I saw the show in Montreal on this part of the Hemispheres Tour. It was a concert bowl at the Le Forum and it was a sonic maelstrom of light and sound that can only be called overpowering. Rush was easily the loudest band I had ever heard up until then. Danny Carrey of Tool called the Hemispheres show a "religious experience", and it was. I got there late, so I missed Max Webster. I arrived just in time to catch the opening salvos of Anthem. After that blast, came 'Passage to Bangkok'. 'Xanadu' blew the house down with this wild dynamic epic. After that, Rush launched into 'Cygnus X-1' and this is when the production really took off. The screen behind the stage showed a short movie of the spaceship "Rocinante' cruising and diving into the blackhole and beyond. Geddy then invites everyone on the tour of the Hemispheres, and Rush breaks into the stellar second part of the epic, fulled with bombast and blinding pyrotechnics. After that, Rush went into a bit of change of pace, with Something for Nothing, Farewell to Kings, and La Villa Strangiato. Then....2112 rips it up at a blistering pace. The closing medley of Working Man and Bastille Day leads into a thundering drum solo. This is classic over the top Neil Peart, hitting everything on his kit at a relentless pace. There was even what sounded like drum-synths in a section of the solo. It took days to recover from that show.
It wasn’t drum synths, but at the sound board Ian would mix in some flanger and phaser. Hemispheres was my first show to and I never missed a tour after!
I also saw the 78 Hemispheres tour, not in Montreal but in Michigan. I was 14. It was not only my first Rush show, it was the first live show I'd seen by any band. It was a rather epic, intense experience, right down there on the floor, near the stage. Very feral, the band, the playing, the people. I don't know that any show by anyone thereafter could have possibly had an equal impact on me. Maybe Heart? I saw Heart later that year, so close to the stage that I honestly believe I fell in love with both Ann and Nancy Wilson, so close to the magic that when the show ended and the lights came up, I felt a tinge of sadness, a lonely shiver. Seriously! By the time I was back home in my room that night, staring at the cover of the Little Queen LP, the feeling had become a form of dramatic teen heartbreak: My girls had gone away. They had flown by night, ha! I do suppose it is possible that the Rush show and the Heart show had an equal impact on 14 year old me:) Apologies for the nostalgic detour. Rush in 1978 was a great first band to see.
Very Cool article, I just got to this today. My first concert was Rush Hemispheres in 1978, Austin Texas. My older brother took me and it was quite an experience. Max Webster did open for them, but they were very under volume of the mass audience ambience waiting for Rush and with the aroma of the arena, well let's just say it was a huge party and it dominated all of the senses! Ok, so the band starts and we are in their world. My Memory: Cygnus X-1 with the video screen behind them, is like a movie going into the black hole- then to Book 2, was a complete live epic space adventure on par with seeing Star Wars the year before. I was literally taking into that universe and was so high (on the music) afterward that I am still buzzing these 43 years later. Happy New Year
That Montreal concert that he's talking about was my 1st Rush concert, and it was amazing, it turned me into a life long Rush fan. Yes, Max Webster opened up. As a young drummer, it was quite impressive to see the way Neil Peart played those drums, and yes , the sincerity and integrity shone through ! This was the A farewell to Kings concert, and it was their 1st world tour as a headlining act, they were just starting to make it really big ! They came back right at the end of that same year for Hemispheres, that was my 2nd time seeing them, and I saw every single tour after that, 19 times in all !
And you were right about them being serious business like .I 100 percent thought there would be 200 women with them . But it was just them .very soft spoken .business like
I saw Rush 5 wonderful times over a 3 year period and Max Webster opened up for them every time. It was a bonus because I liked Max almost as much as Rush
I first heard Rush as a HS sophomore while sitting in the back seat of a senior’s car heading to tutor inner city kids in math. I flunked Algebra, wiped it clean getting an A in summer school, but could teach kids to add. I was blown away. Rush immediately became my band. I caught their Hemispheres Down the Tubes tour in my hometown and never missed a tour since, sometimes catching up to 3 shows each tour. I saw them play with Max Webster on the Hemispheres tour but don’t recall much about the opening act, but remember clearly (or at least as clear as I can these days, which isn’t much). Thank you for this blast from the past. Well done!
I saw this tour, April 1, 1978, Ottawa Civic Centre... first Rush show. The place was packed with 8,000 people. Max opened and was incredible, four encores. But, before Max played, a little known Ottawa band called Butler (Jerry Butler) opened the show. I don't remember much of them, but Peter Fredette was in the band and he went on to become a decades-long member of Kim Mitchell's solo band. That is likely when Kim met Peter for the first time... just my guess. Back to the Rush show... yes, the movie screen was awesome. There were massive lighting displays and flash pots going off, especially just after the classical guitar intro to A Farewell to Kings. And I remember vividly Neil's drums which were at the time, the largest (and coolest) drum set I had ever seen. The crowd went absolutely nuts during the whole show. Since then, I have been to 38 Rush concerts all the way up R40 in Montreal. When Neil died, it was the only time I had ever cried for the death of someone I had never met.
Yes,throughout their career.............RUSH consists of all 3 of them,being just "ordinary" guys!!! They DO NOT HAVE "ego's",they do NOT talk DOWN to anyone! They are simply like talking to your average person! Kind-hearted and appreciative of all their fans!
If you read Geddy's book, you'll see that it was mostly luck that they didn't get busted for coke multiple times. There was a lot of drugs in the first couple of decades.
@@millwingskins I feel the same way. I'd definitely prefer not to know they were coked up like everyone else in that period but I guess that's unrealistic in hindsight. I'm glad they smartened up though.
Although there was Geddy's recent admissions to being very fond of cocaine until the 1980s. He was hard into the coke before everyone else. Caress of Steel was written and recorded largely under the influence of hash oil. Even Alex made his own confessions to drug use, describing Ecstasy saving his marriage and cocaine being the worst, drug, ever. Neil speaks of drug use leading to his hiatus, though I suspect that alcohol played a significant part in all their lives. It should be noted that Alex has been dry for the last three years, causing him to close his wine cellar and give all its contents to Geddy.
Loved the video. I’m an old Rush fan from many many years. My first show was 2112/all the worlds a stage i think we’re together. Saw it at the Salon at the Civic Center in ottawa. I have ticket stubs. PM me. All the best my friend. I think 24 Rush shows. My fav was R30. Big hugs
Back in '77 I saw Max Webster open for UFO, (Classic Schenker line-up), and Rush. He was really good from what I can remember. We went with a friend of my brothers who was a journalist who did an interview with UFO. He gave my brother the other back stage pass when my brother told to hold on to it and I put in my shirt pocket. I came across a friend from school and we went walking around the arena and I completely forgot all about the pass in my pocket. DOH!
