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DJ Hero 2 is a rhythm video game and a sequel to DJ Hero. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously-recorded songs using record players and sound effect generators. The game will continue to be developed by FreeStyleGames and published by Activision, and was released worldwide in October 2010.^[1]

Gameplay

thumb|left|DJ Hero 2 includes support for three players to play at the same time - two on turntables and one vocalist.

DJ Hero 2 follows from its predecessor in simulating the performance of a disc jockey mixing one or two songs using a special turntable controller. The controller includes a rotatable turntable to use for recording scratching, three "stream" buttons to match notes from the two music tracks and an effects track, and a knob to control the crossfade between tracks. These actions are presented to the players through on-screen notation that scrolls in time with the music. Players score points by performing the actions correctly, but are not penalized otherwise. By successfully completing a consecutive set of actions, the player can increase their scoring multiplier up to 4x; the multiplier returns to 1x should they miss any actions. Certain marked sections, when played correctly, fill a "Euphoria" meter which can be unleashed using another button on the controller and will temporarily double the scoring. The player can also earn the ability to rewind a song by a few second by playing a long string of consecutive notes and then spinning the turntable in reverse; the rewind effect can be used to either correct a mistake or further boost one's scoring.

Small changes have been made in the turntable playback within DJ Hero 2: freestyle effects samples, previously based on game-wide preselected "effect packs", are mix-specific, and the game will not penalize the player for small variations in fast scratching sections as long as it follows the general beat of the song.^[2] Freestyle sections, previously limited to only added sample effects over the track, will now allow the player to mix and scratch freely between the two tracks.^[2]

In addition to using a turntable, players have the option to sing or rap to the mixes' lyrics, similar to vocal parts in current Guitar Hero or Rock Band games using a compatible microphone controller from most previous rhythm games. The game will score vocals based on the matching of pitch, beat and rhythm.^[2]

DJ Hero 2Template:Infobox musical artist Template:Portal Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their definitive form when Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour.

Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush's style has evolved over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their first albums, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. They have influenced various musical artists, including Metallica,^[3][4] The Smashing Pumpkins^[5] and Primus,^[5] as well as progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater^[3] and Symphony X.^[6]

Rush has won a number of Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Over the course of their careers, the individual members of Rush have been acknowledged as being some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units.^[7] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units.

The band recently finished promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows with an intercontinental tour. The second leg began in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11, and ended on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana.^[8]

History

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The early years (1968–1976)

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The original line-up formed in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Lifeson, front man Jeff Jones, and drummer John Rutsey. Within a couple weeks of forming, and before their second performance, bassist and lead vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a schoolmate of Lifeson. After several lineup reformations, Rush's official incarnation was formed in May 1971 consisting of Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey. The band was managed by local Toronto resident Ray Danniels, a frequent attendee of Rush's early shows.^[9][10]

After gaining stability in the lineup and honing their skills on the local bar/high school dance circuit, the band came to release their first single "Not Fade Away", a cover of the Buddy Holly song, in 1973. Side B contained an original composition, "You Can't Fight It", credited to Rutsey and Lee. The single generated little reaction and, due to record company indifference, the band formed their own independent record label, Moon Records. With the aid of Danniels and the newly enlisted engineer Terry Brown, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1974, which was considered highly derivative of Led Zeppelin.^[11] Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S.^[12][13] Image:Starman.png

Immediately after the release of the debut album, Rutsey resigned in July 1974 due to his affliction with diabetes and a distaste for touring. Rush held auditions and eventually selected Neil Peart as Rutsey's replacement. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group's first US tour. They performed their first concert together, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann with an attendance of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. In addition to becoming the band's drummer, Peart assumed the role of principal lyricist as Lee and Lifeson had very little interest in writing, contributing to only a handful of song lyrics over the rest of the band's career. Instead, they focused primarily on the musical aspects of Rush. Fly by Night (1975), Rush's first album after recruiting Peart, saw the inclusion of the band's first epic mini-tale "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", replete with complex arrangements and multi-section format. Lyrical themes also underwent dramatic changes after the addition of Peart due to his love for fantasy and science-fiction literature.^[15] However, despite these many differences some of the music and songs still closely mirrored the blues style found on Rush's debut.^[16][15]

Following quickly on the heels of Fly By Night, the band released 1975's Caress of Steel, a five track hard rock album featuring two extended multi-chapter songs, "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Caress of Steel was reported by some critics to be unfocused and an audacious move for the band due to the placement of two protracted numbers back-to-back, as well as a heavier reliance on atmospherics and story-telling, a large deviation from Fly by Night.^[17] Intended to be the band's first "break-through" album, Caress of Steel sold below expectations and the promotional tour consisted of small venues which led to the moniker the "Down the Tubes Tour."^[18] In light of these events, Rush's record label pressured them into molding their next album in a more commercially friendly and accessible fashion. However, the band ignored the requests and developed their next album, 2112. It was the band's first taste of commercial success and their first platinum album in Canada.^[19] The supporting tour for the album culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which the band recorded for the release of their first live album titled All the World's a Stage. Allmusic Guide critic Greg Prato summarily reminds listeners and fans of how the album demarcates the boundary between the band's early years and the next era of their music.^[20][21]

The progressive rock era (1977–1981)

After 2112, Rush retreated to the United Kingdom to record 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1978's Hemispheres at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums saw the band members expanding their use of progressive elements in their music. Trademarks such as increased synthesizer usage, extended-length concept songs, and highly dynamic playing featuring complex time signature changes became a staple of Rush's compositions. To achieve a broader, more progressive palette of sound, Alex Lifeson began to experiment with classical and twelve-string guitars, and Geddy Lee added bass-pedal synthesizers and Minimoog. Likewise, Peart's percussion became diversified in the form of triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes. Beyond instrument additions, the band kept in stride with the progressive rock movement by continuing to compose long, conceptual songs with science fiction and fantasy overtones. However, as the new decade approached, Rush gradually began to dispose of their older styles of music in favor of shorter, and sometimes softer, arrangements. The lyrics up to this point (most of them written by Peart) were heavily influenced by classical poetry, fantasy literature, science fiction, and the writings of novelist Ayn Rand, as exhibited most prominently by their 1975 song "Anthem" from Fly By Night and a specifically acknowledged derivation in 1976's 2112.^[22]

Permanent Waves (1980) shifted Rush's style of music dramatically via the introduction of reggae and new wave.^[23] Although a hard rock style was still evident, more and more synthesizers were introduced. Moreover, due to the limited airplay Rush's previous extended-length songs received, Permanent Waves included shorter, more radio-friendly songs such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill", two songs which helped Permanent Waves become Rush's first U.S. Top 5 album; both songs continue to make appearances on classic rock radio stations in Canada and the United States to this day.^[24] Meanwhile, Peart's lyrics shifted toward an expository tone with subject matter that dwelled less on fantastical or allegorical story-telling and more heavily on cerebral topics that explored humanistic, social, emotional and metaphysical elements. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush's popularity reached its pinnacle with the release of Moving Pictures in 1981. Moving Pictures essentially continued where Permanent Waves left off, extending the trend of highly accessible and commercially friendly pop-progressive rock that helped thrust them into the spotlight. The lead track, "Tom Sawyer", is probably the band's best-known song^[25] with "Limelight" also receiving satisfactory responses from listeners and radio stations. Moving Pictures was Rush's last album to feature an extended song, the ten-and-a-half-minute "The Camera Eye". The song also contained the band's heaviest usage of synthesizers up to that point, hinting that Rush's music was shifting direction once more. Moving Pictures reached #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[26]

Following the success of Moving Pictures and the completion of another four studio albums, Rush released their second live recording, Exit...Stage Left, in 1981. The album delineates the apex of Rush's progressive period by featuring live material from the band's Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. As with their first live release, Exit...Stage Left identified the margin of a new chapter of Rush's sound. The band underwent another radical stylistic transmutation with the release of Signals in 1982.^[27]

The synthesizer period (1982–1989)

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While Lee's synthesizers had been featured instruments ever since the late 70s, keyboards were suddenly shifted from the contrapuntal background to the melodic front-lines^[28][29] as evidenced by songs such as "Countdown" and the lead-off track "Subdivisions". Both feature nimble lead synthesizer lines with minimalistic guitar chords and solos. Other previously unused instrument additions were seen in the song "Losing It," featuring collaborator Ben Mink on electric violin.^[27] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Signals also represented a drastic stylistic transformation apart from instrumental changes. The album contained Rush's only U.S. top-40 pop hit, "New World Man",^[30] while other more experimental songs such as "Digital Man", "The Weapon", and "Chemistry" expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.^[31] Although the band members consciously decided to move in this overall direction, they felt dissatisfied with long-time producer Terry Brown's studio treatment of Signals and parted ways with him in 1983. These diverse styles would come into further play on their next studio album.

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The style and production of Signals were augmented and taken to new heights on 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It was Peart who named the album, as he borrowed the words of Ernest Hemingway to describe what the band had to go through after making the decision to leave Terry Brown. Producer Steve Lillywhite, who gleaned fame with successful productions of Simple Minds and U2, was enlisted to produce Grace Under Pressure. However, he backed out at the last moment, much to the ire of Lee, Lifeson and Peart. Lee said "Steve Lillywhite is really not a man of his word....after agreeing to do our record, he got an offer from Simple Minds, changed his mind, blew us off,..so it put us in a horrible position." Eventually Rush hired Peter Henderson to co-produce and engineer the album in his stead.^[32]

Musically, although Lee's use of sequencers and synthesizers remained the band's cornerstone, his focus on new technology was complemented by Peart's adaptation of Simmons electronic drums and percussion. Lifeson's contributions on the album were decidedly enhanced to act as an overreaction to the minimalistic role he played on Signals.^[33] Still, many of his trademark guitar textures remained intact in the form of open reggae chords and funk and new-wave rhythms; "Distant Early Warning", "Red Lenses", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" serve as prime examples.

With new producer Peter Collins, the band released 1985's Power Windows and 1987's Hold Your Fire. The music on these two albums gives far more emphasis and prominence to Lee's multi-layered synthesizer work. While fans and critics took notice of Lifeson's diminished guitar work, his presence was still palpable on "The Big Money", (the album's modest-charting single) with spotlights on "Grand Designs", "Middletown Dreams" and "Marathon." Lifeson, like many guitarists in the late 1980s, experimented with processors that reduced his instrument to echoey chord bursts and razor-thin leads. Hold Your Fire represents both a modest extension of the guitar stylings found on Power Windows, and, according to Allmusic critic Ed Rivadavia, the culmination of this era of Rush.^[34] Whereas the previous five Rush albums sold platinum or better, Hold Your Fire only went gold in November 1987, although it managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard 200.^[35]

A third live album and video, A Show of Hands (1989), was also released by Mercury following the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours, demonstrating the aspects of Rush in the 80s. A Show of Hands met with strong fan approval, but Rolling Stone critic Michael Azerrad dismissed it as "musical muscle" with 1.5 stars, claiming Rush fans viewed their favourite power trio as "the holy trinity".^[36] Nevertheless, A Show of Hands managed to surpass the gold album mark, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200.^[37] At this point, the group decided to change record labels from Mercury to Atlantic. After Rush's departure in 1989, Mercury released a double platinum two-volume compilation of their Rush catalogue, Chronicles (1990).^[38]

Returning to their roots (1989–1997)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush started to deviate from their 1980s style with the albums Presto and Roll the Bones. Produced by record engineer and musician Rupert Hine, these two albums saw Rush shedding much of their keyboard-saturated sound. Beginning with 1989's Presto, the band opted for arrangements that were notably more guitar-centric than the previous two studio albums. Although synthesizers were still used in many songs, the instrument was no longer featured as the centerpiece of Rush's compositions. Continuing this trend, 1991's Roll the Bones extended the use of the standard three-instrument approach with even less focus on synthesizers than its predecessor. While musically these albums do not deviate significantly from a general pop-rock sound, Rush stuck to their creative approach of incorporating traces of more exotic musical styles. "Roll the Bones", for instance, exhibits funk and hip hop elements, and the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" features several jazz components.^[39] This return to three-piece instrumentation helped pave the way for future albums in the mid-90s, which would adopt a more straightforward rock formula.

The transition from synthesizers to more guitar-oriented and organic instrumentation continued with the 1993 album Counterparts^[40] and its follow-up, 1996's Test for Echo, again both produced in collaboration with Peter Collins. Musically, Counterparts^[40] and Test For Echo are two of Rush's most guitar-driven albums. Although the music in general did not meet the criteria for "progressive rock", some of the songs could be considered more adventurous than what one might expect from a standard modern rock band.^[41] For instance, "Time and Motion" possesses multiple time signature changes and organ usage, while the instrumental track "Limbo", consists of several relatively complex musical passages repeated throughout. Musically, Test For Echo still retained much of the hard rock/alternative style already charted on the previous record. Lifeson and Lee's playing remained more or less unchanged; however, a distinct modification in technique became apparent in Peart's playing due to formal Jazz and Swing training under the tutelage of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber during the interim between Counterparts and Test For Echo.^[42] In October 1996, in support of Test For Echo, the band embarked on an extensive and successful North American tour, the band's first without an opening act and dubbed "An Evening with Rush." The tour was broken up into two segments spanning October through December, 1996 and May through July, 1997 with the band taking a respite between legs.

Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005)

After wrapping up the tour promoting Test for Echo in 1997, the band entered a five-year hiatus mainly due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. Peart's daughter Selena died in an automobile accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey. In this book he writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."^[43] On November 10, 1998 a triple CD live album entitled Different Stages was released, dedicated to the memory of Selena and Jacqueline. Mixed by producer Paul Northfield and engineered by Terry Brown, it contained three discs packed with recorded performances from the band's Counterparts, Test For Echo, and A Farewell to Kings tours, marking the fourth officially released live album by the band. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end After a time to grieve and reassemble the pieces of his life, and while visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, Peart was introduced to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. Peart married Nuttall on September 9, 2000. In early 2001 he announced to his band mates that he was ready to once again enter the studio and get back into the business of making music. With the help of producer Paul Northfield the band returned in May 2002 with Vapor Trails, written and recorded in Toronto. To herald the band's comeback, the single and lead track from the album, "One Little Victory" was designed to grab the attention of listeners due to its rapid guitar and drum tempos.^[44] Vapor Trails marked the first studio recording not to include a single synthesizer, organ or keyboard part since the early 1970s. While the album is almost completely guitar-driven, it is mostly devoid of any conventional sounding guitar solos, a conscious decision made by Lifeson during the writing process. According to the band, the entire developmental process for Vapor Trails was extremely taxing and took approximately 14 months to finish, by far the longest the band had ever spent writing and recording a studio album.^[44] The album debuted to moderate praise and was supported by the band's first tour in six years, including first-ever concerts in Mexico City and Brazil, where they played to some of the largest crowds of their career.

A triple CD live album and dual Rush In Rio DVD was released in late October 2003 featuring an entire concert performance recorded on the last night of their Vapor Trails Tour, November 23, 2002, at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, June 2004 saw the release of Feedback, a studio EP recorded in suburban Toronto featuring eight covers of such artists as Cream, The Who and The Yardbirds, bands that the members of Rush cite as inspiration around the time of their inception.^[45] Also in the summer of 2004, Rush hit the road again for the very successful 30th Anniversary Tour, playing dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. On September 24, 2004 a Frankfurt, Germany concert was recorded at The Festhalle for DVD (titled R30: Live in Frankfurt), which was released November 22, 2005.

Snakes & Arrows (2006–present)

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 History 2.1 The early years (1968–1976) 2.2 The progressive rock era (1977–1981) 2.3 The synthesizer period (1982–1989) 2.4 Returning to their roots (1989–1997) 2.5 Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005) 2.6 Snakes & Arrows (2006–present) 3 Single Player Setlist 3.1 1. Starting Out Small 3.2 2. Your First Real Gig 3.3 3. Making The Video 3.4 4. European Invasion 3.5 5. Bighouse Blues 3.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 3.7 7. Live in Japan 3.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 4 Co-Op Setlist 4.1 1. Getting a Band Together 4.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 4.3 3. Overnight Success 4.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 4.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 4.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 5 Bonus Tracks 6 Downloadable Content 7 Singles 8 Track Packs 9 Musical style and influences 10 Band members 10.1 Former members 11 Reputation 11.1 Geddy Lee 11.2 Alex Lifeson 11.3 Neil Peart 11.3.1 Music 11.3.2 Lyrics 12 Sales 13 Live performances 14 Philanthropy 15 Discography 16 Single Player Setlist 16.1 1. Starting Out Small 16.2 2. Your First Real Gig 16.3 3. Making The Video 16.4 4. European Invasion 16.5 5. Bighouse Blues 16.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 16.7 7. Live in Japan 16.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 17 Co-Op Setlist 17.1 1. Getting a Band Together 17.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 17.3 3. Overnight Success 17.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 17.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 17.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 18 Bonus Tracks 19 Downloadable Content 20 Singles 21 Track Packs 21.1 Studio albums 22 See also 23 References 24 Further reading 24.1 Books 24.2 Scholarly articles 25 External links 26 Development 27 History 27.1 The early years (1968–1976) 27.2 The progressive rock era (1977–1981) 27.3 The synthesizer period (1982–1989) 27.4 Returning to their roots (1989–1997) 27.5 Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005) 27.6 Snakes & Arrows (2006–present) 28 Single Player Setlist 28.1 1. Starting Out Small 28.2 2. Your First Real Gig 28.3 3. Making The Video 28.4 4. European Invasion 28.5 5. Bighouse Blues 28.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 28.7 7. Live in Japan 28.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 29 Co-Op Setlist 29.1 1. Getting a Band Together 29.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 29.3 3. Overnight Success 29.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 29.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 29.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 30 Bonus Tracks 31 Downloadable Content 32 Singles 33 Track Packs 34 Musical style and influences 35 Band members 35.1 Former members 36 Reputation 36.1 Geddy Lee 36.2 Alex Lifeson 36.3 Neil Peart 36.3.1 Music 36.3.2 Lyrics 37 Sales 38 Live performances 39 Philanthropy 40 Discography 41 Single Player Setlist 41.1 1. Starting Out Small 41.2 2. Your First Real Gig 41.3 3. Making The Video 41.4 4. European Invasion 41.5 5. Bighouse Blues 41.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 41.7 7. Live in Japan 41.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 42 Co-Op Setlist 42.1 1. Getting a Band Together 42.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 42.3 3. Overnight Success 42.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 42.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 42.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 43 Bonus Tracks 44 Downloadable Content 45 Singles 46 Track Packs 46.1 Studio albums 47 See also 48 References 49 Further reading 49.1 Books 49.2 Scholarly articles 50 External links 50.1 Promotion 50.2 Post-release 51 Soundtrack 52 Single Player Setlist 52.1 1. Starting Out Small 52.2 2. Your First Real Gig 52.3 3. Making The Video 52.4 4. European Invasion 52.5 5. Bighouse Blues 52.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 52.7 7. Live in Japan 52.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 53 Co-Op Setlist 53.1 1. Getting a Band Together 53.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 53.3 3. Overnight Success 53.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 53.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 53.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 54 Bonus Tracks 55 Downloadable Content 56 Singles 57 Track Packs 58 History 58.1 The early years (1968–1976) 58.2 The progressive rock era (1977–1981) 58.3 The synthesizer period (1982–1989) 58.4 Returning to their roots (1989–1997) 58.5 Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005) 58.6 Snakes & Arrows (2006–present) 59 Single Player Setlist 59.1 1. Starting Out Small 59.2 2. Your First Real Gig 59.3 3. Making The Video 59.4 4. European Invasion 59.5 5. Bighouse Blues 59.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 59.7 7. Live in Japan 59.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 60 Co-Op Setlist 60.1 1. Getting a Band Together 60.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 60.3 3. Overnight Success 60.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 60.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 60.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 61 Bonus Tracks 62 Downloadable Content 63 Singles 64 Track Packs 65 Musical style and influences 66 Band members 66.1 Former members 67 Reputation 67.1 Geddy Lee 67.2 Alex Lifeson 67.3 Neil Peart 67.3.1 Music 67.3.2 Lyrics 68 Sales 69 Live performances 70 Philanthropy 71 Discography 72 Single Player Setlist 72.1 1. Starting Out Small 72.2 2. Your First Real Gig 72.3 3. Making The Video 72.4 4. European Invasion 72.5 5. Bighouse Blues 72.6 6. The Hottest Band On Earth 72.7 7. Live in Japan 72.8 8. Battle For Your Soul 73 Co-Op Setlist 73.1 1. Getting a Band Together 73.2 2. We Just Wanna Be Famous 73.3 3. Overnight Success 73.4 4. Getting the Band Back Together 73.5 5. Jailhouse Rock 73.6 6. Battle for Your Souls... 74 Bonus Tracks 75 Downloadable Content 76 Singles 77 Track Packs 77.1 Studio albums 78 See also 79 References 80 Further reading 80.1 Books 80.2 Scholarly articles 81 External links 82 Reception 83 References 84 External links

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

During promotional interviews for the R30 Live In Frankfurt DVD, the band revealed their intention to begin writing new material in early 2006. While in Toronto, Lifeson and Lee began the songwriting process in January 2006. During this time, Peart simultaneously assumed his role of lyric writing while residing in Southern California. The following September, Rush chose to hire American producer Nick Raskulinecz to co-produce the album. The band officially entered Allaire Studios, in Shokan, New York in November 2006 in order to record the bulk of the material. Taking the band five weeks, the sessions ended in December. On February 14, 2007, an announcement was made on the official Rush web site that the title of the new album would be Snakes & Arrows. The first single, entitled "Far Cry," was released to North American radio stations on March 12, 2007 and reached #2 on the Mediabase Mainstream and Radio and Records Charts.^[46]

The Rush website, newly redesigned on March 12 to support the new album, also announced that the band would embark on a tour to begin in the summer. Snakes & Arrows was released 1 May 2007 in North America, where it debuted at #3 in the Billboard 200 with approximately 93,000 units sold in its first week.^[47] To coincide with the Atlantic ocean hurricane season, "Spindrift" was released as the official second radio single on June 1, 2007, whereas "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" saw single status on June 25, 2007. "The Larger Bowl" positioned within the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock and Media Base Mainstream charts, however, "Spindrift" failed to appear on any commercial chart.^[48] The planned intercontinental tour in support of Snakes & Arrows began on June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to a close on October 29, 2007 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.^[49]

The 2008 portion of the tour started on April 11, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and culminated on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.^[50] On April 15, the band released Snakes & Arrows Live, a double live album documenting the first leg of the tour.^[51] Those same performances featured on Snakes & Arrows Live filmed at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands on October 16 and 17 of 2007 was released November 24 as a DVD and Blu-Ray set, which also includes footage from the 2008 portion of the tour, recorded at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Atlanta.^{[52][53] [54]}

As the band neared the conclusion of their Snakes & Arrows tour, they announced their first appearance on American television in over 30 years. Rush was interviewed by Stephen Colbert and they performed "Tom Sawyer" on The Colbert Report on July 16, 2008.^[55]

Musical style and influences

Rush's musical style has changed substantially over the years. Their debut album is strongly influenced by British-Blues rock: an amalgam of sounds and styles from such rock bands as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. Over the first few albums their style remained essentially hard rock, with heavy influences from The Who^[56] and Led Zeppelin,^[11] but also became increasingly influenced by the British progressive rock movement.^[57] In the tradition of progressive rock, Rush wrote protracted songs with irregular and multiple time signatures combined with fantasy/science fiction-inspired lyrics; however, they did not soften their sound. This fusion of hard and progressive rock continued until the end of the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, Rush successfully merged their sound with the trends of this period, experimenting with New Wave, reggae and pop rock.^[58] This period included the band's most extensive use of instruments such as synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion. It is largely agreed that the culmination of this era of Rush was in 1987 after the release of Hold Your Fire.^[59] With the approach of the early '90s and Rush's character sound still intact, the band transformed their style once again to harmonize with the alternative rock movement.^[60] The new millennium has seen them return to a more rock and roll roots sound, albeit with modern production.^[56]

Band members

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, lead vocals, keyboards, mellotron, bass and synthesizer pedals, electric and acoustic rhythm guitar (September 1968 – present)
• Alex Lifeson – six and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars, classical guitar, mandolin, mandola, Bouzouki, backing vocals, bass and synthesizer pedals (August 1968 – present)
• Neil Peart – drums, electronic and acoustic percussion (July 1974 – present)

Former members

• John Rutsey – drums, percussion, backing vocals (August 1968 – July 1974)
• Jeff Jones – bass, lead vocals (August 1968 – September 1968)

Template:Details

Reputation

More than 30 years of activity has provided Rush with the opportunity for musical diversity across their discography. As with many bands known for experimentation, such changes have inevitably resulted in dissent among critics and fans. The bulk of the band's music has always included synthetic instruments in some form or another, and this is a great source of contention in the Rush camp, especially the band's heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards during the 1980s, particularly on albums Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire.^[61][62] Still, most fans saw this as nothing less than artistic growth and support for the band remained unwavering through each transitional phase.^[59]

The members of Rush have themselves noted that people "either love Rush or hate Rush", resulting in strong detractors and an intensely loyal fan base. To the chagrin of fans, the band has not been nominated for entry into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since their year of eligibility in 1998. The Hall's refusal to induct Rush may be a consequence of the band's insistence on remaining outside the mainstream of rock when it comes to self-promotion, in favor of maintaining a high degree of independence.^[63] To this day fans earnestly clamor for the band's inclusion into the Hall by citing noteworthy accomplishments including longevity, proficiency, and influence, as well as commercial sales figures and RIAA certifications. However, Lifeson has expressed his indifference toward the perceived slight saying "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, it's a joke".^[64] Rush has gained a degree of recognition in popular culture despite any official recognition from the Hall.^[65]

As a band, Rush has been nominated for and received various awards throughout its career. Likewise, the individual members have received coverage in various modern music magazines with specific technocratic recognition for instrumental ability. See List of Rush awards for more details on this topic.

Geddy Lee

Image:GeddyLee.JPG

Geddy Lee's high-register vocal style has always been a signature of the band — and sometimes, a focal point for criticism, especially during the early years of Rush's career when Lee's vocals were high-pitched, with a strong likeness to other singers like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Although his voice has softened over the years, it is often described as a "wail".^[66][67] His instrumental abilities, on the other hand, are rarely criticized. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and ability on the bass guitar have proven influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden,^[68] John Myung of Dream Theater,^[69] Les Claypool of Primus^[70] and Cliff Burton of Metallica^[71] among others. Lee is notable for his ability to operate various pieces of instrumentation simultaneously. This is mostly evident during live shows when Lee must play bass, supply lead vocals, manipulate keyboards, and trigger foot pedals during the course of a performance, as in the song "Tom Sawyer".^[57] Because of this he is required to remain in one place during songs containing complex instrumentation. Lifeson and Peart are, to a lesser extent, responsible for similar actions during live shows.

