All roads have led to this. Forty-one years in the making, the R40 tour took a very real journey back through time. Beginning with the grand design: a state-of-the-art stage set that pivots, rolls and dives, and brings Clockwork Angels into bombastic, colourful life before marching stridently back in time (through theatre stages, a panoply of band and fan shots, the accrued memories of a life spent playing live) to a mocked-up school gym and the band playing there; a solitary bass amp set on the chair behind Geddy Lee, a mirror ball spiralling crazily above, casting thin rods of light like a light rain across the crowd, “Working Man” coming to a shuddering halt as the band’s beginning becomes their end.
The two hometown shows at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre this summer were always going to have an added poignancy given the giant question mark over the band’s future – Neil’s resistance to play live, Alex’s physical travails – plus, this was the town where Rush rehearsed in their rooms and garages, were the scourge of high school dances, brought the bar scene thrumming into bluesy life, it’s where “Subdivisions” was played out and the song born.
Any doubts were offset by a sell-out 35-date tour which drew people from as far afield as Australia, Japan, China, South America and London (not the one in Ontario, though they were in attendance too) and only amplified the Canadians’ legend. People came dressed as the band (the 2112 era proving particularly popular even down to Neil’s moustache), eleven-year-olds thrilled to hear songs that were recorded and released when their fathers were still teenage boys and were now too trying to keep time with Neil’s rattling fills.
Toronto was the live debut for “Losing It,” the band’s hymn to a creative light finally snuffed out. The version on the Signals album was raised ever higher by Ben Mink’s (FM) wonderfully affecting violin part, the recreation of which had always put the song beyond the band’s live set. His appearance (mere moments after the band had casually told him that the whole show was being filmed) was, and is, a moment of intractable and pure joy, filled (much like the R40 tour) with bittersweet highs and lows, inexpressively beautiful, the violin’s high-keening song reaching out to the impossibly high ceiling, disappearing there among the rafters.
“Closer to the Heart” is similarly impactful, as the room lights up with thousands of plastic star men logos held high, swaying unsteadily, couples link arms as the song’s refrain echoes around the room and down through time. “Xanadu” buzzes into life as the stage becomes a giant lattice of blue laser beams, the audience in thrall as Lee and Lifeson strap on their double-neck guitars.
It’s a musical history writ large; songs that have travelled with people for some if not all of their lives. As Geddy Lee shouts from the stage, maybe for one final time, “Thank you for forty years and I hope we see you again!” And that sentiment is reflected in every joyful face staring back at him.
Credits
Executive Producers
Pegi Cecconi
Ray Danniels
John Virant
Audio Producer
David Bottrill
Audio Consultant
Brad Madix
Audio Mastering
Joao Carvalho
Record and Mix
David Bottrill
Audio Recording Assistant
Colin Miller
Concert Audio Recording
Livewire Remote Recorders, Toronto
Audio Mobile Engineers
Doug McClement
Audio Mobile Assistants
Gary Tompkins
David Johnston
Alex Halayko
Assistant Audio Producer
Ryan McCambridge
Venue
Air Canada Centre - Toronto, Ontario
Sound Design
Mike Rowland/Rancho Fantastico, Toronto
Liner Notes
Geddy Lee – Vocals, Bass
Alex Lifeson – Guitars, Vocals
Neil Peart – Drums
All Songs Lee/Lifeson/Peart except:
“Tom Sawyer” (Lee/Lifeson/Peart/Dubols)
“Closer to the Heart” (Lee/Lifeson/Peart/Talbot)
“The Main Monkey Business.” “What You’re Doing.” and “Working Man” (Lee/Lifeson)
“YYZ” (Lee/Peart)
“The Story So Far” (Peart)
All songs published by ole Core Music Publishing (SOCAN/SESAC). Administered by ole. All Rights Reserved.
2015 Anthem Entertainment/Anthem Film & Television Productions Inc. Under exclusive license to Zoé Vision, a division of Concord Music Group, lnc.. 100 N. Crescent Drive. Beverly Hills, CA 90210. All Rights Reserved.