I saw Rush on the hemishpheres tour at the Birmingham odeon UK, supported by Max Webster... I was stood in front of the PA... I was deaf for nearly 2 days.... Cheers for that😂
All the Worlds a Stage was my 1st real Album, I got it for Christmas along with Fly Like an Eagle and Cheap Trick In Color... I saw Rush on a Farewell to Kings tour and it was just like All the Worlds a Stage with Xanadu and Cinderella Man... I got the album signed by Alex and Geddy at the Record Store...No Neil in Sight..lol early '78
Very interesting article. I’ll click on anything wi “Rush” in the title. My favorite band ever. My first concert was Signals tour at MSG. Wish I had seen them in these earlier tours but was too young.
About Max Webster: The song, Battle Scar, which is found on the album Universal Juveniles, was recorded live to tape with both bands, Rush and Max Webster, performing in their entirety. That is to say, two drummers, two bass players, two guitar players, one keyboard player and both Kim Mitchell and Geddy Lee sharing lead vocals about equally. Picking out who is playing which parts is an interesting undertaking for sure. Some of the parts are obvious as to who is playing but some others are harder to figure out. Like Rush, Max Webster was a supremely talented band of highly capable musicians. Make no mistake; they were monstrously talented players of their instruments. Both bands no doubt taught each other a thing or two. They were definitely musical peers to each other. IMO, the greatest bands of the era to come out of Ontario were Rush, Max Webster, FM and Saga. These three other bands were also frequent openers for Rush, mainly in Canada. Max Webster traveled to the UK to tour with Rush also.
@@CJCarson-p5j I was fortunate enough to see FM as the trio with Nash the Slash, when they did a digital remaster and re-release of Black Noise. I was beside myself. It was in a bar and my friends and I took up much of what would be considered the front row (also known as the edge of the dance floor). Saw Webster at least twice when they did reunions a few times with Peter Fredette playing bass. I am also a HUGE fan of Saga and saw them three times.
@@C_Melvyn_James I saw FM with Nash a bunch of times, but the most memorable was at the El Mocambo when they got back together after Ben Mink left (in '83?) Then, a few nights later they played at the Knob Hill in Scarberia. I was talking with Nash during the set up and sound check. Not sure how we got in early but we did. Nash was there standing by the sound board and he looked about the size of Nash. I asked him f he was Nash and he told me he was. He was very polite, pleasant and not at all what you might expect. Great guy... Jeff Plewson RIP.
@@CJCarson-p5j Haha! My brother met Nash once also. No bandages. I remember he (my bro) was freaking out at how Nash the Slash was just some normal guy like might show up to repair your air conditioner. And yes, may he rest in peace.
Yes a golden era for the up and coming bands in small venues. I was in grade 10 and in one year we had Max Webster, Triumph, Saga, FM, Rose, and Goddo PLAY AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL! (Markham District High School). and to top it off that year i saw rush w/ Max webster on new years eve at maple leaf gardens! It was a great time for live music for those of us that couldnt get into bars yet.
I never saw Max Webster open for Rush, but Max did play for 500 people at my high school in Barrie, Ontario, in 1979. They were awesome!. First saw Rush on their Signals tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in YYZ in 1982❤
At age 16 in 1981, I was fortunate to see RUSH at Palmer Auditorium in Davenport, Iowa where in an 8,000 seat auditorium, I witnessed a synergistically supernatural robust super-performance. Utterly destroyed with joy unimagined, the next day was a permanent wave of ear ringing. Holler at me Geddy! I saw you guys 11 times between February 1981 and November 2012 in Dallas.
We saw the official Tour of the Hemispheres in Chicago, two nights. IIRC, they were the first band to headline 4 nights in Chicago. Pretty impressive. What a great show, at the old International Amphitheatre, got some nice pictures back when they allowed cameras, then banned them before the advent of smart phones. Still listen to them often, still my favorite band. Thanks for this video!
Hemispheres at Nassau Coliseum was my first Rush show. The only film I remember is some brief clips during By-tor and the Snow Dog and there may have been another clip at the end of The Sphere-A Kind of Dream of two brains coming together. This was my ultimate Rush setlist, played the entire 30-minute Cygus X-1 saga. Speaking of after-show activities, I read in Circus or some other rock magazine that Rush was renting ice rinks during this tour for after-show hockey games. I actually wrote their management and invited them to rent the rink in my town, which was 15 minutes from the Coliseum, and I offered my services as a goalie, which I was, since goalies are always in demand. Never heard back and to this day I have never heard or read any reference or anecdotes about these after-show pickup games! Surely they must have taken some photos; where are they? Finally, I would say that their music did become cluttered starting with Counterparts and also on Vapour Trails and Snakes & Arrows. Too many multi-tracked guitars, basses and backing vocals that couldn't be duplicated live without tapes. The music was missing a lot of the light/dark contrast and dynamics of their earlier work.
I saw RUSH with Max Webster on the Permanent Waves Tour in Buffalo NY. Max Webster had only recently released the single BATTLE SCAR, and lead singer Kim Mitchell sang lead vocals on the song as one of RUSHs encore numbers for this show! RUSH were at the top of their game that night!
The first of the 10 ? times I saw them was in August ‘79. I had just gotten my drivers license three weeks earlier, and I drove my old 1965 international scout to the concert with my girlfriend and a couple buddies. They absolutely- blew- me- away!! I have no idea whether or not they had a light show, I was laser focused on them, and their absolute mastery of their instruments (which is what attracted me to them in the first place). I saw them at least seven more times in the following years. (Probably more - I think I lost some of my concert tickets). I drifted away from them when I got older, but when I heard they were coming to town in ‘07, I jumped at the chance to go see them. I wasn’t disappointed. Sidenote - my wife was pregnant and due in two weeks when I went to see that show. Man, was she pissed that I left her alone when she was that close to her due date! 😂 I saw them two more times after that. My son is now 17, and when I showed him a video of them playing “La Villa Strangiato”, (at pink pop ‘79), he said “Alex looks like he’s trying to destroy that guitar!!“ 😂 Rush has always been my favorite band, and they always will be. Thanks for taking the time to share this video!
I LOVE this stuff, Mr. MICROFICHE! I'm a Huge RUSH Fan. You're taking me back to some great memories trying to figure out how this social misfit could avoid the mainstream, societal pressures. IE, Subdivisions! I'm 56 and I love WW 2 History. As freshman, trapped on the high school grounds two years before getting a driver's license, I would sit in the library on my 45 minute "STUDY TIME" and check out vinyl records. I would listen to 2112, Kings while looking for stories on Microfiche about the war, post D-Day. Now I'm pondering what happened to all that MICROFICHE the line a small section of every library I can recall. love the info about the FIRST NOEL in one of your other previous posts. Peace, Happy Holidays Mr. MICROFICHE!
thanks for this great article RUSH is the ultimate band and a farewell to kings is the first album that I heard and purchased . the first tour I saw was Permanent Waves and went to a total of 15 Rush Concerts in my life. i taught myself to play by studying their music. love your presentation of this rare document
Yes, saw Max Webster opening for Rush in Calgary. Known as the lead singer for the band, Kim Mitchell was also a seriously good guitarist. I played guitar and was intrigued by Mitchell odd riffs and leads. We actually had all Max Webster's stuff at that point - seeing them together was pretty exciting for us.
