, a lot of us older Rush fans have thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover Rush. But I'm curious about your musical upbringing - what inspired you to want to play, what were your early influences, how long have you played? Perhaps a quick biographical video will give viewers some perspective. I can't wrap my mind around how many Rush albums might have been made before you even were born! I don't think I would have enjoyed listening to 45-year-old music when I was in my 20s!
You're right I'll set up a video soon! But the quick info is I play guitar mainly. Also keys. Took some foundational lessons in guitar, piano, music theory, and recording. I have a handful of short experimental songs on a soundcloud. Influences would be punk bands from the 90's, like Green Day, Blink 182, as well as 70's legends such as Queen, Led Zepp, Boston.
I think you will like Heart, at least their early 1970s songs. I have to go back and rewatch, but I know the two rappers announce themselves and the second is Chuck D of Public Enemy (and Prophets of Rage). I'll edit in the other, bit I thought I heard DMC of Run - DMC. Edit: it was DMC. Not sure who the first black singer was. The female singer was Ann Wilson and next to her on acoustic was her sister Nancy Wilson, both of Heart. Chris Cornell (RIPof Soundgarden and Audioslave took a verse. Alex Lifeson on guitar, Geddy on Bass, Neil on drums. next white singer was I believe John Fogerty who originally was in Creedence Clearaater Revival. Dave Grohl sang next. The black guitar soloist with the baseball hat and guitar with stickers is Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Taylor Hawkins is also on drums. The song is Cream's version of Crossroads from their album Wheeks of Fire (1968). The Robert Johnson original was from 1937. Cream was Eric Clapton - guitars and some vocals (lead on tnis song), Jack Bruce lead vocals and bass, and Ginger Baker on drums.
It's not music, but I think you might like watching a dinner with Rush. They sit at the table in the same order as they are on stage. And they're hilarious. Especially Alex. His pork belly remark gets me every time.
I gotta say I cried when Rush was finally Inducted. No other Band has impacted me like Rush! I think this induction meant more to the fans, than the band?
The second song was Spirit Of The Radio fron the album Permanent Waves released in 1980 or 79, juste before Moving Pictures (Tom Sawyer). Permanent Waves is an amazing album with songs like Spirit of The Radio, Freewill and Jacob’s Ladder. You will find out soon.
The ending song was "Crossroads" by legendary blues musician, Robert Johnson. The version they were playing was done by the band "Cream"... many artists have covered Robert Johnson songs over the last 90 odd years or so.
When the place went nuts after Jan Wenner said “and from Toronto” I’ve always noticed Geddy Lee’s wife Nancy nearly in tears. And I’ve always teared up a bit at that as well
Yes, the Paul is dead rumour was very true. Rolling Stone hated Rush as they did Led Zeppelin. The RRHOF has took forever to induct Rush and it was because of the Rush fans they did. Alex's speech was Rush's career and being rejected by the RRHOF and how long it took them to be inducted. I love how Alex imitates Geddy's voice with his Blah Blahs LOL On their Feedback album which is way down the road they do a number of songs that inspired them and Crossroads is one of them. They do a great rendition. Heart is another band you should check out. Ann and Nancy Wilson are badass! Ann has one of the best voices in rock male or female. It is straight up rock. Barracuda, Magic Man, Heartless to name a few. That was a lot of fun.
Rolling Stone is a high school popularity contest. They dont know their ass from their elbow about great music. They didnt like Rush or zeplin! And if thats not bad enough, they also snubbed Super 400 who are, in my opinion, the greatest rock band around right now. Anyone who appreciates Rush should check out Super 400. Sweet fist, Blast the Message, 3 and the beast, any of these albums is a good place to start!
@@stevenpipes1555 No kidding! Rush as far as I know is the only Canadian band in it meanwhile The Guess Who, BTO and April Wine are not in it. Also, they didn't induct Yes until way down the road. What is rap and disco doing in it. Ridiculous!
