By “Metal” Tim Henderson

And you think you know RUSH? Well, not until you’ve witnessed Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, a documentary that transcends and provides tremendous insight into the mechanics of genius. It’s far from a simple rock flick. And Rush is far from your average entity, especially for most of us that hold their art in such high regard. And from a band that has rarely stumbled, you will find yourself laughing and crying with joy and the odd bit of melancholy.

This is yet another quality offering from the Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen team (Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey, Global Metal and IRON MAIDEN: Flight 666) and it guarantees you’ll be air-drumming/guitaring throughout the entire show! Most importantly, this film will draw any fan closer to the tight circle created by singer/bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and “new guy” drummer Neil Peart.

And you’ll walk away with glee. Kinda - like my secret’s been let out. Because they’ve always been “your band” - sure, a few of your friends may have gotten it, although certainly none of your girlfriends (sorry ladies!). Growing up in this country, we had the benefit of Can-Con (roughly 60% of content relegated to domestic artists), so whenever Rush had a new album in the offering, it was a big deal. But that was when they “broke,” which wasn’t until the ’76, when the daring 2112 was unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

But this was one of the points the film makes: the band couldn’t get signed by the “outposts” as Alex called the Canadian labels. So when a Cleveland radio station started to spin ‘Working Man’ to appease a DJ’s smoke/pee break, the Americans took notice and soon enough future METALLICA manager Cliff Burnstein had snapped the band up.

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage goes that in-depth into Rush’s early beginnings, and is loaded with plenty of interview appearances from the likes of Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Trent Reznor (NINE INCH NAILS), Gene Simmons (KISS) and KIM MITCHELL (ex-MAX WEBSTER) among many others talking about how the band’s music affected them personally. But the two that shone the most light on the beast that is Rush were Billy Corgan from the SMASHING PUMPKINS and Hollywood jokester Jack Black, both providing some serious and not-so serious commentary.

The film is set up in chapters right from the band’s early beginnings in high school, playing these small auditoriums, coffee shops and church halls in the greater Toronto area. The footage is awesome, with most seeing the light of day for the first time.

Early in the film, what struck me was Geddy’s and Alex’s family accepting their career choice; both had parents who had been in the concentration camps and they wanted the best for their kids when they arrived in Canada after the war. Music and tackling an instrument was met with opposition, but Alex and Geddy triumphed with their vision. There’s even incredibly clear footage of Alex in his teens at the dinner table explaining to his family his future goals!

A turning point with the band and in the film was when the Canadian drinking age was reduced from 21 to 18 and the boys could play bars, so a huge new fan-base/demographic opened up which allowed the band to practice their chops and earn their keep while slowly crawling up the ladder.

To watch the man behind the pen and skins, Neil Peart, explain that he couldn’t skate, so he read and played the drums was a major revelation. The percussion legend is quite open about his shyness and feeling very uncomfortable in “people” situations. And Peart rarely gives interviews, so it was riveting to see the man guide us through the waters of the band’s career as the “geek” in the band. And while snippets of songs are aired, you will see his hand-written lyrics, along with the city that he wrote them in etched in the top right-hand corner!

Soon after a US record deal was found for the album Rush, their lives had changed and vintage footage of the trio opening up for KISS (who they became good friends with), Uriah Heep and UFO is aired. Gene Simmons and Mick Box reminisce quite fondly about how a three-piece that sounded like LED ZEPPELIN and THE WHO could make so much noise.

And speaking of (quality) noise, there’s recent interviews with Alex’s and Geddy’s family talking about the racket coming from a basement in Willowdale, Ontario in the early years. Garage daze indeed!

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage deals with the band’s near breakdown in the ‘70s with Caress Of Steel’s daringness, the band and management battling with the US label. “More singles, more airplay.” Rush won the war by not following that template and 2112 launched their career, telling every band to follow their heart. Word of mouth was key, as Burnstein quipped: “Critics hate metal and prog music and Rush were both.”

The film moves a little quicker when we are greeted with the Moving Pictures era, the band dealing with fame and fortune around the world, the record arguably their finest hour in terms of studio material.

The band’s love of new wave and its musical effects shaped Signals and Grace Under Pressure, Alex fighting vehemently against the use of more and more keyboards. Sadly due to the scissors, the later ‘80s and early ‘90s era of the band which saw many transitions are quickly touched upon, although the band make a point in highlighting Counterparts as the album that gained them back their hard rock trio status.

The film literally stops and your heart sinks as Alex, Geddy and current manager Ray Danniels go into detail over the tragedies that befell Neil Peart, namely the deaths of both his daughter and wife. “The band didn’t seem important,” and Neil ran away. You find yourself in near tears, filled with great sadness and sorrow for the entire Rush family and the thoughts that this could be it for the band. Peart, sitting outside in his California environs, says he traveled “55,000 miles and nobody recognized me.” Everyone was worried about Peart and what he was doing and what he might do.

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage rebounds like the band and takes us on a journey filled with Vapor Trails as the Brazilian footage sees Rush play for their biggest crowds ever, invigorated, with a new lease on life. And when you feel the end is near and the credits start to roll, you see these three national treasures sitting relaxed in a California dining room, feeling no pain on fine red wine, their personalities oozing from the screen in the ultimate Three Stooges moment. Of course the footage was shot last fall as the trio reconvened to discuss the future of touring, recording etc. Which brings us to the present where all the aforementioned is materializing right before our very eyes!

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage is about a band fulfilling a dream against convention and all the trials and tribulations surrounding that goal. We’ve been close to the music for nearly 40 years. Now you get a decent-sized morsel on the human beings behind some of the most treasured art in the history of rock.

For more info visit Rushbeyondthelightedstage.com.