1. Comment #27950 by Patchell on March 27, 2007 at 11:38 am

And that is why Rush is my favourite band!

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2. Comment #27951 by vdubmatt on March 27, 2007 at 11:40 am

Fot those of you who dont listen to Rush, do it. Awesome technical prog rock. This is just another reason to love them.

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3. Comment #27959 by Dutch_labrat on March 27, 2007 at 12:37 pm

Great music, some awesome lyrics, free of popular trash, a real musicians band [b]and[/b] they read Dawkins.

Must love them.

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4. Comment #27966 by Arcturus on March 27, 2007 at 1:04 pm

Can't wait for their new album and following tour!

GREAT STUFF!

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5. Comment #27969 by Devolution on March 27, 2007 at 1:07 pm

Rush is simply the best Rock band ever. Neil Peart is an unbelievable musician and has written some brilliant social commentary into his lyrics over the past 30 years. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM IN CONCERT AGAIN!

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6. Comment #27970 by soarwing on March 27, 2007 at 1:08 pm

There is RUSH - - - and then there is LESS than Rush.

Just another reason to listen to them. I've seen them live four times. Incredible music, Armed with sense and liberty!

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7. Comment #27977 by shetlandforpeace on March 27, 2007 at 1:27 pm

Love their early stuff. It's hard to believe that such beautiful, delicate/brutal music is produced by only three people.

A bit dubious about the Ayn Rand references though.

I think the essential album is 'Moving Pictures.' It seems to nag away at you over the years.

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8. Comment #27990 by matt2112 on March 27, 2007 at 2:06 pm

Rush have been my favourite band since the late 70s - when I was about six years old (hence my login name).

I'm feverishly anticipating the new album and tour! All of their music is sublime - Power Windows is my favourite album. Nice to see some other fans here!



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9. Comment #27995 by Devolution on March 27, 2007 at 2:26 pm

It's soo hard to pick my favorite Rush album. I'm much more into the synthy 80's stuff, so it's a tie between Signals, Hold Your Fire, and Power Windows.

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10. Comment #27996 by Steven Mading on March 27, 2007 at 2:28 pm

I have to think that when he talked about adopting puppies that were "rescue dogs" he meant "rescued dogs" - otherwise it just doesn't make sense. You don't use puppies as rescue dogs - they need more training.

But yeah, Rush good.
I want the new album. Now. There was a time when I was worried they were going to do nothing from now on but more recompilations of existing songs, retrospectives, concert videos, and so on.

I like their ability to make the music REALLY FIT the mood for the words (impressive given that the words are written by the drummer, who does not write the music.) Their songs celebrating life and joy SOUND fast and energetic and upbeat, while their songs of sadness just SOUND sad.

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11. Comment #28014 by soarwing on March 27, 2007 at 3:28 pm

Favorite Rush Album:
Hemispheres.


Some of my favorite songs:
Cygnus X-1 book 2 (Hemispheres)
Between the Wheels
Natural Science
The Camera Eye
Freeze

Yes, it's nice to see so many Rush fans... Cheers from Michigan.

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12. Comment #28024 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:51 pm

Christ, Progressive rock.
What next star trekkies?

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13. Comment #28025 by Civilized Worm on March 27, 2007 at 3:59 pm

Worse than that, CANADIAN Progressive Rock!


(Nothing against Canada but their bands suck)

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14. Comment #28027 by James Carroll on March 27, 2007 at 4:10 pm

Rush is awesome and Neil Peart is a genius.

It is no wonder that Rush is "the thinking man's band."

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15. Comment #28044 by anotherclinton on March 27, 2007 at 5:07 pm

Good point bringing up Rush's earleir endorsement of objectivism shetland. Given that Neil's the main lyricist, I get the feeling that it was him who picked up on that so strongly. All the same, Rush still has a good many older fans out in middle America who might get a new attitude toward the constantly trumpeted spirituality of their neighbors if they know that their favorite band isn't cool with that sort of thing.

It's a tremendous weight upon me to be the only rockabilly atheist, I know that.