Here is the list of the performers of Crossroads. All the members of Rush or course, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, Darryl DMC McDaniels of Run DMC, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, John Fogerty, Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, Gary Clark Jr who is a great blues/soul fusion singer and the late great Chris Cornell of Soundgarden. Normally these kind of all-star jams can be hit or miss, but this one is my all time favorite. Also. Alex's "blah blah," speech had been done in the moment, he hadn't told anyone that he was going to do it. The three had to submit their speeches ahead of time for the Hall of Fame for approval, which Alex had done. Then he gets up on stage and unloads with what he really thought. Geddy and Neal were just as shocked as everyone else. After they came off stage Chuck D came up to Alex praising him for what he did, calling it performance art.
This always cracks me up, Geddy and Neil didnt even know what Alex was gonna do and they were kind of in shock lol Turns out it was the most memorable RRHOF speech ever. 😂
The South Park kids wasn't from an episode, the creators were big Rush fans and they made that intro for the Snakes and Arrows live tour - search rush tom sawyer south park to see the full clip. There are several interviews with Neil on here, search neil peart interview - he was brilliant.
Yes. The Paul McCartney rumor is very true. The "Paul is Dead" phenomenon started in the late '60s and was bolstered when he appeared barefoot on the Abbey Road album cover.
Lemme see, onstage with Rush, playing Crossroads, is indeed Tom Morello, Dave and Taylor, and other inductees including Public Enemy, Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart, Albert King, and some others I don't recognize. If you don't know Heart, you need to listen to "Barracuda" from 1977.
So glad you watched from the beginning of intros, more impactful and understanding??! If that’s the right word? ….and from Toronto 👏….!!! I’ve never seen this clip. Neil speak! That’s pretty dope. I have seen Alex Lifesons speech a few times, I wouldn’t change a word. I’m a fan of Public Enemy but that’s the epitome of playing to a crowd that’s done.
There are a lot of people who really believe Paul McCartney is dead. It’s even rumored that Ringo came forward and admitted it. They did indeed have a look alike contest of Paul. The guy who won was the spitting image of him, and oddly enough was a musician as well. The Beatles did run with this and hid Paul as well. The albums Sgt. peppers and Abbey road album pictures has clues in them. Sgt Peppers had him with his back to the photo. And in the song A Day in the Life, the first part of the song you’ll have to listen for yourself. Goes something like… I read the news today oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade. And though the news was rather sad, I just had to laugh… I saw the photograph. He blew his mind out in a car, he didn’t notice that the light had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared, they’d seen his face before, but nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords. Abbey road album cover they’re walking across the street and dressed as a grave digger, priest I believe? But Paul is dressed in black and barefoot. Also at the end of one of their movies, I wanna say “Help”. At the beginning of the movie words appear is he alive or dead? Then they show him cross the street. Rumor has it MI-6 ( British intelligence) investigated this many yrs. later. Because Paul was Knighted Sir Paul McCartney. And they wanted to know who the hell they Knighted if it wasn’t Paul?! Really hard to say one way or another if it’s true?
There's just a bit of listening homework I say you might want to do beforehand, but the Superjam they finish the show with is well worth a listen. Heart, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, and Cream (specifically Crossroads). [Edit] Nevermind, I didn't see that this video was 45 minutes long and included the finale.
The bass player during the 2112 intro is a fantastic producer, Nick Rasculinecz, who has produced albums by Foo Fighters, Rush, Korn, Alice In Chains… In the final jam, the singers include Ann Wilson, John Fogerty, and (this makes me cry) Chris Cornell. Add the guitarists, Neil on drums, et al, and IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THIS!
We lost so many from that stage in the last 9 years. Taylor Hawkins, Chris Cornell, Neil. Great jam. Not my favourite of theirs, but I think you’ll enjoy Feedback when you get to it.
Back in the 80’s especially, if you were a diehard Rush fan most people thought you were a nerd. I wore it like a badge of honor.