I seen them twice in Calgary and five times in Toronto. In Calgary Max Webster and Streetheart opened for them, I don't remember too much about it because like everyone else I was stoned but Kim was a great guitar player. I had a chance to meet him at a guitar conference in Toronto and he is a big tall guy with a huge presence. Definitely born to be a rock star.
This was such a great watch; I love to hear how my favorite bands (Rush, Jethro Tull, UFO, and Thin Lizzy) were not, and in some cases, still are not appreciated for the art they produced, but some gained the masses without changing their message or style. .
Max Webster was the first band I ever saw live-1978. I still think they are amazing-totally unique and wacky. Many called them a Canadian Zappa. Kim Mitchell is one of my favourite guitar players to this day.
I didn't see this short tour but did catch the Hemispheres tour in Huntsville, AL with Starz as the opening act. I'm pretty sure they busted out all the epic songs (2112, Xanadu, By-Tor, Hemispheres....everything but the Necromancer) and managed to be playful and funny onstage. Amazing experience. I believe the show ended on a rock-n-roll note with "In the Mood " where they played with the house lights on--a unifying experience.
Thanks for the info on Geddy singing on Max Webster's tune. I remember reading in 1982, Geddy said he'd be a Millionaire if he had a nickel Everytime he read a bad review about his voice! I saw them in 1980 twice, for my first time. Been addicted since!! Alex is probably the most underrated Guitarist.
My first time seeing Rush was the Farewell to Kings tour. I saw them at the Long Beach California arena, and I remember the curtains that had been lifted above the stage for the opening were set on fire by the blasts as the opening number hit the "rock" moment! Roadies and the fire crew scrambled up the scaffolding to put out the flames as the band continued to play amidst the falling embers.
Didn't see them together but both Rush and Max Webster played my high school out in the Scarboro subs at Mowat C.I.... First place I also saw Triumph and Teenage Head!! Who know high schools were such a great venue back then???!!!
I was fortunate enough to see Rush perform in the War Memorial Collisium in Rochester NY. The year was 1977 and they were touring in support of the album , 2112 !! I was 13 years old and this was my first concert! $ 7.00 dollars general admission.! I don't remember who opened for them, ( too many rides on the Train to Bangkok!) , but the experience held a high bar for the bands that came after them! 77 was a good year for tours! I seen ACDC , open up for Ted Nugent, ( with Derick St. Holmes!!) , Eagle's Hotel California tour with Jimmy Buffet supporting his changes in attitudes tour. I would be typing the rest of the day just to make a list of shows to the mi's 80's! Peace , pot , and micro dot!
Really enjoyed seeing/listening to this glimpse into the Rush universe. Subscribed and will check out your other stuff! :) //Håkan "Hawk", a Rush -fan since first seeing them in Stockholm in may 1979
First comment is on the pronunciation of Guelph. It is Gwelf. The first concert I saw was at the CNE grandstand in August of 1977. It was Max Webster opening for Rush. I rank it as one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Both bands were fantastic but Rush was incredible. The songs from Farewell to Kings just blew me away. It set a bar that few live acts were able to achieve. I look back on it now and realize how blessed I was to see such greatness.
I saw the two groups together in Austin and in San Antonio. It was a great concert with a great light show. I believe it was the Hemispheres tour in either 1978 or early 1979. Flying objects were definitely an issue back then, especially in SA🤕.
Nice Video that does capture a moment. I first saw Rushin the Montreal Forum in December 1976, opening for Aerosmith ,who I had gone to see. I am a drummer, and didn't know anything about RUSH. I was a freshman in College in Potdam NY at top of NY State. I was absolutley stunned by Rush's short opening set. I purchased 2112 and ATWAS right after, and eventually the remaining back catalog. . When "Farewell" came out following September I was at first disappointed, because it wasn't "2112". But as was thecase with all future releases I loved it within a few listens. I was 19 and already in to Yes, Genesis so could see the change of direction. Me and several of my friends totally got into Rush. Pre internet it was very hard to get news other than in Fanzines like Circus and Cream. Rolling Stone was too highbrow. Because I lived just over border we'd occassionaly get Rush NEws from Canadien radio or a review like the one you posted. At this time (and for me, for a few decades) we didn't care if people or critics hated them "That guy has a screechy coice", "He sounds like a girl". I loved Led Zep and other mainsteam bands too but Rush was always special. It was our little club, a very personal thing. I never tried to sell them to anyone else. Decades later and the birth of the the internet we all got connected. As for me, next time I saw them was on Hemispheres tour in January of 1979 in Albany. By then they had some projectors to go with with the light show. I miss the 70s !!!!! Music was everything.
I remember watching the Beatles "Get Back" documentary and being struck by how young they all were at the time, despite the incredible amount and quality of music they had, were, and would create. As the article pointed out, Rush was only in their mid-20's, and they had already done 2112, A Farewell to Kings, and were about to release Hemispheres. Remarkable.
I saw Max Webster open for Rush in 1977, the first time I saw Rush. I had never heard Rush before and really didn't even know who they were. I went tobsee UFO, number 2 on the bill, who were every bit as good as I had hoped. Nonetheless, Rush was my favorite band when they started Xanadu, fourth song of their set. I can't say I remember Max Webster other than I liked them. Opening the show was Hush, a band featuring Robert Berry, who became a prog mainstay.
****Someone probably already mentioned this, but ALL THREE members of Rush, and the entire lineup of Max Webster-with original keyboardist Terry Watkinson’s last contribution to a Max song, as he had left the band, and only plays on that song on that album, Universal Juveniles-were ALL in the studio, playing live. If you’re not familiar with Max Webster, check out that album. You might like it. I love it! Battle Scar, especially. Neil described it as, “Wagnerian tumult”! What an epic song! You might or might not like the whole album, but if you’re a true Rush fan, you will almost certainly love Battle Scar! Double drums, double bass, double guitars, double vocals, and keyboards. EPIC is not an overstatement!!
I have seen Rush about 16 times. My older brother saw them over 60 times and if I'm not mistaken, I think this show in Guelph was the very first time he saw them. I didn't get to see them until the P/G tour, 1984, in Buffalo, NY.
Yep...Saw the Kings tour Sept. 1977 in Portland, OR. withh Max Webster and UFO. It was my second concert after Led Zeppelin Seatle 77. Zeppelin kind of sucked but Rush showed us how it's done! We hitch hiked back 80 miles to see Rush again the next night...best times of my life!
This was very cool ... This article you read.... Can you find more of these... These are my favorite RUSH years.... Really cool music. I always wondered if they have old recordings of unreleased music from this era. Id love to hear it.
