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| Anika Nilles - a powerhouse performance |
As a long-time fan, I first saw Rush at Hammersmith Odeon in 1978 - it's been emotional seeing them rejuvenated like this.
Peart, who tragically died six years ago, was an inspiration to drummers and wannabe drummers, who were drawn to the music of Rush for its anthemic qualities. This was especially true in Rush's early career in the late 1970s, when their music was epic in its scope.
Spirit Of Radio...The Trees...Xanadu...YYZ...Tom Sawyer...Closer To The Heart...2112 - all classics
Neil's drumming provided every teenage fan's dream of what a drummer could be. He showed you didn't have to sit back there and just keep the beat. His musicality on the kit meant that Rush songs became known as much for the drum fills as the guitar licks. Moreso, in fact.
As a trio, Rush were the perfect blend and showed how, in the rock idiom, a three-piece band is often the most dynamic and cohesive musical unit.
Back in the day, as a Rush fan you were definitely outside of the mainstream. None of my friends were remotely interested, but I was a fan of their first live album All The World's A Stage, which featured excerpts from their recent breakthrough album 2112, as well as earlier songs like Fly By Night and Lakeside Park.
So I took the opportunity to see them live at Hammersmith in 1978, in their full prog rock pomp, playing their early prog rock classics. The show was later released as part of the Different Stages CD package.
The excitement is all around their new drummer, Anika Nilles. Replacing the seemingly irreplaceable Neil Peart, Anika has proved the many doubters wrong with a phenomenal display.
And the most heart-warming aspect of it is the great cheers that have gone up in the audience every time she nails one of Peart's iconic drum fills.
If you have seen the clips on youtube you will already know how amazing it is to see someone other than Neil Peart pulling off those amazing drum patterns and fills.
For those that haven't - and if you know the songs - feast your eyes on this.
Spirit Of Radio...The Trees...Xanadu...YYZ...Tom Sawyer...Closer To The Heart...2112 - all classics
Neil's drumming provided every teenage fan's dream of what a drummer could be. He showed you didn't have to sit back there and just keep the beat. His musicality on the kit meant that Rush songs became known as much for the drum fills as the guitar licks. Moreso, in fact.
Which makes this new incarnation of Rush so intriguing. Anika Nilles had already gained a reputation as a jazz fusion drummer - here she is with Jeff Beck. But most mainstream rock fans would not have heard of her until Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced they were reconvening Rush for a world tour.
As a trio, Rush were the perfect blend and showed how, in the rock idiom, a three-piece band is often the most dynamic and cohesive musical unit.
So I took the opportunity to see them live at Hammersmith in 1978, in their full prog rock pomp, playing their early prog rock classics. The show was later released as part of the Different Stages CD package.
It was the glam-prog era of silk kimonos and their extended pieces like Xanadu and 2112.
This interview sheds some light on the recording of A Farewell To Kings, their studio follow up to the breakthrough album 2112. The second live album, Exit...Stage Left, reflected their evolution from the 70s to the early 80s (shorter hair, no more silk kimonos) and is probably the best of the early live recordings.
Later on in their career, the Rush In Rio DVD showed how much their music meant to people all over the world. The South Park send-up was so good that Rush incorporated it into their live shows as the intro to Tom Sawyer.
If you haven't seen it and you're a fan, check out the documentary Beyond The Lighted Stage for the full story of how Rush defied expectations and became one of the biggest bands in the world.
Here's a rare televised interview with Neil himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=311&v=q_mKr28G7og&feature=emb_logoA perfect example of how much Rush meant to their fans, is the Foo Fighters doing 2112 at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
If Neil was looking down now, he would surely see millions of people of all ages still air drumming to his songs - and mesmerised by Anika's skill at helping to recreate the Rush magic.
This interview sheds some light on the recording of A Farewell To Kings, their studio follow up to the breakthrough album 2112. The second live album, Exit...Stage Left, reflected their evolution from the 70s to the early 80s (shorter hair, no more silk kimonos) and is probably the best of the early live recordings.
Later on in their career, the Rush In Rio DVD showed how much their music meant to people all over the world. The South Park send-up was so good that Rush incorporated it into their live shows as the intro to Tom Sawyer.
If you haven't seen it and you're a fan, check out the documentary Beyond The Lighted Stage for the full story of how Rush defied expectations and became one of the biggest bands in the world.
Here's a rare televised interview with Neil himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=311&v=q_mKr28G7og&feature=emb_logoA perfect example of how much Rush meant to their fans, is the Foo Fighters doing 2112 at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
If Neil was looking down now, he would surely see millions of people of all ages still air drumming to his songs - and mesmerised by Anika's skill at helping to recreate the Rush magic.
Here, Rick Beato gets to know Anika Nilles
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