It wasn’t that way in Detroit. 80-84 were my high school yrs. and it was split down the middle who was best Rush or Led Zeppelin. But I have heard what yer saying is fact in other places. Just blows me away that Rush wasn’t very popular early on. Still my favorite band to this day.
As a young drummer from the 70's, grooving along to RUSH with the headphones on my kit, I promptly put the drum mallet right through the head.......Another RUSH R&R casualty.....
John, Alex’s ‘Blah blah’ speech was basically a middle finger to the Hall - a chronology of the band staying musically true to themselves, despite the record company’s pressure on them to record popular ‘radio friendly’ songs. I had the same look on my face as you, initially, and now I fully get it. Epic.
Correct, also they should have been inducted in the early 90s at the latest.
John, it's so cool watching you go down the Rush road. There's nothing more pleasing to Rush fans than seeing new Rush fans dive deep into, and really enjoy and respect the music we've grown up with. Keep on with it, the catalog is huge!!!
It still brings a tear to my eye.
I was there with my husband and a boatload of our RUSH family for this night in LA.
It was in the middle of the Clockwork Angels tour and we had to scramble back home to Texas because they did a show a couple nights later in Austin. It was a fabulous time and I am so happy that we were able to experience it.
It was the fans with the help of our wonderful friend and retired DJ Donna Halper that ultimately drove the campaign to get them into the HOF. I am glad we were able to get them in before Neil passed away. We still joke that it didn’t matter about being snubbed by the HOF for so many years but it mattered to our RUSH family.
Glad you are on the journey.
It’s a hell of a ride.
KEEP RUSHIN. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
I had the pleasure of being at their HoF induction and the entire building was full of Rush energy. Such an amazing night!
Oh my God I'm starting to cry again! Just hearing Dave grohl say that they're getting inducted brings tears to my eyes. There was a grassroots campaign going over for over a decade trying to get them into the Hall of Fame and they got snubbed year after year! I never understood it! It got to a point where Neil just got jaded about it and said he didn't really care but when he got up there you could tell he did. And I think that's why Alex did what he did I think Rush is very good at telling you how they feel even if they just use the words blah blah to do it lol!
So to summarize the blah blahs lol! He goes on to say that all these other bands get in and they got turned down Time after Time and then they got the call and they got accepted and they got ready and they came in and then he gave his speech lol!
That is sooo funny! Bold statement. Thanks for enlightening me.
It's a crime it took so long for Rush to be put in!
when he said "and from Toronto" and the crowd goes wild I too get teary. I did buy the Blah, Blah, Blah Shirt just like the one Geddy later wears in concert... I call it my Rush shirt... even tho it doesn't say Rush on it anywhere.. only a true fan would know where that shirt comes from... best band ever. Been a fan since 1974... yep. Before Neil (RIP), but so much better with him.
Rush wasn't considered "cool" because their music and lyrics were considered too intellectual, too "smart" for your average rocker. They weren't easily approachable. They didn't sing about girls and partying and the devil and drugs (much). Rush was rock music for nerds. It was rock music that made you think. It wasn't made for the lowest common denominator. It wasn't made (directly, at least) for pure profit. Rush made music for Rush, and those of us that knew better.
I am a 54 year old man/drummer who has been obsessed with Rush since 1981. The huge ovation when the inductees were being introduced made me cry like a child.👍🤘🏻🔥🎧
Song was Spirit of Radio!
Hell yeah man! Greatest acceptance speech ever, and the crowd goes wild at the mere mention of where their from! I love it!
This was fun watching this again. Thanks for reacting to this!
Late in Rush's career, they did an album (CD) called Feedback" that was a tribute to the songs they all grew iup with fr4om the 60's. Crossroads was the song all "those people" helped with. Some of the name off of the top of my head were Joe Satriani John Fogerty (in the red plaid flannel shirt), Anne and Nancy Wilson (from Heart, and Dave and Taylor (Foo Fighters).
