Our next 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is the Canadian prog rock trio Rush. Formed in Toronto in 1968, the band took a few years to land on its core lineup of vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart, the three gentlemen honored by the Hall.
Rush was first eligible for the Rock Hall in 1999 but didn’t receive a nomination until their induction year of 2013. They were considered one of the major snubs up to that point by Rush Rats.
Continuing my look at some of the most celebrated albums from 1981, here’s the classic opening track of Rush’s eighth studio album, Moving Pictures.
I have to confess that I completely missed the boat on Rush. Though they released new material steadily from my infancy through my 20s, I never managed to own a Rush album or even become familiar with a Rush song. Today’s SOTD, ‘Tom Sawyer,’ is probably their best-known track, and I think I heard it for the first time this week.
Rush is another band totally off my radar. The most immediate association I have with their music is its inclusion in the hilarious 2009 film I Love You Man, best captured in the immortal “slappin’ da bass” scene. Doesn’t hurt that the scene features my biggest female crush (Rashida Jones) and male crush (Paul Rudd).
Apart from that movie, I can’t say I’ve ever heard a song by the Canadian prog rock band in full. I know ‘Tom Sawyer’ by name but couldn’t hum its chorus if you paid me.
Meet Me In Montauk 