Rush: Why the gender gap?

[RBrownBass]

I asked this question in a thread about why Rush wasn't in the RRhoF. Someone pointed out early in that thread that Rush concerts were sausagefests and another posted that his wife somehow grouped Rush and Primus into the same style category and referred to both as... get this... "penis rock".

I'm not very versed in Rush outside La Villa, Tom Sawyer, Big Money and a couple of other tunes, so I have no point of reference. My question is... what is it about women that keeps them from being fans? I'm hoping not to end up concluding that women are so shallow that they need eye candy with their music. Rush ain't models, but neither were Janis Joplin or Cass Elliot. Me'shell isn't either, but she gets plenty of male listeners. Esperanza and Tal play well enough that they'd get props without being female.

Female TBers, help a brother out (Male TBers, feel free to pitch in, especially if your wife or girlfriend has expressed a distaste for the band).

Full disclosure- I'm a Black guy who's been into (among other genres) rock for my whole life, and who has dated many Black girls who just didn't like rock, period. I DO understand the slight racial element to liking or not liking rock. The White girls I've dated are rock fans, but Rush never came up. That's how I don't know much about the issue.

So why would Rush not be to your liking if you're a female fan of rock?

Rush got screwed again.

[brendanbassist]

Can't real comment on females liking Rush, but I don't think that can be cited as the reason they aren't in the RRhof. Heart isn't in there, and they certainly don't have that problem. RRhof is just a bunch of idiots.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by Auriaprottu

...Someone pointed out early in that thread that Rush concerts were sausagefests and another posted that his wife somehow grouped Rush and Primus into the same style category and referred to both as... get this... "penis rock"...My question is... what is it about women that keeps them from being fans?...

I'm guessing but I think there are probably a few reasons:
1. Geddy Lee looks like a cross between a bird and a scare crow.
2. Geddy Lee sings like a chick (acctually, he sounds like a 70 year old lady)
3. Rush doesn't have any sex appeal and never seems to try for that image at all (contrast to Rock bands like Daughtry or Van Halen, etc.--or even Poison!)

Not being a woman, I'm just guessing. I know my wife likes Country music more than other genres and a good part of the reason seems to be that the men in Country music are sexy.

[FatCity]

A lot of metal bands fall into this as well. Maiden and Priest come to mind. I don't know why these bands don't have a lot of female fans, but they all have a few things in common. The lyrical content is much different than the average band, and they all have long instrumental sections in many of their songs. These things don't seem to appeal to a large female audience.

My wife doesn't like them either. It's all a mystery to me.

[dougjwray]

Here's my guess, and I'm sure I'll get flamed.

To me, Rush's whole approach suggests boys playing with their toys (i.e. gear) and their material has absolutely nothing to do with human feelings, relationships, emotions, etc., etc., all things which tend to fascinate most women. Rush is about as sexy as a bunch of 8-year-old boys playing with their Wiis.

Also, Geddy's voice is godawful, and is about as far as you can get from Luther Vandross, Al Green, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Jim Morrison, or about a million other GOOD singers who are beloved by women.

(Come to think of it, Robert Plant's voice is also hideous, yet women like him... hmmmm... )

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by brendanbassist

Can't real comment on females liking Rush, but I don't think that can be cited as the reason they aren't in the RRhof. Heart isn't in there, and they certainly don't have that problem. RRhof is just a bunch of idiots.

No, no. I don't think they care that they're not in this HoF. I certainly don't. I didn't care when the Police (fave band of my youth) didnt get in right away, didn't care when they did get in, other than I got to see vid of them playing after almost 20 years.

I'm responding to the idea that Rush and bands like Rush are for guys only. I don't know how true it is or if it's true or not. I do know I've read it here a bunch of times and thought finally that I'd ask.

[jgroh]

#1 Reason: they dont sing gooey love songs or songs about walking into a club and having everyone bow down to their hotness. Their lyrics are much more cerebral.

Also, every Rush concert I have been to (every tour since 86) there have been lots of women. Not as much as a Carrie Underwood or Madonna, but more than you would be led to believe.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Here's my guess, and I'm sure I'll get flamed.

To me, Rush's whole approach suggests boys playing with their toys (i.e. gear) and their material has absolutely nothing to do with human feelings, relationships, emotions, etc., etc., all things which tend to fascinate most women. Rush is about as sexy as a bunch of 8-year-old boys playing with their Wiis.