Art Direction, Design and Illustrations – Hugh Syme
Photo Curation – Meg Symsyk
Cover Photograph – Randy Johnson
Photography – Richard Sibbaid, John Arrowsmith, Randy Johnson
Special Thanks to – Jay Baruchel, Les Claypool, Peter Dinklage, Tom Morello, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Chad Smith, The Trailer Park Boys, Ben Mink, Jonathan Dinklage, Jerry Stiller, and Eugene Levy
R40 Live Crew
Liam Birt – Tour Manager & Accountant
Donovan Lundstrom – Road Manager
Craig Blazier – Production Manager
Lydia Bourgeau – Production Assistant
Brad Madix – Concert Sound Engineer
Howard Ungerleider – Lighting Director
Tony Geranios – Keyboard Technician
Lorne Wheaton – Drum Technician
John McIntosh – Bass Technician
Scott Appleton – Guitar Technician
George Steinert – Stage Manager
Bruce French – Nutritionist
Anthony Fedewa – Venue Security
Michael Mosbach – Security
Kevin Ripa – Artist Liaison
Cliff Sharpiing – Head Carpenter
John Renner – Carpenter
Anson Moore – Audio System Engineer
Brent Carpenter – Monitor Mixer Engineer
Corey Harris – Monitor Systems Engineer
Yanick Blais – Lighting Crew Chief
Vincent Cadieux – Electrician
Andrew O’Toole – Lighting Technician
Denis Ayotte – Lighting Technician
Benoit Paille – Lighting Technician
Jerry Ritter – Head Rigger
James Harrelson – Rigger
Sebastien Richard – Motion Control
David Davidian – Video Director
Dominic Moreau – Video Crew Chief
Frederic Fournier – Engineer
Philippe Casutt – Led
Philippe Valade – Projections
Jonathan Gagnon-Roy – Video Technician
Matthew Miller – Videographer
John Arrowsmith – Pyro Technician
Scott Wilson – Laser Technician
Patrick McLoughlin – Merchandiser
Keith Keller – Live Nation Global Tour Rep
Colin Womack – VlP Nation Rep
Meg Symsyk – Tour Publicity
Thanks to our Technical Suppliers:
For Alex:
Gibson Guitars
PRS Acoustic Guitars
Martin Acoustic Guitars
Dean Markley Strings
Lerxst Omega Amplifiers
Mesa Boogie Amplifiers
Box Amplifiers
DLS Effects
Fishman Transducers
Audio Technica
Fractal Audio
Apple Computers
Universal Audio
RJM Music
Dunlop Picks and Crybaby Wah’s
Palmer Speaker Simulators
Tc Electronics
Tech 21
Graph Tech
Floyd Rose
Baratto Guitars
Pick of the Ricks
Travnnr Amnlifiers
For Geddy:
Fender and The Fender Custom Shop
Gretsch Custom Shop
Rotosound Strings
Orange Amplification
Tech 21lSansamp
James Hogg: Custom Engraved Pickguards
Tom Brantley: Custom Pickups and Rewinds
Rivera Amplification: Rock Crusher Recording
Jim Burgess and Saved By Technology
Garth Hjelte, Chicken Systems, Inc.
Ableton Live
Moog
Fractal Audio Systems: Axe-Fx ll XL
Vintech AUdio: Model 273
Westbury National Show Systems
Tim Vear and Shure
Clydesdale Custom Case Co. Ltd.
B. Zee Brokerage Ltd.
For Neil:
DW Drums
Sabian Cymbals
Promark Drumsticks
Remo Drumheads
Roland V-Drum
Kelly Shu lndustries
Dauz Trigger Pads
Urbannboard Shoes
Bus Drivers – Dave Bumette, Lashawn Lundstrom, Marty Beeler, Joe C. Bush, John Morgan
Truck Drivers – Arthur “Mac” McLear, Jon Cordes, Mike Kindler, John Lyon, Julie Mennitti, Steve Mennitti. Bob Wright, Benoit Bourvages, Marc Andre Gelinas, Craig Hallman
Merchandise Driver – Don Johnson
Flight Crew – Darren Soley, Rob Bunston, Jennifer Merten
Concert Lighting, Video Screens & Equipment
Solotech Montreal, Quebec – Hugo Tardif
Concert Sound
Clair Global – Jason Heitman, Ralph Mastrangelo
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotek – Bob Ross
Lasers
Productions Design International – Brian Beggs
Rigging and Motors
Five Points Production Services – John Fletcher
Buses
Hemphill Brothers Coach Co. – Mark Larson
Trucking
Ego Trips – Jim Bodenheimer
Aircraft Charter
Chartright – Justin King
Customs Brokers
Bzee Brokerage Ltd. – Barry Zeagman, Neil Zeagman
Promoter
Live Nation Global Touring – Arthur Fogel & Gerry Barad
Live Nation Canada – Riley O’Connor
Agent
USA – Artist Group international – Adam Kornfeld, June Chaiyasit
International – The Agency Group – Neil Warnock, Samantha Henfrey
Canada – Feldman & Associates – Vinny Cinquemani, Olivia Ootes
Rush/Anthem Entertainment Consigliere
Bob Farmer, Esquire
Merchandising
Showtech – Patrick & Kelly McLoughlin, Alex Mahood, Rayanne Lepieszo, Laura Henry, Louise Clash, Richie de Almeida
Travel Agency
FROSCH Travel – Marla Wax-Ferguson, Joe Mauceri
Geddy and Alex’s Back Line Gear:
Marshall, Ampeg, Traynor, Hughes & Kettner
Design – Dale Heslip
Construction – Mood Inc. & Mojo Musical Supply
Zoe/Concord Music Group
Production – Brian Schuman
Video Production – Elizabeth Boettcher
Project Management – Liza Levy
Marketing Manager – Adam Jones
Executive Producer for Fadoo Productions
Corey Russell
Bob Mccown
Artist Management
Ray Danniels for SRO Management
SRO/Anthem
Ray Danniels, Pegi Cecconi, Sheila Posner, Bob Farmer, Andy Curran, Meg Symsyk, Cynthia Barry, Tyler Tasson, Emma Sunstrum, Jeremy Biderman, Veronica Sinnaeve
A&R – Andy Curran
Head of Marketing & Publicity – Meg Symsyk
Production Manager – Emma Sunstrum