EBOOK
About
The definitive biography of the rock 'n' roll kings of the North
With extensive, first-hand reflections from Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart, as well as from family, friends, and fellow musicians, Anthem: Rush in the '70s is a detailed portrait of Canada's greatest rock ambassadors. The first of three volumes, Anthem puts the band's catalog, from their self-titled debut to 1978's Hemispheres (the next volume resumes with the release of Permanent Waves) into both Canadian and general pop culture context, and presents the trio of quintessentially dependable, courteous Canucks as generators of incendiary, groundbreaking rock 'n' roll.
Fighting complacency, provoking thought, and often enraging critics, Rush has been at war with the music industry since 1974, when they were first dismissed as the Led Zeppelin of the north. Anthem, like each volume in this series, celebrates the perseverance of Geddy, Alex, and Neil: three men who maintained their values while operating from a Canadian base, throughout lean years, personal tragedies, and the band's eventual worldwide success.
Covering Rush's first eight albums, this volume is the first in a three-part series celebrating Canada's iconic rock band. Based on extensive first-hand interviews with family, friends, musicians, and the boys in the band, Anthem offers the most comprehensive biography ever, combining cultural context and canon analysis.
Martin Popoff has written more than 80 books, including three on Rush. He has also worked on various projects for Banger Films, including the award-winning Rush documentary, Beyond the Lighted Stage. Popoff has published more record reviews in books - approximately 7,900 - than anybody in history.
Like Geezer Butler in Black Sabbath, to reiterate, Geddy indeed began on guitar. Alex, however, missed this part of Lee's evolution.
"I didn't know Ged when he played guitar. So the transition was already completed by the time we started jamming together and playing. Because that's what we did after school. We'd plug into his amp and play. There was one guitar and one bass. So I'm not really sure about that transition. I'm sure he was interested in guitar like everybody was interested in guitar. But once we actually started playing and learning instruments, that was his chosen one. Just think John Rutsey in that early days-the drums became his thing but I don't know if in his heart he wanted to be a drummer. I think he wanted to be a guitarist as well. But everybody had their job that they sort of gravitated to."
Says Geddy, "I was nominated to be the bass player when the first band I was in, the bass player couldn't be in our band. I think his parent's prohibited him or something, and we had no bass player so they said, 'You play bass' and I said okay, and that was how simple it was. That happens to a lot of bass players. Everyone wants to be a guitar player, but I was happy to be bass player. Bass player is like being a major league catcher. It's the quickest way to the majors. Nobody wants to be a bass player. It's a great instrument, it really is, awesome way to spend your time. I had teachers you know; I'm just carrying on the tradition of Jack Bruce, Jack Cassidy, Chris Squire, a fine tradition of noisy bass players that refuse to stay in the background. So I feel that's my sacred duty, to carry on what they started."
Short Description
Covering Rush's first eight albums, this volume is the first in a three-part series celebrating Canada's iconic rock band. Based on extensive first-hand interviews with family, friends, musicians, and the boys in the band, Anthem offers the most comprehensive biography ever, combining cultural context and canon analysis.
Sales and Market Bullets
• Features all-new interview material with Rush and those closest to the band.
• Popoff's 2004 book about Rush, Contents
With extensive, first-hand reflections from Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart, as well as from family, friends, and fellow musicians, Anthem: Rush in the '70s is a detailed portrait of Canada's greatest rock ambassadors. The first of three volumes, Anthem puts the band's catalog, from their self-titled debut to 1978's Hemispheres (the next volume resumes with the release of Permanent Waves) into both Canadian and general pop culture context, and presents the trio of quintessentially dependable, courteous Canucks as generators of incendiary, groundbreaking rock 'n' roll.
Fighting complacency, provoking thought, and often enraging critics, Rush has been at war with the music industry since 1974, when they were first dismissed as the Led Zeppelin of the north. Anthem, like each volume in this series, celebrates the perseverance of Geddy, Alex, and Neil: three men who maintained their values while operating from a Canadian base, throughout lean years, personal tragedies, and the band's eventual worldwide success.
Covering Rush's first eight albums, this volume is the first in a three-part series celebrating Canada's iconic rock band. Based on extensive first-hand interviews with family, friends, musicians, and the boys in the band, Anthem offers the most comprehensive biography ever, combining cultural context and canon analysis.
Martin Popoff has written more than 80 books, including three on Rush. He has also worked on various projects for Banger Films, including the award-winning Rush documentary, Beyond the Lighted Stage. Popoff has published more record reviews in books - approximately 7,900 - than anybody in history.
Like Geezer Butler in Black Sabbath, to reiterate, Geddy indeed began on guitar. Alex, however, missed this part of Lee's evolution.
"I didn't know Ged when he played guitar. So the transition was already completed by the time we started jamming together and playing. Because that's what we did after school. We'd plug into his amp and play. There was one guitar and one bass. So I'm not really sure about that transition. I'm sure he was interested in guitar like everybody was interested in guitar. But once we actually started playing and learning instruments, that was his chosen one. Just think John Rutsey in that early days-the drums became his thing but I don't know if in his heart he wanted to be a drummer. I think he wanted to be a guitarist as well. But everybody had their job that they sort of gravitated to."
Says Geddy, "I was nominated to be the bass player when the first band I was in, the bass player couldn't be in our band. I think his parent's prohibited him or something, and we had no bass player so they said, 'You play bass' and I said okay, and that was how simple it was. That happens to a lot of bass players. Everyone wants to be a guitar player, but I was happy to be bass player. Bass player is like being a major league catcher. It's the quickest way to the majors. Nobody wants to be a bass player. It's a great instrument, it really is, awesome way to spend your time. I had teachers you know; I'm just carrying on the tradition of Jack Bruce, Jack Cassidy, Chris Squire, a fine tradition of noisy bass players that refuse to stay in the background. So I feel that's my sacred duty, to carry on what they started."
Short Description
Covering Rush's first eight albums, this volume is the first in a three-part series celebrating Canada's iconic rock band. Based on extensive first-hand interviews with family, friends, musicians, and the boys in the band, Anthem offers the most comprehensive biography ever, combining cultural context and canon analysis.
Sales and Market Bullets
• Features all-new interview material with Rush and those closest to the band.
• Popoff's 2004 book about Rush, Contents