Rush’s “Signals” To Receive 40th Anniversary Expanded Reissue In April

Rush will be releasing an expanded 40th anniversary edition of “Signals” on April 28. Pre-orders can be found HERE.

More details were shared on rush.com:

“On April 28th, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records continue the comprehensive Rush 40th anniversary album series with new and expanded editions of the band’s decade-defining 1982 release, Signals, an album that signified how the band was in no way detached and subdivided from the ever-shifting 1980s musical landscape. Signals-40th Anniversary will be available to fans in three distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) one-LP Picture Disc Edition, and (3) Dolby Atmos Digital Edition. There will also be a limited edition Super Deluxe box featuring eight lithographs of Neil Peart’s original hand-drawn lyrics for each song on Signals only available through the official Rush online store. All configurations can be pre-ordered and pre-saved, HERE.

Signals, Rush’s ninth studio album, was originally released in September 1982, and its technology-embracing riffs and rhythms, continued the forward-thinking trajectory of the acclaimed Canadian trio as it continued to chart the demands of a new decade. The album’s eight songs built upon Rush’s penchant for adapting to the flow of the times without compromising its flair for melding long-established progressive roots with radio-friendly song arrangements. Signals, co-produced by Rush with longtime band confidant Terry Brown and engineered by Paul Northfield, was the third of numerous Rush recording sessions held at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec. The band’s synergistic recording process at Le Studio had been well-established during sessions for the aforementioned Moving Pictures, as well as the sessions for that album’s predecessor, January 1980’s Permanent Waves.

“Subdivisions,” the generation-defining lead-off track on Signals, succinctly captures the angst of the perennial restless dreams of youth, and this synth-driven song subsequently became one of Rush’s most celebrated FM favorites as well as a cherished concert staple for many years to come. Next, the band shifts gears and leans back into the wide-eyed yearnings of “The Analog Kid,” a propulsive track that also reached No. 19 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Meanwhile, the quest for emotional interactivity reaches a combustive head in the connective musical tissue of “Chemistry.” Side A closes out with the fast-forward thinking of “Digital Man,” presaging our eventual reliance on the 0s and 1s that now permeate our daily lives.

Side B commences with the angular thrust of “The Weapon” (subtitled as being “Part II of Fear”), a rumination on personal apprehension and doubt that also serves as a modernized offshoot of the mob-mentality prejudices of “Witch Hunt” (a.k.a. “Part III of Fear”) from Moving Pictures. “The Weapon” also became another Rush concert favorite featuring a videoscreen-projected introduction courtesy of Count Floyd, one of Joe Flaherty’s many notable characters from SCTV. The kinetic, reggae-tinged lilt of “New World Man” peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Rush’s singular Top 40 hit in the United States. The truly beautiful “Losing It,” a starkly honest assessment of knowing when the optimal-performance curtain is coming down and how to gracefully deal with its consequences (or not), features poignant electric violin accompaniment from guest performer Ben Mink. “Losing It” was never played onstage until Rush’s final R40 Live Tour in 2015, with Mink reprising his role at the tour’s stop in Toronto and Jonathan Dinklage of the Clockwork Angels Ensemble playing on it when the song was performed in the States. The album wraps up with the optimistic skyward views of “Countdown,” an unabashed celebratory chronicle of the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. “Countdown” also features approved audio of the voice communications between the Columbia astronauts and ground control.

The Super Deluxe Edition includes one CD, one Blu-ray Audio, one high-quality 180-gram black–vinyl LP with new artwork from original album designer Hugh Syme in a premium tip-on jacket, and four 7-inch singles (“Subdivisions,” “Countdown,” “New World Man,” and “The Weapon (Single Edit”), all of them with new artwork from Syme. The set encompasses the Abbey Road Mastering Studios 2015 remastered edition of the album for the first time on CD. The Blu-ray Audio disc contains the core album newly mixed from the original multi-tracks in 48kHz 24-bit Dolby Atmos (the second Rush album to appear in Atmos, following Moving Pictures) and 96kHz 24-bit Dolby True HD 5.1 as done by esteemed producer/engineer Richard Chycki, alongside the previously available 48kHz 24-bit PCM Stereo mix. Also included on the Blu-ray are new animated visualizers for all eight songs, as well as two bonus remastered vintage promo videos: the high-school halls narrative of “Subdivisions” and “Countdown,” the latter of which features authorized Space Shuttle Columbia launch footage. Additionally, the LP in the Super Deluxe Edition has been cut via half-speed Direct Metal Mastering (the second Rush album to have been done as such, again following Moving Pictures) on a 180-gram audiophile black-vinyl LP, and it has been pressed at GZ Media in the Czech Republic.