Alex Lifeson

Image:Alex Lifeson6.jpg

Instrumentally, Lifeson is regarded as a guitarist whose strengths and notability rely primarily on signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and a copious arsenal of equipment used over the years.^[72][73][74] Despite his esteem, however, Lifeson is often regarded as being overshadowed by his bandmates due to Lee's on-stage multi-instrumental dexterity and Peart's status as a drummer.^[75]

During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.^[76] For versatility, Lifeson was known to incorporate touches of Spanish and classical music into Rush's guitar-driven sound during the 1970s. Taking a backseat to Lee's keyboards in the 1980s, Lifeson's guitar returned to the forefront in the 1990s, and especially on 2002's Vapor Trails. During live performances, he is still responsible for cuing various guitar effects, the use of bass-pedal synthesizers and backing vocals.

Neil Peart

Music

Peart is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of, if not the greatest rock drummers.^[77] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo.^[78] Initially inspired by Keith Moon, Peart absorbed the influence of other rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham.^[79] Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Peart's drumkit offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity. For two decades Peart honed his technique; each new Rush album introduced an expanded percussive vocabulary. In the 1990s, he reinvented his style with the help of drum coach Freddie Gruber. Image:Neil Peart3.jpg

Lyrics

Peart also serves as Rush's primary lyricist, attracting much attention over the years due to his eclectic style. Known for penning concept suites and songs inspired by literature, music fan opinions of his writing have varied greatly, running the gamut from cerebral and insightful to overly pretentious and preachy. During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused,^[80] though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues. Peart's lyrics continue to divide audiences today. For example, in 2007, he was placed second on Blender magazine's list of the "40 Worst Lyricists In Rock".^[81]

Sales

Over the course of their career, Rush has come to release 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (3 of which have gone multiplatinum),^[82] placing them within the top 4 for the most consecutive gold albums by a rock band.^[83] Rush ranks 78th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.^[83] Total worldwide sales approximate 40 million units.^{[84][85][86][87]}

Despite having completely dropped out of the public eye for five years after the gold-selling Test for Echo (which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200) and the band being relegated almost solely to classic rock stations in the U.S., Vapor Trails reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release in 2002 with 108,000 albums sold. It has sold approximately 343,000 units to date. The subsequent Vapor Trails tour grossed over $24 million and included the largest audience ever to see a headlining Rush show — 60,000 fans in São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails remains their first album not to achieve at least gold status.

However, Rush's triple CD live album, 2003's Rush in Rio, was certified gold by the RIAA, marking the fourth decade in which a Rush album had been released and certified at least gold. Moreover, in 2004 Feedback cracked the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and received radio airplay. The band's most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 (just one position shy of Rush's highest peaking album, 1993's Counterparts, which debuted at #2) on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 93,000 copies in its first week of release.^[88] This marks the 13th studio album to appear in the Top 20 and the band's 27th album to appear on the chart regardless of position over the course of their career. The album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, as well as peaking at #1 on the Top Internet Albums chart when the album was released on the MVI format a month later.^[89] Still, Snakes & Arrows has yet to accumulate sales that approach or eclipse Vapor Trails or Rush in Rio.

The two consecutive tours in support of Snakes & Arrows in 2007 and 2008 accrued $21 million and $18.3 million, respectively, earning Rush the number 6 and 8 spots among the top ten summer rock concerts.^[90][91]

Live performances

The members of Rush share a strong work ethic, desiring to accurately recreate songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s, Rush has included in their concert equipment a capacious rack of digital samplers which the band members use, in real-time, to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments, accompaniments, vocal harmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs.

In live performances, the band members share duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s). Each band member has one or more MIDI controllers that enables him to use his free hands or feet to trigger sounds that have been loaded into the samplers for a particular song.^[92] It is with this technology that the group is able to present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect, and without the need to resort to the use of backing tracks or employing an additional band member.^[93]

The band members' coordinated use of foot-pedal keyboards and other electronic triggers to "play" sampled instruments and audio events is subtly visible in their live performances, especially so on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, their 2005 concert DVD.

A staple of Rush's concerts is a Peart drum solo. Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, making each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has used MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibraslap as well as other, more esoteric percussion.

Philanthropy

Rush actively participates in philanthropic causes. The band was one of a number of hometown favorites to play Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto, also dubbed SARStock, at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003, with an attendance of over half a million people. The concert was intended to benefit the Canadian economy after the SARS outbreaks earlier in the year. The band has also sustained an interest in promoting human rights. They donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a concert they held in Winnipeg on 24 May 2008.^[94] Rush continues to sell t-shirts and donate the proceeds to the museum.^[95]

The individual members of Rush have also been a part of philanthropic causes. Hughes & Kettner zenTeras and TriAmps have been endorsed and used by Lifeson for many years. A custom signature amplifier was engineered by Lifeson and released in April 2005 with the stipulation that UNICEF will receive a donation in the amount of $50 for every Alex Lifeson Signature TriAmp sold.^[96] Lee, a longtime fan of baseball, donated 200 baseballs signed by famous Negro League players, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Josh Gibson, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in June 2008.^[97]

The band is featured on the music album Songs for Tibet, appearing with a number of other celebrities as an initiative to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. The album was made downloadable on August 5 via iTunes and was released commercially August 12.^[98]

Discography

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

Studio albums

• Rush (1974)
• Fly by Night (1975)
• Caress of Steel (1975)
• 2112 (1976)
• A Farewell to Kings (1977)
• Hemispheres (1978)
• Permanent Waves (1980)
• Moving Pictures (1981)
• Signals (1982)
• Grace Under Pressure (1984)
• Power Windows (1985)
• Hold Your Fire (1987)
• Presto (1989)
• Roll the Bones (1991)
• Counterparts (1993)
• Test for Echo (1996)
• Vapor Trails (2002)
• Feedback (2004)
• Snakes & Arrows (2007)

See also

• Rush instrumentals
• List of Rush awards

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

Books

• Rush: Visions: The Official Biography – Banasiewicz, Bill. (1988), Omnibus Press – ISBN 0-7119-1162-2
• Rush Tribute: Merely Players – Telleria, Robert (2002) – ISBN 1-55082-271-3
• Rush: Success Under Pressure – Gett, Steve. (1984) – ISBN 0-89524-230-3
• Rhythm & Light – Nuttall, Carrie, (2005), Rounder Books, ISBN 1-57940-093-0
• Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart (1985) – ISBN 0-7692-5055-6
• More Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart, Wheeler (1989) – ISBN 0-7692-5051-3
• The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa – Peart (1999) – ISBN 1-895900-02-6
• Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road – Peart (2002) – ISBN 1-55022-546-4 (hardcover), ISBN 1-55022-548-0 (paperback)
• Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times – Peart (2004) – ISBN 1-55022-664-9
• Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away – Popoff, Martin. Publisher: Ecw Press (28 June 2004) – ISBN 1-55022-678-9
• Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush – Price, et al. (1999) – ISBN 1-58715-102-2
• Rush: Chemistry : The Definitive Biography – Collins, Jon. (2006) Helter Skelter Publishing – ISBN 1-900924-85-4 (Hardcover)
• Roadshow: Landscape With Drums - A Concert Tour By Motorcycle – Peart (2006), Rounder – ISBN 1-57940-142-2

Scholarly articles

• "Rand, Rush, and De-totalizing the Utopianism of Progressive Rock" by Steven Horwitz (2002)
• "Textu®al Undercoding and the Music of the Rock Band Rush: String Quartets, Death Metal, Trip-Hop, and other Tributes" by Dr. Durrell Bowman (2004/2002)
• "'Open Secrets': Individualism and Middle-Class Identity in the songs of Rush," Popular Music and Society Volume 31 No. 3, July 2008, pp. 313-328, by Chris McDonald.
• "'Making Arrows Out of Pointed Words': Critical Reception, Taste Publics and Rush," Journal of American and Comparative Cultures, Volume 25 No. 3-4, September 2002, pp. 249-259, by Chris McDonald
• "Grand Designs: A Musical, Social and Ethographic Study of Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, York University, 2002) by Chris McDonald
• "Structure, Function and Process in the Early Song Cycles and Extended Songs of the Canadian Rock Group Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in music theory, Ohio State University, 2002) by Brian Walsh
• "Permanent Change: Rush, Musicians' Rock, and the Progressive Post-Counterculture" (dissertation, Ph.D. in musicology, UCLA, 2003) by Dr. Durrell Bowman

External links

Template:Spoken Wikipedia Template:Commonscat Template:Wikiquote

• Official Rush Home Page

Template:Featured article Template:RushTemplate:Link FA

ca:Rush cs:Rush da:Rush de:Rush et:Rush es:Rush fr:Rush (groupe) hr:Rush id:Rush it:Rush he:ראש (להקה) lv:Rush hu:Rush mt:Rush nl:Rush (band) ja:ラッシュ (バンド) no:Rush nn:Rush pl:Rush pt:Rush ro:Rush ru:Rush simple:Rush (band) sk:Rush (skupina) fi:Rush sq:Rush sv:Rush tr:Rush (grup) uk:Rush zh:匆促樂團 features an improved single-player career mode called "Empire". Empire provides more structure for the player to proceed through the game than the simple set lists used in DJ Hero.^[99] The primary focus of DJ Hero 2 has been the social aspects, according to FreeStyleGames' creative director Jamie Jackson;^[99] as such, many of the games' new modes feature multiplayer considerations. The game will support the "Party Play" mode introduced in Guitar Hero 5, allowing players to jump into a song, alter the difficulty during gameplay, change between turntable and vocals, and leave at any time, while the game continues to run in a jukebox mode.^[100] Several new competitive modes vie two DJ players against each other; some modes have both DJs performing alongside each other but with competitive edges such as a "Checkpoint" race where each DJ attempts to earn the best score within a section of a song. DJ Battles will see two DJ's performing call-and-response style along with open freestyle sections.^[2] The game will not include "DJ vs Guitar" mode that was featured in DJ Hero, where a second player could use a compatible guitar controller to play alongside the DJ player.

Development

DJ Hero 2 was officially announced in June 2010 for release in the last quarter of 2010.^[101] Prior to the game's announcement, Activision revealed a month before the game's release that it is actively seeking artists for downloadable content and a sequel to the game.^[102] David Guetta has stated that he is set to work on the game's sequel to arrive late in 2010.^[103] Activision CEO Bobby Kotick stated that despite low sales of DJ Hero, they are committed to continuing the series, with the sequel due in 2010.^[104] The sequel, DJ Hero 2, was further confirmed during an Activision investors report for 2009, citing it as one of only 2 major Guitar Hero titles to be expected from Activision in 2010, with an expected late-2010 release date.^[105]

Work on DJ Hero 2 started some months after the first game was completed, as the development team had endured heavy working hours to meet the release deadline. FreeStyleGames' creative director Jamie Jackson said that DJ Hero 2 took about seven months to complete.^[106] While they were able to easily build on the existing framework for DJ Hero, FreeStyleGames wanted to do more than just include new mixes, and sought to include additional features such as the Battle Mixes into the game.^[106] Many of the game's new features are a result of feedback from players, including the game's social modes and improvements in the game's interface to provide a cleaner look and instantaneous visual feedback to the player.^[99] The team also worked at improving the game's graphics; the appearance of DJ HeroTemplate:Infobox musical artist Template:Portal Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their definitive form when Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour.

Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush's style has evolved over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their first albums, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. They have influenced various musical artists, including Metallica,^[3][4] The Smashing Pumpkins^[5] and Primus,^[5] as well as progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater^[3] and Symphony X.^[6]

Rush has won a number of Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Over the course of their careers, the individual members of Rush have been acknowledged as being some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units.^[7] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units.

The band recently finished promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows with an intercontinental tour. The second leg began in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11, and ended on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana.^[8]

History

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The early years (1968–1976)

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The original line-up formed in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Lifeson, front man Jeff Jones, and drummer John Rutsey. Within a couple weeks of forming, and before their second performance, bassist and lead vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a schoolmate of Lifeson. After several lineup reformations, Rush's official incarnation was formed in May 1971 consisting of Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey. The band was managed by local Toronto resident Ray Danniels, a frequent attendee of Rush's early shows.^[9][10]

After gaining stability in the lineup and honing their skills on the local bar/high school dance circuit, the band came to release their first single "Not Fade Away", a cover of the Buddy Holly song, in 1973. Side B contained an original composition, "You Can't Fight It", credited to Rutsey and Lee. The single generated little reaction and, due to record company indifference, the band formed their own independent record label, Moon Records. With the aid of Danniels and the newly enlisted engineer Terry Brown, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1974, which was considered highly derivative of Led Zeppelin.^[11] Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S.^[12][13] Image:Starman.png

Immediately after the release of the debut album, Rutsey resigned in July 1974 due to his affliction with diabetes and a distaste for touring. Rush held auditions and eventually selected Neil Peart as Rutsey's replacement. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group's first US tour. They performed their first concert together, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann with an attendance of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. In addition to becoming the band's drummer, Peart assumed the role of principal lyricist as Lee and Lifeson had very little interest in writing, contributing to only a handful of song lyrics over the rest of the band's career. Instead, they focused primarily on the musical aspects of Rush. Fly by Night (1975), Rush's first album after recruiting Peart, saw the inclusion of the band's first epic mini-tale "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", replete with complex arrangements and multi-section format. Lyrical themes also underwent dramatic changes after the addition of Peart due to his love for fantasy and science-fiction literature.^[15] However, despite these many differences some of the music and songs still closely mirrored the blues style found on Rush's debut.^[16][15]

