Rush fans: Hard-to-please ... or just surly?

It's been about a month since Rush dazzled 15,000 fans at Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre at the start of their "Snakes and Arrows" tour, and the hate mail is still trinkling in here at Stuck in the 80s.

Here are some examples of fan reaction to reviews by myself and Times pop critic Sean Daly:

• "Lame review. Dumb jokes, bad observations. The new songs totally kill live."
• "It is strange this guy seems to not want to hear all of the songs I do. What DOES he like from them?"
• "I thought you got out easy for saying that Dreamline was the best song in the show ...  No way dude, I mean I like Dreamline and I even sang along -- which most people were embarrassed to do -- but you can not compare that to Witch Hunt, Natural Science, or even any of the new songs, come on!"

Even when we went overboard with our compliments, we still caught a lot of guff: "I've got a bone to pick with you," one fan wrote. "Sorry to say Neil Peart, while a very accomplished drummer, is not the 'most revered drummer of all time.'  Shake the cob webs! Can you say -- John Bonham or how about Keith Moon of The Who?   Think a little harder and those folks their due!"

So are Rush fans the most loyal fans around? The most hard-to-please fans? Or are they just downright surly? Listen to our newest Stuck in the 80s podcast -- our post-concert Rush review -- and decide.

Click here to listen. Or here's a better idea -- click here to get all our podcasts for free on iTunes.

NAME THAT 80s TUNE WINNERS: The correct answer for Episode #92 is "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates, which was featured in the '90s movie "The Wedding Singer." Dare I say classic? Winners include: Becky Kirk, Ray Nelson, Steve Paulson, Larry Ziegler, Walter Cox, Stacy Ryan, Mark Kenneally and Peter Ryan.

Comments

[Jesse]

BENRAYNERFAN- I see where you're coming from, but to call someone an "embarrassment to lifeforms in general" simply cause they love a band is quite harsh, and is un-called for. People love Rush. You love Rush. I love Rush. They love Rush. Let's all love Rush together and not call names, eh?

[BEN RAYNER FAN]

The average Rush fan is no different than most rock fans, it’s the ones that hang around online and in chat rooms that are creepy, obsessive and often times abusive and flat out goofy. Especially the Rush Con types. I’ll never forget the first time I did a search for Rush online and ended up on a page with a bunch of really ugly chicks wearing feather boas in front of a Roll The Bones Banner acting all sexy. What a joke! Come to think of it here’s a link to an article about it.

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/stillnorushtojointhefanclub.html

I followed some of the links from there and ended up on a Rush site that was fully dedicated to complaining about every thing the band did, and were even boycotting the CDs and DVDs. Most of them were the kind of obnoxious fan boy types you'd expect to see following Hanson and singing along to Mmm Bop.

You couldn’t pay me to be a part of that crowd. They give us normal Rush fans a bad name. In fact they’re an embarrassment to lifeforms in general.

[Jesse]

By the way, a lot of that was directed towards who ever the hell Nunya Bidnez (nice name- gimme a break) is.

[Jesse]

Let me start off by saying I’m a 17 year old music junkie. I am a musician myself and like to consider myself well-versed in most musical territories… On with the rant…

Rush are an unbelievable band. They are three talented musicians who make fantastic music, and in an industry full of bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, Rush strives to be different. They always have. Not paying respect to this fact is an insult, not only to the fans who really love this band, but to the band itself.

Rush continually proves they are worthy by supplying, day in, and day out, some of rock's greatest music.

Geddy Lee is an un-rivaled bass guitarist, and has an often overlooked, uncanny knack for melody. Just listen to the new album, Snakes and Arrows. Oh wait- some of you closed minded morons only like "Tom Sawyer." Pardon me. He also is a very talented keyboard player, as proven time and time again with the late-80's period in Rush's dynamic history. Alex Lifeson is a brilliant guitarist- dare I say the most-underrated rock guitarist in music?! And let's face it, Keith Moon and John Bonham, though they were brilliant drummers, are dead. They ain't around anymore. Neil Peart could drum the skin (and the skins) off of those two, cause they DIED. Neil Peart evolved, as they wasted away.

Rush’s concerts, telling from old video footage as well as my experiences during their past 3 tours, are amazing. They aren’t concerts. They are experiences. As the lights flicker, the lasers flash and the music pumps, you take it all in. Sure Alex and Geddy show off a little, but they use the music to get to the crowd.

At the show, in Los Angeles, at the Hollywood Bowl, “Limelight” and “Digital Man” were brilliant. “Mission” nearly brought me to tears. “Entre Nous” was a FANTASTIC surprise. “Dreamline,” is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums. “Witch Hunt” and “Natural Science” were great too…; ) The new songs were incredible. “The Way the Wind Blows,” “Far Cry” and “Armor and Sword” were absolutely brilliant. “A Passage to Bangkok” (which is from 2112, Podcasters) rocked. And all of the radio hits were also very good.