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16. Comment #28051 by MIND_REBEL on March 27, 2007 at 5:44 pm

Rush are great, and have been held back their entire career because they're freethinkers. If they got the say backing that Christian bands did, then their message would spread, and the world would be a better place, but the Christians running the music industry won't let that happen.

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17. Comment #28052 by Fouad Boussetta on March 27, 2007 at 5:47 pm

This makes my day. I'm another big Rush fan.
Geddy Lee has a particular but so powerful voice,
Alex Lifeson is just incredible on his electric guitar, and Neil Peart composes amazing lyrics when he's not beating on his drums!
:)

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18. Comment #28055 by idragosani on March 27, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Rush is one of the best bands ever, despite being from Canada. :-) Any band that can write lyrics such as:

"You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill"

will get my vote any day.

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19. Comment #28056 by Frankus1122 on March 27, 2007 at 6:20 pm

Worse than that, CANADIAN Progressive Rock!
(Nothing against Canada but their bands suck)
This is not on topic BUT... you cannot say that. Go to:
http://radio3.cbc.ca/
and listen for a while. The evidence will convince you that you are wrong. As a person who bases beliefs on evidence (I'm guessing because you are in this forum), you will thank me for leading you to the truth.
CBC Radio 3 plays new Canadian music.
Rush was my first concert with Max Webster at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Caress of Steel.

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20. Comment #28058 by Mark R on March 27, 2007 at 6:30 pm

quote from Civilized Worm
Worse than that, CANADIAN Progressive Rock!
Nothing against Canada but their bands suck)

Ok ......I dare ask where your from

Great true down to earth Rock in Canada my Friend

for a small population here we do pretty good!

I saw Rush with Max Webster too. Awesome

Saga, Triumph, Guess Who , Blue rodeo ,Tragically Hip, April Wine, Trooper, Nickel Back and many more

We just don't have the wonderful christian rock bands coming out of the states :)

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21. Comment #28060 by Humanarchy on March 27, 2007 at 6:53 pm

The commentary is refreshing - I have long thought the lyrics of Rush and their varied existence as a 30+ year presence in music has been telling of the essential human desire to expand understanding and challenge oneself in this indefatigable pursuit of excellence. The band doesn't always achieve its goals yet they are willing to change course in the exercise.

As well, from what I have ever perceived of the members, they are also humbled by the effect they have; they regard their pursuit of music as being so distant from the actual improvements in the condition of humanity by those whose daily (and often thankless) focus is on improving the lot for all of us.

Of course without our predilection for thumping drums and bass infused with phemomenally melodic guitar and discussion worthy lyrics to round it out, where would they be;)

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22. Comment #28063 by Robert Maynard on March 27, 2007 at 7:20 pm

Hey everybody! Let's love Rush.. apparently?


Sorry, I just can't stand their brand of prog..

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23. Comment #28064 by Nazgul on March 27, 2007 at 7:26 pm

"Natural Science" by RUSH

[1. Tide Pools]

When the ebbing tide retreats
Along the rocky shoreline
It leaves a trail of tidal pools
In a short-lived galaxy
Each microcosmic planet
A complete society

A simple kind mirror
To reflect upon our own
All the busy little creatures
Chasing out their destinies
Living in their pools
They soon forget about the sea...

Wheels within wheels in a spiral array
A pattern so grand and complex
Time after time we lose sight of the way
Our causes can't see their effects

---Gives you an idea of what RUSH think about Evolution---

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24. Comment #28066 by justme on March 27, 2007 at 7:34 pm

I have quite a few Rush CDs from the early days and about 10 years ago. Over played them and haven't listened to them in this decade. I'm just not rebellious in my old age.

Most of what I listen to now comes through iRATE;

http://irate.sourceforge.net

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25. Comment #28075 by Spinoza on March 27, 2007 at 8:37 pm

Say what you want about Ayn Rand, if you have a certain personality type, the characters of Roark and Galt are BRILLIANT... her philosophy is garbage though... no one doubts that... Peart was into her work 30 years ago... (dedicated 2112 to her) but hasn't said a word about her since then... so whoever said they don't like Rush because of Ayn Rand, give it another shot...