The Super Deluxe Edition of Signals-40th Anniversary will also include several exclusive items, including a 40-page hardcover book with new song illustrations and new artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme and unreleased photos from the Signals Tour, along with three lenticular lithographs that transition from the original black-and-white band headshots into the original album’s “Digital Man” color headshots; four Signals Tour band lithographs; Syme’s original album cover sketch lithograph; and a double-sided 24×24-inch poster featuring Syme’s new Signals artwork on one side, and an outtake photo from the original album cover shoot on the other side. All contents are housed in a premium lift-top box, which features significantly reimagined cover artwork by Hugh Syme.

The second configuration Signals-40th Anniversary will be released in is a one-LP Picture Disc Edition. The picture disc is housed in a transparent plastic sleeve, and it showcases new Hugh Syme artwork on both album sides.

Finally, the third configuration, the Dolby Atmos Digital Edition, is the digital equivalent of Richard Chycki’s expert Atmos mix of all eight tracks from the original album.”

Rush’s Geddy Lee Reportedly Planning To Release His Memoir In May

According to Blabbermouth, Rush’s Geddy Lee is planning to release his memoir on May 16 via HarperCollins. The book was previously expected to be released this fall.

Lee previously commented:

“So, how did I kill time during the pandemic? Little did I know that as of March 2020 I’d be locked down for over a year and a half—the longest time I’d spent in Toronto since I was nineteen and hit the Northern Ontario bar circuit with Rush.

Although Nancy and I had to cancel a bunch of adventures we’d been planning, there were some shiny silver linings to be found at home: teaching my grandson the finer points of baseball and birdwatching, tending to my pups (one of whom was quite ill) and spending the evenings with my lovely better half, glass of Armagnac in hand, as we watched every European mystery show ever produced. Oh, and another thing: I began to write. Words, that is.

My friend and collaborator on the Big Beautiful Book of Bass, Daniel Richler, saw how I was struggling in the aftermath of Neil’s passing, and tried coaxing me out of my blues with some funny tales from his youth, daring me to share my own in return. So I did—reluctantly at first, but then remembering, oh yeah, I like wrestling with words. It’s a less physical version of arguing with musical notes, without a Ricky doubleneck breaking my back! And soon my baby-step stories were becoming grownup chapters. Being the nuclear obsessive that I am, I’d write and re-write them, reassessing perspectives in the narrative not just by scouring my memory banks but my diaries and piles of photo albums too. I was piecing together a mystery of a different kind.

I’d then send these improved and even illustrated stories to Daniel, who’d clean up some of the grammar and remove a lot of the swearing (I love to fucking swear), and presto! In a voice that sounded, well, just like me, a presentable, epic-length account of my life on and off the stage was taking shape: my childhood, my family, the story of my parents’ survival, my travels and all sorts of nonsense I’ve spent too much time obsessing over. And Daniel said, “I think you’re writing a book. An actual memoir, in fact.” To which I replied, “Hmm… I guess I am.”

I’m rounding third on this as-of-yet untitled memoir, which will be published by HarperCollins, edited by Noah Eaker, and is scheduled for release in Fall 2022.”

Watch Pro-Shot Footage Of Rush Performing “Working Man” With Chad Smith At Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert In Los Angeles, CA

Rush have shared pro-shot footage of themselves performing “Working Man” with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith during their September 27 set at the Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) tribute show in Los Angeles, CA. You can check that out below. The band commented:

“For the first time since August 1st, 2015 we returned to the stage at the LA Forum, scene of the very last performance with our lost brother Neil. This time it was for the second Taylor Hawkins Tribute and sitting behind the throne were 3 wonderful human beings, who also happen to be spectacular drummers.. Dave Grohl, Chad Smith and Danny Carey…. Talk about being spoiled… but the best, yet bittersweet part of this whole deal is that no one would have loved witnessing that more Taylor himself. Rest In Peace Hawk, as we keep Alison, Shane, Annabelle and Everleigh Hawkins along with the entire Foos Family in our thoughts.”