Following quickly on the heels of Fly By Night, the band released 1975's Caress of Steel, a five track hard rock album featuring two extended multi-chapter songs, "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Caress of Steel was reported by some critics to be unfocused and an audacious move for the band due to the placement of two protracted numbers back-to-back, as well as a heavier reliance on atmospherics and story-telling, a large deviation from Fly by Night.^[17] Intended to be the band's first "break-through" album, Caress of Steel sold below expectations and the promotional tour consisted of small venues which led to the moniker the "Down the Tubes Tour."^[18] In light of these events, Rush's record label pressured them into molding their next album in a more commercially friendly and accessible fashion. However, the band ignored the requests and developed their next album, 2112. It was the band's first taste of commercial success and their first platinum album in Canada.^[19] The supporting tour for the album culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which the band recorded for the release of their first live album titled All the World's a Stage. Allmusic Guide critic Greg Prato summarily reminds listeners and fans of how the album demarcates the boundary between the band's early years and the next era of their music.^[20][21]

The progressive rock era (1977–1981)

After 2112, Rush retreated to the United Kingdom to record 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1978's Hemispheres at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums saw the band members expanding their use of progressive elements in their music. Trademarks such as increased synthesizer usage, extended-length concept songs, and highly dynamic playing featuring complex time signature changes became a staple of Rush's compositions. To achieve a broader, more progressive palette of sound, Alex Lifeson began to experiment with classical and twelve-string guitars, and Geddy Lee added bass-pedal synthesizers and Minimoog. Likewise, Peart's percussion became diversified in the form of triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes. Beyond instrument additions, the band kept in stride with the progressive rock movement by continuing to compose long, conceptual songs with science fiction and fantasy overtones. However, as the new decade approached, Rush gradually began to dispose of their older styles of music in favor of shorter, and sometimes softer, arrangements. The lyrics up to this point (most of them written by Peart) were heavily influenced by classical poetry, fantasy literature, science fiction, and the writings of novelist Ayn Rand, as exhibited most prominently by their 1975 song "Anthem" from Fly By Night and a specifically acknowledged derivation in 1976's 2112.^[22]

Permanent Waves (1980) shifted Rush's style of music dramatically via the introduction of reggae and new wave.^[23] Although a hard rock style was still evident, more and more synthesizers were introduced. Moreover, due to the limited airplay Rush's previous extended-length songs received, Permanent Waves included shorter, more radio-friendly songs such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill", two songs which helped Permanent Waves become Rush's first U.S. Top 5 album; both songs continue to make appearances on classic rock radio stations in Canada and the United States to this day.^[24] Meanwhile, Peart's lyrics shifted toward an expository tone with subject matter that dwelled less on fantastical or allegorical story-telling and more heavily on cerebral topics that explored humanistic, social, emotional and metaphysical elements. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush's popularity reached its pinnacle with the release of Moving Pictures in 1981. Moving Pictures essentially continued where Permanent Waves left off, extending the trend of highly accessible and commercially friendly pop-progressive rock that helped thrust them into the spotlight. The lead track, "Tom Sawyer", is probably the band's best-known song^[25] with "Limelight" also receiving satisfactory responses from listeners and radio stations. Moving Pictures was Rush's last album to feature an extended song, the ten-and-a-half-minute "The Camera Eye". The song also contained the band's heaviest usage of synthesizers up to that point, hinting that Rush's music was shifting direction once more. Moving Pictures reached #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[26]

Following the success of Moving Pictures and the completion of another four studio albums, Rush released their second live recording, Exit...Stage Left, in 1981. The album delineates the apex of Rush's progressive period by featuring live material from the band's Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. As with their first live release, Exit...Stage Left identified the margin of a new chapter of Rush's sound. The band underwent another radical stylistic transmutation with the release of Signals in 1982.^[27]

The synthesizer period (1982–1989)

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While Lee's synthesizers had been featured instruments ever since the late 70s, keyboards were suddenly shifted from the contrapuntal background to the melodic front-lines^[28][29] as evidenced by songs such as "Countdown" and the lead-off track "Subdivisions". Both feature nimble lead synthesizer lines with minimalistic guitar chords and solos. Other previously unused instrument additions were seen in the song "Losing It," featuring collaborator Ben Mink on electric violin.^[27] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Signals also represented a drastic stylistic transformation apart from instrumental changes. The album contained Rush's only U.S. top-40 pop hit, "New World Man",^[30] while other more experimental songs such as "Digital Man", "The Weapon", and "Chemistry" expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.^[31] Although the band members consciously decided to move in this overall direction, they felt dissatisfied with long-time producer Terry Brown's studio treatment of Signals and parted ways with him in 1983. These diverse styles would come into further play on their next studio album.

Image:DM Simmons SDS5.jpg

The style and production of Signals were augmented and taken to new heights on 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It was Peart who named the album, as he borrowed the words of Ernest Hemingway to describe what the band had to go through after making the decision to leave Terry Brown. Producer Steve Lillywhite, who gleaned fame with successful productions of Simple Minds and U2, was enlisted to produce Grace Under Pressure. However, he backed out at the last moment, much to the ire of Lee, Lifeson and Peart. Lee said "Steve Lillywhite is really not a man of his word....after agreeing to do our record, he got an offer from Simple Minds, changed his mind, blew us off,..so it put us in a horrible position." Eventually Rush hired Peter Henderson to co-produce and engineer the album in his stead.^[32]

Musically, although Lee's use of sequencers and synthesizers remained the band's cornerstone, his focus on new technology was complemented by Peart's adaptation of Simmons electronic drums and percussion. Lifeson's contributions on the album were decidedly enhanced to act as an overreaction to the minimalistic role he played on Signals.^[33] Still, many of his trademark guitar textures remained intact in the form of open reggae chords and funk and new-wave rhythms; "Distant Early Warning", "Red Lenses", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" serve as prime examples.

With new producer Peter Collins, the band released 1985's Power Windows and 1987's Hold Your Fire. The music on these two albums gives far more emphasis and prominence to Lee's multi-layered synthesizer work. While fans and critics took notice of Lifeson's diminished guitar work, his presence was still palpable on "The Big Money", (the album's modest-charting single) with spotlights on "Grand Designs", "Middletown Dreams" and "Marathon." Lifeson, like many guitarists in the late 1980s, experimented with processors that reduced his instrument to echoey chord bursts and razor-thin leads. Hold Your Fire represents both a modest extension of the guitar stylings found on Power Windows, and, according to Allmusic critic Ed Rivadavia, the culmination of this era of Rush.^[34] Whereas the previous five Rush albums sold platinum or better, Hold Your Fire only went gold in November 1987, although it managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard 200.^[35]

A third live album and video, A Show of Hands (1989), was also released by Mercury following the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours, demonstrating the aspects of Rush in the 80s. A Show of Hands met with strong fan approval, but Rolling Stone critic Michael Azerrad dismissed it as "musical muscle" with 1.5 stars, claiming Rush fans viewed their favourite power trio as "the holy trinity".^[36] Nevertheless, A Show of Hands managed to surpass the gold album mark, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200.^[37] At this point, the group decided to change record labels from Mercury to Atlantic. After Rush's departure in 1989, Mercury released a double platinum two-volume compilation of their Rush catalogue, Chronicles (1990).^[38]

Returning to their roots (1989–1997)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush started to deviate from their 1980s style with the albums Presto and Roll the Bones. Produced by record engineer and musician Rupert Hine, these two albums saw Rush shedding much of their keyboard-saturated sound. Beginning with 1989's Presto, the band opted for arrangements that were notably more guitar-centric than the previous two studio albums. Although synthesizers were still used in many songs, the instrument was no longer featured as the centerpiece of Rush's compositions. Continuing this trend, 1991's Roll the Bones extended the use of the standard three-instrument approach with even less focus on synthesizers than its predecessor. While musically these albums do not deviate significantly from a general pop-rock sound, Rush stuck to their creative approach of incorporating traces of more exotic musical styles. "Roll the Bones", for instance, exhibits funk and hip hop elements, and the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" features several jazz components.^[39] This return to three-piece instrumentation helped pave the way for future albums in the mid-90s, which would adopt a more straightforward rock formula.

The transition from synthesizers to more guitar-oriented and organic instrumentation continued with the 1993 album Counterparts^[40] and its follow-up, 1996's Test for Echo, again both produced in collaboration with Peter Collins. Musically, Counterparts^[40] and Test For Echo are two of Rush's most guitar-driven albums. Although the music in general did not meet the criteria for "progressive rock", some of the songs could be considered more adventurous than what one might expect from a standard modern rock band.^[41] For instance, "Time and Motion" possesses multiple time signature changes and organ usage, while the instrumental track "Limbo", consists of several relatively complex musical passages repeated throughout. Musically, Test For Echo still retained much of the hard rock/alternative style already charted on the previous record. Lifeson and Lee's playing remained more or less unchanged; however, a distinct modification in technique became apparent in Peart's playing due to formal Jazz and Swing training under the tutelage of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber during the interim between Counterparts and Test For Echo.^[42] In October 1996, in support of Test For Echo, the band embarked on an extensive and successful North American tour, the band's first without an opening act and dubbed "An Evening with Rush." The tour was broken up into two segments spanning October through December, 1996 and May through July, 1997 with the band taking a respite between legs.

Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005)

After wrapping up the tour promoting Test for Echo in 1997, the band entered a five-year hiatus mainly due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. Peart's daughter Selena died in an automobile accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey. In this book he writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."^[43] On November 10, 1998 a triple CD live album entitled Different Stages was released, dedicated to the memory of Selena and Jacqueline. Mixed by producer Paul Northfield and engineered by Terry Brown, it contained three discs packed with recorded performances from the band's Counterparts, Test For Echo, and A Farewell to Kings tours, marking the fourth officially released live album by the band. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end After a time to grieve and reassemble the pieces of his life, and while visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, Peart was introduced to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. Peart married Nuttall on September 9, 2000. In early 2001 he announced to his band mates that he was ready to once again enter the studio and get back into the business of making music. With the help of producer Paul Northfield the band returned in May 2002 with Vapor Trails, written and recorded in Toronto. To herald the band's comeback, the single and lead track from the album, "One Little Victory" was designed to grab the attention of listeners due to its rapid guitar and drum tempos.^[44] Vapor Trails marked the first studio recording not to include a single synthesizer, organ or keyboard part since the early 1970s. While the album is almost completely guitar-driven, it is mostly devoid of any conventional sounding guitar solos, a conscious decision made by Lifeson during the writing process. According to the band, the entire developmental process for Vapor Trails was extremely taxing and took approximately 14 months to finish, by far the longest the band had ever spent writing and recording a studio album.^[44] The album debuted to moderate praise and was supported by the band's first tour in six years, including first-ever concerts in Mexico City and Brazil, where they played to some of the largest crowds of their career.

A triple CD live album and dual Rush In Rio DVD was released in late October 2003 featuring an entire concert performance recorded on the last night of their Vapor Trails Tour, November 23, 2002, at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, June 2004 saw the release of Feedback, a studio EP recorded in suburban Toronto featuring eight covers of such artists as Cream, The Who and The Yardbirds, bands that the members of Rush cite as inspiration around the time of their inception.^[45] Also in the summer of 2004, Rush hit the road again for the very successful 30th Anniversary Tour, playing dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. On September 24, 2004 a Frankfurt, Germany concert was recorded at The Festhalle for DVD (titled R30: Live in Frankfurt), which was released November 22, 2005.

Snakes & Arrows (2006–present)

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

During promotional interviews for the R30 Live In Frankfurt DVD, the band revealed their intention to begin writing new material in early 2006. While in Toronto, Lifeson and Lee began the songwriting process in January 2006. During this time, Peart simultaneously assumed his role of lyric writing while residing in Southern California. The following September, Rush chose to hire American producer Nick Raskulinecz to co-produce the album. The band officially entered Allaire Studios, in Shokan, New York in November 2006 in order to record the bulk of the material. Taking the band five weeks, the sessions ended in December. On February 14, 2007, an announcement was made on the official Rush web site that the title of the new album would be Snakes & Arrows. The first single, entitled "Far Cry," was released to North American radio stations on March 12, 2007 and reached #2 on the Mediabase Mainstream and Radio and Records Charts.^[46]

The Rush website, newly redesigned on March 12 to support the new album, also announced that the band would embark on a tour to begin in the summer. Snakes & Arrows was released 1 May 2007 in North America, where it debuted at #3 in the Billboard 200 with approximately 93,000 units sold in its first week.^[47] To coincide with the Atlantic ocean hurricane season, "Spindrift" was released as the official second radio single on June 1, 2007, whereas "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" saw single status on June 25, 2007. "The Larger Bowl" positioned within the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock and Media Base Mainstream charts, however, "Spindrift" failed to appear on any commercial chart.^[48] The planned intercontinental tour in support of Snakes & Arrows began on June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to a close on October 29, 2007 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.^[49]

The 2008 portion of the tour started on April 11, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and culminated on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.^[50] On April 15, the band released Snakes & Arrows Live, a double live album documenting the first leg of the tour.^[51] Those same performances featured on Snakes & Arrows Live filmed at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands on October 16 and 17 of 2007 was released November 24 as a DVD and Blu-Ray set, which also includes footage from the 2008 portion of the tour, recorded at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Atlanta.^{[52][53] [54]}

As the band neared the conclusion of their Snakes & Arrows tour, they announced their first appearance on American television in over 30 years. Rush was interviewed by Stephen Colbert and they performed "Tom Sawyer" on The Colbert Report on July 16, 2008.^[55]

