The Strombo Show presents Rush, in an exclusive conversation from the house of George Stroumboulopoulos to celebrate the fortieth anniversary and deluxe reissue of their seminal record, 2112. Other than an in-depth chat, the boys dropped two premieres - Foo Fighters covering “2112 Overture” and Billy Talent covering “Passage To Bangkok”.

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson visited the house for an extensive conversation with host and landlord, George Stroumboulopoulos. This unedited, extended version explores the 40th anniversary of 2112, their final tour, the internal dynamic, songwriting, the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, electronic dance music and touches on what’s next for the Holy Triumvirate.

On the Toronto Key To The City, Lee/Lifeson Park in their honour:

Geddy: "It's weird to think of a music career with these kind of accolades. You don't really naturally associate a rock and roll life with somebody naming a park after you, but obviously it is very complimentary... It's bigger than you can actually imagine. I'm honoured and I'm sure Al is and I know my mom is very excited."

Alex: "It's close to Earl Haig High School, where Geddy and I had played - I don't know how many times in the early days and we used to hang around in that area when we were growing up, going to the Red Barn for fries and burgers. It's all there in our past, so it is kind of cool."

Geddy: "You can't avoid your past, when you've been in a band for this long... You're forced to live in your past a lot of the time. It is therapeutic in some way to have a perspective on your past without being obsessed by it.”

Geddy on taking care of his voice:

Geddy: "I live in a total state of paranoia when I'm on the road because of my voice and because I have to sing those notes. It's work and you have to put yourself in the state of life on the road that enables you to perform that kind of material... If I listen to some of the early live recordings, you can hear that I'm really shouting more than singing those high notes and if I listen to my version of them now, I'm trying to sing them more. That's part of youth. Your body will do what you force it to do when you're young, when you're older trying to do the same thing - you have to be methodical about it.

“When we were putting R40 together, we were going back in time to our earliest period and there were a couple of songs that I didn't think I could sing anymore and Alex kept saying - yeah, you can do it. He just ignored me, all my bitching and I bitch quite often."

On the bittersweet feel of the final tour:

Alex: "Anything that you do for the last time has a sense of longing and a bit of sadness, I think. After doing this, for Geddy and myself for 47-years - you took in every second of every show and scanned the whole crowd, put it in your memory banks.”

Geddy: "There's also a bit of denial that gets you through it. You go - ah, this won't be the last one. We'll take a break and then we'll get back together and do another one... because you don't want it to end! I think I've accepted that it's probably the last one as a tour. We'll see!”

On their communication with Neil Peart and what's next:

Geddy: "We send all those things, but the responses are not as enthusiastic. We talk…”

Alex: "It's okay. It is what it is. I've been playing a lot to keep my fingers in it and I'm finding that it is really satisfying. I'm doing some charity gigs with other guys, old guys like me that don't have gigs anymore that get together and it is a very positive, productive thing that you're doing and it is fun to get together. Whenever you get a chance to play. It is not like it is over, you know.”

Geddy: "I think we all have ideas about things that we could do [outside Rush] and I think the tour was kind of emotional. I think we, at least, my attitude is that I needed a good clearing of my mind before knowing where my heart wants to go next as an artist. I think that's a natural process and one that should not be forced. I think that is sort of where we are at right now.

"I've had some approaches, but I'm not ready to do anything yet - records with other people... I don't want to do something just to do it. To me, it has got to be meaningful to me. It has got to be meaningful... I know that I'll know it when it presents itself to me. No songs."

Alex: "I think when we write together, that's a real special thing. We haven't, but we'll see."

On the 2112-40th Anniversary box set:

Geddy: "I was really surprised that so many musicians sort of kicked in to happily do a version of one of those songs... [Foo Fighters] are like the sweetest guys ever. Steve Wilson, surprising to me that these guys wanted to participate in the way that they did and they did really interesting version of the songs. It is really cool... When you think of your own music, especially RUSH music, I don't think of it in terms of other people playing it because it is so connected, it is such weird stuff... They're not easy songs to cover, you know? They're idiosyncratic so I'm always surprised to hear what someone does with it. I don't know. Maybe it is that you always associate your music with yourself, especially the kind of music that we do."

Listen to the show at this location.

After celebrating over 40 years together with the same trio lineup, UMe continues the celebration of the Rush catalog with the release of three 40th anniversary expanded editions of the band’s classic 1976 album, 2112.

On December 16th, 2112-40th will be released in three distinct variations. The 2CD/DVD edition will include a newly remastered CD of the original 2112 album by Abbey Road Studios, and an additional CD of rare, live and previously unreleased material including newly-recorded tracks from 2112 featuring Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters along with Nick Raskulinecz, Billy Talent, Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree, Jacob Moon and Alice In Chains.