Again, this was a fun watch and your reaction was golden :)
I love watching Geddy and Neil standing behind Alex up there getting ready to hit him over the head with their trophies. They had no idea Alex was going to pull a stunt like that. He actually had a speech ready but at the last minute...Lol
Rapper Chuck D from Public Enemy. He loves collaborating with rock musicians, that was cool.
I loved this, as a Rush fan this is one of the most beautiful things to watch. And to see you discovering it, it really beautiful 💪💝
what dave groll meant by when the fuck did rush bcome cool was, rush were never into drugs getting drunk out of thier heads and tearing down hotel walls and breaking guitars , .They were backing up Kiss once early in thier career and one of the Kiss members said after a concert they had some groupie chicks running round left and right thru the hotels and one kisis member opened the door to Rush's room and they were just sitting quietly reading a book and just relazing on thier couch lol . So being Cool had nothing to do with how good they were musically.
Neil: Poetic and thoughtful
Geddy: Humble and thankful
Alex: Blah blah blah
I can't sit thru this without getting all teary eyed. Rush has always been cool, but there was a time when the superficial and others (rolling stone) decided that their music was too complex and Geddys voice was too high or Neil read to much Ayn Rand or wrote songs based on science fiction or in fantasyland. People who thought they were uncool probably thought this because someone else told them to. Their music is complex, and it's not something that a chick like me who likes to dance, is going to jump up to dance to. lol. which is why for years the joke was how many girls were on the audience. They aren't chick magnets, but they were musician magnets. Definitely considered a musicians band. and like they say about Neil.. Neil is your favorite drummers' favorite drummer.
Their nerdiness is the 1st thing I fell for. Their pictures are hilarious cuz Alex and Geddy just didn't care about those things. hence the kimonos. lol. Geddy with the Moving Picture videos at Le Studio... Blue jumpsuit, white shoes and and red socks. Man I love that.
i was there that night. i have never heard such a roar of applause and cheers as when rush's induction was announced. it was deafening. every time i watch the replay it gives me chills remembering how i felt to see it happen live. it had been a long time coming.
The final song of Rush's set was The Spirit of Radio, off of Permanent Waves (1980) . The last song of the set played by all was Crossroads in the fashion of Cream. But the origins of the song date back to Robert Johnson.
I can't believe we haven't got you on The Spirit of Radio yet. Its a staple of Rush classics. Permanent Waves is my second fav Rush album (behind Hemispheres).
I think the best part is watching the wives' reaction during the intro, especially Nancy (Geddy's wife). The crowd goes wild and she looks like she's thinking "All that? For these 3 goobers? Really?" 😲🤭 😂
I cut my Rush teeth around 1980 on their '77 Kings album. I hope you listen to that one next. You won't be disappointed
All of us right now are screaming how does he not know Spirit of radio after he's reviewed so many songs?!??! 😂 What a treat for you to hear this for the first time during this performance! This is probably the second most famous song behind Tom Sawyer it's just amazing to me that you haven't heard it yet :-)
Haha I see lots of other tractors have reacted to it. I've somehow avoided it until now. Thanks Gina for sticking around :) excited to get to Spirit of Radio!
The last song was "Crossroads". Originally recorded by Robert Johnson as "Cross Road Blues." Arguably the most influential blues song ever recorded, it's been remade countless times. Probably most famously by Cream, who were hugely impactful on Rush, and later by Rush themselves on the covers album "Feedback".
Rush REALLY took some hard knocks from the music press in the late 70s. The R n R Hall of Fame pretended they didn't exist for decades, Rolling Stone magazine were determined to bury anything that was progressive. So they were relegated to the somewhat 'nerdy' or pretentious catagory. But the fans carried them forward. When they released 'Moving Pictures' in 1981, the critics and the music press were suddenly stunned and forced to give it up for them.. it was a long hard road for RUSH...
Tom Morello (rage against the machine), Chris Cornell (sound garden) chuck D (public enemy) DMC (RunDMC) John Fogerty (credence Clearwater revival).....