The guy who said there is no good Canadian music is a silly bitch... there are loads of crappy Canadian bands... I agree.. (god I hate Nickleback and all the creed-soundalikes, but these are common in the US too...)

But there are several extremely good Canadian bands (especially indie) who are currently doing great things... i.e. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, The Arcade Fire... and my old favourite from a decade and a half ago, I Mother Earth...

Remember, we've got 1/10th the population of the US, and we live right above you guys (the culture dominance is staggering, but certainly appreciable often)... so you gotta take that into account when you consider our music industry... if there are 300,000 active American bands (low estimate) signed to major/indie labels, then there are likely somewhere around 30,000 active Canadian bands... and out of those two sets... you might get 1000 bands worthy of listening to from the Americans... and transitively speaking, that leaves Canada with probably 100 bands worth listening to...

Out of those 1000, and 100, probably 1% of them are getting played on the radio regularly... so 10 American bands, and 1 Canadian...

See what I'm saying?

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26. Comment #28078 by troyboy on March 27, 2007 at 9:12 pm

Man I love Rush's first album. 'In the mood' was one of the first guitar songs I learned. It's nice to see Neil Peart read The God Delusion.

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27. Comment #28081 by vdubmatt on March 27, 2007 at 9:20 pm

Spinoza is right, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Arcade Fire are also good bands. They still can't hold a candle to Rush. They are such a technically sound band. Like someone else said, a real musicians band. If you can play bass, guitar, or drums, you really can appreciate what they do.

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28. Comment #28100 by Luthien on March 28, 2007 at 1:53 am

12. Comment #28024 by the great teapot on March 27, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Christ, Progressive rock.
What next star trekkies?

Hey, no trekkie bashing here, ok? Star Trek is a wonderful projection of how the future of the human race could be...

...And they are SOOOOO progressive about android rights ;-)

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29. Comment #28115 by AndyP on March 28, 2007 at 4:16 am

As a big Rush fan it's great to see them mentioned here. I'd just read the full Snakes & Arrows essay when I saw the link to here on TNMS.com.

NP's lyrics have often touched on religion, atheism, individuality, freewill, etc.

For example, from 'Ghost Of A Chance':

I don't believe in destiny,
Or the guiding hand of fate.
I don't believe in forever,
Or love as a mystical state.

I don't believe in the stars and the plants,
Or angels watching from above.
But I believe there's a ghost of a chance
We can find someone to love, and make it last.

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30. Comment #28139 by scot on March 28, 2007 at 6:01 am

Comment 25

I gather from your statement about Ayn Rand that you think the characters of Roark and Galt are brilliant (unless I misread you) but then you say that her philosophy is garbage. Roark and Galt represent the ideal man according to her philosophy so you contradict yourself unless I read you wrong. Regardless, If objectivism is garbage, then I am a garbage man because I agree with much of it.

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31. Comment #28152 by TigerDunc on March 28, 2007 at 6:44 am

Could it also be that many Canadians are in the US disguised as Americans, as is the case with many actors.

Indeed, if we want to get into Star Trek, I'd like to say that William Shatner was the best captain (and he's Canadian).

As for Rush - Hemispheres and A Farewell to Kings are my favourites. They are so good that they almost make up for Bryan Adams and that bloody Robin Hood song in the Canadian music debit/credit ledger.

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32. Comment #28239 by privateeye on March 28, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Here is my favourite Rush song which was highly influential to me and one of the reasons I long ago became an atheist and began to use my own FREEWILL.

"Freewill"

There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance

A planet of play things
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
'The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign...'
Blame is better to give than receive

[Chorus:]
You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill

There are those who think
That they were dealt a losing hand
The cards were stacked against them
They weren't born in Lotusland

All preordained
A prisoner in chains
A victim of venomous fate
Kicked in the face
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate

[Chorus]

Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet

[Chorus]

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33. Comment #28248 by AisforAtheist on March 28, 2007 at 2:01 pm

Glad to see there are music lovers from all over, and that a well known band's lyricist has picked up (and picked up on...) Dawkins' "The God Delusion".

