Because they don't crank out bubble-gum rock. They mix up rhythms. They change keys. They build on a great bass hook. Their lead guitar chops aren't "strum strum strum strum [switch chord] strum strum strum strum..." Maybe if they followed a "made for radio" formula and got a 15-year-old to lip-sync and dance a bunch of pre-canned moves, they'd make it to pop rock status. But that's not what they're about. Maybe that's why they've successfully been cranking out great music since I was a sperm. -- droxford
While I agree with your first two points, I haven't run into many...if any...people who think their music is just laughable. If there are, then I would label them idiots who are discounting the musicianship/talent. There are also a lot of people who don't like them because of Geddy's voice alone. I think there are a lot of people who don't give the band a fair chance...who have heard a few songs from way back when and think of it all like that knowing they didn't like that so they don't like anything else. And, some people just don't like the sound enough to care what flavors it comes in...which is how I see a lot of non-Rush fans. The things you don't hear about often is all the bands out there who have been influenced by the musicianship of Rush. Either way...I don't have a problem with someone who doesn't like Rush. In my opinion, it's their loss and one less fan feeding into the cult phenomenon...if that is what you want to call it. I would like to see what they see that factors into their overall opinion because I just couldn't fathom it where I'm at now. Maybe they don't have the historical perspective I do to appreciate the band. Surely, they didn't like them because their not talented, not skilled, and not technical (and don't call you Shirley ). While I like Rush a lot, I play guitar because of Alex Lifeson, I listen to Rush often, I have autographs/memorabilia, etc. , I do realize this is just music, they are basically normal people in the music profession, and this is not really a cult following...just a label. I do not see a lot of Rush extremism going on anywhere that fits a cult label so...I dunno. Maybe I'm brainwashed or something . I'm just trying to understand the perception. I'm not going to get offended or feel under attack regardless of what you say about the band. I know it is a niche crowd and some of this crowd I'm in are like those you might see at a Star Trek convention or somewhere comparable. I know...I've seen them. I'm not one of those types. In the end, I think you like Rush if you like the music. Period. Any other reason is superficial...unless Alex beat you up in his New Year's Eve brawl or something . Love em...hate em...you have to respect em. If not, then you know not what you do...lol. They've done something few bands have done successfully and probably none of those in a 3 piece band with such complex music...done it for 30 years plus and still going strong(no reunion tours, either).
I guess that's what it boils down to. I wish a Rush concert felt more like a great concert and less like a Star Trek convention. To their credit, though, they've yet to have a Jar-Jar Binks or a Deep Space Nine to tarnish their image.
I saw them in Dallas last Wed. They were, of course, great. Interestingly enough though, they played nothing from Presto. Hmm....
Well, in my case, my musical taste changed when I left high school and went to college. I started listening to less rock and more jazz and fusion. When I said "phased out", I wasn't implying that I "outgrew" them or anything like that (although that is probably how it came off) because it's not like that at all. I still love Rush. Always have, always will. It's just that now I don't listen to them day and night like I did in high school. I don't listen to any one band day and night like I used to. That's all I was saying. As far as you extolling the greatness of Rush, you're preaching to the choir. I'm glad we had this talk.
I worked beside a guy like that for 2 years (thank God I don't sit beside him now). He is a huge Rush fan. I thought he was going to mess in his pants (cleaned up what was originally there) when I told him the other day that I have become a fan of the band, lol.
LOL. I discuss Rush at a Rush internet forum. The people there seem pretty cool and we all get along. Their not like wearing spock ears and star trek t-shirts or anything. They actually get together for shows and travel to see Rush. They like to party it up and tail-gate the shows and so forth. From the pics I've seen of their concert outings, they all seem pretty cool. They are totally into Rush(aka dedicated) but, at the same time, their not total nerds about it. They just like the music, going to shows, and keeping up to speed. Plus, some of them have insider contacts so they get inside info occassionally. From what I've seen, DMB fans may be more rabid for their band than Rush fans are for theirs. I could be wrong, though. I dunno...I'm still on the look-out for this all encompassing Rush nerd who represents everything most people think of when they think of a Rush fan. I'm not even sure what all those traits are exactly. I guess you have to go to a Star Trek convention and take a poll or something. LOL. In other words, I think it is safe to say you can like Rush and still be a cool person. Someone may try to stereotype you but that is because their ignorant. For ther person who said going to a Rush concert feels like going to a ST convention, I wouldn't even go as far. In fact, at the Houston show the other day, I have word that some chicks were flashing their tah-tahs on Alex's side. I've done and seen some major partying at Rush shows myself. The one thing is the male fan base certainly does outweigh the female fan base. But, there are still some hot ladies at the shows. You will find some strange people but....hey...people are strange. I'm sure there are more than enough strange people around here and I'm probably one even though I consider myself quite normal and sane. We all know Jeff likes them some and he's strange...right? LOL...just kidding, Jeff! I get sick of Rush and I don't listen to them for long stretches of time. Too much of anything can be a bad thing.
The very first concert where I ever saw a girl flash her "tah-tah's" was a Rush concert in Lake Charles, LA. I was 15 and it was GREAT!
This post makes me realize what a jerk I am. How bout I admit that I'm breaking the law and hurting musicians everywhere by downloading songs off Kazaa and you admit that Rush is just a little bit nerdy? C'mon... whaddaya say?
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but all of you Rush fans absolutely have to turn on ESPNews for the Arizona D'backs highlights. One dude hits a HR and the D'backs announcer starts singing Subdivisions-- "In the high school halls In the shopping malls Conform or be cast out" It sounds absolutely hilarious! Check it out.
Ok, I am a little confused. why is it that Rush fans are considered geeky, nerdy, et al? is it a progressive rock thing?..like do you consider fans of other progressive rock bands as nerdy? If someone admitted that they enjoy listening to Queensryche, Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush, Spock's Beard and bands like that....would you immediately picture them as some ST convention-attending, pocket protecter-wearing geek? Im just curious about why the two thoughts seem to go together in some people's eyes.
Anyone familiar with statistics can tell you that corrolation does not imply causation, but I think you're putting on blinders if you ignore the high corrolation between Rush fans (or progressive music in general) and aspects of nerdiness. Seriously... how can you dispute that?
And, if you were paying attention, and if you read my previous posts, I DO like Rush. I own all of their albums, from the debut album with John Rutsey to Vapor Trail, including all the lives albums and Chronicles. I own Visions, the official Rush auto-biography that came out around Hold Your Fire. I'm just saying that Rush is a cultish phenomenon that tends to attract a kind of crowd distinctly apart from the mainstream, generally intellectual and/or artistic by nature. Define that what you will, but isn't there a chance that that leans a little on the nerdy side? Does that stigma frighten you? I mean, we're discussing this on an Internet bulletin board for Pete's sake!
Rockets2K, I think a lot of that has to do with the lyrics that Peart writes. He is big into Sci-Fi and Anne Rice, etc. His lyrics are so intellectual that it appeals to those types of people. It also doesn't hurt that Rush is, IMO, musician's musicians. In other words, I think of them as very intelligent musicians and not 3 guys who are up there stoned out of their minds (which they might be sometimes but they don't give off that impression). [size=1/2]I also have a theory that R2K doesn't like to be hanging out with a bunch of nerds and geeks. [/size]
My wife noted this too. Interesting considering that Presto was the CD we had in the car on our way to the show.
