Something for Nothing: A RUSH Fancast

The moment we were all waiting for happened this week: Tickets for Rush's Fifty Something Tour went on sale! OK, there were 3 different sales in the span of 7 days: the Citi Bank credit card presale, the artist presale, and the general sale. This week Steve and Gerry talk about the frustrating ticket-buying process, why Ticketmaster has been ruining the fan experience for decades, and how we fared...

It's an emergency episode of the podcast! The unthinkable has been thought: Rush is going on tour! Today, Geddy and Alex announced a 7-city, 12-show tour, scheduled for summer 2026. Our excitement is unbridled! Let the fray begin! Follow us on Bluesky: @rushfancast Follow us on Instagram: @therushcast Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @RushFanCast Follow us on Threads: @therushcast Email us at: t...

This week in our second of two parts live from Henderson Brewing's Rush Day 2025, we speak with Ivar Hamilton. Ivar has had a long and celebrated career in the music business and is well-known as the man who Neil Peart delivered an advance copy of Permanent Waves to at CFNY--the station whose tagline inspired the song The Spirit of Radio. Rush superfan Ray Wawrzyniak also joins us for another roun...

We were invited back to Henderson Brewing in Toronto for Rush Day 2025 to record live from our perch in the Crow's Nest, and this year we wanted to know your favorite Rush song! We met a lot of great people and had a lot of wonderful conversations with Rush fans from all around the world. Follow us on our socials below to see pictures from the day! Follow us on Bluesky: @rushfancast Follow us on I...

We're back with the second of two episodes with multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Maiah Wynne breaking down the new Envy of None album, Stygian Wavz. This time we talk to Maiah about her solo album, Out of the Dark, and side B of Stygian Wavz: the songs That Was Then, Raindrops, New Trip, Clouds, The End, and Stygian Waves. Purchase Maiah's album Out of the Dark: ⁠Maiah Wynne Archives - VISI...

Maiah Wynne, singer/songwriter and the voice behind Envy of None, joins us for an in-depth examination of the band's sophomore album, Stygian Wavz. In this episode, we discuss the album's first 5 songs: Not Dead Yet, The Story, Under the Stars, Thrill of the Chase, and Handle With Care. Purchase Envy of None's Stygian Wavz: HOME - Envy of None Follow us on Bluesky: @rushfancast Follow us on Instag...

In episode 182, we detailed our failed attempt to rank all 165 Rush album tracks, and we put out the call for listeners to submit their own lists. This week, John Take of Rush Graphs (who first joined us way back in episode 32) analyzes the data--including the lists Steve and Gerry finally got around to completing--and finds some interesting trends, all of which are presented in amazing graphs. Yo...

This week we're talking to author Andy Faulkner, who has recently published a travelogue called "Finding My Way: Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Rush." Andy tells us about his early obsession with Rush, the impetus for traveling the globe to see the band, and what it has all meant to him. You can order "Finding My Way: Half a Lifetime in Pursuit of Rush" here: Finding My Way by Andy Faulkner Follow...

Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning producer who has worked with the Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Evanescence, and, of course, Rush. Nick produced Rush's 2007 album Snakes & Arrows and their final masterpiece, Clockwork Angels, in 2012. He joins us this week to talk about his first meeting with Geddy and Alex, share stories from the recording sessions of Snakes & Arrows and Clockwork An...

Back in episode 110, we spoke with David DeRocco, chair of the Neil Peart Memorial Task Force, about getting the project off of the ground. Now, 3 years later, sculptor Morgan MacDonald has been chosen to create the statues and fundraising for the project has kicked into high gear. We talk to David about choosing Morgan, the progress of the fundraising effort, and the lasting legacy of Neil Peart...

This week we welcome Greg Russell. Greg was a close friend of Neil Peart, and he's also the drummer of the Rush tribute band Natural Science. Greg tells us about the unusual circumstance that led to his friendship with Neil, designing Neil's first website, and working on Neil's later drum kits. Follow us on Instagram: @therushcast Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @RushFanCast Follow us on Thread...

It's the last of our trilogy live from Henderson Brewing in Toronto! This week we welcome back our good friend Ray Wawrzyniak to stump us with Rush trivia. We also hear Rush Origin Stories from Bing from Houston, Texas, who also fills us in on a large language model he trained on the published works and lyrics of Neil Peart; Justin from Toronto, Ontario; and Morgan, also from Toronto. Check out Bi...