Musical style and influences

Rush's musical style has changed substantially over the years. Their debut album is strongly influenced by British-Blues rock: an amalgam of sounds and styles from such rock bands as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. Over the first few albums their style remained essentially hard rock, with heavy influences from The Who^[56] and Led Zeppelin,^[11] but also became increasingly influenced by the British progressive rock movement.^[57] In the tradition of progressive rock, Rush wrote protracted songs with irregular and multiple time signatures combined with fantasy/science fiction-inspired lyrics; however, they did not soften their sound. This fusion of hard and progressive rock continued until the end of the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, Rush successfully merged their sound with the trends of this period, experimenting with New Wave, reggae and pop rock.^[58] This period included the band's most extensive use of instruments such as synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion. It is largely agreed that the culmination of this era of Rush was in 1987 after the release of Hold Your Fire.^[59] With the approach of the early '90s and Rush's character sound still intact, the band transformed their style once again to harmonize with the alternative rock movement.^[60] The new millennium has seen them return to a more rock and roll roots sound, albeit with modern production.^[56]

Band members

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, lead vocals, keyboards, mellotron, bass and synthesizer pedals, electric and acoustic rhythm guitar (September 1968 – present)
• Alex Lifeson – six and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars, classical guitar, mandolin, mandola, Bouzouki, backing vocals, bass and synthesizer pedals (August 1968 – present)
• Neil Peart – drums, electronic and acoustic percussion (July 1974 – present)

Former members

• John Rutsey – drums, percussion, backing vocals (August 1968 – July 1974)
• Jeff Jones – bass, lead vocals (August 1968 – September 1968)

Template:Details

Reputation

More than 30 years of activity has provided Rush with the opportunity for musical diversity across their discography. As with many bands known for experimentation, such changes have inevitably resulted in dissent among critics and fans. The bulk of the band's music has always included synthetic instruments in some form or another, and this is a great source of contention in the Rush camp, especially the band's heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards during the 1980s, particularly on albums Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire.^[61][62] Still, most fans saw this as nothing less than artistic growth and support for the band remained unwavering through each transitional phase.^[59]

The members of Rush have themselves noted that people "either love Rush or hate Rush", resulting in strong detractors and an intensely loyal fan base. To the chagrin of fans, the band has not been nominated for entry into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since their year of eligibility in 1998. The Hall's refusal to induct Rush may be a consequence of the band's insistence on remaining outside the mainstream of rock when it comes to self-promotion, in favor of maintaining a high degree of independence.^[63] To this day fans earnestly clamor for the band's inclusion into the Hall by citing noteworthy accomplishments including longevity, proficiency, and influence, as well as commercial sales figures and RIAA certifications. However, Lifeson has expressed his indifference toward the perceived slight saying "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, it's a joke".^[64] Rush has gained a degree of recognition in popular culture despite any official recognition from the Hall.^[65]

As a band, Rush has been nominated for and received various awards throughout its career. Likewise, the individual members have received coverage in various modern music magazines with specific technocratic recognition for instrumental ability. See List of Rush awards for more details on this topic.

Geddy Lee

Image:GeddyLee.JPG

Geddy Lee's high-register vocal style has always been a signature of the band — and sometimes, a focal point for criticism, especially during the early years of Rush's career when Lee's vocals were high-pitched, with a strong likeness to other singers like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Although his voice has softened over the years, it is often described as a "wail".^[66][67] His instrumental abilities, on the other hand, are rarely criticized. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and ability on the bass guitar have proven influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden,^[68] John Myung of Dream Theater,^[69] Les Claypool of Primus^[70] and Cliff Burton of Metallica^[71] among others. Lee is notable for his ability to operate various pieces of instrumentation simultaneously. This is mostly evident during live shows when Lee must play bass, supply lead vocals, manipulate keyboards, and trigger foot pedals during the course of a performance, as in the song "Tom Sawyer".^[57] Because of this he is required to remain in one place during songs containing complex instrumentation. Lifeson and Peart are, to a lesser extent, responsible for similar actions during live shows.

Alex Lifeson

Image:Alex Lifeson6.jpg

Instrumentally, Lifeson is regarded as a guitarist whose strengths and notability rely primarily on signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and a copious arsenal of equipment used over the years.^[72][73][74] Despite his esteem, however, Lifeson is often regarded as being overshadowed by his bandmates due to Lee's on-stage multi-instrumental dexterity and Peart's status as a drummer.^[75]

During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.^[76] For versatility, Lifeson was known to incorporate touches of Spanish and classical music into Rush's guitar-driven sound during the 1970s. Taking a backseat to Lee's keyboards in the 1980s, Lifeson's guitar returned to the forefront in the 1990s, and especially on 2002's Vapor Trails. During live performances, he is still responsible for cuing various guitar effects, the use of bass-pedal synthesizers and backing vocals.

Neil Peart

Music

Peart is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of, if not the greatest rock drummers.^[77] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo.^[78] Initially inspired by Keith Moon, Peart absorbed the influence of other rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham.^[79] Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Peart's drumkit offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity. For two decades Peart honed his technique; each new Rush album introduced an expanded percussive vocabulary. In the 1990s, he reinvented his style with the help of drum coach Freddie Gruber. Image:Neil Peart3.jpg

Lyrics

Peart also serves as Rush's primary lyricist, attracting much attention over the years due to his eclectic style. Known for penning concept suites and songs inspired by literature, music fan opinions of his writing have varied greatly, running the gamut from cerebral and insightful to overly pretentious and preachy. During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused,^[80] though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues. Peart's lyrics continue to divide audiences today. For example, in 2007, he was placed second on Blender magazine's list of the "40 Worst Lyricists In Rock".^[81]

Sales

Over the course of their career, Rush has come to release 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (3 of which have gone multiplatinum),^[82] placing them within the top 4 for the most consecutive gold albums by a rock band.^[83] Rush ranks 78th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.^[83] Total worldwide sales approximate 40 million units.^{[84][85][86][87]}

Despite having completely dropped out of the public eye for five years after the gold-selling Test for Echo (which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200) and the band being relegated almost solely to classic rock stations in the U.S., Vapor Trails reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release in 2002 with 108,000 albums sold. It has sold approximately 343,000 units to date. The subsequent Vapor Trails tour grossed over $24 million and included the largest audience ever to see a headlining Rush show — 60,000 fans in São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails remains their first album not to achieve at least gold status.

However, Rush's triple CD live album, 2003's Rush in Rio, was certified gold by the RIAA, marking the fourth decade in which a Rush album had been released and certified at least gold. Moreover, in 2004 Feedback cracked the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and received radio airplay. The band's most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 (just one position shy of Rush's highest peaking album, 1993's Counterparts, which debuted at #2) on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 93,000 copies in its first week of release.^[88] This marks the 13th studio album to appear in the Top 20 and the band's 27th album to appear on the chart regardless of position over the course of their career. The album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, as well as peaking at #1 on the Top Internet Albums chart when the album was released on the MVI format a month later.^[89] Still, Snakes & Arrows has yet to accumulate sales that approach or eclipse Vapor Trails or Rush in Rio.

The two consecutive tours in support of Snakes & Arrows in 2007 and 2008 accrued $21 million and $18.3 million, respectively, earning Rush the number 6 and 8 spots among the top ten summer rock concerts.^[90][91]

Live performances

The members of Rush share a strong work ethic, desiring to accurately recreate songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s, Rush has included in their concert equipment a capacious rack of digital samplers which the band members use, in real-time, to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments, accompaniments, vocal harmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs.

In live performances, the band members share duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s). Each band member has one or more MIDI controllers that enables him to use his free hands or feet to trigger sounds that have been loaded into the samplers for a particular song.^[92] It is with this technology that the group is able to present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect, and without the need to resort to the use of backing tracks or employing an additional band member.^[93]

The band members' coordinated use of foot-pedal keyboards and other electronic triggers to "play" sampled instruments and audio events is subtly visible in their live performances, especially so on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, their 2005 concert DVD.

A staple of Rush's concerts is a Peart drum solo. Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, making each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has used MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibraslap as well as other, more esoteric percussion.

Philanthropy

Rush actively participates in philanthropic causes. The band was one of a number of hometown favorites to play Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto, also dubbed SARStock, at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003, with an attendance of over half a million people. The concert was intended to benefit the Canadian economy after the SARS outbreaks earlier in the year. The band has also sustained an interest in promoting human rights. They donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a concert they held in Winnipeg on 24 May 2008.^[94] Rush continues to sell t-shirts and donate the proceeds to the museum.^[95]

The individual members of Rush have also been a part of philanthropic causes. Hughes & Kettner zenTeras and TriAmps have been endorsed and used by Lifeson for many years. A custom signature amplifier was engineered by Lifeson and released in April 2005 with the stipulation that UNICEF will receive a donation in the amount of $50 for every Alex Lifeson Signature TriAmp sold.^[96] Lee, a longtime fan of baseball, donated 200 baseballs signed by famous Negro League players, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Josh Gibson, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in June 2008.^[97]

The band is featured on the music album Songs for Tibet, appearing with a number of other celebrities as an initiative to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. The album was made downloadable on August 5 via iTunes and was released commercially August 12.^[98]

Discography

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

Studio albums

• Rush (1974)
• Fly by Night (1975)
• Caress of Steel (1975)
• 2112 (1976)
• A Farewell to Kings (1977)
• Hemispheres (1978)
• Permanent Waves (1980)
• Moving Pictures (1981)
• Signals (1982)
• Grace Under Pressure (1984)
• Power Windows (1985)
• Hold Your Fire (1987)
• Presto (1989)
• Roll the Bones (1991)
• Counterparts (1993)
• Test for Echo (1996)
• Vapor Trails (2002)
• Feedback (2004)
• Snakes & Arrows (2007)

See also

• Rush instrumentals
• List of Rush awards

References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

Books

• Rush: Visions: The Official Biography – Banasiewicz, Bill. (1988), Omnibus Press – ISBN 0-7119-1162-2
• Rush Tribute: Merely Players – Telleria, Robert (2002) – ISBN 1-55082-271-3
• Rush: Success Under Pressure – Gett, Steve. (1984) – ISBN 0-89524-230-3
• Rhythm & Light – Nuttall, Carrie, (2005), Rounder Books, ISBN 1-57940-093-0
• Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart (1985) – ISBN 0-7692-5055-6
• More Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart, Wheeler (1989) – ISBN 0-7692-5051-3
• The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa – Peart (1999) – ISBN 1-895900-02-6
• Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road – Peart (2002) – ISBN 1-55022-546-4 (hardcover), ISBN 1-55022-548-0 (paperback)
• Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times – Peart (2004) – ISBN 1-55022-664-9
• Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away – Popoff, Martin. Publisher: Ecw Press (28 June 2004) – ISBN 1-55022-678-9
• Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush – Price, et al. (1999) – ISBN 1-58715-102-2
• Rush: Chemistry : The Definitive Biography – Collins, Jon. (2006) Helter Skelter Publishing – ISBN 1-900924-85-4 (Hardcover)
• Roadshow: Landscape With Drums - A Concert Tour By Motorcycle – Peart (2006), Rounder – ISBN 1-57940-142-2

Scholarly articles

• "Rand, Rush, and De-totalizing the Utopianism of Progressive Rock" by Steven Horwitz (2002)
• "Textu®al Undercoding and the Music of the Rock Band Rush: String Quartets, Death Metal, Trip-Hop, and other Tributes" by Dr. Durrell Bowman (2004/2002)
• "'Open Secrets': Individualism and Middle-Class Identity in the songs of Rush," Popular Music and Society Volume 31 No. 3, July 2008, pp. 313-328, by Chris McDonald.
• "'Making Arrows Out of Pointed Words': Critical Reception, Taste Publics and Rush," Journal of American and Comparative Cultures, Volume 25 No. 3-4, September 2002, pp. 249-259, by Chris McDonald
• "Grand Designs: A Musical, Social and Ethographic Study of Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, York University, 2002) by Chris McDonald
• "Structure, Function and Process in the Early Song Cycles and Extended Songs of the Canadian Rock Group Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in music theory, Ohio State University, 2002) by Brian Walsh
• "Permanent Change: Rush, Musicians' Rock, and the Progressive Post-Counterculture" (dissertation, Ph.D. in musicology, UCLA, 2003) by Dr. Durrell Bowman

External links

Template:Spoken Wikipedia Template:Commonscat Template:Wikiquote

• Official Rush Home Page

Template:Featured article Template:RushTemplate:Link FA

ca:Rush cs:Rush da:Rush de:Rush et:Rush es:Rush fr:Rush (groupe) hr:Rush id:Rush it:Rush he:ראש (להקה) lv:Rush hu:Rush mt:Rush nl:Rush (band) ja:ラッシュ (バンド) no:Rush nn:Rush pl:Rush pt:Rush ro:Rush ru:Rush simple:Rush (band) sk:Rush (skupina) fi:Rush sq:Rush sv:Rush tr:Rush (grup) uk:Rush zh:匆促樂團s graffiti-based menus gave the impression of being a hip-hop game, but FreeStyleGames wanted to distance DJ Hero 2 from that.^[106] They also wanted to clean up the gameplay's interface, providing better feedback to the player and making it easily to tell when they were winning or losing.^[106] While DJ Hero 2 will not use Kinect or PlayStation Move motion-sensing technology, Jackson has not ruled them out for a future iteration of the game.^[99]

Another step to move the game from the apparent hip-hop nature was through its song selection. Jackson felt the first game was weighted too heavily to the genre, with about 60% of the songs being hip-hop. The songs in DJ Hero 2 represent a wider variety of music, including dance, drum and bass, and techno, along with some contributions from hip-hop.^[107] Jackson noted that they were able to work better with artists and publishers for DJ Hero 2, after the successful launch of the first game; with artists and publishers now knowing what to expect, "there is more understanding, so it has opened the doors to us in terms of getting more popular music", according to Jackson.^[99] However, licensing for such music remained a difficult barrier.^[106] Mixes for DJ Hero 2 are made first through computer-aided mixing of the two song tracks combined with effects noises, with simultaneous authoring of the gameplay markers. Noise for the scratching sections are filled in by recording the sounds of the tracks actually being scratched on a DJ deck.^[108]

