Rush

Rush Performs 'Red Barchetta' Live in Canada (1981)

Canada

• In January 1981, Rush was riding high on the success of their album "Permanent Waves," which had been released just the previous year. This marked a p... Read Full Description >

  In January 1981, Rush was riding high on the success of their album "Permanent Waves," which had been released just the previous year. This marked a pivotal moment in the band's career as they began to incorporate more accessible, radio-friendly sounds while still maintaining their progressive rock roots. The live performance of "Red Barchetta" showcased at this time highlights their ability to blend intricate musicianship with engaging lyrical themes, particularly in the context of a dystopian future—a signature element of their work. Additionally, the band's growth during this period is evident in their increasing popularity, as "Permanent Waves" helped them secure a broader audience and set the stage for their subsequent landmark album, "Moving Pictures," released in 1981. This quintessential performance captures the essence of Rush's dynamic live show and their evolution as a band, underscoring their impact in the progressive rock genre.

Rush - Live Performance of 'Limelight' from Montreal Forum Concert

Montreal Forum
Montreal, Canada

• In March 1981, Rush was experiencing a peak in their career, following the release of their album "Permanent Waves" (1980) and shortly before their ic... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, Rush was experiencing a peak in their career, following the release of their album "Permanent Waves" (1980) and shortly before their iconic "Moving Pictures" (1981). The live performance of "Limelight" captured at the Montreal Forum showcases the band's rise to prominence, marked by their blend of progressive rock and hard rock elements. This concert was part of the promotional tour for "Permanent Waves," which introduced a more accessible sound while maintaining their complex musicality. Notably, "Limelight" features lyrics that reflect on the pressures of fame, resonating with the band's increasing recognition. The performance was later included in the concert film "Exit… Stage Left," solidifying its status as a significant moment in Rush's history, highlighting their musicianship and the enthusiastic reception from their Canadian fans. Performing in their home country further emphasized their deep connection to their roots during this high-energy period.

Rush Performs 'Tom Sawyer' Live at the Montreal Forum

Montreal Forum
Montreal, QC, Canada

• In March 1981, when Rush performed “Tom Sawyer” at the Montreal Forum, the band was riding high on the success of their 1980 album, *Permanent Wav... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, when Rush performed “Tom Sawyer” at the Montreal Forum, the band was riding high on the success of their 1980 album, *Permanent Waves*. This album marked a significant turning point in their career, showcasing a more accessible sound while retaining their progressive rock roots. The live performance was part of the *Exit... Stage Left* concert film, which captured the electrifying energy of their live shows and was released later in 1981. “Tom Sawyer” became one of Rush's most enduring tracks, exemplifying their innovative approach to music and complex lyrical themes, often inspired by literature and philosophy. This era also highlighted their growing popularity, particularly in North America, solidifying Rush's status as a leading force in rock music during the late 20th century. The Montreal show is remembered for its stellar musicianship and the deep connection between the band and their fans, reflecting the band's pinnacle of creativity and influence at that time.

Rush Live Concert Medley: By-Tor And The Snow Dogs/In The End/In The Mood

Montreal Forum
Montreal, Canada

• In March 1981, Rush was experiencing a pivotal moment in their career, having just released their album "Permanent Waves" a year prior. This album mar... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, Rush was experiencing a pivotal moment in their career, having just released their album "Permanent Waves" a year prior. This album marked a shift in their sound from progressive rock to a more accessible hard rock, incorporating elements of new wave. By the time of the live recording at the Montreal Forum, the band was promoting their subsequent album, "Moving Pictures," which would come out later the same year and solidify their place in rock history. The performance featured a medley that included fan favorites such as "By-Tor and the Snow Dog," "In the End," and "In the Mood," showcasing their technical prowess and the chemistry between bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart. The concert was part of the concert film "Exit... Stage Left," further enhancing Rush's reputation for compelling live performances and intricate musicianship during this defining period of their career.

