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Should Rush hang it up?

cronker

cronker

Feb 13, 2007
1,054
651
Australia
#1
Hey.
Have never seen them live (don't think they've ever been to AUS) but I have followed and read a whole heap of comments saying that Geddy is struggling with his voice live recently.

Clockwork Angels was a great record, and for me at least, the best thing they've done since Counterparts.
I just wonder whether one last hurrah would be in order? One more album and tour and then farewell it.
They aren't spring chickens anymore.
 
#3
He hasn't done the screeching 70s thing in a long time. Even on the 80s albums he didn't sing like that. So when he sings the older tunes live, it doesn't sound like the record. But I saw them on the Clockwork Angels tour, while there were some other problems, his voice wasn't one of them. Of course, that was the very beginning of the tour. But I think they're doing fine.
 
#4
hrodbert696 said:
He hasn't done the screeching 70s thing in a long time. Even on the 80s albums he didn't sing like that. So when he sings the older tunes live, it doesn't sound like the record. But I saw them on the Clockwork Angels tour, while there were some other problems, his voice wasn't one of them. Of course, that was the very beginning of the tour. But I think they're doing fine.
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I absolutely hope you are right, because I want them to continue.
I just don't want them to end up another old Greatest Hits band like The Eagles and Stones.
 
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#7
cronker said:
I absolutely hope you are right, because I want them to continue.
I just don't want them to end up another old Greatest Hits band like The Eagles and Stones.
Click to expand...

Y'know, everyone dumps on the Stones for going out on tour and playing hit after hit after hit that they've had. Personally, I would LOVE to be in a place where I could go out on stage at 70 years old and have hit after hit after hit to play.

Anyway, that doesn't seem to be the way Rush is thinking of their career, so no worries. In at least one interview I saw about Clockwork Angels, when they were asked where the impetus came from, they said they had come off the Time Machine tour playing their old songs (including the whole Moving Pictures album) and virtually no new material (they did preview a couple tunes that would be on CA), and they really hadn't liked it, so they went to record a new album just so that they'd have fresh tunes on the next tour.
 
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#8
And hrod, I hear what you are saying.
I recently saw the Stones in Adelaide and they smoked! Best hands down rock show I've seen in years. So all praise to them.
I just don't see Rush going that way. At least I hope not. Not sure if I'm getting my point across...
 
#11
OldDirtyBassist said:
I'm still a little embarrassed about Alex Lifeson's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame speech. That was painful to watch.

The should do a tour of all instrumentals if Geddy hangs up the microphone.
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higain617 said:
I just watched that and it was incredibly stupid. He really could have made in his point in under ten seconds.
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I found that hilarious. And quite in keeping with his sense of humour. I think it was meant to be a bit awkward.
 
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#14
coughingskunk said:
Saw em last year for the first time. It was okay, but certainly not what I would've expected from an arena band..
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It was my first time seeing them live too, and it was the very first show of the tour. It definitely was not beyond criticism. The sound was muddy, they got off the mark playing YYZ, and the show ground to a halt at one point while they fixed a problem with Geddy's keys. But at the same time, I was still thrilled with the show. It's easy to have inflated expectations when it's a legendary band like Rush, but the reality is that they're human beings and there are good nights and bad nights.
 
#15
cronker said:
Hey.
Have never seen them live (don't think they've ever been to AUS) but I have followed and read a whole heap of comments saying that Geddy is struggling with his voice live recently.

Clockwork Angels was a great record, and for me at least, the best thing they've done since Counterparts.
I just wonder whether one last hurrah would be in order? One more album and tour and then farewell it.
They aren't spring chickens anymore.
Click to expand...
I think they should do an "Unplugged" show in an intimate setting. Neil could be surrounded by 32 various bongos.
 
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#16
I think Rush still has plenty of gas in the tank. Musically and performance wise.

Clockwork Angels was a good solid effort for a band that has been making albums for 40 years.
It showed they still have enthusiasm for writing & playing together. It was a true concept album, Their first, which shows Peart still has his creative juices flowing and Alex & Geddy came up with some good music for his ideas. Oh yeah - Neil can still play drums pretty good for an old guy.

Every tour seems to bring something new visually too.

I hope they keep it up.
 
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#20
I haven't seen Rush since the Permanent Waves tour(!), but if they are even half as good live now as they were then, they should still be pretty darned worthwhile.

I read an interesting interview with Motorhead's guitarist, talking about what a challenge it is to continue to make albums, decade after decade, on the same premise. How to make it fresh? Townshend has said the same thing about writing Who songs, which not only have to fit the premise of the band, but then require approval by Roger's brain and pipes.

I can certainly appreciate the virtues of quitting while you are ahead. But as a fan who also plays, I find more merit in watching how established greats work their way out of creative cul-de-sacs; it is a much more useful demonstration than perfection. At least for a mere mortal like myself, also trying to find a foot forward.

Old guys need heroes too -- maybe more so.
 
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