Usher will be contributing his song "OMG" featuring will.i.am for DJ Hero 2, which he and will.i.am performed live at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Usher had previously been approached by Kotick before the release of DJ Hero for future projects for Activision. Usher found, after following the success of DJ Hero, that the game was "very interesting" as a means of connecting younger gamers to music such as his that they would not be able to experience live at a club, leading to his desire to be a part of the sequel.^[109]

FreeStyleGames found that by selecting mix aritsts such as Deadmau5 and Tiësto who are more widely known than some artists in the first game, they were able to give DJ Hero 2 a different feel, embracing the theatrics of these artists.^[106] FreeStyleGames had tried to include Tiësto within the first game, but could not do it within the deadline, but instead was used as part of the first game's promotion,^[106] and later would be used as Activision's "ambassador" for the game to Europe.^[110] Furthermore, the game's soundtrack has been selected to include more dance and pop tracks taken from European artists to make the game more Euro-friendly.^[110]

Promotion

A demo for DJ Hero 2 was released to Xbox Live on September 7, 2010. The demo contains four mixes, two of which were playable: Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes - "Don’t Cha" vs. Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis - "Just Dance" vs. Deadmau5 - "Ghosts N Stuff". The mix Estelle featuring Kanye West - “American Boy” vs. Chic - "Good Times" was used as a tutorial and the mix MSTRKRFT featuring N.O.R.E. - "Bounce" (Beat Juggle) could be heard in the menu background.^[111]

DJ Hero 2 will be sold with various promotional items. Within Europe and select stores in North America, players purchasing the game in one of two bundle packages (either with one or two turntable controllers) will receive the predecessor DJ Hero free.^[112] Other North American stores offer carrying cases for the turntables, MP3 versions of selected mixes, or redemption codes for in-game customization options.^[113]

Post-release

A glitch was observed by players on Xbox 360 where, if they were playing while online and had exactly 100 friends attached to their account, the game would freeze and/or they would be unable to play online. Activision is aware of the problem and presently working to issue a patch to correct this.^[114][115]

Soundtrack

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

DJ Hero 2Template:Infobox musical artist Template:Portal Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, currently composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. The band and its membership went through a number of re-configurations between 1968 and 1974, achieving their definitive form when Neil Peart replaced original drummer John Rutsey in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour.

Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional, and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush's style has evolved over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their first albums, then encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. They have influenced various musical artists, including Metallica,^[3][4] The Smashing Pumpkins^[5] and Primus,^[5] as well as progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater^[3] and Symphony X.^[6]

Rush has won a number of Juno Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994. Over the course of their careers, the individual members of Rush have been acknowledged as being some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments, with each band member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls. As a group, Rush possesses 24 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band. Rush also ranks 78th in U.S. album sales with 25 million units.^[7] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 40 million units.

The band recently finished promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows with an intercontinental tour. The second leg began in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11, and ended on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana.^[8]

History

Template:Details

The early years (1968–1976)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end

The original line-up formed in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Lifeson, front man Jeff Jones, and drummer John Rutsey. Within a couple weeks of forming, and before their second performance, bassist and lead vocalist Jones was replaced by Geddy Lee, a schoolmate of Lifeson. After several lineup reformations, Rush's official incarnation was formed in May 1971 consisting of Lee, Lifeson, and Rutsey. The band was managed by local Toronto resident Ray Danniels, a frequent attendee of Rush's early shows.^[9][10]

After gaining stability in the lineup and honing their skills on the local bar/high school dance circuit, the band came to release their first single "Not Fade Away", a cover of the Buddy Holly song, in 1973. Side B contained an original composition, "You Can't Fight It", credited to Rutsey and Lee. The single generated little reaction and, due to record company indifference, the band formed their own independent record label, Moon Records. With the aid of Danniels and the newly enlisted engineer Terry Brown, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1974, which was considered highly derivative of Led Zeppelin.^[11] Rush had limited local popularity until the album was picked up by WMMS, a radio station in Cleveland, Ohio. Donna Halper, a DJ and music director working at the station, selected "Working Man" for her regular play list. The song's blue collar theme resonated with hard rock fans and this new found popularity led to the album being re-released by Mercury Records in the U.S.^[12][13] Image:Starman.png

Immediately after the release of the debut album, Rutsey resigned in July 1974 due to his affliction with diabetes and a distaste for touring. Rush held auditions and eventually selected Neil Peart as Rutsey's replacement. Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group's first US tour. They performed their first concert together, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann with an attendance of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14. In addition to becoming the band's drummer, Peart assumed the role of principal lyricist as Lee and Lifeson had very little interest in writing, contributing to only a handful of song lyrics over the rest of the band's career. Instead, they focused primarily on the musical aspects of Rush. Fly by Night (1975), Rush's first album after recruiting Peart, saw the inclusion of the band's first epic mini-tale "By-Tor and the Snow Dog", replete with complex arrangements and multi-section format. Lyrical themes also underwent dramatic changes after the addition of Peart due to his love for fantasy and science-fiction literature.^[15] However, despite these many differences some of the music and songs still closely mirrored the blues style found on Rush's debut.^[16][15]

Following quickly on the heels of Fly By Night, the band released 1975's Caress of Steel, a five track hard rock album featuring two extended multi-chapter songs, "The Necromancer" and "The Fountain of Lamneth." Caress of Steel was reported by some critics to be unfocused and an audacious move for the band due to the placement of two protracted numbers back-to-back, as well as a heavier reliance on atmospherics and story-telling, a large deviation from Fly by Night.^[17] Intended to be the band's first "break-through" album, Caress of Steel sold below expectations and the promotional tour consisted of small venues which led to the moniker the "Down the Tubes Tour."^[18] In light of these events, Rush's record label pressured them into molding their next album in a more commercially friendly and accessible fashion. However, the band ignored the requests and developed their next album, 2112. It was the band's first taste of commercial success and their first platinum album in Canada.^[19] The supporting tour for the album culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, which the band recorded for the release of their first live album titled All the World's a Stage. Allmusic Guide critic Greg Prato summarily reminds listeners and fans of how the album demarcates the boundary between the band's early years and the next era of their music.^[20][21]

The progressive rock era (1977–1981)

After 2112, Rush retreated to the United Kingdom to record 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1978's Hemispheres at Rockfield Studios in Wales. These albums saw the band members expanding their use of progressive elements in their music. Trademarks such as increased synthesizer usage, extended-length concept songs, and highly dynamic playing featuring complex time signature changes became a staple of Rush's compositions. To achieve a broader, more progressive palette of sound, Alex Lifeson began to experiment with classical and twelve-string guitars, and Geddy Lee added bass-pedal synthesizers and Minimoog. Likewise, Peart's percussion became diversified in the form of triangles, glockenspiel, wood blocks, cowbells, timpani, gong and chimes. Beyond instrument additions, the band kept in stride with the progressive rock movement by continuing to compose long, conceptual songs with science fiction and fantasy overtones. However, as the new decade approached, Rush gradually began to dispose of their older styles of music in favor of shorter, and sometimes softer, arrangements. The lyrics up to this point (most of them written by Peart) were heavily influenced by classical poetry, fantasy literature, science fiction, and the writings of novelist Ayn Rand, as exhibited most prominently by their 1975 song "Anthem" from Fly By Night and a specifically acknowledged derivation in 1976's 2112.^[22]

Permanent Waves (1980) shifted Rush's style of music dramatically via the introduction of reggae and new wave.^[23] Although a hard rock style was still evident, more and more synthesizers were introduced. Moreover, due to the limited airplay Rush's previous extended-length songs received, Permanent Waves included shorter, more radio-friendly songs such as "The Spirit of Radio" and "Freewill", two songs which helped Permanent Waves become Rush's first U.S. Top 5 album; both songs continue to make appearances on classic rock radio stations in Canada and the United States to this day.^[24] Meanwhile, Peart's lyrics shifted toward an expository tone with subject matter that dwelled less on fantastical or allegorical story-telling and more heavily on cerebral topics that explored humanistic, social, emotional and metaphysical elements. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush's popularity reached its pinnacle with the release of Moving Pictures in 1981. Moving Pictures essentially continued where Permanent Waves left off, extending the trend of highly accessible and commercially friendly pop-progressive rock that helped thrust them into the spotlight. The lead track, "Tom Sawyer", is probably the band's best-known song^[25] with "Limelight" also receiving satisfactory responses from listeners and radio stations. Moving Pictures was Rush's last album to feature an extended song, the ten-and-a-half-minute "The Camera Eye". The song also contained the band's heaviest usage of synthesizers up to that point, hinting that Rush's music was shifting direction once more. Moving Pictures reached #3 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.^[26]

Following the success of Moving Pictures and the completion of another four studio albums, Rush released their second live recording, Exit...Stage Left, in 1981. The album delineates the apex of Rush's progressive period by featuring live material from the band's Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures tours. As with their first live release, Exit...Stage Left identified the margin of a new chapter of Rush's sound. The band underwent another radical stylistic transmutation with the release of Signals in 1982.^[27]

The synthesizer period (1982–1989)

Image:Oberheim OBX.jpg

While Lee's synthesizers had been featured instruments ever since the late 70s, keyboards were suddenly shifted from the contrapuntal background to the melodic front-lines^[28][29] as evidenced by songs such as "Countdown" and the lead-off track "Subdivisions". Both feature nimble lead synthesizer lines with minimalistic guitar chords and solos. Other previously unused instrument additions were seen in the song "Losing It," featuring collaborator Ben Mink on electric violin.^[27] Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Signals also represented a drastic stylistic transformation apart from instrumental changes. The album contained Rush's only U.S. top-40 pop hit, "New World Man",^[30] while other more experimental songs such as "Digital Man", "The Weapon", and "Chemistry" expanded the band's use of ska, reggae, and funk.^[31] Although the band members consciously decided to move in this overall direction, they felt dissatisfied with long-time producer Terry Brown's studio treatment of Signals and parted ways with him in 1983. These diverse styles would come into further play on their next studio album.

Image:DM Simmons SDS5.jpg

The style and production of Signals were augmented and taken to new heights on 1984's Grace Under Pressure. It was Peart who named the album, as he borrowed the words of Ernest Hemingway to describe what the band had to go through after making the decision to leave Terry Brown. Producer Steve Lillywhite, who gleaned fame with successful productions of Simple Minds and U2, was enlisted to produce Grace Under Pressure. However, he backed out at the last moment, much to the ire of Lee, Lifeson and Peart. Lee said "Steve Lillywhite is really not a man of his word....after agreeing to do our record, he got an offer from Simple Minds, changed his mind, blew us off,..so it put us in a horrible position." Eventually Rush hired Peter Henderson to co-produce and engineer the album in his stead.^[32]

Musically, although Lee's use of sequencers and synthesizers remained the band's cornerstone, his focus on new technology was complemented by Peart's adaptation of Simmons electronic drums and percussion. Lifeson's contributions on the album were decidedly enhanced to act as an overreaction to the minimalistic role he played on Signals.^[33] Still, many of his trademark guitar textures remained intact in the form of open reggae chords and funk and new-wave rhythms; "Distant Early Warning", "Red Lenses", "Red Sector A" and "The Enemy Within" serve as prime examples.

With new producer Peter Collins, the band released 1985's Power Windows and 1987's Hold Your Fire. The music on these two albums gives far more emphasis and prominence to Lee's multi-layered synthesizer work. While fans and critics took notice of Lifeson's diminished guitar work, his presence was still palpable on "The Big Money", (the album's modest-charting single) with spotlights on "Grand Designs", "Middletown Dreams" and "Marathon." Lifeson, like many guitarists in the late 1980s, experimented with processors that reduced his instrument to echoey chord bursts and razor-thin leads. Hold Your Fire represents both a modest extension of the guitar stylings found on Power Windows, and, according to Allmusic critic Ed Rivadavia, the culmination of this era of Rush.^[34] Whereas the previous five Rush albums sold platinum or better, Hold Your Fire only went gold in November 1987, although it managed to peak at number 13 on the Billboard 200.^[35]

A third live album and video, A Show of Hands (1989), was also released by Mercury following the Power Windows and Hold Your Fire tours, demonstrating the aspects of Rush in the 80s. A Show of Hands met with strong fan approval, but Rolling Stone critic Michael Azerrad dismissed it as "musical muscle" with 1.5 stars, claiming Rush fans viewed their favourite power trio as "the holy trinity".^[36] Nevertheless, A Show of Hands managed to surpass the gold album mark, reaching number 21 on the Billboard 200.^[37] At this point, the group decided to change record labels from Mercury to Atlantic. After Rush's departure in 1989, Mercury released a double platinum two-volume compilation of their Rush catalogue, Chronicles (1990).^[38]

Returning to their roots (1989–1997)

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Listen Template:Sample box end Rush started to deviate from their 1980s style with the albums Presto and Roll the Bones. Produced by record engineer and musician Rupert Hine, these two albums saw Rush shedding much of their keyboard-saturated sound. Beginning with 1989's Presto, the band opted for arrangements that were notably more guitar-centric than the previous two studio albums. Although synthesizers were still used in many songs, the instrument was no longer featured as the centerpiece of Rush's compositions. Continuing this trend, 1991's Roll the Bones extended the use of the standard three-instrument approach with even less focus on synthesizers than its predecessor. While musically these albums do not deviate significantly from a general pop-rock sound, Rush stuck to their creative approach of incorporating traces of more exotic musical styles. "Roll the Bones", for instance, exhibits funk and hip hop elements, and the instrumental track "Where's My Thing?" features several jazz components.^[39] This return to three-piece instrumentation helped pave the way for future albums in the mid-90s, which would adopt a more straightforward rock formula.