Rush - Closer To The Heart (Live Performance at Montreal Forum)

Montreal Forum
Montreal, QC, Canada

• In March 1981, during the band's performance at the Montreal Forum, Rush showcased their track "Closer to the Heart," a significant highlight of their... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, during the band's performance at the Montreal Forum, Rush showcased their track "Closer to the Heart," a significant highlight of their career. This live recording is drawn from their concert film "Exit... Stage Left," which captures the band during a pivotal time following the release of their album "Permanent Waves" in 1980. This album marked a turning point for Rush, blending their progressive rock roots with a more accessible sound that gained them wider commercial success. "Closer to the Heart" itself is one of their most enduring songs, celebrated for its lyrical depth and musical complexity. By 1981, Rush had established themselves as a leading force in rock music, known for their intricate compositions and virtuosic musicianship, which is particularly evident in their live performances showcased in this recording.

Rush - Red Barchetta Live Performance at Montreal Forum

Montreal Forum
Montreal, QC, Canada

• In March 1981, Rush was on the cusp of significant success, performing at the Montreal Forum, a venue known for hosting major artists. This live recor... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, Rush was on the cusp of significant success, performing at the Montreal Forum, a venue known for hosting major artists. This live recording of "Red Barchetta" captures the band during a pivotal moment in their career, shortly after the release of their album "Permanent Waves," which came out in January 1980. This album marked a shift in their sound towards a more accessible, radio-friendly style while retaining their progressive rock roots. Following "Permanent Waves," the band would release "Moving Pictures" in 1981, which became one of their most successful records, featuring hits like "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight." The performance at the Montreal Forum was part of the concert film "Exit… Stage Left," celebrating their innovative live shows and showcasing their musicianship and complex compositions, solidifying Rush's reputation as one of the most influential rock bands of the era.

Rush - The Trees Live Performance at Montreal Forum

Montreal Forum
Montreal, Canada

• In March 1981, when Rush performed "The Trees" at the Montreal Forum, they were in the midst of significant acclaim following the release of their alb... Read Full Description >

  In March 1981, when Rush performed "The Trees" at the Montreal Forum, they were in the midst of significant acclaim following the release of their album "Permanent Waves" in 1980, which marked a shift towards more concise song structures and radio-friendly tracks. This live recording is part of the concert film "Exit... Stage Left," which was released in 1981 and showcases the band's skillful musicianship and progressive rock sound during this peak period of their career. At this time, Rush was enjoying a surge in popularity, particularly in North America, where they were influenced by and contributing to the evolving rock landscape. The performance highlights their ability to blend complex musical arrangements with engaging live shows, solidifying their status as one of the leading progressive rock bands of the era. Additionally, March 27, 1981, was a special night as it was the first of two consecutive shows at the historic Montreal venue, emphasizing their strong Canadian roots and

Rush - Freewill Live Performance at Montreal Forum - Concert Film Highlight

Montreal Forum
Montreal, Canada

• The live recording of "Freewill" from the Montreal Forum on March 27, 1981, represents a significant moment in Rush's career, occurring during the pea... Read Full Description >

  The live recording of "Freewill" from the Montreal Forum on March 27, 1981, represents a significant moment in Rush's career, occurring during the peak of their musical evolution. This performance is part of the concert film "Exit... Stage Left," which showcases the band during their "Permanent Waves" and "Moving Pictures" era. Prior to this live recording, Rush released the highly acclaimed album "Permanent Waves" in 1980, which marked a shift towards a more accessible sound while still retaining their progressive rock roots. This was a pivotal time for the band, as they started gaining wider mainstream recognition, particularly with tracks like "Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill." The Montreal Forum concert captured the band's electrifying live energy and their intricate musicianship, solidifying Rush's reputation as a formidable live act. Notably, "Freewill" exemplifies their lyrical and musical complexity, addressing themes of free choice and individualism, which were central to the b