For me, NO Rush song is an excuse for a bathroom break, to me. For you, maybe. But when a band that’s in their 50’s is willing to play a friggin’ tour, you best bet your narrow-minded asses I’ll be there, every moment of every song. (I’m not talking to just you, Mr. Bolggers/Podcasters, mostly to the people who think they’re “fans.”)

So, all in all, I didn’t hate your blog or your podcast, but I didn’t love it. The replies irritated me, as well- Which is part of the reason why I wrote this.

There’s my two cents, or from the looks of it, the whole dollar. Did that make any sense at all?! Probably not, but it felt good.

[Rich]

I am a huge fan of Rush, but even my rationale can kick in before calling Neil Peart the best rock drummer. I know as well as any intelligent lover of music that there is no way to determine who is the best...on any instrument. It's a matter of taste. Outside of that, it is a popularity contest.

That being said, Neil is my favorite rock drummer. Geddy is my favorite bassist. And Alex my favorite guitarist.

Oh yah, the new CD is probably the best thing they've put out since Signals as far as I'm concerned.

Cheers!

[Hugh Jas]

Rush has been my favorite band for 20 plus years and Rush fans never change. Fiercely loyal, defensive about every perceived slight to the band, and they take the whole thing way to seriously. Clearly more seriously than the band does.

I loved reading how the police chief down in Naples griped in the press about all the hate mail and phone calls he got from fans over the arrest of Alex Lifeson. When I saw his perp walk on CNN I remember thinking, oh boy! here come the fans. Those cops probably didn't know what hit them.

The good news is many of us Rush fans mellow as we move along in life. But Rush is always there. We care a lot about the band because they matter and are very important to rock music, not the music industry. It's an important distinction that bothers many fans who feel Rush doesn't get their due. That and the ever-present feeling that Rush is just misunderstood. By everybody else. Thus the surliness.

The joke of it is you never hear the band complain about any of this. Neil Peart will tell you they have too much recognition, and that the only people misunderstanding Rush are the Rush fans, many of them anyway. He's probably right too. And he's been saying that one way or the other for a long time. See Limelight, penned (26!) years ago.

For me personally Rush has been the music of my life. I've played the guitar for 20 years because of their musical inspiration. And all these years since I first encountered their music they're still cranking out vital new music.

Rush fans should celebrate that. I mean, 32 years of music and no signs of slowing down while most of their peers are playing reunion tours in Vegas lounges. We're a lucky bunch, eh you hosers?

[Isorski]

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion even if it's wrong. Speaking of, I caught the band in Portland Saturday and wrote a review here: http://isorski.blogspot.com/. Enjoy!

[Spears]

Ahh, Kevin from Countryside HS. I should have known it was you! Biggest Rush fan I've ever met.

I hope we're doing a 25th anniversary reunion, but I don't know for sure. I'll fire away an e-mail to the organizers of 2005's fiesta and see if I can talk them into reprising their very successful role!

[Kevin F]

Imagine my surprise that RUSH is even in the paper a month after a show! Thanx!! What we have here is simply the difference between a casual RUSH fan and someone that RUSH is THEIR band. Big difference!! So what that Dreamline was his favorite song of the night! It's a great song. We have a convert! RUSH may not be his band, but he now understands why RUSH is OUR band! RUSH fans love to hear stuff no one else knows (Natural Science). Casual fans want to hear the "hits" (Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer). I think they did a good job of mixing things up. And for all of you who think everything after Signals or Moving Pictures is no good, just go away. We don't need you, we don't want you. RUSH will NEVER be a band that puts out a different version of the same old recycled stuff that most rock...and pop bands do. No, its not all great. RUSH is MY band and there are some songs I don't like (Speed of Love). But, overall, it's been a great ride since I first heard Tom Sawyer in 8th grade and bought every album (and now CD) I could get my hands on. Time stand still? No, time rushes on. And what a RUSH it is! Oh, Steve, this is not Kevin Federline (that really hurt). It's your fellow CHS graduate. See you at the 25th??

[Nunya Bidnez]

Rush was good back in the 70s and early 80s, but since the album Signals most Rush fans have been in total denial that their favorite band is a bunch of old guys that lost their touch. And FYI Peart is very good, but he's not the best Rock drummer. Sorry to break it to you surlies.

[Six]

In fact, Geddy Lee looks like the guy from that movie "The Warriors" who taunts the Warriors with the chant, "Warrrrriiiioorrrssss, coommmme ouuuut tooo plaaaaayyyyy!". :D

[Six]

I'm listening to your Rush podcast right now.

Dude, if you really wanna know why there aren't any girls at Rush concerts, I'll tell you, but be warned, the truth can sometimes be ugly...

... which brings me to the answer to your question: Why aren't there any girls at Rush concerts? Because they're not the most attractive fellows in rock. That's it in a nutshell.

Video killed the radio star, dude. Rush are radio stars, but video stars they're not.

They're a great band. I give them all respect due for kicking azz on the rock front, but they are NOT, I repeat, NOT a pretty band. Girls like pretty boys, or at least boys who are ugly in an attractive way, like Mick Jagger.