The transition from synthesizers to more guitar-oriented and organic instrumentation continued with the 1993 album Counterparts^[40] and its follow-up, 1996's Test for Echo, again both produced in collaboration with Peter Collins. Musically, Counterparts^[40] and Test For Echo are two of Rush's most guitar-driven albums. Although the music in general did not meet the criteria for "progressive rock", some of the songs could be considered more adventurous than what one might expect from a standard modern rock band.^[41] For instance, "Time and Motion" possesses multiple time signature changes and organ usage, while the instrumental track "Limbo", consists of several relatively complex musical passages repeated throughout. Musically, Test For Echo still retained much of the hard rock/alternative style already charted on the previous record. Lifeson and Lee's playing remained more or less unchanged; however, a distinct modification in technique became apparent in Peart's playing due to formal Jazz and Swing training under the tutelage of jazz instructor Freddie Gruber during the interim between Counterparts and Test For Echo.^[42] In October 1996, in support of Test For Echo, the band embarked on an extensive and successful North American tour, the band's first without an opening act and dubbed "An Evening with Rush." The tour was broken up into two segments spanning October through December, 1996 and May through July, 1997 with the band taking a respite between legs.

Hiatus and comeback (1997–2005)

After wrapping up the tour promoting Test for Echo in 1997, the band entered a five-year hiatus mainly due to personal tragedies in Peart's life. Peart's daughter Selena died in an automobile accident in August 1997, followed by his wife Jacqueline's death from cancer in June 1998. Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). At some point in his journey, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey. In this book he writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena's funeral, "consider me retired."^[43] On November 10, 1998 a triple CD live album entitled Different Stages was released, dedicated to the memory of Selena and Jacqueline. Mixed by producer Paul Northfield and engineered by Terry Brown, it contained three discs packed with recorded performances from the band's Counterparts, Test For Echo, and A Farewell to Kings tours, marking the fourth officially released live album by the band. Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Listen Template:Sample box end After a time to grieve and reassemble the pieces of his life, and while visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, Peart was introduced to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. Peart married Nuttall on September 9, 2000. In early 2001 he announced to his band mates that he was ready to once again enter the studio and get back into the business of making music. With the help of producer Paul Northfield the band returned in May 2002 with Vapor Trails, written and recorded in Toronto. To herald the band's comeback, the single and lead track from the album, "One Little Victory" was designed to grab the attention of listeners due to its rapid guitar and drum tempos.^[44] Vapor Trails marked the first studio recording not to include a single synthesizer, organ or keyboard part since the early 1970s. While the album is almost completely guitar-driven, it is mostly devoid of any conventional sounding guitar solos, a conscious decision made by Lifeson during the writing process. According to the band, the entire developmental process for Vapor Trails was extremely taxing and took approximately 14 months to finish, by far the longest the band had ever spent writing and recording a studio album.^[44] The album debuted to moderate praise and was supported by the band's first tour in six years, including first-ever concerts in Mexico City and Brazil, where they played to some of the largest crowds of their career.

A triple CD live album and dual Rush In Rio DVD was released in late October 2003 featuring an entire concert performance recorded on the last night of their Vapor Trails Tour, November 23, 2002, at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, June 2004 saw the release of Feedback, a studio EP recorded in suburban Toronto featuring eight covers of such artists as Cream, The Who and The Yardbirds, bands that the members of Rush cite as inspiration around the time of their inception.^[45] Also in the summer of 2004, Rush hit the road again for the very successful 30th Anniversary Tour, playing dates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. On September 24, 2004 a Frankfurt, Germany concert was recorded at The Festhalle for DVD (titled R30: Live in Frankfurt), which was released November 22, 2005.

Snakes & Arrows (2006–present)

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

During promotional interviews for the R30 Live In Frankfurt DVD, the band revealed their intention to begin writing new material in early 2006. While in Toronto, Lifeson and Lee began the songwriting process in January 2006. During this time, Peart simultaneously assumed his role of lyric writing while residing in Southern California. The following September, Rush chose to hire American producer Nick Raskulinecz to co-produce the album. The band officially entered Allaire Studios, in Shokan, New York in November 2006 in order to record the bulk of the material. Taking the band five weeks, the sessions ended in December. On February 14, 2007, an announcement was made on the official Rush web site that the title of the new album would be Snakes & Arrows. The first single, entitled "Far Cry," was released to North American radio stations on March 12, 2007 and reached #2 on the Mediabase Mainstream and Radio and Records Charts.^[46]

The Rush website, newly redesigned on March 12 to support the new album, also announced that the band would embark on a tour to begin in the summer. Snakes & Arrows was released 1 May 2007 in North America, where it debuted at #3 in the Billboard 200 with approximately 93,000 units sold in its first week.^[47] To coincide with the Atlantic ocean hurricane season, "Spindrift" was released as the official second radio single on June 1, 2007, whereas "The Larger Bowl (A Pantoum)" saw single status on June 25, 2007. "The Larger Bowl" positioned within the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock and Media Base Mainstream charts, however, "Spindrift" failed to appear on any commercial chart.^[48] The planned intercontinental tour in support of Snakes & Arrows began on June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, coming to a close on October 29, 2007 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.^[49]

The 2008 portion of the tour started on April 11, 2008 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum and culminated on July 24, 2008 in Noblesville, Indiana at the Verizon Wireless Music Center.^[50] On April 15, the band released Snakes & Arrows Live, a double live album documenting the first leg of the tour.^[51] Those same performances featured on Snakes & Arrows Live filmed at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands on October 16 and 17 of 2007 was released November 24 as a DVD and Blu-Ray set, which also includes footage from the 2008 portion of the tour, recorded at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Atlanta.^{[52][53] [54]}

As the band neared the conclusion of their Snakes & Arrows tour, they announced their first appearance on American television in over 30 years. Rush was interviewed by Stephen Colbert and they performed "Tom Sawyer" on The Colbert Report on July 16, 2008.^[55]

Musical style and influences

Rush's musical style has changed substantially over the years. Their debut album is strongly influenced by British-Blues rock: an amalgam of sounds and styles from such rock bands as Cream, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. Over the first few albums their style remained essentially hard rock, with heavy influences from The Who^[56] and Led Zeppelin,^[11] but also became increasingly influenced by the British progressive rock movement.^[57] In the tradition of progressive rock, Rush wrote protracted songs with irregular and multiple time signatures combined with fantasy/science fiction-inspired lyrics; however, they did not soften their sound. This fusion of hard and progressive rock continued until the end of the 1970s. In the 1980s, however, Rush successfully merged their sound with the trends of this period, experimenting with New Wave, reggae and pop rock.^[58] This period included the band's most extensive use of instruments such as synthesizers, sequencers and electronic percussion. It is largely agreed that the culmination of this era of Rush was in 1987 after the release of Hold Your Fire.^[59] With the approach of the early '90s and Rush's character sound still intact, the band transformed their style once again to harmonize with the alternative rock movement.^[60] The new millennium has seen them return to a more rock and roll roots sound, albeit with modern production.^[56]

Band members

• Geddy Lee – bass guitar, lead vocals, keyboards, mellotron, bass and synthesizer pedals, electric and acoustic rhythm guitar (September 1968 – present)
• Alex Lifeson – six and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars, classical guitar, mandolin, mandola, Bouzouki, backing vocals, bass and synthesizer pedals (August 1968 – present)
• Neil Peart – drums, electronic and acoustic percussion (July 1974 – present)

Former members

• John Rutsey – drums, percussion, backing vocals (August 1968 – July 1974)
• Jeff Jones – bass, lead vocals (August 1968 – September 1968)

Template:Details

Reputation

More than 30 years of activity has provided Rush with the opportunity for musical diversity across their discography. As with many bands known for experimentation, such changes have inevitably resulted in dissent among critics and fans. The bulk of the band's music has always included synthetic instruments in some form or another, and this is a great source of contention in the Rush camp, especially the band's heavy reliance on synthesizers and keyboards during the 1980s, particularly on albums Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, and Hold Your Fire.^[61][62] Still, most fans saw this as nothing less than artistic growth and support for the band remained unwavering through each transitional phase.^[59]

The members of Rush have themselves noted that people "either love Rush or hate Rush", resulting in strong detractors and an intensely loyal fan base. To the chagrin of fans, the band has not been nominated for entry into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since their year of eligibility in 1998. The Hall's refusal to induct Rush may be a consequence of the band's insistence on remaining outside the mainstream of rock when it comes to self-promotion, in favor of maintaining a high degree of independence.^[63] To this day fans earnestly clamor for the band's inclusion into the Hall by citing noteworthy accomplishments including longevity, proficiency, and influence, as well as commercial sales figures and RIAA certifications. However, Lifeson has expressed his indifference toward the perceived slight saying "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, it's a joke".^[64] Rush has gained a degree of recognition in popular culture despite any official recognition from the Hall.^[65]

As a band, Rush has been nominated for and received various awards throughout its career. Likewise, the individual members have received coverage in various modern music magazines with specific technocratic recognition for instrumental ability. See List of Rush awards for more details on this topic.

Geddy Lee

Image:GeddyLee.JPG

Geddy Lee's high-register vocal style has always been a signature of the band — and sometimes, a focal point for criticism, especially during the early years of Rush's career when Lee's vocals were high-pitched, with a strong likeness to other singers like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Although his voice has softened over the years, it is often described as a "wail".^[66][67] His instrumental abilities, on the other hand, are rarely criticized. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and ability on the bass guitar have proven influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden,^[68] John Myung of Dream Theater,^[69] Les Claypool of Primus^[70] and Cliff Burton of Metallica^[71] among others. Lee is notable for his ability to operate various pieces of instrumentation simultaneously. This is mostly evident during live shows when Lee must play bass, supply lead vocals, manipulate keyboards, and trigger foot pedals during the course of a performance, as in the song "Tom Sawyer".^[57] Because of this he is required to remain in one place during songs containing complex instrumentation. Lifeson and Peart are, to a lesser extent, responsible for similar actions during live shows.

Alex Lifeson

Image:Alex Lifeson6.jpg

Instrumentally, Lifeson is regarded as a guitarist whose strengths and notability rely primarily on signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and a copious arsenal of equipment used over the years.^[72][73][74] Despite his esteem, however, Lifeson is often regarded as being overshadowed by his bandmates due to Lee's on-stage multi-instrumental dexterity and Peart's status as a drummer.^[75]

During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.^[76] For versatility, Lifeson was known to incorporate touches of Spanish and classical music into Rush's guitar-driven sound during the 1970s. Taking a backseat to Lee's keyboards in the 1980s, Lifeson's guitar returned to the forefront in the 1990s, and especially on 2002's Vapor Trails. During live performances, he is still responsible for cuing various guitar effects, the use of bass-pedal synthesizers and backing vocals.

Neil Peart

Music

Peart is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of, if not the greatest rock drummers.^[77] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo.^[78] Initially inspired by Keith Moon, Peart absorbed the influence of other rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham.^[79] Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Peart's drumkit offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity. For two decades Peart honed his technique; each new Rush album introduced an expanded percussive vocabulary. In the 1990s, he reinvented his style with the help of drum coach Freddie Gruber. Image:Neil Peart3.jpg

Lyrics

Peart also serves as Rush's primary lyricist, attracting much attention over the years due to his eclectic style. Known for penning concept suites and songs inspired by literature, music fan opinions of his writing have varied greatly, running the gamut from cerebral and insightful to overly pretentious and preachy. During the band's early years, Peart's lyrics were largely fantasy/science fiction-focused,^[80] though since 1980 he has focused more on social, emotional, and humanitarian issues. Peart's lyrics continue to divide audiences today. For example, in 2007, he was placed second on Blender magazine's list of the "40 Worst Lyricists In Rock".^[81]

Sales

Over the course of their career, Rush has come to release 24 gold records and 14 platinum records (3 of which have gone multiplatinum),^[82] placing them within the top 4 for the most consecutive gold albums by a rock band.^[83] Rush ranks 78th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.^[83] Total worldwide sales approximate 40 million units.^{[84][85][86][87]}

Despite having completely dropped out of the public eye for five years after the gold-selling Test for Echo (which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200) and the band being relegated almost solely to classic rock stations in the U.S., Vapor Trails reached #6 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release in 2002 with 108,000 albums sold. It has sold approximately 343,000 units to date. The subsequent Vapor Trails tour grossed over $24 million and included the largest audience ever to see a headlining Rush show — 60,000 fans in São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, Vapor Trails remains their first album not to achieve at least gold status.

However, Rush's triple CD live album, 2003's Rush in Rio, was certified gold by the RIAA, marking the fourth decade in which a Rush album had been released and certified at least gold. Moreover, in 2004 Feedback cracked the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and received radio airplay. The band's most recent album, Snakes & Arrows, debuted at #3 (just one position shy of Rush's highest peaking album, 1993's Counterparts, which debuted at #2) on the Billboard 200 selling approximately 93,000 copies in its first week of release.^[88] This marks the 13th studio album to appear in the Top 20 and the band's 27th album to appear on the chart regardless of position over the course of their career. The album also debuted at #1 on the Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, as well as peaking at #1 on the Top Internet Albums chart when the album was released on the MVI format a month later.^[89] Still, Snakes & Arrows has yet to accumulate sales that approach or eclipse Vapor Trails or Rush in Rio.

