“Where words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Anderson
They've always been pretty consistent in explaining Rutsey's departure. He wasn't fired; he left of his own accord. He didn't want to commit to being a touring musician, and possibly couldn't because of his diabetes. In fact, it threw the band for a loop when he left, since they had just started to break through to American radio.
Rutsey was no Neil Peart, but he did some quality drumming on that first album, which often gets overshadowed by the more bombastic material that came afterward.
I enjoyed the documentary a lot, and I've only seen the broadcast version. It's pretty awesome that there's footage of Alex being a whiny teenage musician at the dinner table.
I loved the film and I thought the second DVD was as good as the first. Some pretty funny shit in there. The dinner scene was really cool, watching them get progressively blasted throughout. (Yes I consider them progressive even at dinner!)
JG
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Where Are They Now? Yes news: http://www.bondegezou.co.uk/wh_now.htm
Blogdegezou, the accompanying blog: http://bondegezou.blogspot.com/
I think it's great debunking the myth that they were somehow aloof, & stand-offish - they're clearly just 3 pretty ordinary guys who goof around a lot & have fun doing what they love. I remember when that Runaways thing came out about them pissing on Rush's guitars because, allegedly, the guys had been shitty towards them & their abilities while supporting Rush. I thought it was pretty unlikely at that time, but when I saw this, I thought it there was definitely no way that these guys would be so crass towards another band.
Great film, great extras, great band
They've always been pretty consistent in explaining Rutsey's departure. He wasn't fired; he left of his own accord.So which one is it? He left of his own accord, or he was sacked?In the film, they're pretty clear that they sacked him (to protect his own health).
Henry
I think he was fired, not only for his health but Geddy and Alex wanted to get more experimental and stretch out beyond the simpler type of heavy rock they were doing with Rutsey in the band. Regardless of how, or why John was let go, my point is that the film did him justice. They didn't just brush him away as if he never existed. I only brought this up because there was a thread about a year ago where everyone just acted is if John Rutsie was some "footnote" to Rush's history. I sat in amazement reading all those posts. One of the founder members just gets brushed aside like refuse. The film did him some justice I think.
Well it's one thing for them to talk about how certain albums far enough back in their history were just a phase and that they've moved on to other things, but they can't really be going around saying that sort of thing about their more recent efforts...at least for another 10 years or so...
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You say Mega Ultra Deluxe Special Limited Edition Extended Autographed 5-LP, 3-CD, 4-DVD, 2-BlueRay, 4-Cassette, five 8-Track, MP4 Download plus Demos, Outtakes, Booklet, T-Shirt and Guitar Pick Gold-Leafed Box Set Version like it's a bad thing...
I love the DVD, but I could have done with less commentary from other musicians/celebrities who are fans (especially Jack Black) if it would have meant more commentary from the lads about albums that were glossed over (GUP, HYF, Counterparts, etc.) The commentary from Billy Corgan was the best though, quite heartfelt.
You say Mega Ultra Deluxe Special Limited Edition Extended Autographed 5-LP, 3-CD, 4-DVD, 2-BlueRay, 4-Cassette, five 8-Track, MP4 Download plus Demos, Outtakes, Booklet, T-Shirt and Guitar Pick Gold-Leafed Box Set Version like it's a bad thing...
Yeah, some of the commentary by some of the interviewees was a little irritating. I think it was probably a matter of "who can we interview who are well known in music and media for this documentary?" Jack Black is irritating but he's obviously a huge fan, and he's been pretty well known in the movie making industry so I have no problem with him being in the film. I would've loved to see more metal and prog/rock musicians interviewed. I really didn't care for Gene Simmons either but KISS was a part of Rush's early touring history. I really like that scene where Alex said he played Caress Of Steel (I think it was COS) for Paul Stanley, and then Alex get's this look on his face that's priceless when he says about Paul's reaction to COS...... He just didn't get it Of course he didn't "get it" he's in a group called KISS.
“Where words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Anderson
I kind of agree with this - that the sudden increased acceptance and praise made Rush more open to doing a proggy album. "They like us! We can be even weirder!"
Now that they're in the R&R HoF, their next album will be made entirely using sounds made with their bodies (no vocals).
I can see Alex being totally OK with that.their next album will be made entirely using sounds made with their bodies
I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart
Introverts typically have a lot to say. They just rarely encounter people they feel comfortable saying it to. If an interviewer seems genuinely interested in what they're saying and isn't an annoying douchebag introverts will generally open right up.
I think Neil became more open after the traumas he went through. Maybe he became more comfortable talking about himself after going through some sort-of therapy? Just a guess on my end, as I can't imagine that those horrible events wouldn't change a person.
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“The only truth is music.”
― Jack Kerouac
THANK YOU! I can't stand him for longer than 30 seconds. Hey Jack, you don't always have to be 'on'. Just be a fan like everyone else and quit doing your schtick. And yeah I loved Billy Corgan. I was pleasantly surprised by him as I had never heard him even speak before I don't think. Likewise with Trent Reznor, he also came across very genuine. Even Gene Simmons and Sebastian Bach, both bloated personalities, were a treat to hear from. Gene didn't even talk about himself much. I also liked hearing from Kim Mitchell, who was close to the band for many years and fronted a fantastic one himself. Most of the others I could do without for the most part, other than the main behind the scenes guys like Cliff and Ray.
Interviewer of reprobate ne'er-do-well musicians of the long-haired rock n' roll persuasion at: www.velvetthunder.co.uk and former scribe at Classic Rock Society. Only vaguely aware of anything other than music.
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I think the film is great the way it was presented by the director. Sure, there could more of this and more of that, but you can't have everything. Besides, once they hit there stride in the mid 80's all the way through the present (besides Neils tragedies of course), there isn't that much to say album to album. They just kept kicking ass. The most interesting part of any band history is the early years from being nothings to being huge. And this film addressed that very very well.
Different strokes....I've always thought Jack Black was/is hilarious.
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Jack Black is hilarious at the end of the Styx album "Cyclorama"
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