Rush was always a 'nerd's' band ... nobody cool listened to them ... guess I was never cool, because they've been my go-to since 1978
This was the first year the Hall of Fame took votes from the public, and of course Rush was voted in ... I was at the next concert after this (in Austin, Tx) and tons of people on Alex's side were holding up 'Blah-blah-blah' signs ... Alex tells an entire story with only a single word ... and we thought Neil was the wordsmith :-)
Song was 'The Spirit of Radio' ... a snub to the music industry and what they do to musicians ... The irony was that THAT song got tons of airplay (still does) ... I grin every time I hear it
great reaction. and even though Alex never said a word I knew exactly what he was saying. Genius!!!
Dude.. you have a ways to go and all Rush fans will be here for it... #RushArmy... just subbed for your Rush Journey (I've already listened to/watched a couple of your video's now I sub). The guy with the red guitar that sang first (first with an instrument) is Gary Clark, Jr... FANTASTIC studio and live, Heart was the 2 ladies, you need to check them out too, some of the others I sad to say I'm not sure who they are... other than Rush and Foo Fighters obviously. They were all mentioned in the introduction of the inductees video.
Oh and by the way John you've got to check out heart! They are in my opinion the best female fronted rock band and all of history!!!
Run DMC, Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart, Chris Cornell, John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gary Clark, Tom Morello and others were jamming at the end.
Public Enemy, not Run DMC.
If you’re a Rush fan of any length of time you had no problem understanding Alex’s acceptance speech. Snap shot Rush had years of work, tons of sales, had the prerequisite 20 years under their belt to be inducted and were passed over for more than a decade. It had reached the point where they were like Fock you whatever. They just kept doing their thing, making records, playing tours. And then one day they got the call and were finally going to be inducted. All told through blah blah blah
Rush was always like a secret cult band that only musician and nerds dug. Mainstream critics hated them.
I love Alex 'Blah! BLAH!! BLAH!!!' Lifeson!! He speaks his mind!!
Just saw this from 2 years ago. Best ever John…. Thank you
Check out when Rush inducted Yes , Geddy got to play Roundabout with Yes also
I get goosebumps every time I hear the crowd reaction after he says, "And from Toronto". Epic!!
Watching vids like this again because of Geddy Lee's autobiography out now called "My Effing Life" :-) WOW is exactly what the MC, Jan Wenner, said to Geddy as he walked past him on returning to his seat after this ovation. Not many people react to this part of the induction ceremony, so I'm glad for you that you watched it from the start.
Alex was actually telling a story. He starts out with all the time they were on the road, driving, flying all over...with singing, making the drum sound from Tom Sawyer, and then finally getting to the point where they were eligible to enter the Rock Hall (19:56). (a little back story: They guy who introduced them in the opening ceremony, Jann Wenner, said as long as he is on the board at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rush will NEVER get in). The denial from the RRHOF is at (20:06). Alex then numbers off all of the albums they have to that point. Followed by Jann's "NO!" Then Alex basically says "F.U."...the story continues....years go by as do multiple albums and concerts. One day the phone rings and they get the news that they've been inducted into the Hall. Then he thanks his bandmates and the crowd. That's the whole blah blah blah story.
Jann Wenner was pissed at Alex during the speech. Taking it as a slap in the face and being disrespectful of the HOF. He deserved it. Rush should have been in long before 2013.
If you watch live performances from after this event, you'll occasionally see Geddy wearing a T-shirt that says "Blah, Blah, Blah"
RIP Donna Summer (Queen of Disco and soul), Neil Peart, and Taylor Hawkins.
Prog rock bands like Rush, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, etc (and their fans) back in the days were considered kind of too intellectual, showy, complex and artsy. Songs were too long for outsiders. Lots of time signature changes, jazzy and classical music influences/structures. Especially bands like Rush, Yes, etc. Their songs were mainly fantasy, science fiction, unique stories based, thought provoking, etc. Great bands, though. Grohl was kidding around. lol. Prog rock is mainly rock music for stoners, nerds, true musicians/fans, etc. All of this according to the mainstream music critics.