Max Webster were Canada's Frank Zappa - stream of consciousness lyrics met with absolutely top notch musicianship. The true musician's musician band. And both were managed by Ray Danniels/SRO and albums produced by Terry Brown (Broon) - essentially brothers from different mothers.
Excellent article, glad I stumbled across this video. I had never heard Max Webster before. So I listened to Battle Scar, pretty damn amazing! I discovered Rush in '81 through Moving Pictures. First time I saw them was in '84 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. I agree, whoever wrote the article is really good. You don't see anything written like that these days.
In 1981, a buddy and I met geddy Lee and Kim Mitchell in a pawn shop in Louisville Kentucky before they head their show that night. I didn't really know who Kim Mitchell was but I soon found out later. Getty and my buddy picked bass guitar together as Getty was looking at bass guitars in the pawn shop. A night I will never forget
I just can't handle RUclips anymore I may as well watch regular television with all the commercials you can't get up and get something to drink and listen to any channel without a commercial coming in on a 10 minute video there's three different times commercials have come on it's crazy
Got to see them on the Hemispheres tour in Green Bay WI. The screen behind the band was something new for the Brown County Arena. I wish I still had that 8 track and LP. Oh and the drinking age was 18 back then. Great times.
My best friend is a huge Rush fan , he I seen them in concert numerous times I have seen them at least twice maybe more I can't remember but I do remember in 1984 , I saw them in Nashville sold out show I can't remember the album It didn't have any big hits on it but it was a fantastic concert I saw them again in the 1990s where I jumped over the back wall to get into the sold out concert!! Ha ha
@RickNBacker your right ! I got a white T-shirt at the concert, with the album cover on the front, I didn't want to Google it !!! Thanks for the info !
I saw several Max/Rush shows in Ottawa Ont. They were Always nutso. Neil Peart would warm up backstage by playing along with Max's drummer Gary Mckracken.
It’s the truth. We would call the radio stations constantly requesting Rush, then breathlessly wait by the radio until they finally did. “We’re gonna play something from Rush coming up next, but first here’s some Tom Petty!” Gack! Just play some phugging Rush!
Toronto 1978 my first concert. Rush played 3 nights .the final night was new years eve in which Max Webster opened . I went to the first night and Canadian band Wireless opened.Check that band out there awesome! Anyways the show blew my whole world wide open.
I saw Rush 3 times in the late 70s. In 1976 they opened for Ted Nugent at Golden Hall(small theater in San Diego).In 1977 & 1978 ithey headlined the San Diego Sports Arena with no floor seats & the stage up against the back of the horseshoe. In 1977 UFO opened & Pat Travers opened in 1978.
Saw webster in 79/80 at a small hockey arena in a small ontario city. Can't remember if or who opened, wish i paid more attn. but there was weEd and booze everywhere 😂😂🤟🤟🤟
⭐⭐⭐⭐3/4 in 84 I only remember the subdivisions song video on the screen ,I had good seat on a riser stage left and the lasers only seemed to make a spot dot at back of coliseum.memphis of course, but they were show to me, first time seeing them I'm watching in slack jawed amazement. 88 further back not bad , okay seats.they played 4 or 5 PW songs I didn't know but came off great live,I couldn't get with that record. But encores included la Villa so I almost shed a tear in silent gratitude.memhis,I don't recall screen,lasers worked good,I loved it.
84 I attended with the two brothers who thinks everything sucks,they didn't diss too bad,we missed fast way, they're to this day chronically late. Tommy Shaw saw him I drove,88
I saw Max Webster/ Powder Blues Band & Rush in Ottawa....$12 think...Max Webster...Kim Mitchel the guitarist amazing artist.look up "Hangover"...Amazing Concert ....the whole Night....
I've loved them separately but nearly equally to Led Zeppelin since I first became aware of them when I heard "Fly By Night" on the radio for the first time 😁
Jan 19, 1979 Pittsburgh Civic Arena they had the video where the spaceship flew into a new world smaller and smaller while the new world got bigger and bigger. I can’t find it anywhere on RUclips either.
Ha! I was a monitor engineer90's -2000's! and big Rush head, 16channels of monitors, so few. i usually had 32-48 inputs at monitor world. now my ears are blown, so I play bass in a band, again!Ha!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I saw the show in Montreal on this part of the Hemispheres Tour. It was a concert bowl at the Le Forum and it was a sonic maelstrom of light and sound that can only be called overpowering. Rush was easily the loudest band I had ever heard up until then. Danny Carrey of Tool called the Hemispheres show a "religious experience", and it was. I got there late, so I missed Max Webster. I arrived just in time to catch the opening salvos of Anthem. After that blast, came 'Passage to Bangkok'. 'Xanadu' blew the house down with this wild dynamic epic. After that, Rush launched into 'Cygnus X-1' and this is when the production really took off. The screen behind the stage showed a short movie of the spaceship "Rocinante' cruising and diving into the blackhole and beyond. Geddy then invites everyone on the tour of the Hemispheres, and Rush breaks into the stellar second part of the epic, fulled with bombast and blinding pyrotechnics. After that, Rush went into a bit of change of pace, with Something for Nothing, Farewell to Kings, and La Villa Strangiato. Then....2112 rips it up at a blistering pace. The closing medley of Working Man and Bastille Day leads into a thundering drum solo. This is classic over the top Neil Peart, hitting everything on his kit at a relentless pace. There was even what sounded like drum-synths in a section of the solo. It took days to recover from that show.
thanks for sharing!
It wasn’t drum synths, but at the sound board Ian would mix in some flanger and phaser. Hemispheres was my first show to and I never missed a tour after!
I also saw the 78 Hemispheres tour, not in Montreal but in Michigan. I was 14. It was not only my first Rush show, it was the first live show I'd seen by any band. It was a rather epic, intense experience, right down there on the floor, near the stage. Very feral, the band, the playing, the people. I don't know that any show by anyone thereafter could have possibly had an equal impact on me. Maybe Heart? I saw Heart later that year, so close to the stage that I honestly believe I fell in love with both Ann and Nancy Wilson, so close to the magic that when the show ended and the lights came up, I felt a tinge of sadness, a lonely shiver. Seriously! By the time I was back home in my room that night, staring at the cover of the Little Queen LP, the feeling had become a form of dramatic teen heartbreak: My girls had gone away. They had flown by night, ha! I do suppose it is possible that the Rush show and the Heart show had an equal impact on 14 year old me:) Apologies for the nostalgic detour. Rush in 1978 was a great first band to see.
Two words….
FOREVER JEALOUS!
🤘🤩🤘
.missed this tour but saw afwtk so happy about that became aware of Max Webster
Very Cool article, I just got to this today. My first concert was Rush Hemispheres in 1978, Austin Texas. My older brother took me and it was quite an experience. Max Webster did open for them, but they were very under volume of the mass audience ambience waiting for Rush and with the aroma of the arena, well let's just say it was a huge party and it dominated all of the senses! Ok, so the band starts and we are in their world. My Memory: Cygnus X-1 with the video screen behind them, is like a movie going into the black hole- then to Book 2, was a complete live epic space adventure on par with seeing Star Wars the year before. I was literally taking into that universe and was so high (on the music) afterward that I am still buzzing these 43 years later. Happy New Year
How cool! Thanks for sharing this!
