The members of Rush will be receiving another one of those glittering prizes this weekend: the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award, honouring their decades of dedicated philanthropy. The Toronto power-prog trio is characteristically low-key about the honour, which will be issued during a Juno Awards ceremony.

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson spoke to The Canadian Press about the band’s charity and a 40-year history with the Juno Awards. An excerpt follows:

CP: You guys didn’t grow up wealthy, but was charity always instilled in you?

Lifeson: “We’re all middle, or lower-middle class, suburban kids. First of all, it’s the right thing to do. We are very, very fortunate. We’ve had an amazing career as a band. I think we were raised with those sorts of traits. It just seems right to give back. Move it forward.”

CP: Rush performed a benefit for AIDS research in the early ’90s and you’ve been a huge supporter of Casey House. Has AIDS long been an important cause for the band?

Lifeson: “It was. We all knew people who passed away, who died from AIDS. You couldn’t stick your head in the ground and just ignore it. I think that particular (concert) in San Francisco was a foundation that was set up by Elizabeth Taylor.

Casey House does an amazing job. They’re so compassionate and they’re so caring. It’s really your last place to find a friend in a lot of ways, especially in the homeless community or the drug-addicted community, where they have nowhere to go.”

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As preparations for the upcoming R40 tour are being made, Universal Music Enterprises continues its 12 Months of Rush celebrations with the release of a special vinyl Hologram Edition reissue of the band's epic, landmark release 2112 on March 17th. This special edition will also come with a free download card for the high resolution Digital Audio version.

 

 

Alex Lifeson on 2112: “The first record where we sounded like Rush.”

Pressed on high fidelity 200gram vinyl, this unique Hologram Edition showcases a custom, hand- of the "Red Star of the Federation" in the album's dead wax runout of side two. To reveal the spinning hologram, fans can use any focused source of light, such as the LED flashlight on a smartphone, directly above the turntable while playing.

Check out the video demo of the test pressing

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2112 has been newly-remastered on 200-gram, heavyweight vinyl at legendary Abbey Road Studios using the Direct to Metal Mastering (DMM) audiophile copper plating process, all from original analogue masters. Pre-order your copy at Rush Backstage Club.

Last year Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) began its celebration of Rush's 40th anniversary with a vinyl reissue of their self-titled 1974 debut. UMe continues its celebration throughout 2015 with the reissue of the band's remaining 14 Mercury albums in chronological order.

January 27: Fly By Night (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio / Blu-Ray Audio)

February 24: Caress Of Steel (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

March 17: 2112 Hologram Edition (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

All the World's A Stage (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

April 21: A Farewell To Kings (Vinyl+Download Code/High Res Digital Audio/Blu-Ray Audio)

May 19: Hemispheres (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

June 16: Permanent Waves (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

July 21: Moving Pictures (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

Exit... Stage Left (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

August 18: Signals (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio / Blu-ray Audio)

September 15: Grace Under Pressure (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

October 20: Power Windows (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

November 17: Hold Your Fire (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

December 1: A Show Of Hands (Vinyl+Download Code / High Res Digital Audio)

The R40 Live 40th Anniversary Tour will visit 34 cities throughout North America this summer beginning May 8 in Tulsa, OK. and finishing August 1 in Los Angeles, CA. These not to be missed concerts will highlight four decades of the band's music. Complete tour can be found here.