The set’s third disc is a DVD featuring a newly restored vintage 1976 Rush concert recorded at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ, plus bonus videos of the Grohl/Hawkins/Raskulinecz track and Billy Talent track, and a new 25+ minute interview featuring Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and longtime producer & engineer Terry Brown. The new 2112 remaster originally appeared on the much-acclaimed 2015 hologram vinyl edition of the album; this marks the Abbey Road Studios master first time on CD.

UMe is also releasing a three-LP 200-gram vinyl edition incorporating all of the aforementioned audio material, plus a special laser-etched LP side, the 2015 hologram on 2112’s side B and a unique turntable mat featuring the band’s iconic Starman character. Fans will also have the option of purchasing a Super Deluxe edition of 2112, incorporating both CDs, the DVD, all three LPs plus its bonus items, and several exclusive collectable items including two 12-inch x 12-inch lithos, one featuring Hugh Syme’s original Starman pencil sketching, the second showcasing a 1976 Massey Hall ticket stub; a reprint of the 1976 Massey Hall handbill and three buttons featuring each band member, all housed in a box lined with velvet flocking.

For the first 1,000 Super Deluxe pre-order purchases at Rush.com, us.udiscovermusic.com and udiscovermusic.com, the purchaser will receive a limited edition 7-inch pressing of the album’s first single “The Twilight Zone” (b/w “Lessons”) and a custom red star 45 large hole adapter ring, both newly designed by Hugh Syme.

All three versions of 2112-40th feature extensive liner notes by renowned rock historian Rob Bowman, and newly designed artwork by longtime Rush art director Hugh Syme. The set’s rare recordings include “Solar Federation”, spotlighting the isolated Neil Peart vocals that close the song “2112” in “Grand Finale,” two outtakes from the 1976 Massey Hall concerts including “Something For Nothing” and a nearly complete 15+ minute performance of “2112,” as well as a recently-rediscovered live version of the album track “The Twilight Zone,” which has only been performed twice in the band’s long history.

The epic 2112 album which guitarist Alex Lifeson described as “the first record where we sounded like Rush,” is widely regarded as a crucial landmark in Rush’s body of work. Although it was the band’s fourth album, it’s generally considered to be the one on which the band’s epic sound and ambitious conceptual approach blossomed. Resisting record-company pressure to focus on shorter, more radio-friendly songs, the band stuck to its guns and constructed the album’s seminal seven-part, 20-minute title piece, a conceptual suite set in a dystopian future.

In addition to its status as a creative landmark, 2112 was also Rush’s commercial breakthrough, becoming the band’s first album to reach the Billboard LP chart and the first Rush album to achieve Gold sales status in the U.S. (it was subsequently certified Platinum). 2112 was also Rush’s first platinum album in Canada, spawning a now-legendary Canadian tour that culminated in a three-night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which was recorded for Rush’s first live album, All the World’s a Stage.

2112 is one of two Rush albums listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and it ranked second on Rolling Stone’s 2012 readers’ poll of “Your Favorite Prog Rock Albums of All Time.” In 2006, the non-profit Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada chose 2112 as a culturally significant example of Canada’s audio-visual heritage.

For the complete tracklisting and order options, head to this location.

Canadian Music Week has announced Rush as the 2017 recipient of the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award. The multi-platinum trio will be honoured for their achievements and longstanding career in the music industry, social activism and support of humanitarian causes at the annual Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards Gala Dinner at the Sheraton Centre on Thursday, April 20th, 2017.

"We are so incredibly honoured to receive the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award.  The depth of Allan and Gary Slaight's generosity, consideration and benevolence has no measure.  We will strive to carry forward their spirit of charity and goodwill." - Rush

"My father Allan Slaight believes that giving back to one's community is something we should all strive to do and the members of Rush have made a point of this throughout their career, starting with a United Way benefit-concert at Maple Leaf Gardens in the early '80s when Allan was Chair of the Campaign," said Gary Slaight, President and CEO Slaight Communications Inc. "In recent years, the group has raised money for food banks, Casey House, the Kidney Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, AIDS research; the list goes on. Alex, Geddy and Neil have been in my family's rock 'n' roll life since the early days when we started Q107 in the late 1970s, and it gives me real pleasure today to thank these three exemplary musicians, on behalf of the Slaight Family, in awarding them with the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award. Good deeds deserve acknowledgement and this is one group that exemplifies the spirit of giving."

"We are proud to be acknowledging Rush's legacy with the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award," added Neill Dixon, President & CEO, Canadian Music Week. "We praise their spirit and determination in philanthropic and humanitarian causes, as their dedication to multiple charities and organizations is very inspirational. They have shown extraordinary support in social involvement and charitable causes, and we are excited to celebrate them at this year's awards."