Awesome! Wish I had seen Max opening for Rush! And, Cygnus Book 1 and 2, back to back? Mind-blowing! I didn’t see them live until Moving Pictures…
That Montreal concert that he's talking about was my 1st Rush concert, and it was amazing, it turned me into a life long Rush fan. Yes, Max Webster opened up. As a young drummer, it was quite impressive to see the way Neil Peart played those drums, and yes , the sincerity and integrity shone through ! This was the A farewell to Kings concert, and it was their 1st world tour as a headlining act, they were just starting to make it really big ! They came back right at the end of that same year for Hemispheres, that was my 2nd time seeing them, and I saw every single tour after that, 19 times in all !
And you were right about them being serious business like .I 100 percent thought there would be 200 women with them . But it was just them .very soft spoken .business like
I saw Rush 5 wonderful times over a 3 year period and Max Webster opened up for them every time. It was a bonus because I liked Max almost as much as Rush
I agree with you Max was in a way more interesting my show had a black and white show of old journey which blew my mind
I first heard Rush as a HS sophomore while sitting in the back seat of a senior’s car heading to tutor inner city kids in math. I flunked Algebra, wiped it clean getting an A in summer school, but could teach kids to add. I was blown away. Rush immediately became my band. I caught their Hemispheres Down the Tubes tour in my hometown and never missed a tour since, sometimes catching up to 3 shows each tour. I saw them play with Max Webster on the Hemispheres tour but don’t recall much about the opening act, but remember clearly (or at least as clear as I can these days, which isn’t much). Thank you for this blast from the past. Well done!
I saw this tour, April 1, 1978, Ottawa Civic Centre... first Rush show. The place was packed with 8,000 people. Max opened and was incredible, four encores. But, before Max played, a little known Ottawa band called Butler (Jerry Butler) opened the show. I don't remember much of them, but Peter Fredette was in the band and he went on to become a decades-long member of Kim Mitchell's solo band. That is likely when Kim met Peter for the first time... just my guess.
Back to the Rush show... yes, the movie screen was awesome. There were massive lighting displays and flash pots going off, especially just after the classical guitar intro to A Farewell to Kings. And I remember vividly Neil's drums which were at the time, the largest (and coolest) drum set I had ever seen. The crowd went absolutely nuts during the whole show. Since then, I have been to 38 Rush concerts all the way up R40 in Montreal. When Neil died, it was the only time I had ever cried for the death of someone I had never met.
I was at the Montreal r40 show too!
People who didnt know Neil Peart mourned. He was that impactful. RIP Neil.
They’re one of the few bands that didn’t have any dopey scandals or rehab n’ shit. Good for them.
Yes,throughout their career.............RUSH consists of all 3 of them,being just "ordinary" guys!!! They DO NOT HAVE "ego's",they do NOT talk DOWN to anyone! They are simply like talking to your average person! Kind-hearted and appreciative of all their fans!
If you read Geddy's book, you'll see that it was mostly luck that they didn't get busted for coke multiple times. There was a lot of drugs in the first couple of decades.
@@robadams1645 Yes, I read Geddy's book and I kind of wish I hadn't.......I liked them better when they lived in my imagination.
@@millwingskins I feel the same way. I'd definitely prefer not to know they were coked up like everyone else in that period but I guess that's unrealistic in hindsight.
I'm glad they smartened up though.
Although there was Geddy's recent admissions to being very fond of cocaine until the 1980s. He was hard into the coke before everyone else. Caress of Steel was written and recorded largely under the influence of hash oil. Even Alex made his own confessions to drug use, describing Ecstasy saving his marriage and cocaine being the worst, drug, ever. Neil speaks of drug use leading to his hiatus, though I suspect that alcohol played a significant part in all their lives. It should be noted that Alex has been dry for the last three years, causing him to close his wine cellar and give all its contents to Geddy.
I saw Rush at the old Checker Dome in St. Louis in March 1981. Opening act was Max Webster. Best concert I ever attended.
Loved the video. I’m an old Rush fan from many many years. My first show was 2112/all the worlds a stage i think we’re together. Saw it at the Salon at the Civic Center in ottawa. I have ticket stubs. PM me. All the best my friend. I think 24 Rush shows. My fav was R30. Big hugs
Back in '77 I saw Max Webster open for UFO, (Classic Schenker line-up), and Rush. He was really good from what I can remember. We went with a friend of my brothers who was a journalist who did an interview with UFO. He gave my brother the other back stage pass when my brother told to hold on to it and I put in my shirt pocket. I came across a friend from school and we went walking around the arena and I completely forgot all about the pass in my pocket. DOH!
UFO with Schenker, how cool!
I saw Rush on the hemishpheres tour at the Birmingham odeon UK, supported by Max Webster... I was stood in front of the PA... I was deaf for nearly 2 days.... Cheers for that😂
All the Worlds a Stage was my 1st real Album, I got it for Christmas
along with Fly Like an Eagle and Cheap Trick In Color...
I saw Rush on a Farewell to Kings tour and it was just like
All the Worlds a Stage with Xanadu and Cinderella Man...
I got the album signed by Alex and Geddy at the Record Store...No Neil in Sight..lol early '78
Very interesting article. I’ll click on anything wi “Rush” in the title. My favorite band ever. My first concert was Signals tour at MSG. Wish I had seen them in these earlier tours but was too young.
About Max Webster: The song, Battle Scar, which is found on the album Universal Juveniles, was recorded live to tape with both bands, Rush and Max Webster, performing in their entirety. That is to say, two drummers, two bass players, two guitar players, one keyboard player and both Kim Mitchell and Geddy Lee sharing lead vocals about equally.
Picking out who is playing which parts is an interesting undertaking for sure. Some of the parts are obvious as to who is playing but some others are harder to figure out. Like Rush, Max Webster was a supremely talented band of highly capable musicians. Make no mistake; they were monstrously talented players of their instruments. Both bands no doubt taught each other a thing or two. They were definitely musical peers to each other.
IMO, the greatest bands of the era to come out of Ontario were Rush, Max Webster, FM and Saga. These three other bands were also frequent openers for Rush, mainly in Canada. Max Webster traveled to the UK to tour with Rush also.
Perfect history lesson. And, I always loved FM too. Max was my second fave Canadian band, but FM, especially with Nash the Slash, was a great band.
@@CJCarson-p5j I was fortunate enough to see FM as the trio with Nash the Slash, when they did a digital remaster and re-release of Black Noise. I was beside myself. It was in a bar and my friends and I took up much of what would be considered the front row (also known as the edge of the dance floor). Saw Webster at least twice when they did reunions a few times with Peter Fredette playing bass. I am also a HUGE fan of Saga and saw them three times.
