I first heard Rush in 1987 when my cousin, who was visiting from America, had a few songs on a mix tape he had brought along. The band's intricate music and bombastic drumming caught my ear and it was the beginning of what would be a journey that has lasted 20 years and still goes on.
Something must be said for a band that has lasted over 35 years with the same three members, never been tabloid fodder, and have kept their feet on the ground in spite of mass adulation. Having been in a band myself, I know how little time it takes for the initial euphoria to disappear only to be replaced by infighting and insidious politics.
Rush is throwback to a time long gone where musicians played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. The band has survived through three decades of change. They have survived disco and pop, grunge and hip-hop. That they have done so with equanimity and grace is a testament to the kind of people they are.
When Neil Peart, the drummer, took time off to deal with a family tragedy and it seemed like he might not come back, finding a replacement was never an option.
We live in times where relationships are fleeting; between people, between employer and employee and between adoring fans and the celebrities they worship. I cringe every time I hear a CEO talk about how his employees are his most important asset just weeks before a major layoff.
Using the life and times of a rock band as a life manual might seem a tad much but you could do a lot worse than using Rush's unique story as a source of inspiration.
Rush is throwback to a time long gone where musicians played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. The band has survived through three decades of change. They have survived disco and pop, grunge and hip-hop. That they have done so with equanimity and grace is a testament to the kind of people they are.
When Neil Peart, the drummer, took time off to deal with a family tragedy and it seemed like he might not come back, finding a replacement was never an option.
We live in times where relationships are fleeting; between people, between employer and employee and between adoring fans and the celebrities they worship. I cringe every time I hear a CEO talk about how his employees are his most important asset just weeks before a major layoff.
Using the life and times of a rock band as a life manual might seem a tad much but you could do a lot worse than using Rush's unique story as a source of inspiration.
For those new to the band, I recommend this well-made documentary released in 2010.
Rush: Beyond the lighted stage