Speaking of Dawkins, don't you think he'd be most impressed if we didn't dwell on national boundaries?

Besides, taste in music is subjective, unlike an examination of available evidence aimed at arriving at an objective truth.

Even as a Canadian, the only theory I'd advance, in respect to music talent, is that countries with liberal democracies tend to foster the creative arts better than repressive states.

Let's all celebrate the good tunes and creative freethinking lyrics - no matter the nationality of the artist/author.

That said, if anyone wants to join up and form an atheist band, I'll be glad to sing, write and play guitar.

http://www.podsafeaudio.com/jamroom/bands/186/Stay_Tuned.php

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34. Comment #28251 by BaronOchs on March 28, 2007 at 2:20 pm

Even as a Canadian, the only theory I'd advance, in respect to music talent, is that countries with liberal democracies tend to foster the creative arts better than repressive states.

Although that is most probably true it's worthwhile to consider artists who lived in the soviet union like Shostakovitch and Alexandr Solzhenitsyn. Their art and their lives were threatened by the state but the challenge to create genuine expression that would escape the sensors resulted in music and literature quite possibly greater than what they would have produced had they lived in a comfortable prosperous state.

Just interesting to consider, I'm not sure what meaning can be drawn, perhaps that true creativity will triumph despite great adversity?

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35. Comment #28327 by brucealmighty on March 28, 2007 at 6:52 pm

Nice analogy with the dogs, but not really true! Dogs live in the now and can be rehabilitated (unlike some humans, including myself). Neal Peart should watch The Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel (US television). Then he would know a dog needs exercise first, discipline second, love third. Owners who adopt dogs that have been rescued, and give them unlimited love, care, and security without the proper exercise and discipline first are actually doing more harm than good! Dogs which have been damaged by their earlier treatment as puppies--made nervous, timid, or worse--will only remain that way if their owners try to treat them like humans instead of dogs. The dogs' owners are the ones who need to be trained and the dogs can be rehabilitated with a nearly 100 percent success rate. This is not me talking, this comes from one of my heroes, Cesar Millan. Check out
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com . People who never dreamt they could ever have a happy, healthy life for their dog have had their whole world turned around by just one visit from Cesar Millan. We need more dog whisperers in the world! By the way, good people are who I put my faith in. Not some invisible absentee landlord!

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36. Comment #28406 by smart-bean on March 29, 2007 at 4:54 am

I found Rush's Ayn Rand references to be a positive thing.

Those who dismiss her writing and philosophy might like to consider that I know four atheists who were brought to atheism by reading Ayn Rand. Also, much libertarian thought in the US owes its existence to people inspired by Ayn Rand.

Neither Ayn Rand nor her ideas are perfect, but they are an excellent antidote to convention-bound thinking from both the religious right and the doctrinaire left.

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37. Comment #28448 by Civilized Worm on March 29, 2007 at 8:24 am

I'm from Scotland, and Nickleback are one of the best examples of terrible Canadian music.

Still you did give us Leonard Cohen and Neil Young so it's not all bad.

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38. Comment #28484 by Lordsuhn on March 29, 2007 at 11:19 am

WOW Frankus1122, you went to the "Down the Tubes" tour? Caress of Steel is one of my favorite RUSH albums.

I wonder if they have an explicit atheistic song on this album?

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39. Comment #28657 by andyinsdca on March 30, 2007 at 9:19 am

Their lyrics helped lead me to atheism, actually! It's great to see the reference to TGD in the liner notes.

Is it time for ANOTHER Rush tattoo?

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40. Comment #39696 by chbg21808 on May 11, 2007 at 3:10 pm

I love Rush and have seen them in concert three times... The Permanent Waves Tour, The Signals Tour and the Moving Pictures Tour.