@@C_Melvyn_James I saw FM with Nash a bunch of times, but the most memorable was at the El Mocambo when they got back together after Ben Mink left (in '83?) Then, a few nights later they played at the Knob Hill in Scarberia. I was talking with Nash during the set up and sound check. Not sure how we got in early but we did. Nash was there standing by the sound board and he looked about the size of Nash. I asked him f he was Nash and he told me he was. He was very polite, pleasant and not at all what you might expect. Great guy... Jeff Plewson RIP.
@@CJCarson-p5j Haha! My brother met Nash once also. No bandages. I remember he (my bro) was freaking out at how Nash the Slash was just some normal guy like might show up to repair your air conditioner. And yes, may he rest in peace.
Yes a golden era for the up and coming bands in small venues. I was in grade 10 and in one year we had Max Webster, Triumph, Saga, FM, Rose, and Goddo PLAY AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL! (Markham District High School). and to top it off that year i saw rush w/ Max webster on new years eve at maple leaf gardens! It was a great time for live music for those of us that couldnt get into bars yet.
I saw them live in Bismarck, ND in May, 1978 and in Austin, TX in February, 1979. Tremendous both times.
I never saw Max Webster open for Rush, but Max did play for 500 people at my high school in Barrie, Ontario, in 1979. They were awesome!. First saw Rush on their Signals tour at Maple Leaf Gardens in YYZ in 1982❤
At age 16 in 1981, I was fortunate to see RUSH at Palmer Auditorium in Davenport, Iowa where in an 8,000 seat auditorium, I witnessed a synergistically supernatural robust super-performance. Utterly destroyed with joy unimagined, the next day was a permanent wave of ear ringing. Holler at me Geddy! I saw you guys 11 times between February 1981 and November 2012 in Dallas.
We saw the official Tour of the Hemispheres in Chicago, two nights. IIRC, they were the first band to headline 4 nights in Chicago. Pretty impressive.
What a great show, at the old International Amphitheatre, got some nice pictures back when they allowed cameras, then banned them before the advent of smart phones.
Still listen to them often, still my favorite band. Thanks for this video!
Hemispheres at Nassau Coliseum was my first Rush show. The only film I remember is some brief clips during By-tor and the Snow Dog and there may have been another clip at the end of The Sphere-A Kind of Dream of two brains coming together. This was my ultimate Rush setlist, played the entire 30-minute Cygus X-1 saga.
Speaking of after-show activities, I read in Circus or some other rock magazine that Rush was renting ice rinks during this tour for after-show hockey games. I actually wrote their management and invited them to rent the rink in my town, which was 15 minutes from the Coliseum, and I offered my services as a goalie, which I was, since goalies are always in demand. Never heard back and to this day I have never heard or read any reference or anecdotes about these after-show pickup games! Surely they must have taken some photos; where are they?
Finally, I would say that their music did become cluttered starting with Counterparts and also on Vapour Trails and Snakes & Arrows. Too many multi-tracked guitars, basses and backing vocals that couldn't be duplicated live without tapes. The music was missing a lot of the light/dark contrast and dynamics of their earlier work.
Skateland?
@@tfbrown2 - Newbridge Road Park
I saw RUSH with Max Webster on the Permanent Waves Tour in Buffalo NY. Max Webster had only recently released the single BATTLE SCAR, and lead singer Kim Mitchell sang lead vocals on the song as one of RUSHs encore numbers for this show! RUSH were at the top of their game that night!
The first of the 10 ? times I saw them was in August ‘79. I had just gotten my drivers license three weeks earlier, and I drove my old 1965 international scout to the concert with my girlfriend and a couple buddies. They absolutely- blew- me- away!! I have no idea whether or not they had a light show, I was laser focused on them, and their absolute mastery of their instruments (which is what attracted me to them in the first place). I saw them at least seven more times in the following years. (Probably more - I think I lost some of my concert tickets). I drifted away from them when I got older, but when I heard they were coming to town in ‘07, I jumped at the chance to go see them. I wasn’t disappointed. Sidenote - my wife was pregnant and due in two weeks when I went to see that show. Man, was she pissed that I left her alone when she was that close to her due date! 😂 I saw them two more times after that. My son is now 17, and when I showed him a video of them playing “La Villa Strangiato”, (at pink pop ‘79), he said “Alex looks like he’s trying to destroy that guitar!!“ 😂 Rush has always been my favorite band, and they always will be. Thanks for taking the time to share this video!
I LOVE this stuff, Mr. MICROFICHE!
I'm a Huge RUSH Fan.
You're taking me back to some great memories trying to figure out how this social misfit could avoid the mainstream, societal pressures. IE, Subdivisions!
I'm 56 and I love WW 2 History. As freshman, trapped on the high school grounds two years before getting a driver's license, I would sit in the library on my 45 minute "STUDY TIME" and check out vinyl records. I would listen to 2112, Kings while looking for stories on Microfiche about the war, post D-Day.
Now I'm pondering what happened to all that MICROFICHE the line a small section of every library I can recall.
love the info about the FIRST NOEL in one of your other previous posts.
Peace, Happy Holidays Mr. MICROFICHE!
thanks for this great article RUSH is the ultimate band and a farewell to kings is the first album that I heard and purchased . the first tour I saw was Permanent Waves and went to a total of 15 Rush Concerts in my life. i taught myself to play by studying their music. love your presentation of this rare document
Yes, saw Max Webster opening for Rush in Calgary. Known as the lead singer for the band, Kim Mitchell was also a seriously good guitarist. I played guitar and was intrigued by Mitchell odd riffs and leads. We actually had all Max Webster's stuff at that point - seeing them together was pretty exciting for us.
I seen them twice in Calgary and five times in Toronto.
In Calgary Max Webster and Streetheart opened for them, I don't remember too much about it because like everyone else I was stoned but Kim was a great guitar player.
I had a chance to meet him at a guitar conference in Toronto and he is a big tall guy with a huge presence. Definitely born to be a rock star.
Go for a Soda...eh..?
This was such a great watch; I love to hear how my favorite bands (Rush, Jethro Tull, UFO, and Thin Lizzy) were not, and in some cases, still are not appreciated for the art they produced, but some gained the masses without changing their message or style. .
Love your comment UFO Max top notch in my my mind
Hemispheres had the Cool Poster inside the Album Cover...
It hung on my wall under my Aerosmith Live Bootleg Poster that came in that Album...
Good written article on the experience of a Rush concert in 1977. Thanks for sourcing this and sharing.
Max Webster was the first band I ever saw live-1978.
I still think they are amazing-totally unique and wacky.
Many called them a Canadian Zappa.
Kim Mitchell is one of my favourite guitar players to this day.
