Rush.

[peteb]

2 hours ago, Bilbo said:

I think that it is easy for folk to be critical from a distance but I think it is important to acknowledge that nearly all of us love what we do and dread the day that we will have put it down. If you love music and love making music, why the hell would you not carry on until you drop?

 

I love the idea that they picked a female drummer in these days of toxic masculinity and mysogyny. I also think that, as great as NP was (and I loved his energy), there are better drummers out there by the truckload and I never thought he was irreplaceable (lyrics aside). And keyboards opens up a lot of potential for the tracks they historically struggled to perform live.

 

I say good luck to all of them. There is no downside to the idea.

 

I can see a downside, but you're a long time dead and it is their legacy and theirs to do with it as they please. If they miss playing together and playing those songs, then why shouldn't they get back out there and play. As you say, why the hell wouldn't they carry on as long as they physically can! I agree with you about Peart and bringing a female drummer onboard, and bringing a separate keys player makes sense. I'm also assuming that the tour won't be as long as those they did in the past. 

 

I've got no skin in the game as I don't particularly like the music and won't be buying a ticket if they play down the road, but there seems to be a great friendship there and they come across as great guys. Best of luck to them. 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by peteb

[Lozz196]

I’m not a particular fan, like some of the songs, but I echo the sentiments of others, great that they want to get together and make some music. I don’t think gender of either the drummer or keyboard player is relevant really, genitalia doesn’t dictate that you can play an instrument better/worse, pick the people who do the job you want the best, and who you can get on with. 

[paul_5]

I say more power to their respective elbows. It's their band and they can do what they like; I reckon by this point they've earned it.

[wateroftyne]

Dammit I love these guys.
 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by wateroftyne

[Misdee]

4 hours ago, Bilbo said:

I think that it is easy for folk to be critical from a distance but I think it is important to acknowledge that nearly all of us love what we do and dread the day that we will have put it down. If you love music and love making music, why the hell would you not carry on until you drop?

 

I love the idea that they picked a female drummer in these days of toxic masculinity and mysogyny. I also think that, as great as NP was (and I loved his energy), there are better drummers out there by the truckload and I never thought he was irreplaceable (lyrics aside). And keyboards opens up a lot of potential for the tracks they historically struggled to perform live.

 

I say good luck to all of them. There is no downside to the idea.

I have to take issue with the idea that Neil Peart could be bettered as a drummer in the sense that it's not a case of good, better, best. There are better drummers than John Bonham, but none of them could have improved Led Zeppelin. There are and always were much better trumpeters than Miles Davis, but he was Miles Davis.

 

Niel Peart had a style and a delivery that made him iconic. It's not just what he played, it's what he represented at a particular time. Put a "better" drummer in Rush and their music would be diminished, not enhanced. I thought most of his lyrics were bloody awful, though. 

 

I am sure this semi-reunion will be rapturously received but I think it's a bit of a tragic to be yearning so strongly for the past. I never imagined Rush would go this route. I suppose Geddy must be bored of polishing his basses. I just hope the intervening years haven't diminished Geddy and Alex's prowess. I see so many artists who go on performing after time has robbed them of what once came so effortlessly. It's painful to watch.

[Cato]

I'm not a huge fan but a while ago I read an interview with Alex Lifeson where he was talking about how him & Geddy still hang out as friends and play music together on a regular basis.

 

If they still love playing and they have an audience that wants to see it then it makes perfect sense for them to tour again.

 

[prowla]

9 hours ago, Misdee said:

I have to take issue with the idea that Neil Peart could be bettered as a drummer in the sense that it's not a case of good, better, best. There are better drummers than John Bonham, but none of them could have improved Led Zeppelin. There are and always were much better trumpeters than Miles Davis, but he was Miles Davis.

 

Niel Peart had a style and a delivery that made him iconic. It's not just what he played, it's what he represented at a particular time. Put a "better" drummer in Rush and their music would be diminished, not enhanced. I thought most of his lyrics were bloody awful, though. 

 

I am sure this semi-reunion will be rapturously received but I think it's a bit of a tragic to be yearning so strongly for the past. I never imagined Rush would go this route. I suppose Geddy must be bored of polishing his basses. I just hope the intervening years haven't diminished Geddy and Alex's prowess. I see so many artists who go on performing after time has robbed them of what once came so effortlessly. It's painful to watch.

 

They wrote a sing about that.

 

 

[Misdee]

I think it's very significant that they've chosen a female drummer. Any male drummer is going to be directly compared to Niel Peart, probably not favourably no matter how well he plays. Choosing a woman for that role opens any such criticism to claims of misogyny. I don't doubt there has already been a narrative created that detracts from that motive, but it's unlikely to be a complete coincidence. 

 

I have to be honest and say that, although I'll be interested in how this all turns out, I wasn't that keen on the later era of Rush with Neil Peart, let alone a stand-in. I wouldn't have turned out to see Rush nowadays, regardless.

 

It's not just Rush, I find all these stadium-filling rock legends shows to be a hollow shell of whatever they are trying to recreate. The Rolling Stones are still touring, but if you go to the show you still haven't really seen the Rolling Stones. That ship sailed decades ago. Your just seeing a few guys who were there at the time,  probably from a great distance. It's not so much a celebration of the music as a chance to marvel at seeing them in the flesh for a bit while they are still alive. The same with The Who, et al.

 

  I expect this will be a greatest hits kind of show, fair enough I hope everyone enjoys it,bbut I saw Rush play live plenty of times in their heyday. They were a special band in those days, and that's how and when I like to remember them. I don't need any more momentos. 

