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Rush Music Streams Surge 776% Following Death Of Neil Peart
Forbes ^ | January 17, 2020 | Quentin Singer

Posted on 01/18/2020 10:53:46 PM PST by DoodleBob

Since the passing of legendary drummer Neil Peart, who died on January 7th after a 3 year battle with brain cancer, Rush has seen a significant climb in their music streams and album sales. According to Billboard, the prog-rock legends have seen upwards of a 776 percent increase in their total streams and a 2000 percent increase in their album sales.

These streaming and sales boosts are all compared to the 4 days before Neil’s death was made public; January 6th-9th. Nielsen Music/MCR Data measured that the band’s streams were at an estimated 2.8 million during the four days prior, and it increased to 24.54 million streams between January 10th-13th. Notably, the band’s most popular song, “Tom Sawyer,” saw a 305 percent increase in streams; from 698,000 to 2.82 million streams.

Apart from streams, Rush’s song catalogue grew 2,304% with their albums gaining a 1,820% in sales. As a result of the band’s streaming and sales surge, Billboard predicts that Rush are to likely impact next week’s Billboard Top 200 list, with some albums and songs re-entering the top 200.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: neilpeart; rush
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To: 21twelve

Looking at Presley’s huge number of platinum albums, one would think he would have had the most consecutive as well. He must have done 10 in a row then had “only” a gold, and done that numerous times. That is really hard to imagine 67 platinum albums.

I know in Rush’s early years they would put out something like two albums in a year. I imagine with the Beatles and Presley they were on an even faster pace.


21 posted on 01/19/2020 6:34:35 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
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To: 21twelve
As I wrote elsewhere, liking Rush in HS didn't make you popular. In fact it made you less popular. But we didn't care...their lyrics were better than "you give love, a BAD name," their band was better than everyone else's (except for Zappa), they sounded like a 5-piece band, and they were ugly like us losers, geeks and dweebs.

I don't care if Rush is #85 on the album sales list - they gave solace and comfort to millions of kids who refused to conform lest they be cast out.

22 posted on 01/19/2020 6:40:51 PM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: Ancient Man

I never got the fighting over who was “the best” in Rush. (Or for that matter arguments over the best drummer of all time, etc. - everyone has their own preferences.)

I think each of them were essential to getting the right sound - a synergy. (1+1+1=12). And their friendship and respect for each other allowed them to do it for 40 years in spite of their differences.

In interviews, Alex talks about how difficult it was to go along with Geddy wanting to do more keyboard to experiment with a fuller song. But Alex agreed to do it, and found a way to fit his guitar work in with it.

Years later (”Vapor Trails”?) there were no keyboards.

Geddy said something about how they wanted to get back to their roots as a rock band, and if he didn’t ever have to play keyboards again that would be fine by him!

(Although just now with “The Garden” playing over my headphones, he is singing over a beautiful piano piece.) Along with the orchestra!


23 posted on 01/19/2020 6:45:39 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
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To: DoodleBob

I wasn’t into music much as a kid, other than what played on the radio. It wasn’t until college (1979) that a roommate turned me on to RUSH that I started buying music.

By that time I was pretty comfortable and confident who I was. It sure would have been nice to have had Rush in my life in early High School though.


24 posted on 01/19/2020 6:51:52 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
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To: Psalm 73
Great drummer - too bad his band had that ugly girl singing vocals....

Geddy Lee's vocals are definitely an acquired taste. Put me off at first too. But the music is so great that I got past it. He mellowed out into a fine vocalist as he got older.

25 posted on 01/19/2020 9:19:29 PM PST by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite its unfashionability)
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To: DoodleBob
"Geddy has one of the most unique voices in rock..."

I get it - I just prefer more of a bluesy-growl type of vocalist like Greg Allman or Joe Cocker.

BTW - Robert Plant is even too high-pitched for my liking.

26 posted on 01/20/2020 4:16:22 AM PST by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again".)
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