With more than 40 million records sold worldwide and countless sold-out tours, Rush is not only one of the most inventive and compelling groups in rock history, they remain one of the most popular. According to the RIAA® Rush's sales statistics place them third for the most consecutive gold/platinum studio albums by a rock band, topped only by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In addition to their consistent commercial success, Rush has also been recognized with nine JUNO Awards and seven Grammy nominations, including one for the acclaimed documentary Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage. The group has remained unwaveringly committed and adventurous throughout their musical journey, and the same characteristics can be used to describe their charitable dedication.

 Over the course of their four-decade-long career, the members of Rush have thrown their support behind a wide variety of worthy causes often privately and sometimes publicly. From their earliest shows at Toronto's historic Maple Leaf Gardens, the band started working with the Toronto Food Bank to encourage fans to bring food for those in need. Eventually deciding to do their first charity concert at Maple Leaf Gardens to benefit the United Way in the early '80s, and an amFAR show to benefit Aids Research in the early '90s, engaging themselves and their fans in positive pursuits naturally became part of the Rush ethos.

As dedicated advocates of human rights, in 2008 Rush donated $100,000 from a Winnipeg concert's gate to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. In the same year, on their Snakes & Arrows Tour, the band donated $100,000 from their show in New Orleans to Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation to assist in the revitalization of the city post Hurricane Katrina, and sponsor the construction of a house in The Lower Ninth Ward dubbed "The House that Rush Built."

From their 2010 Time Machine Tour onwards, Rush has donated $1 from every concert ticket sold to various charities including Doctors Without Borders, a total which will soon surpass $2 million over these last five years. In 2013, the band performed an incredibly successful benefit concert at Red Deer's Enmax Centrium with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross to help victims of the flooding that devastated many regions of southern Alberta. The event raised more than $575,000 and was one of the largest donations made to the Alberta Flood Relief.

Rush has also been a passionate supporter of Little Kids Rock, a national non-profit organization that works to restore and revitalize music education programs in disadvantaged U.S. public schools. In efforts to provide percussion instruments to schools, the group created a premium Neil Peart Paragon Cymbal Pack, each of which came with a free splash cymbal personalized, autographed and dated by the Rush drummer himself. This cause-based marketing initiative went on to raise over $50,000 for Little Kids Rock. Working with their endorsement companies, they have set up partnerships for their signature items which have seen many positive charitable efforts such as Neil Peart with DW, Sabian and ProMark, where one campaign raised over $60,000 for Child Advocates. Alex Lifeson has donated royalties from his signature Alex Lifeson Les Paul Axcess guitar to the Domenic Troiano Foundation for guitar music scholarships.

The band members have also donated their time, funds and awareness through their personal interests and events. An avid baseball fan, Geddy Lee donated close to 400 baseballs signed by former Negro League baseball players from his personal collection to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City in 2008. Alex Lifeson is a supporter of Casey House, as well The Kidney Foundation to which he donates his paintings that has led to almost $300,000 in funds raised. As part of their Brush For Hope campaign, Lifeson's current painting, "Aquarium" is available for bids now until November 8th. During the band's South American tour in 2010, Neil Peart was moved by the rescue of the trapped miners in Chile. When he wrote a story about his experiences touring in South America, he rallied Rush fans and his readers to make a $1 donation for his story. Neil matched their donations, and together they raised $10,000 for the Chilean Red Cross.

For more than 10 years, Geddy Lee has been an active board member for the Grapes for Humanity Canada charity, an organization that raises funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson co-host their bi-annual Grapes Under Pressure wine event supporting the local wine growing regions of Ontario. All three members of the band support this cause through their Grapes Under Pressure eBay auction of Rush memorabilia. These combined events have raised over $500,000 to date.

As a band with over four decades of hits, Rush's vast catalogue includes such classics as 1974's self-titled debut, 1976's 2112, 1981's Moving Pictures, 1996's Test For Echo, and 2002's Vapor Trails. Rush released their 20th studio album, Clockwork Angels in 2012 via Anthem/Roadrunner Records. The critically acclaimed collection marks their first studio recording since 2007's Snakes & Arrows, and debuted at #1 in Canada and #2 on the Billboard 200 matching the highest chart debut of the band's career. Rush was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994, made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996 and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010. They have received a star on both Canada's Walk of Fame (1999) and Hollywood Walk of Fame (2010). Rush received the highest artistic honour in Canada by winning the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2012 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Later this month, the band will be releasing a documentary from their recent R40 Tour, Rush Time Stand Still (Anthem/Ole/Universal). Narrated by Paul Rudd, the film documents the band and their 40 plus year relationship with their legions of loyal fans. The film Time Stand Still will premiere on November 3rdin Cineplex/Landmark theatres across Canada and Fathom in the US, then be released on BluRay/DVD on November 18th.

For more information on the 2017 Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Awards, go to this location.

(Photos - Vanessa Heins, 2016)