[Boodang]

The style of playing Anika has will bring something interesting to Rush. It'll be interesting to hear, especially if they intend to bring other musicians on stage to expand their sound. Now, given that Geddy's voice was shot by the time they did R30 two decades ago, all they need now is a new vocalist.

[TimR]

 

2 hours ago, Misdee said:

I wasn't that keen on the later era of Rush with Neil Peart,

 

Later era? 

[Bassassin]

12 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

 

Later era? 

 

The Peart Era - everything from Fly By Night to Clockwork Angels? 😉

[Misdee]

19 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

 

Later era? 

I don't like late-era Rush with Neil Peart on drums. I wouldn't like that music with a new drummer, either. That's the point.

 

I would say Grace Under Pressure was the last decent Rush album. After that they made albums with a few good tracks on, at best, then after Test For Echo they made albums with no good tracks on.

Edited 3 hours ago by Misdee

[miles'tone]

If they make it to the UK, I'm there!

[prowla]

20 hours ago, Bilbo said:

I think that it is easy for folk to be critical from a distance but I think it is important to acknowledge that nearly all of us love what we do and dread the day that we will have put it down. If you love music and love making music, why the hell would you not carry on until you drop?

 

I love the idea that they picked a female drummer in these days of toxic masculinity and mysogyny. I also think that, as great as NP was (and I loved his energy), there are better drummers out there by the truckload and I never thought he was irreplaceable (lyrics aside). And keyboards opens up a lot of potential for the tracks they historically struggled to perform live.

 

I say good luck to all of them. There is no downside to the idea.

 

4 hours ago, Misdee said:

I think it's very significant that they've chosen a female drummer. Any male drummer is going to be directly compared to Niel Peart, probably not favourably no matter how well he plays. Choosing a woman for that role opens any such criticism to claims of misogyny. I don't doubt there has already been a narrative created that detracts from that motive, but it's unlikely to be a complete coincidence. 

 

I have to be honest and say that, although I'll be interested in how this all turns out, I wasn't that keen on the later era of Rush with Neil Peart, let alone a stand-in. I wouldn't have turned out to see Rush nowadays, regardless.

 

It's not just Rush, I find all these stadium-filling rock legends shows to be a hollow shell of whatever they are trying to recreate. The Rolling Stones are still touring, but if you go to the show you still haven't really seen the Rolling Stones. That ship sailed decades ago. Your just seeing a few guys who were there at the time,  probably from a great distance. It's not so much a celebration of the music as a chance to marvel at seeing them in the flesh for a bit while they are still alive. The same with The Who, et al.

 

  I expect this will be a greatest hits kind of show, fair enough I hope everyone enjoys it,bbut I saw Rush play live plenty of times in their heyday. They were a special band in those days, and that's how and when I like to remember them. I don't need any more momentos. 

 

Folks: I really don't think the drummer's gender is at all relevant; there's no need for this indignant reverse mysoginy baloney.

[peteb]

9 minutes ago, prowla said:

 

 

Folks: I really don't think the drummer's gender is at all relevant; there's no need for this indignant reverse mysoginy baloney.

 

I don't think that Rush fans are renowned for their prejudice, but the fact that a female can score such a high profile rock gig without anyone with any credibility suggesting that it is a 'woke' gesture (or whatever) is great. The tour will (initially at least) be focussed on American soil, where there are plenty of right-wing commentators with very misogynistic attitudes who are dominating mainstream media. I think that overall it is a positive thing.

 

And, as I said on the other Rush thread, it does ensure that there will be at least one woman at a Rush show! 

 

[miles'tone]

10 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

 

And, as I said on the other Rush thread, it does ensure that there will be at least one woman at a Rush show! 

 

😂

[Misdee]

49 minutes ago, prowla said:

 

 

Folks: I really don't think the drummer's gender is at all relevant; there's no need for this indignant reverse mysoginy baloney.

What I indignant reverse misogyny baloney is that ? I think what you mean is that you don't feel the drummers gender is relevant, and feelings are not facts. You have no more evidence that gender isn't relevant  than I have that it is. If your so sure it isn't relevant tell us why. I'm genuinely interested to hear why you  feel the need to forbid discussion on the subject.

[Misdee]

46 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

I don't think that Rush fans are renowned for their prejudice, but the fact that a female can score such a high profile rock gig without anyone with any credibility suggesting that it is a 'woke' gesture (or whatever) is great. The tour will (initially at least) be focussed on American soil, where there are plenty of right-wing commentators with very misogynistic attitudes who are dominating mainstream media. I think that overall it is a positive thing.

 

And, as I said on the other Rush thread, it does ensure that there will be at least one woman at a Rush show! 

 

I don't think  Rush having a female drummer is any kind of a token gesture or social statement. It is, however, a way of circumventing comparisons with Neil Peart.

 

I've been watching Anika Niles a bit on YT. She's obviously a very technical player and will easily be able to play those songs. She's the right kind of drummer for Rush. The wrong kind of drummer would have been a groove-based player, like most famous  session drummers.

Edited 17 minutes ago by Misdee

[peteb]

2 minutes ago, Misdee said:

I don't think  Rush having a female drummer is any kind of a token gesture or social statement. It is, however, a way of circumventing comparisons with Neil Peart.

 

I agree, on both counts. I'm sure that they selected her because her undoubted abilities (demonstrated by having worked with the great Jeff Beck, etc), also knowing that it would help to avoid the direct comparisons with Peart that asking a big name prog drummer would have done. 

 

However, it may have a secondary benefit and have a marginally positive impact on the misogynistic climate amongst certain sections of American society.