Anyhow, was happy Rush was finally inducted to the RnR HOF at the time, way overdue! Thanks for this video.
John, a lot of us older Rush fans have thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover Rush. But I'm curious about your musical upbringing - what inspired you to want to play, what were your early influences, how long have you played? Perhaps a quick biographical video will give viewers some perspective. I can't wrap my mind around how many Rush albums might have been made before you even were born! I don't think I would have enjoyed listening to 45-year-old music when I was in my 20s!
You're right I'll set up a video soon! But the quick info is I play guitar mainly. Also keys. Took some foundational lessons in guitar, piano, music theory, and recording. I have a handful of short experimental songs on a soundcloud. Influences would be punk bands from the 90's, like Green Day, Blink 182, as well as 70's legends such as Queen, Led Zepp, Boston.
I think you will like Heart, at least their early 1970s songs.
I have to go back and rewatch, but I know the two rappers announce themselves and the second is Chuck D of Public Enemy (and Prophets of Rage). I'll edit in the other, bit I thought I heard DMC of Run - DMC. Edit: it was DMC. Not sure who the first black singer was. The female singer was Ann Wilson and next to her on acoustic was her sister Nancy Wilson, both of Heart. Chris Cornell (RIPof Soundgarden and Audioslave took a verse. Alex Lifeson on guitar, Geddy on Bass, Neil on drums. next white singer was I believe John Fogerty who originally was in Creedence Clearaater Revival. Dave Grohl sang next. The black guitar soloist with the baseball hat and guitar with stickers is Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Taylor Hawkins is also on drums. The song is Cream's version of Crossroads from their album Wheeks of Fire (1968). The Robert Johnson original was from 1937. Cream was Eric Clapton - guitars and some vocals (lead on tnis song), Jack Bruce lead vocals and bass, and Ginger Baker on drums.
Thank you so much for the information ❤
It's not music, but I think you might like watching a dinner with Rush. They sit at the table in the same order as they are on stage. And they're hilarious. Especially Alex. His pork belly remark gets me every time.
MOVING PICTURES! MOVING PICTURES! Geddy Lee's fav album
At the actual ceremony, the crowd roar after he said Toronto, went for 7 or 8 minutes
I gotta say I cried when Rush was finally Inducted. No other Band has impacted me like Rush! I think this induction meant more to the fans, than the band?
Alex, a man of many word.
You should react to some Neal interviews....so well spoken and intelligent.
Love You my Son! It's Wonderful to see you in your musical element 🎵🎶🎙️🎸🎹
Now you have to the same with Yes. And you will see Geddy Lee play with them…
The second song was Spirit Of The Radio fron the album Permanent Waves released in 1980 or 79, juste before Moving Pictures (Tom Sawyer). Permanent Waves is an amazing album with songs like Spirit of The Radio, Freewill and Jacob’s Ladder. You will find out soon.
The ending song was "Crossroads" by legendary blues musician, Robert Johnson. The version they were playing was done by the band "Cream"... many artists have covered Robert Johnson songs over the last 90 odd years or so.
When the place went nuts after Jan Wenner said “and from Toronto” I’ve always noticed Geddy Lee’s wife Nancy nearly in tears. And I’ve always teared up a bit at that as well
Gotta check out the studio version of the last song played Spirit of Radio its astonishing good. Geddy hadn't lost his voice yet like in this show
There's a great interview with Geddy Lee by Dan Rather. It's on RUclips
John, Neil was BRILLIANT!!! his mind was soooo big!!!