Not flaming at all, but I'm hoping a woman will show up here and debunk this. It's pretty shallow on its face.

Also, Geddy's voice is godawful, and is about as far as you can get from Luther Vandross, Al Green, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Jim Morrison, or about a million other GOOD singers who are beloved by women.

(Come to think of it, Robert Plant's voice is also hideous, yet women like him... hmmmm... )

Exactly. Why does it matter what the singer sounds like as long as s/he's in tune and doesn't stammer, lisp or hiccup?

[BROKEN OHMS]

My wife LOVES Rush and really likes Primus a lot!

[renobassman]

Most of the girls I know tend to like music that is easy to dance to. Rush doesn't exactly fit that bill.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by dougjwray

Here's my guess, and I'm sure I'll get flamed.

To me, Rush's whole approach suggests boys playing with their toys (i.e. gear) and their material has absolutely nothing to do with human feelings, relationships, emotions, etc., etc., all things which tend to fascinate most women. Rush is about as sexy as a bunch of 8-year-old boys playing with their Wiis.

Also, Geddy's voice is godawful, and is about as far as you can get from Luther Vandross, Al Green, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Jim Morrison, or about a million other GOOD singers who are beloved by women.

(Come to think of it, Robert Plant's voice is also hideous, yet women like him... hmmmm... )

I dont agree about Geddy's voice. I dont like any of those people you mentioned but thats a personal choice. i do agree that alot of women, like my wife for example, like simpler songs about love and repetitive beats. Its not a put down but she just wants to listen to be entertained and not have to think about it. I pick things apart like crazy and like technical aspects combined with good songwriting.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by FatCity

A lot of metal bands fall into this as well. Maiden and Priest come to mind. I don't know why these bands don't have a lot of female fans, but they all have a few things in common. The lyrical content is much different than the average band, and they all have long instrumental sections in many of their songs. These things don't seem to appeal to a large female audience.

My wife doesn't like them either. It's all a mystery to me.

You forgot to mention that Rob Halford is homosexual so I'm willing to bet he's not putting out much of the sexy vibe to the girls.


I showed a Queen video to my wife on YouTube. She thought the music was OK but she found Freddie Mercury repulsive. She said, "He's prancing around like he's a show horse".

[ksandvik]

Looking at video footage of their shows across the years me thinks the ratio has gone from 90/10 to 60/40 today...

[AltGrendel]

Originally Posted by renobassman

Most of the girls I know tend to like music that is easy to dance to. Rush doesn't exactly fit that bill.

What? You can't dance to YYZ?

[electracoyote]

Back in the day, pencil neck geeks singing about the Temples of Syrinx in helium-infused voices didn't appeal to most chicks. Well, not the ones you'd want to bang anyway.

However, if you watch Beyond The Lighted Stage, there are now quite a few Rush babes ready and willing. Just whisper some sweet, low, breathy lyrics from "Fountain of Lamneth" in their ears, see what happens.

[nortonrider]

I just asked my woman and her answer...........
"that guys voice".

[Peace Cee]

They're a "Man's Band", and that is a good thing. There are plenty: Black Flag, Motorhead, some Parliament (I'm thinking the Crazy "Sir Nose..." stuff) and some others (maybe a new thread). Think of the alternative: (The concerts that you had to attend to please your chick) Dave Matthews, Prince (great show), and The Cranberries (maybe a new thread).
We need more of it/them.

[jgroh]

Originally Posted by AltGrendel

What? You can't dance to YYZ?

I can do a mean "New Romantic Sway" to YYZ myself!

[BBox Bass]

I'm a casual Rush fan. Back in college when I was into Ayn Rand, I bought 2112 and learned the bass line to the title track. Even though I'm no fan of hers these days (and to think, my Randroid parents named me after a character in one of her novels!), I still like the music. I also own Moving Pictures and Chronicles.

I suspect that the gender gap is more prevalent among non-musicians who look first and listen second. I've been listening to bands whose members would never win beauty contests for a long time now. When my high school peers were plastering their walls and notebooks with pictures of the hottest boy bands, I pulled out the posters from Guitar For The Practicing Musician and taped them on my walls. I knew I was different from other girls in that respect (among many others), but it never occurred to me that I should start listening to bands just because they looked good.

All that aside, isn't it a law that all rock bassists, regardless of gender, must at least acknowledge Geddy's skills?

[DBCrocky]

FWIW: A Rush concert is the only place I have ever seen a woman playing air-drums.