2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Rush’s eponymous debut album in 1974. The superb collector’s box set, R40, will be released on November 11th. Bringing together live performances by Rush from each decade of their career, R40 includes Rush In Rio, R30, Snakes & Arrows Live, Time Machine 2011: Live In Cleveland and Clockwork Angels Tour plus a bonus disc of previously unseen and unreleased live material stretching from 1974 to 2013.

To the delight of fans, the bonus disc will include all eight songs from the Laura Secord Secondary School show in 1974, featuring original drummer John Rutsey. That recording includes two Rush originals: “I’ve Been Runnin” and “The Loser”, as well as their cover of Larry William’s “Bad Boy”, made famous by The Beatles. The bonus discus also features five songs from songs from the Capitol Theatre in 1976 such as “Anthem” and “Lakeside Park’, the rarely performed full, seven-part version of 2112 filmed in 1997, “Lock and Key” from the Hold Your Fire tour, as well as footage from the glorious evening when Rush fans got their beloved band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rush are renowned for the energy and excitement of their live concerts and this set brings together some of their finest performances. The 10 DVD (or 6 Blu-ray) discs are contained in a stunning 52-page hardback book measuring 305mm x 225mm with the 10 discs contained in five additional rigid insert pages each holding two discs. The 52 pages of the book are filled with memorabilia and photographs documenting 40 years of Rush live in concert. This is the ultimate collection of Rush live performances, beautifully presented.

Find the complete tracklistings at FYIMusicNews.ca.

 

 

Meanwhile, Rush has revealed their first offering from the forthcoming R40 Live concert film – “Roll The Bones”, a song from their fourteenth studio album Roll The Bones, that was originally released in 1991.

This R40 Live version of “Roll The Bones” was recorded in the band’s hometown of Toronto on June 17th & 19th during the sold out shows at the Air Canada Centre on the R40 Live tour and was mixed by David Botrill (Tool, Muse).

“Roll The Bones (R40 Live)” features an array of special guests in the rap part of the song: Jay Baruchel (She’s Out Of My League), Les Claypool (Primus), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), The Trailer Park Boys, and Jason Segel & Paul Rudd (I Love You, Man).

It is the first time the band put the RTB song back in the setlist since the Snakes & Arrows tour in 2007/2008. During the R40 Live tour, “Roll The Bones” gained new life and became a fan-favourite with an arena sing-along to the chorus “Why are we here? Because we’re here – Roll The Bones”.

The Rush R40 Live concert film will be released on November 20th. More details to be revealed soon.