The two consecutive tours in support of Snakes & Arrows in 2007 and 2008 accrued $21 million and $18.3 million, respectively, earning Rush the number 6 and 8 spots among the top ten summer rock concerts.^[90][91]

Live performances

The members of Rush share a strong work ethic, desiring to accurately recreate songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s, Rush has included in their concert equipment a capacious rack of digital samplers which the band members use, in real-time, to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments, accompaniments, vocal harmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs.

In live performances, the band members share duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s). Each band member has one or more MIDI controllers that enables him to use his free hands or feet to trigger sounds that have been loaded into the samplers for a particular song.^[92] It is with this technology that the group is able to present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect, and without the need to resort to the use of backing tracks or employing an additional band member.^[93]

The band members' coordinated use of foot-pedal keyboards and other electronic triggers to "play" sampled instruments and audio events is subtly visible in their live performances, especially so on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, their 2005 concert DVD.

A staple of Rush's concerts is a Peart drum solo. Peart's drum solos include a basic framework of routines connected by sections of improvisation, making each performance unique. Each successive tour sees the solo more advanced, with some routines dropped in favor of newer, more complex ones. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has used MIDI trigger pads to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area, such as a marimba, harp, temple blocks, triangles, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, tubular bells, and vibraslap as well as other, more esoteric percussion.

Philanthropy

Rush actively participates in philanthropic causes. The band was one of a number of hometown favorites to play Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto, also dubbed SARStock, at Downsview Park in Toronto on July 30, 2003, with an attendance of over half a million people. The concert was intended to benefit the Canadian economy after the SARS outbreaks earlier in the year. The band has also sustained an interest in promoting human rights. They donated $100,000 to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights after a concert they held in Winnipeg on 24 May 2008.^[94] Rush continues to sell t-shirts and donate the proceeds to the museum.^[95]

The individual members of Rush have also been a part of philanthropic causes. Hughes & Kettner zenTeras and TriAmps have been endorsed and used by Lifeson for many years. A custom signature amplifier was engineered by Lifeson and released in April 2005 with the stipulation that UNICEF will receive a donation in the amount of $50 for every Alex Lifeson Signature TriAmp sold.^[96] Lee, a longtime fan of baseball, donated 200 baseballs signed by famous Negro League players, including Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Josh Gibson, to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in June 2008.^[97]

The band is featured on the music album Songs for Tibet, appearing with a number of other celebrities as an initiative to support Tibet and the current Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. The album was made downloadable on August 5 via iTunes and was released commercially August 12.^[98]

Discography

Here is the complete setlist for Guitar Hero III, which will also include all downloadable content (when released).

Bold text indicates a master track, all other songs are covers.

Single Player Setlist

1. Starting Out Small

• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Talk Dirty to Me" - Poison
• "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
• "Story of My Life" - Social Distortion
• "Rock and Roll All Nite" - Kiss (Encore)

2. Your First Real Gig

• "Mississippi Queen" - Mountain
• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream
• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "Guitar Battle vs. Tom Morello"
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine (Encore)

3. Making The Video

• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones (Encore)

4. European Invasion

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Even Flow" - Pearl Jam (Encore)

5. Bighouse Blues

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Rock You Like a Hurricane" - Scorpions
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "La Grange" - ZZ Top
• Guitar Battle vs. Slash
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses (Encore)

6. The Hottest Band On Earth

• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Pride and Joy" - Stevie Ray Vaughn (Encore)

7. Live in Japan

• "Before I Forget" - Slipknot
• "Stricken" - Disturbed
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour (Encore)

8. Battle For Your Soul

• "Raining Blood" - Slayer
• "Cliffs of Dover" - Eric Johnson
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "One" - Metallica
• "Guitar Battle vs. Lou" - Originally by Charlie Daniels Band, cover by Steve Ouimette (Encore)

Co-Op Setlist

1. Getting a Band Together

• "Barracuda" - Heart
• "When You Were Young" - The Killers
• "Bulls on Parade" - Rage Against the Machine
• "Slow Ride" - Foghat
• "Sabotage" - Beastie Boys (Encore)

2. We Just Wanna Be Famous

• "School's Out" - Alice Cooper
• "Kool Thing" - Sonic Youth
• "Miss Murder" - AFI
• "The Seeker" - The Who
• "Reptilia" - The Strokes (Encore)

3. Overnight Success

• "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
• "Anarchy in the U.K." - Sex Pistols
• "Lay Down" - Priestess
• "Suck My Kiss" - Red Hot Chili Peppers (Encore)

4. Getting the Band Back Together

• "Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
• "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
• "Same Old Song and Dance" - Aerosmith
• "Cherub Rock" - The Smashing Pumpkins
• "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" - Blue Öyster Cult (Encore)

5. Jailhouse Rock

• "My Name is Jonas" - Weezer
• "Black Sunshine" - White Zombie
• "3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
• "The Metal" - Tenacious D
• "Helicopter" - Bloc Party (Encore)

6. Battle for Your Souls...

• "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
• "One" - Metallica
• "The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
• "Cult of Personality" - Living Colour
• "Monsters" - Matchbook Romance (Encore)

Bonus Tracks

• "Avalancha" - Heroes del Silencio
• "Can't Be Saved" - Senses Fail
• "Closer" - Lacuna Coil
• "Don't Hold Back" - The Sleeping
• "Down n' Dirty" - LA Slum Lords
• "F.C.P.R.E.M.I.X." - The Fall of Troy
• "Generation Rock" - Revolverheld
• "Go That Far" - Bret Michaels Band
• "Hier Kommt Alex" - Die Toten Hosen
• "I'm in the Band" - The Hellacopters
• "Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
• "In Love" - Scouts of St. Sebastian
• "In the Belly of a Shark" - Gallows
• "Mauvais Garçon" - NAAST
• "Metal Heavy Lady" - Lions
• "Minus Celsius" - Backyard Babies
• "My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
• "Nothing for Me Here" - Dope
• "Prayer of the Refugee" - Rise Against
• "Radio Song" - Superbus
• "Ruby" - Kaiser Cheifs
• "She Bangs the Drums" - The Stone Roses
• "Take This Life" - In Flames
• "The Way It Ends" - Prototype
• "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce

Downloadable Content

Singles

Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix - Released November 22, 2007 on XBL.

• "Halo Theme MJOLNIR Mix" - Martin O'Donnell

Ernten Was Wir Säen - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Erten Was Wir Säen" - Die Fantastischen Vier

So Payso - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "So Payso" - Extremoduro

Antisocial - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2008 on PSN.

• "Antisocial" - Trust

We Three Kings - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "We Three Kings" - Steve Ouimette

Dream On - Released Febuary 18, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Dream On" - Aerosmith

I am Murloc - Released June 26, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "I am Murloc" - L70ETC (Link to WoWWiki)

Track Packs

Companion Pack - Released October 31, 2007 on XBL.

• "Carcinogen Crush" - AFI
• "Tina" - Flyleaf
• "Putting Holes in Happiness" - Marilyn Manson

Foo Fighters Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "All My Life" - Foo Fighters
• "The Pretender" - Foo Fighters
• "This is a Call" - Foo Fighters

Velvet Revolver Pack - Released November 8, 2007 on XBL & PSN.

• "She Builds Quick Machines" - Velvet Revolver
• "Slither" - Velvet Revolver
• "Messages" - Velvet Revolver

Boss Battle Pack - Released November 15, 2007 on XBL and November 29, 2007 on PSN.

• "Tom Morello Guitar Battle" - Tom Morello
• "Slash Guitar Battle" - Slash
• "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" - Steve Ouimette

Warner/Reprise Track Pack - Released December 20, 2007 on XBL and January 3, 2007 on PSN.

• "Pretty Handsome Awkward" - The Used
• "No More Sorrow" - Linkin Park
• "Sleeping Giant" - Mastodon

Classic Rock Track Pack - Released January 24, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "Jukebox Hero" - Foreigner
• "Peace of Mind" - Boston

No Doubt Track Pack - Released Febuary 28, 2008 on XBL and PSN.

• "Excuse Me Mr. No Doubt" - No Doubt
• "Don't Speak" - No Doubt
• "Sunday Morning" - No Doubt

Modern Metal Track Pack - Released March 6, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "The Arsonist" - Thrice
• "Hole in the Earth" - Deftones
• "Almost Easy" - Avenged Sevonfold

Dropkick Murphys Track Pack - Released March 13, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Famous For Nothing" - Dropkick Murphys
• "(F)lannigan's Ball" - Dropkick Murphys
• "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys

Def Leppard Track Pack - Released April 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Nine Lives" - Def Leppard
• "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
• "Photograph" - Def Leppard

Guitar Virtuoso Pack - Released July 24, 2008 on XBL & PSN.

• "Soothsayer" - Buckethead
• "Surfing With the Alien" - Joe Satriani
• "For the Love of God" - Steve Vai

DragonForce Track Pack - Released August 21, 2008 on XBL & PSN

• "Heroes of Our Time"
• "Operation Ground and Pound"
• "Revolution Deathsquad"

Studio albums

• Rush (1974)
• Fly by Night (1975)
• Caress of Steel (1975)
• 2112 (1976)
• A Farewell to Kings (1977)
• Hemispheres (1978)
• Permanent Waves (1980)
• Moving Pictures (1981)
• Signals (1982)
• Grace Under Pressure (1984)
• Power Windows (1985)
• Hold Your Fire (1987)
• Presto (1989)
• Roll the Bones (1991)
• Counterparts (1993)
• Test for Echo (1996)
• Vapor Trails (2002)
• Feedback (2004)
• Snakes & Arrows (2007)

See also

• Rush instrumentals
• List of Rush awards

References

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Further reading

Books

• Rush: Visions: The Official Biography – Banasiewicz, Bill. (1988), Omnibus Press – ISBN 0-7119-1162-2
• Rush Tribute: Merely Players – Telleria, Robert (2002) – ISBN 1-55082-271-3
• Rush: Success Under Pressure – Gett, Steve. (1984) – ISBN 0-89524-230-3
• Rhythm & Light – Nuttall, Carrie, (2005), Rounder Books, ISBN 1-57940-093-0
• Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart (1985) – ISBN 0-7692-5055-6
• More Drum Techniques of Rush – Peart, Wheeler (1989) – ISBN 0-7692-5051-3
• The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa – Peart (1999) – ISBN 1-895900-02-6
• Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road – Peart (2002) – ISBN 1-55022-546-4 (hardcover), ISBN 1-55022-548-0 (paperback)
• Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times – Peart (2004) – ISBN 1-55022-664-9
• Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away – Popoff, Martin. Publisher: Ecw Press (28 June 2004) – ISBN 1-55022-678-9
• Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush – Price, et al. (1999) – ISBN 1-58715-102-2
• Rush: Chemistry : The Definitive Biography – Collins, Jon. (2006) Helter Skelter Publishing – ISBN 1-900924-85-4 (Hardcover)
• Roadshow: Landscape With Drums - A Concert Tour By Motorcycle – Peart (2006), Rounder – ISBN 1-57940-142-2

Scholarly articles

• "Rand, Rush, and De-totalizing the Utopianism of Progressive Rock" by Steven Horwitz (2002)
• "Textu®al Undercoding and the Music of the Rock Band Rush: String Quartets, Death Metal, Trip-Hop, and other Tributes" by Dr. Durrell Bowman (2004/2002)
• "'Open Secrets': Individualism and Middle-Class Identity in the songs of Rush," Popular Music and Society Volume 31 No. 3, July 2008, pp. 313-328, by Chris McDonald.
• "'Making Arrows Out of Pointed Words': Critical Reception, Taste Publics and Rush," Journal of American and Comparative Cultures, Volume 25 No. 3-4, September 2002, pp. 249-259, by Chris McDonald
• "Grand Designs: A Musical, Social and Ethographic Study of Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, York University, 2002) by Chris McDonald
• "Structure, Function and Process in the Early Song Cycles and Extended Songs of the Canadian Rock Group Rush" (dissertation, Ph.D. in music theory, Ohio State University, 2002) by Brian Walsh
• "Permanent Change: Rush, Musicians' Rock, and the Progressive Post-Counterculture" (dissertation, Ph.D. in musicology, UCLA, 2003) by Dr. Durrell Bowman

External links

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• Official Rush Home Page

Template:Featured article Template:RushTemplate:Link FA

ca:Rush cs:Rush da:Rush de:Rush et:Rush es:Rush fr:Rush (groupe) hr:Rush id:Rush it:Rush he:ראש (להקה) lv:Rush hu:Rush mt:Rush nl:Rush (band) ja:ラッシュ (バンド) no:Rush nn:Rush pl:Rush pt:Rush ro:Rush ru:Rush simple:Rush (band) sk:Rush (skupina) fi:Rush sq:Rush sv:Rush tr:Rush (grup) uk:Rush zh:匆促樂團s setlist will include 83 mashups from nearly 100 songs from about 85 different artists.^[101] Game Informer stated that the game's soundtrack still strongly represents the genre of hip-hop, but adds more elements from electronica, pop, and dance.^[100] David Guetta, Deadmau5, DJ Qbert, Tiësto and RZA will be playable avatars within the game and they will help create mixes for the game.^{[101][116][117][118]}

DJ Hero 2 will support downloadable content in the form of new mixes that can be purchased from the consoles' respective online stores. In addition, through an additional free add-on to be released in November 2010, players will be able to purchase existing downloadable content from the first game to use within DJ Hero 2.^[119] Rock band Linkin Park has stated that three of their hits will be released as downloadable content. ^[120]

Reception

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References

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External links

• Official DJ Hero website

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