It's the second of our 3 episodes live from Henderson Brewing in Toronto! This week we interview RushCon Creative Director Jillian Maryonovich; hear Rush Origin Stories from fans Jeff from Traverse City, Michigan; Ian from Kitchener, Ontario; Nyki from Honolulu, Hawaii; David from Toronto; and Christopher from Rochester, New York; and talk with RushFest Scotland founder Steve Brown. Follow us on B...

In August, the SFN team--Steve, Gerry, and Lex--recorded live from Henderson Brewing in Toronto for Rush Day 2024. In the first of 3 episodes from Henderson Brewing, we talk with owner Steve Himel about the event and Rush lighting director Howard Ungerleider, and hear some Rush Origin Stories from fans Phil from Hilton Head, South Carolina; Melissa from Orange County, California; Ray from Whitby,...

We're rounding out our summer mini season with the incomparable Tyler Warren! Tyler is an incredible multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who tours with Queen + Adam Lambert, records with his band Flarelight, and has released full album covers of both Permanent Waves and, most recently, Grace Under Pressure on his YouTube channel. Tyler talks to us about falling in love with Rush, how he ended up to...

This week we welcome back our friend Max Mobley to count down our top 5 favorite Alex Lifeson riffs. Max previously joined us on episode 97 to talk about his book "Rush FAQ," episode 122 to rank our top 5 Alex Lifeson solos, and again on episode 146 as part of our Hold Your Fire Redux series to talk about "Mission." You can learn more about Max, including where to buy his first novel, "Howard &amp...

This week we're joined by Mike Gormley, who worked as the director of publicity at Mercury Records during the early days of Rush. After leaving Mercury, he was the artist manager for such bands as The Bangles, Oingo Boingo, and Concrete Blonde. He tells us about meeting the band, their early days on the road, and the difficulty selling the rock press on the band despite their growing popularity. F...

This week, we attempt the impossible: ranking all of Rush's original studio album tracks. And guess what? We found it was impossible. So join us as we discuss out methods and frustrations and offer our sincerest apologies to anyone who has ever published a list of ranked Rush songs. Follow us on Bluesky: @rushfancast Follow us on Instagram: @therushcast Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @RushFanC...

In April 2020, a task force was created to plan a memorial for Neil Peart in a place familiar to all Rush fans, Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie, St. Catharine's, Ontario. Two years later, this week's guest, sculptor Morgan MacDonald, was chosen to create the bronze statues that will honor the late drummer. Morgan tells us about the constant presence of Rush in his life, the Rush Easter eggs hidden...

Slow down! We didn't talk with Geddy, but we did the next best thing: we read his best-selling memoir, "My Effin' Life." This week, we take a deep dive into the book and discuss the life and times of the one and only Geddy Lee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest needs no introduction: Terry Brown. Terry joined the Rush camp with the band’s debut, brought in to mix the final cut. He then co-produced with the band every release through Signals--one of the greatest album runs in rock history. What else need to be said? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we welcome back singer/songwriter Leoni Jane Kennedy. Since she last joined us back on episode 163, Leoni has been busy recording a collection of acoustic Rush covers, "New World Woman." The album is chock full of Leoni's imaginative takes on Rush classics, and we talk to her about the recording process and play a few tracks. You can find out more about Leoni's music bu heading to her we...

Paul Wells is a Professor of Jazz Drums at The Juilliard School in New York City who possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Neil Peart's kits. He joins us this week to talk about Rush--obviously--and his efforts to restore Neil's original Rush kit, the famous Chromey!  Paul has played with the likes of Curtis Stigers, Vince Giordano's Nighthawks, Deborah Harry, Joe Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Elvis...

Danny Peart is a poet and the brother of Neil Peart, and he joins us this week to give his unique perspective on his famous sibling. He talks about his life with Neil, his poetry, and what it was like performing at the long-postponed Night for Neil benefit concert that took place in 2022.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All things must end, and this podcast is no exception. After much thought and discussion, we've decided to make this our final episode. Listen along as we go through some of our more memorable episodes, praise everyone who came on the show, and thank everyone who made the past three years and change some of the most interesting of our lives--including you, our listeners. Learn more about your ad c...