Rush Music Streams Surge 776% Following Death Of Neil Peart

Forbes ^ | January 17, 2020 | Quentin Singer

[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.

[DoodleBob]

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.

[21twelve]

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!

[21twelve]

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.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

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.

[Psalm 73]

"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.