One was at Birmingham Odeon (That was before it became an ABC Cinema and concerts were regularly held there), one at Birmingham NEC Arena and One at Stafford Bingley Hall.

Neil Peart is perhaps the most intelligent lyric writer on the planet. His lyrics are very pro-technology, science and reason.

Here are the lyrics to the brilliant 'Tom Sawyer':

A modern day warrior
Mean, mean stride
Today's Tom Sawyer
Mean, mean pride

Though his mind is not for rent
Don't put him down as arrogant
His reserve, a quiet defense
Riding out the day's events
The river

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the mist, catch the myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his skies are wide

Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the space he invades
He gets by on you

No his mind is not for rent
To any god or government
Always hopeful, yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is

What you say about his company
Is what you say about society
Catch the witness, catch the wit
Catch the spirit, catch the spit

The world is, the world is
Love and life are deep
Maybe as his eyes are wide

Exit the warrior
Today's Tom Sawyer
He gets high on you
And the energy you trade
He gets right on to the friction of the day

Talking about music and I know this is a bit of topic, but after watching Richard Dawkins wonderful speech at Ted Talks... I visited the website and stumbled across an extrodinary piano performance from a 14 year old Jennifer Lin. ...She does an improvisation about half way through, that I am not ashamed to say, was so beautiful it made me cry.

It made me think, who needs the so called spirituality of religion, when there is human potential like this? ...Which can be far more spiritually uplifting, than anything religion can offer. ...here's the link:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/46

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41. Comment #39722 by 9th on May 11, 2007 at 6:14 pm

EXCELLENT!!! My first post on Dawkins' forums and it's about Rush! My favorite album is "Hemispheres", largely due to what I consider one of the greatest instrumental pieces ever recorded, "La Villa Strangiato".

For this post, however, I choose the lyrics to "Witch Hunt":

The night is black
Without a moon
The air is thick, and still

The vigilantes gather on
The lonely torchlit hill

Features distorted in the flickering light
The faces are twisted and grotesque
Silent and stern in the sweltering night
The mob moves like demons possessed
Quiet in conscience, calm in their right-
Confident their ways are best

The righteous rise
With burning eyes
Of hatred and ill-will

Madmen fed on fear and lies
To beat, and burn, and kill

They say there are strangers, who threaten us
In our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness, too dangerous
In our theatres and bookstore shelves
Those who know what's best for us -
Must rise and save us from ourselves

Quick to judge
Quick to anger
Slow to understand

Ignorance and prejudice
And fear
Walk hand in hand


Gives me chills every time I hear it!

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42. Comment #45061 by earthshine21122 on May 26, 2007 at 4:25 am

I have Rush's lastest album, Snakes & Arrows, right in front of me. I examined it from top to bottom and back to front. Guess what?? There is no liner notes mentioning richard dawkins or his book.
I would appreciate an explanation for posting this false information.
As a Rush fan for 26 years and a member of many Rush fan forums, this post has been used in a few of the fan forums as a true fact. This false information has caused Rush to be labeled as an agnostic band, which they are definitely not. Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart have never forced or mentioned any personal beliefs during any peformances or recordings under the band name Rush.
Awaiting a prompt response to set the facts straight.

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43. Comment #45062 by BaronOchs on May 26, 2007 at 4:32 am

earthshine this information is reposted from somewhere else. The link to the source article isn't working though, perhaps the page has been pulled for that reason?

If you want a response don't expect someone will notice your post here, you should email to:

design@richarddawkins.net

Other Comments by BaronOchs

44. Comment #148398 by VoxMoose on March 22, 2008 at 10:43 pm

I know this is a year late, however this great comment by Neil Peart was not made in the liner notes of the Snakes and Arrow album, but rather in an essay written by Neil Peart about the making of the album. Also, for some reason, the original link to the article is dead. The original essay is available on the Rush website:
http://www.rush.com/thegameofsnakesandarrows/Rush.Essay4.S&A.pdf

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45. Comment #405060 by rcrothert on August 13, 2009 at 2:14 am

I believe the quotes above made it into the Snakes & Arrows tour book.

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