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Rush - The Boys In
Brazil!
20 October
2003 11.07am

RUSH, the legendary Canadian
prog-rockers, will release 'Rush In Rio', a triple live album
on October 27 through Atlanic. A deluxe double DVD will follow
in November. We caught up with guitarist Alex Lifeson to find
out about their South American adventure and why they chose to
make themselves into 'Bobble Heads'...

Why did you choose to record a live album
in Rio?
Alex: "Right from the beginning of the tour, we
wanted to record something after having been off the road for
a number of years. We wanted to chronicle a portion of the
dates. The idea to film one of the shows, and originally
intended to film it in the US. Unfortunately, that didn't
happen, so we placed all of our bets on the last show in Rio.
We'd played Sao Paolo the night before and the rain poured. By
the end of the set, my pedal board was shorting out, Neil's
electronic kit was shorting! We had a great time despite the
rain causing all of these technical difficulties. In Rio De
Janeiro, the gear arrived late and didn't know if the
equipment would still work. We usually soundcheck at around
4.30pm, but we ended up going on stage at 10pm with no
soundcheck or video line check. It was crazy to put it all
down to that last day. Fortunately, the Gods were with us that
night. There were very few technical glitches."

How much pressure did it put on the band
and crew, going on stage without a soundcheck?
Alex:
"It doesn't matter so much to us in terms of our playing,
because we warm up backstage. For the crew and video crew it
was really important. I have to say it was incredible to have
an audience who sang along with every word - and had their own
words for the instrumentals - in a country that doesn't speak
much English. The Maracana Stadium is absolutely huge. I
couldn't even see the other side of the stadium!"

Did you get the fans to pick the show's
setlist?
Alex: "We were aware of the fans picking the
set list for us through the website, so we listened to
everything we had done and tried to balance the setlist. You
have to reach a compromise where you play a set that is
exciting and inspiring to you for the next five or six months
and what the audience wants to hear.

Neil Peart's drum solo clocks in at around
nine minutes. What do you and bassist Geddy Lee do in that
time?
Alex: "I usually put my feet up for ten minutes!
Go to the loo. I used to have a smoke then, but I
quit."

During 'By-Tor And The Snow Dog', there is
an impressive animated feature that plays on the screens
behind the band. How did that come about?
Alex: "I've
only seen bits and pieces of it, because the cartoon happens
at such an active part of the song I couldn't watch it while I
was playing. We have some people who do our website and made
the Big Al Tiki Bar animation, so we let them put something
together that would make everyone smile."

How important is the internet to a band
like Rush?
Alex: "This is the first opportunity for the
band to really embrace the internet. There was a five year
period where we didn't work, and there was no heart in it.
Neil went through an incredible amount and we were just doing
our best to support him in whatever way we could. The band
didn't seem important then. Then we decided to tour and
record, then the web activity and energy began to build.

What are your feelings on downloading music
from the internet?
Alex: "I'm glad there's a system
that is fair to both the buyer and the record companies. As
much as you hate the record companies, they have been a
breeding ground for young talent. We wouldn't have got to
where we are or made the records we have if we didn't have a
label that would take a chance on a band that had five albums,
no video potential, a vocalist with a very high, irritating
voice. These were the things that the label had to take into
consideration. But they saw something in Rush. Our experiences
with record labels have always been very positive. We've
always been left alone and had a relationship where they left
it up to us. After '2112', they knew we were fine to work on
our own. Some bands have been ripped off by labels, and that's
wrong. But, to start downloading material without the artist
receiving anything is wrong. Records cost a lot of money to
make. The labels put the money back into developing new bands
and artists. In the last five or six years, I haven't seen
that development in music. That's not to say there aren't
great new bands, but there hasn't been that swell in
music.

How did the idea for the Rush 'Bobble
Heads' come about?
Alex: "Geddy thought it would be fun
to have 'Bobble Heads' from the '2112' era. When we got the
prototypes, it was funny. They've turned out to be a very
popular piece of merchandise. They were back ordered for
months at one time. When you're made into a Bobble Head, you
know you've made it! It only took 30 years."

How about a collection of Rush through the
years?
"I don't think I could look at them!"

Next year will mark the 30th Anniversary of
the band. How will you commemorate it?
Alex: "That's
what we're trying to decide at the moment. We're thinking
about going into the studio in late January/early February. Or
because of the 30th anniversary, we may go on a world tour.
We're leaning towards going on tour. We had a lot of fun on
the last tour. It might be a nice way to spend the year. We'll
see."

Will touring the UK be part of the band's
plans?
Alex: "Its definitely in the plan. We felt so
bad by not coming to Europe last time. It slipped through our
fingers because the venues we wanted to play weren't available
at the right time. Geddy is away on holiday, but if we do the
tour, we promise to come over the UK."

Words: Simon Young

Log onto www.kerrang.com later this week to
enter a competition to win 'Rush In Rio' albums, DVDs and a
set of 'Bobble Heads'!

For more information on Rush, click onto http://www.rush.com/.

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