Yes, the Paul is dead rumour was very true. Rolling Stone hated Rush as they did Led Zeppelin. The RRHOF has took forever to induct Rush and it was because of the Rush fans they did. Alex's speech was Rush's career and being rejected by the RRHOF and how long it took them to be inducted. I love how Alex imitates Geddy's voice with his Blah Blahs LOL On their Feedback album which is way down the road they do a number of songs that inspired them and Crossroads is one of them. They do a great rendition. Heart is another band you should check out. Ann and Nancy Wilson are badass! Ann has one of the best voices in rock male or female. It is straight up rock. Barracuda, Magic Man, Heartless to name a few.
That was a lot of fun.
Rolling Stone is a high school popularity contest. They dont know their ass from their elbow about great music. They didnt like Rush or zeplin! And if thats not bad enough, they also snubbed Super 400 who are, in my opinion, the greatest rock band around right now. Anyone who appreciates Rush should check out Super 400. Sweet fist, Blast the Message, 3 and the beast, any of these albums is a good place to start!
@@stevenpipes1555 No kidding! Rush as far as I know is the only Canadian band in it meanwhile The Guess Who, BTO and April Wine are not in it. Also, they didn't induct Yes until way down the road. What is rap and disco doing in it. Ridiculous!
Here is the list of the performers of Crossroads. All the members of Rush or course, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, Darryl DMC McDaniels of Run DMC, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, John Fogerty, Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine, Gary Clark Jr who is a great blues/soul fusion singer and the late great Chris Cornell of Soundgarden.
Normally these kind of all-star jams can be hit or miss, but this one is my all time favorite.
Also. Alex's "blah blah," speech had been done in the moment, he hadn't told anyone that he was going to do it. The three had to submit their speeches ahead of time for the Hall of Fame for approval, which Alex had done. Then he gets up on stage and unloads with what he really thought. Geddy and Neal were just as shocked as everyone else. After they came off stage Chuck D came up to Alex praising him for what he did, calling it performance art.
This always cracks me up, Geddy and Neil didnt even know what Alex was gonna do and they were kind of in shock lol Turns out it was the most memorable RRHOF speech ever. 😂
You've got to check out Heart. Seattle band. Been around for decades.
When the audience roared for Rush, I was spell-bound of how many Rush fans there were.
The South Park kids wasn't from an episode, the creators were big Rush fans and they made that intro for the Snakes and Arrows live tour - search rush tom sawyer south park to see the full clip.
There are several interviews with Neil on here, search neil peart interview - he was brilliant.
Alex's speech had me laughing so hard. :) One of a kind.
This took too long for them to get inducted. A slap in the face!
They took about a week off for this and went right back on the road. As Neal said they were a working band. Year 39, Year R40 they were done. 2015
the spirit of radio and that is heart
The lovely blonde woman on the acoustic guitar is Nancy Wilson from Heart.
….I’m not crying.., you’re crying🥺
The South Park Rush Kids played on the screen at their live show to introduce Tom Sawyer during the Time Machine Tour.
How can a musician like yourself not know at least a few of the performers
Yes. The Paul McCartney rumor is very true. The "Paul is Dead" phenomenon started in the late '60s and was bolstered when he appeared barefoot on the Abbey Road album cover.
The Rabbit hole only begins here.
And the cigarette. Mwah ha haaaa....
They actually were running with it in Sgt. peppers 1st and carried it over to Abbey road. They hid Paul for a cpl. Of years playing along with it.
Yeah. Rumors started with the Sgt. Pepper cover, fans saying that it looks like they are standing in front of Paul's grave. LOL
@@rockodilechannel3509 I remember trying to see the letters PAUL in those f***ing white flowers for years...
You're looking for "The Spirit of Radio" from Permanent Waves.
Lemme see, onstage with Rush, playing Crossroads, is indeed Tom Morello, Dave and Taylor, and other inductees including Public Enemy, Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart, Albert King, and some others I don't recognize. If you don't know Heart, you need to listen to "Barracuda" from 1977.
Correction: Albert King was an inductee, but he was not on stage, as he passed away in 1992. My mistake.
Neil talks the professor even on stage. He's really a Great speaker.