I'm with you my man Max blew me away high class in borrowed shoes Jesus that was my highlight Oh War was the highlight
Saw hemispheres in Toronto in the old maple leaf gardens was loud and the bass from the bass pedals just went through your whole body was awesome 😊😎
I didn't see this short tour but did catch the Hemispheres tour in Huntsville, AL with Starz as the opening act. I'm pretty sure they busted out all the epic songs (2112, Xanadu, By-Tor, Hemispheres....everything but the Necromancer) and managed to be playful and funny onstage. Amazing experience. I believe the show ended on a rock-n-roll note with "In the Mood " where they played with the house lights on--a unifying experience.
Thanks for the info on Geddy singing on Max Webster's tune. I remember reading in 1982, Geddy said he'd be a Millionaire if he had a nickel Everytime he read a bad review about his voice! I saw them in 1980 twice, for my first time. Been addicted since!! Alex is probably the most underrated Guitarist.
My first time seeing Rush was the Farewell to Kings tour. I saw them at the Long Beach California arena, and I remember the curtains that had been lifted above the stage for the opening were set on fire by the blasts as the opening number hit the "rock" moment! Roadies and the fire crew scrambled up the scaffolding to put out the flames as the band continued to play amidst the falling embers.
Whoa!
For me, I remember them back then as the "mystics/mages" of rock. I kinda felt they wanted to be viewed in this way too.
Didn't see them together but both Rush and Max Webster played my high school out in the Scarboro subs at Mowat C.I.... First place I also saw Triumph and Teenage Head!! Who know high schools were such a great venue back then???!!!
This article was so well-written
I was fortunate enough to see Rush perform in the War Memorial Collisium in Rochester NY. The year was 1977 and they were touring in support of the album , 2112 !!
I was 13 years old and this was my first concert! $ 7.00 dollars general admission.! I don't remember who opened for them, ( too many rides on the Train to Bangkok!) , but the experience held a high bar for the bands that came after them!
77 was a good year for tours! I seen ACDC , open up for Ted Nugent, ( with Derick St. Holmes!!) , Eagle's Hotel California tour with Jimmy Buffet supporting his changes in attitudes tour. I would be typing the rest of the day just to make a list of shows to the mi's 80's!
Peace , pot , and micro dot!
greatest band ever
Really enjoyed seeing/listening to this glimpse into the Rush universe. Subscribed and will check out your other stuff! :) //Håkan "Hawk", a Rush -fan since first seeing them in Stockholm in may 1979
Awesome, thank you!
First comment is on the pronunciation of Guelph. It is Gwelf. The first concert I saw was at the CNE grandstand in August of 1977. It was Max Webster opening for Rush. I rank it as one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Both bands were fantastic but Rush was incredible. The songs from Farewell to Kings just blew me away. It set a bar that few live acts were able to achieve. I look back on it now and realize how blessed I was to see such greatness.
I'm enjoying your show! Thanks for your research and analysis!
Thanks, I'm glad you're enjoying it!
rush is my fav nusic.
I saw the two groups together in Austin and in San Antonio. It was a great concert with a great light show. I believe it was the Hemispheres tour in either 1978 or early 1979. Flying objects were definitely an issue back then, especially in SA🤕.
That one is surprisingly accurate and stayed true to the end and still.
Nice Video that does capture a moment. I first saw Rushin the Montreal Forum in December 1976, opening for Aerosmith ,who I had gone to see. I am a drummer, and didn't know anything about RUSH. I was a freshman in College in Potdam NY at top of NY State. I was absolutley stunned by Rush's short opening set. I purchased 2112 and ATWAS right after, and eventually the remaining back catalog. . When "Farewell" came out following September I was at first disappointed, because it wasn't "2112". But as was thecase with all future releases I loved it within a few listens. I was 19 and already in to Yes, Genesis so could see the change of direction. Me and several of my friends totally got into Rush. Pre internet it was very hard to get news other than in Fanzines like Circus and Cream. Rolling Stone was too highbrow. Because I lived just over border we'd occassionaly get Rush NEws from Canadien radio or a review like the one you posted. At this time (and for me, for a few decades) we didn't care if people or critics hated them "That guy has a screechy coice", "He sounds like a girl". I loved Led Zep and other mainsteam bands too but Rush was always special. It was our little club, a very personal thing. I never tried to sell them to anyone else. Decades later and the birth of the the internet we all got connected. As for me, next time I saw them was on Hemispheres tour in January of 1979 in Albany. By then they had some projectors to go with with the light show. I miss the 70s !!!!! Music was everything.
Well done. Thanks for that!!!
I remember watching the Beatles "Get Back" documentary and being struck by how young they all were at the time, despite the incredible amount and quality of music they had, were, and would create. As the article pointed out, Rush was only in their mid-20's, and they had already done 2112, A Farewell to Kings, and were about to release Hemispheres. Remarkable.
Neil and Alex also performed on the Max Webster song "Battle Scar".
Not a great song sorry !
I am from Guelph. Was 16 in 1977 . First time I saw them was 1974/ missed this show. Thanks for posting
Super cool video! Thanks for sharing!
Kind of reminds me of my first Rush experience. 1974, I think it was? They opened for Kiss at Hammond Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana- ✊️
I saw Max Webster open for Rush in 1977, the first time I saw Rush. I had never heard Rush before and really didn't even know who they were. I went tobsee UFO, number 2 on the bill, who were every bit as good as I had hoped. Nonetheless, Rush was my favorite band when they started Xanadu, fourth song of their set.
I can't say I remember Max Webster other than I liked them. Opening the show was Hush, a band featuring Robert Berry, who became a prog mainstay.
Me too...Xanadu brought me to tears.
****Someone probably already mentioned this, but ALL THREE members of Rush, and the entire lineup of Max Webster-with original keyboardist Terry Watkinson’s last contribution to a Max song, as he had left the band, and only plays on that song on that album, Universal Juveniles-were ALL in the studio, playing live.
If you’re not familiar with Max Webster, check out that album. You might like it. I love it! Battle Scar, especially. Neil described it as, “Wagnerian tumult”! What an epic song! You might or might not like the whole album, but if you’re a true Rush fan, you will almost certainly love Battle Scar! Double drums, double bass, double guitars, double vocals, and keyboards. EPIC is not an overstatement!!
I have seen Rush about 16 times. My older brother saw them over 60 times and if I'm not mistaken, I think this show in Guelph was the very first time he saw them. I didn't get to see them until the P/G tour, 1984, in Buffalo, NY.
Yes Sir, saw Max and Rush so many times, Awesome combo, They did do BattleScar on one or 2 tours. Be well, great vid
Yep...Saw the Kings tour Sept. 1977 in Portland, OR. withh Max Webster and UFO. It was my second concert after Led Zeppelin Seatle 77. Zeppelin kind of sucked but Rush showed us how it's done! We hitch hiked back 80 miles to see Rush again the next night...best times of my life!
This was very cool ... This article you read.... Can you find more of these... These are my favorite RUSH years.... Really cool music. I always wondered if they have old recordings of unreleased music from this era. Id love to hear it.
