Anthem: Rush in the '70s (Rush Across the Decades)

Excellent book. Many interviews from people who had never been interviewed before. Great insight on the music business and the intelligent way they continued to make their own music and not follow the label’s advice, adulterating their vision. Explanation of the albums in the ‘70’s and honest insight into grueling touring. Their professional attitudes and lack of excess drinking and drug use. There is mention of marijuana and hash use, but that’s considered legal in many state (not federally) now. They don’t want to appear on stage and embarrass themselves with a shoddy performance. Descriptions on being an opening act for many bands and their drug/alcohol use, to being headliners. Frank interviews from many affiliated persons sometimes good, others negative. This is the REAL LIFE of a rock and roll group. Some reviews find this to be negative, but it’s honest and the biggest point is that they strive to be their best when performing for huge or small crowds. They do get a bit worn out at the end of a long tour with few days off, driving a few hundred or more miles after the show to the next venue. And the show must go on.. not “calling in sick” as they would let down thousands of fans. Only cancelling, say, when Geddy lost his voice. Pratt drumming with a puke bucket to the side of his drum kit, hoping not to throw up until the song was over and the lights went out. Geddy playing while sick. Not much is mentioned about Alex, the least celebrated member of the band, but he contributes to the book in interviews. My only gripes are that at times, it’s difficult to tell who is saying what in the written interviews. You really have to pay attention to the subtle shifts in the interviews as there are many people who were interviewed. Also, though the book seems hard bound and has a faux black leather cover, the gold embossed secondary title and spine Wears off rapidly. I noticed it after 3 readings. Perhaps, if important to you, a book cover could be made... like we did in school when we had 50 pounds of books and related homework! Limelight is the next book “rush in the ‘80s. I can’t wait to read it! And a new book is sold on Amazon as pre-orders for Spring Maybe winter’s end) the title escapes me right now. Overall, this is an awesome book. Some of the few photos seem to be new too.

Great read

Thorough picture of Rush in their early formative years. Broken down by album chapters with some repetitive info in each, but still a good read. Much of the same info can be found in Beyond the Lighted Stage bluray but I like sitting down with a good book regardless.

I have been listening to Rush since the late 70’s, and they are my favorite band of all time. This is definitely the most comprehensive biography of the band. I learned quite a bit about the early days, even back their childhoods. There’s also lots of discussion about touring, the other bands, etc. Nice selection of pictures too, including one from back in the Rutsey days that will test the loyalty of any fan :-) I highly recommend this for any Rush fan. Note- if you want to focus strictly on the music, then pick up the author’s “Rush: Album by Album”.

I always thought it was interesting in the 2010 documentary "Beyond the Lighted Stage" that Neil Peart said the band really started with the album "Moving Pictures". For me, that was the end of the road. Rush had been my favorite band in high school in the late '70s and I revered Caress of Steel thru Hemispheres. That documentary showed what great dudes these guys seem to be(or were, RIP Neal) and this book reinforces that and covers the necessary ground of the 70s albums. The fans that stuck with them thru everything probably knew a lot of the details already but I found it a pretty good read. As a musician, I quibble in that I wanted to know more about Alex's and Geddy's guitars and amps but there is an editor somewhere that cuts that type of detail on every one of these types of books. If you loved Rush when you bought these albums when they came out and hadn't kept up with them, get the book. You'll enjoy it.

Just started the book. I have been a RUSH fan since 14 ( I'm now 60 ,so a fan for life ) I am looking forward to reading it. So far( in 23 pages ) it covers alot of the same things in Geddy's book about family (not so deep though). Can't wait to get to the parts about the band. The 70's were my era 😀

I am a lifelong Rush fan, but am very careful about what I buy. Outside of some of Neil Peart's books, I have never bought a Rush book. This book is amazing and really fills in a lot of the gaps from the many documentaries and articles that have come out. You really understand the band's motivations throughout this period. Can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!

I really enjoyed-- written well and lots of anecdotes from the band, crew, and their parents. Fills in a lot of details about the album's that I wondered about over the years. My only regret is that it naturally stops after the Hemispheres your. Permanent Waves, MP and ESL kind of wrap up the era for me. Much better than the album by album book which totally misses the mark about 2112 for example. This author understands the music, the lyrics, the backstories of each album.

First heard the band in a friends house (2112) and just loved them from then. Have other books but I just needed to buy the Trilogy (Limelight & Driven). A thoroughly enjoyable read and should be included in every fans library

I was just hooked on this series of books. I started backwards with the book Driven. This is my last and as excellent as the next books. Only a little expensive for those who buy in Brazil, but reading is excellent. Only problem is you'll probably want to buy the other two!

Genial e interesantísimo.

What a great read this was... It brought back so many memories. I grew up with these guys and went to high school with Alex. In fact, I still chat with Alex to this day every once in awhile. He doesn't live too far from me. That work ethic that is mentioned so often throughout this book is so true. These guys had energy and devotion to their craft like no one I've ever come across before or since (except for my dad). The reason why they lasted so long is that they did their thing, their way and to hell with the "fad-du-jour" and what the record company wanted. As a result, their music has stood, and will continue, to stand the test of time.

Aside from the brief childhood biographies to the four [including John Rutsey], the beginnings of Rush [but not in name] actually begins in the mid/late 60s. Some of the "stories" go back and forward a bit where something from Geddy would be said [for example] and then retold by Alex. There were a few cases where the book's text may have been lifted from one of his other books but not updated because the timeframe sound like it was in the 2010s for an event that took place a few years prior. An enjoyable book otherwise. PS - I like the soft cover book's cover more.