RushIsABand is reporting that RUSH will release a 5 1/2 minute edit of 'Headlong Flight', the first single from the upcoming Clockwork Angels album, to radio on April 19th. The album version of the track will clock in at over 7 minutes.

Colorado-based sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson recently announced via his Facebook page the news that he will be writing a novelization of the upcoming Rush album, Clockwork Angels. ECW Press has announced a September 1st street date for the novel which is 264 pages in length, with author credits going to Kevin J. Anderson and Rush drummer Neil Peart. An Amazon pre-order is available below.

Clockwork Angels, will be released on May 29th via Anthem/Universal Music in Canada and Roadrunner Records in the US. A pre-order is available below. Clockwork Angels will be released in Japan on May 23rd via Warner Music.

Rush recently completed work on the follow-up to 2007's Snakes And Arrows in Los Angeles, California with their production team of Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR) and engineer Richard Chycki (AEROSMITH, DREAM THEATER). Frontman/bassist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart have been working on the album since late late 2009 and for the first time in their career released two teasers - 'Caravan' and 'BU2B' - to coincide with 2010's The Time Machine Tour.

Rush recently suffered the traffic loss of famed entertainment photographer and video director Andrew MacNaughtan, who has worked with the band since the mid-'80s and was in Los Angeles shooting the members of Rush for the upcoming album.

Anderson comments about the novelization of Rush's Clockwork Angels album.

Anderson writes: "Imagine if someone had written the novel of The Wall, Tommy, or Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band when those classic albums were released. For Rush fans, Clockwork Angels is that project. I worked together with Neil to flesh out the epic story told over the course of the music, as well as the artist Hugh Syme whose paintings fill the CD booklet. In a young man's quest to follow his dreams, he is caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. He travels across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy, with lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. To whet your appetite, Rush released the first two tracks, 'Caravan' and 'BU2B'-listen to those songs to get an idea of the story's beginning. I'm writing the chapters now, incorporating the lyrics into the narrative, and having a fantastic time. More details to come, but for now-to quote a line from Caravan: 'I can't stop thinking big.'"

When this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees were announced recently, Canadian rock legends RUSH were once again missing from the list. GUNS N' ROSES, BEASTIE BOYS, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, LAURA NYRO, DONOVAN and THE SMALL FACES are among the 2012 class.

Rush has been eligible for more than a decade, but has been left out of the 296 inductees the Rock Hall has honored since its start in 1986. The Canadian rock trio has sold more than 40 million records worldwide, and according to the Recording Industry Association of America, Rush is third after THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band.

An online petition has now been launched to get Rush inducted.

Part of the mission statement reads: "We believe that Rush has been sorely overlooked in the United States for far too long by the popular media and the critics. The Hall Of Fame was founded to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of rock music. Inducting Rush will legitimize that claim by recognizing one band in particular that has contributed dramatically to the rock genre while continually preserving its integrity."

Rock Hall CEO Terry Stewart even believes Rush should get in. "They simply haven't gotten enough votes to make the ballot," he told Cleveland's The Plain Dealer back in April. "I can't tell you why. Based on impact, influence, innovation, and excellence, they're worthy. I think it's just a matter of time before it happens."

Sign the petition and get more info at this location.