Max Webster were Canada's Frank Zappa - stream of consciousness lyrics met with absolutely top notch musicianship. The true musician's musician band. And both were managed by Ray Danniels/SRO and albums produced by Terry Brown (Broon) - essentially brothers from different mothers.
Excellent article, glad I stumbled across this video. I had never heard Max Webster before. So I listened to Battle Scar, pretty damn amazing! I discovered Rush in '81 through Moving Pictures. First time I saw them was in '84 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. I agree, whoever wrote the article is really good. You don't see anything written like that these days.
Awesome find. This was a cool article. Thank you for showing this.
Yes … saw Max Webster open for Rush many times. They produced some. Wry good music and had a strong following of their own.
In 1981, a buddy and I met geddy Lee and Kim Mitchell in a pawn shop in Louisville Kentucky before they head their show that night. I didn't really know who Kim Mitchell was but I soon found out later. Getty and my buddy picked bass guitar together as Getty was looking at bass guitars in the pawn shop. A night I will never forget
Ladies and gentlemen,the professor on the drum kit.......
I saw Rush open up for Nazareth...way back in the day....and I did see Max Webster open for Rush for Permanent Waves Tour I believe...in Halifax, NS.
I just can't handle RUclips anymore I may as well watch regular television with all the commercials you can't get up and get something to drink and listen to any channel without a commercial coming in on a 10 minute video there's three different times commercials have come on it's crazy
How do you think content creators get paid? You can skip after 5 seconds, you can't do that on regular TV. Relax, press skip and enjoy the show.
@@SuperRockinRobertI pay the add free thing so worth it
@@godbyone You're just pre paying for the ads you don't watch. YT loves it. Free ad revenue without having to show you an ad. Sucker.
It's a hard life out here
Got to see them on the Hemispheres tour in Green Bay WI. The screen behind the band was something new for the Brown County Arena. I wish I still had that 8 track and LP. Oh and the drinking age was 18 back then. Great times.
Battlscar is both bands togheter.
My best friend is a huge Rush fan , he I seen them in concert numerous times I have seen them at least twice maybe more I can't remember but I do remember in 1984 , I saw them in Nashville sold out show I can't remember the album It didn't have any big hits on it but it was a fantastic concert I saw them again in the 1990s where I jumped over the back wall to get into the sold out concert!! Ha ha
That would have been the Grace Under Pressure tour in '84.
@RickNBacker your right ! I got a white T-shirt at the concert, with the album cover on the front, I didn't want to Google it !!! Thanks for the info !
I saw several Max/Rush shows in Ottawa Ont. They were Always nutso. Neil Peart would warm up backstage by playing along with Max's drummer Gary Mckracken.
It’s the truth. We would call the radio stations constantly requesting Rush, then breathlessly wait by the radio until they finally did. “We’re gonna play something from Rush coming up next, but first here’s some Tom Petty!” Gack! Just play some phugging Rush!
Toronto 1978 my first concert. Rush played 3 nights .the final night was new years eve in which Max Webster opened . I went to the first night and Canadian band Wireless opened.Check that band out there awesome! Anyways the show blew my whole world wide open.
Moving Pictures an awesome tour was the best concert I've seen since I was 16 I am 59 now and have seen 300 concerts so?
I love your channel
Saw Max Webster open for Rush a number of times in Dallas. First tour I saw was Permanent Waves.
I saw Rush 3 times in the late 70s. In 1976 they opened for Ted Nugent at Golden Hall(small theater in San Diego).In 1977 & 1978 ithey headlined the San Diego Sports Arena with no floor seats & the stage up against the back of the horseshoe. In 1977 UFO opened & Pat Travers opened in 1978.
Saw webster in 79/80 at a small hockey arena in a small ontario city. Can't remember if or who opened, wish i paid more attn. but there was weEd and booze everywhere 😂😂🤟🤟🤟
1:47 Canadian here, Guelph. Pronounced Gwelf, a town in Ontario
⭐⭐⭐⭐3/4 in 84 I only remember the subdivisions song video on the screen ,I had good seat on a riser stage left and the lasers only seemed to make a spot dot at back of coliseum.memphis of course, but they were show to me, first time seeing them I'm watching in slack jawed amazement. 88 further back not bad , okay seats.they played 4 or 5 PW songs I didn't know but came off great live,I couldn't get with that record. But encores included la Villa so I almost shed a tear in silent gratitude.memhis,I don't recall screen,lasers worked good,I loved it.
84 I attended with the two brothers who thinks everything sucks,they didn't diss too bad,we missed fast way, they're to this day chronically late. Tommy Shaw saw him I drove,88
I saw Max Webster/ Powder Blues Band & Rush in Ottawa....$12 think...Max Webster...Kim Mitchel the guitarist amazing artist.look up "Hangover"...Amazing Concert ....the whole Night....
I've loved them separately but nearly equally to Led Zeppelin since I first became aware of them when I heard "Fly By Night" on the radio for the first time 😁
Great
I got the max webster album universal juveniles with Geddy AND Neil peart played drums on battle scar great album
I did see Max open for Rush in 1980. FYI Battlescar had all 3 members of Rush playing along with Max, not just Geddy.
I saw them open for Heart in Springfield MA, about 1978. Small stage set and lighting. Awesome show but not very long, if I remember correctly
Wow, that would have been cool. That was classic Heart time.
One of my biggest regrets in life was failing to go see them in concert before the sad passing of the professor......
Jan 19, 1979 Pittsburgh Civic Arena they had the video where the spaceship flew into a new world smaller and smaller while the new world got bigger and bigger. I can’t find it anywhere on RUclips either.
Rush matters
Max Webster’s Pye Dubois is credited on Tom Sawyer as contributing to the lyrics
How about the writer using the word "limelight" in a Rush article, years before Rush made the song! Pretty wild.
Ha! I was a monitor engineer90's -2000's! and big Rush head, 16channels of monitors, so few. i usually had 32-48 inputs at monitor world. now my ears are blown, so I play bass in a band, again!Ha!
All the Rush members played on Battlescar.
Reno, rush had hemispheres and pat travers opened, they had crash and burn. Neil and Tommy at the same show
Guelph, pronounced Gwelf. Hi from Quebec!
Ah! Thank you. It's funny, right as I read it I thought, "bet I got that wrong." :)
All 3 members played on Battle Scar
All the Rush boys are on Battle Scar my friend.
Wonder how the flying wine bottle directed at Neil got past the security the writer described.
Max Webster introduced themselves proclaiming they were from “The Land of the Giants “. 1980 I believe?
Who was there ? Toronto Cne grandstand max webster and rush.. with the mirrors over Neil's drum set.. with the limo driving them to stage
Makes me wonder if they read this article, ribbing Alex of living in the limelight, then decide to use it as a song focus. I could see that morphing.
That's an interesting thought.
I seen them in the 80s and they played Bug Bunny cartoons in the background.
*The Whole Band Plays On Battlescar, Not Just Geddy.*