So glad you watched from the beginning of intros, more impactful and understanding??! If that’s the right word? ….and from Toronto 👏….!!!
I’ve never seen this clip. Neil speak! That’s pretty dope. I have seen Alex Lifesons speech a few times, I wouldn’t change a word. I’m a fan of Public Enemy but that’s the epitome of playing to a crowd that’s done.
Master thespian Alex lifeson 👏
This is always hysterically funny 🤣
Notice the reception they got without even naming them!
When Rush came out. Know one ever heard of them. Our famous dj. Donna Halper WMMS 100.7 Brought them to the U.S.A
RIP. Neil and John Rutsey
You know what would be cool? A Beyond The Lighted Stage watch party.
Taylor and Neil were great friends ,
Yes there's actually a whole documentary on the Paul McCartney thing. Look it up
The song after Tom Sawyer that You didn't grasp was The Spirit of Radio. Off permanent waves.
Rush reunited for both Taylor Hawkins celebration concerts with mind-blowing drummers. Worth a look if you haven't seen it.
The song after Tom Sawyer that you didn’t know is The Spirit of Radio from the Permanent Waves album
You have to watch “Beyond the Lighted Stage”. It will answer a lot of your questions.
On stage with Rush: I spotted Public Enemy, Foo Fighters, Tom Morello, Gary Clark Jr, Ann and Nancy Wilson + others.
There are a lot of people who really believe Paul McCartney is dead. It’s even rumored that Ringo came forward and admitted it. They did indeed have a look alike contest of Paul. The guy who won was the spitting image of him, and oddly enough was a musician as well. The Beatles did run with this and hid Paul as well. The albums Sgt. peppers and Abbey road album pictures has clues in them. Sgt Peppers had him with his back to the photo. And in the song A Day in the Life, the first part of the song you’ll have to listen for yourself. Goes something like… I read the news today oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade. And though the news was rather sad, I just had to laugh… I saw the photograph.
He blew his mind out in a car, he didn’t notice that the light had changed. A crowd of people stood and stared, they’d seen his face before, but nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords.
Abbey road album cover they’re walking across the street and dressed as a grave digger, priest I believe? But Paul is dressed in black and barefoot. Also at the end of one of their movies, I wanna say “Help”. At the beginning of the movie words appear is he alive or dead? Then they show him cross the street. Rumor has it MI-6 ( British intelligence) investigated this many yrs. later. Because Paul was Knighted Sir Paul McCartney. And they wanted to know who the hell they Knighted if it wasn’t Paul?! Really hard to say one way or another if it’s true?
Wow that's kinda scary to think about. Thank you for sharing so much context.
Alex easily could have been a comedian!!
he is😁
There's just a bit of listening homework I say you might want to do beforehand, but the Superjam they finish the show with is well worth a listen. Heart, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, and Cream (specifically Crossroads).
[Edit] Nevermind, I didn't see that this video was 45 minutes long and included the finale.
Alex Lifeson has a point.
That isn't the Foo fighters. The Bassist is Rush producer Nick Raskulinecz
Cleveland was the first city to give rush radio play. Donna Halper
Not just Dave, but Brian Mayer, Chad Smith (red hat) they grew upto Rush..
The song you did not know is spirit of the radio
it was cool that Foo Fighters inducted them and played with them
The bass player during the 2112 intro is a fantastic producer, Nick Rasculinecz, who has produced albums by Foo Fighters, Rush, Korn, Alice In Chains…
In the final jam, the singers include Ann Wilson, John Fogerty, and (this makes me cry) Chris Cornell. Add the guitarists, Neil on drums, et al, and IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THIS!
Here’s an idea. Beyond The Lighted Stage watch party!
We lost so many from that stage in the last 9 years. Taylor Hawkins, Chris Cornell, Neil. Great jam.
Not my favourite of theirs, but I think you’ll enjoy Feedback when you get to it.
they were the rest of the inductees.