Watch Primus, Ween, & Rush Perform At “South Park” 25th Anniversary Shows

“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the iconic series with two special concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. The shows found the duo joined by Primus and Ween as they ran through various “South Park” songs and tracks from both bands’ catalogs. Notably, Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson also took the stage for a performance of “Closer To The Heart.” Some fan-filmed footage from the shows can be found below. Pro-shot footage from the concerts will also air on Comedy Central on August 13, before hitting Paramount+ the next day.

Rush’s Geddy Lee And Alex Lifeson Watched Primus Perform “A Farewell To Kings” In Full In Toronto, ON

Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were among the attendees at Primus’ May 13 show in Toronto, ON. The concert was part of the band’s “A Tribute To Kings” tour in which they have been performing Rush’s “A Farewell To Kings” in full. Lee said the following about the show:

“On Friday night we had the joyful experience of reuniting with our grand pals from Primus… Les, Ler, Herb and their gang… We sat side stage as they immaculately worked through a cool selection of classic Primus tunes which brought back fond memories of our touring together back in the early 90’s and then we were treated to the weird and wonderful experience of watching them perform our music: ‘A Farewell to Kings’ in it’s entirety. Totally nailed it! They did us proud and we thank them deeply for the tribute and the lasting friendship.”

Magna Carta To Release “An All-Star Tribute To Rush” Compilation In June

Magna Carta will be releasing a new Rush covers compilation, titled “An All-Star Tribute To Rush,” on June 24. The effort will feature members of Deep Purple, Dream Theater, Sepultura, Testament, and more.

“An All-Star Tribute To Rush” Track Listing:

Disc 1:

01. “Working Man” – Sebastian Bach & Jake E. Lee
02. “By-Tor And The Snow Dog” – James LaBrie & John Petrucci
03. “Analog Kid” – Sebastian Bach & John Petrucci
04. “The Trees” – Mike Baker & Brendt Allman
05. “La Villa Strangiato” – Steve Morse
06. “Mission” – Eric Martin
07. “Anthem” – Mark Slaughter & George Lynch
08. “Jacob’s Ladder” – Sebastian Bach & John Petrucci
09. “Closer To The Heart” – Fates Warning
10. “Natural Science” – Devin Townsend
11. “YYZ” – James Murphy
12. “Red Barchetta” – James LaBrie
13. “Freewill” – Gregoor van der Loo
14. “Tom Sawyer” – Alex Skolnick Trio

Disc 2:

01. “Distant Early Warning” – Randy Jackson
02. “Lakeside Park” – Sebastian Bach
03. “Limelight” – Kip Winger
04. “Subdivisions” – Randy Jackson
05. “Different Strings” – Robert Berry
06. “Tom Sawyer” – Sebastian Bach
07. “Bastille Day” – Jani Lane & Alex Skolnick
08. “A Farewell To Kings” – Randy Jackson
09. “Spirit Of The Radio” – Kip Winger
10. “2112 Overture” / “Temples Of Syrinx” – Jani Lane & Vinnie Moore
11. “New World Man” – Robert Berry
12. “Fly By Night” – Sal Marrano
13. “Force Ten” – Robert Berry

Rush Stream “Tom Sawyer (Live In YYZ 1981)” From 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition Of “Moving Pictures”

Rush are streaming “Tom Sawyer (Live In YYZ 1981)” from the upcoming expanded 40th anniversary edition of “Moving Pictures.” That release will be available on April 15 and more details on it can be found HERE.

Rush Stream “Limelight (Live In YYZ 1981)” From 40th Anniversary Expanded Edition Of “Moving Pictures”

Rush are streaming “Limelight (Live In YYZ 1981)” from the upcoming expanded 40th anniversary edition of “Moving Pictures.” That release will be available on April 15 and more details on it can be found HERE.

Rush’s Geddy Lee To Appear In New Episode Of “Murdoch Mysteries”

Rush bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee is set to appear on the March 21 episode of the CBC mystery drama “Murdoch Mysteries.” A teaser for the episode, which is titled “Devil Music,” can be found below: