Neil Peart -- The Latest News

Rush.com has announced that the Clockwork Angels Tour Blu-ray, DVD, and CD will release on November 19, 2013. You can pre-order at the following links:

Clockwork Angels Tour [Blu-ray]

Clockwork Angels Tour [DVD]

CD [No pre-order info available yet]

Here are the details from Rush.com:

AUDIO AND VIDEO RELEASES INCLUDE EPIC VERSIONS OF SONGS RARELY PERFORMED AND NEVER-BEFORE CAPTURED ALONGSIDE NEWLY REWORKED ARRANGEMENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR;

BLURAY/DVD INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE BACKSTAGE TOUR DOCUMENTARY, SOUNDCHECK FOOTAGE, AND TOUR FILM OUTTAKES IN ADDITION TO THE 3 HOUR CONCERT FILM

Rush have unveiled details for their first new recording since being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. On November 19th, "RUSH: CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR" will be released simultaneously via Anthem/Roadrunner Records on CD and the companion BLURAY/DVD on Anthem/Zoe Vision/Rounder.

"RUSH: CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR" was filmed and recorded last November at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, during Rush's highly successful Clockwork Angels Tour. The eleven month-marathon world tour crossed North America twice and ventured overseas to Europe in support of the band's acclaimed 2012 studio release "CLOCKWORK ANGELS."

In capturing the tour's electrifying three hour set, "RUSH: CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR" pairs Rush classics ("Tom Sawyer," "The Spirit Of Radio," "2112"), with a nod to the 80's Rush era (The Analog Kid," "Territories," "Subdivisions") alongside newly reworked arrangements specifically for the tour featuring the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble ("Headlong Flight," "YYZ," "Red Sector A"). The string section marks the first time the trio has brought additional musicians on the road with them. To showcase their latest studio release, the epic set list also features nine tracks off "CLOCKWORK ANGELS." Other highlights include tracks rarely performed and never before recorded live ("The Body Electric," "Middletown Dreams"), in addition to three separate drum solos by the incomparable Neil Peart.

Beyond the incredible live performances, the DVD includes a 25-minute tour documentary titled "Can't Stop Thinking Big", featuring interviews with all 3 members, exclusive and behind the scenes footage, and offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the Rush tour machine and insight into the band members themselves. Other special features on the DVD include the trio of hilarious shorts created specifically for the tour as well as interviews and outtakes captured during their filming. Additional filmed sketches and a rare soundcheck performance of perennial favourite "Limelight" round out the exclusive offerings.

"RUSH: CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR" comes on the heels of Anthem/Atlantic's September 30th release of "VAPOR TRAILS REMIXED," a newly remixed version of the band's 2002 album VAPOR TRAILS and 7-disc boxed set "THE STUDIO ALBUMS 1989-2007," which features every studio album Rush recorded for Atlantic Records.

RUSH: CLOCKWORK ANGELS TOUR

Release date: November 19th

DVD (Anthem/Zoe Vision/Rounder)

CD (Anthem/Roadrunner Records)

Set One:

• Subdivisions
• The Big Money
• Force Ten
• Grand Designs
• The Body Electric
• Territories
• The Analog Kid
• Bravado
• Where's My Thing?/ Here It Is! (drum solo)
• Far Cry

Set Two:

• Caravan*
• Clockwork Angels*
• The Anarchist*
• Carnies*
• The Wreckers*
• Headlong Flight*/ Drumbastica (drum solo)
• Peke's Repose (guitar solo)/Halo Effect*
• Seven Cities of Gold*
• Wish Them Well*
• The Garden*
• Dreamline*
• The Percussor (I) Binary Love Theme (II) Steambanger's Ball (drum solo)
• Red Sector A*
• YYZ*
• The Spirit of Radio

Encore:

• Tom Sawyer
• 2112

Bonus:

• Limelight (soundcheck recording)
• Middletown Dreams
• The Pass
• Manhattan Project*

*With the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble

SPECIAL FEATURES (BLURAY/DVD ONLY)

• Can't Stop Thinking Big (25 min tour documentary)
• Behind The Scenes (featuring Jay Baruchel)
• Outtakes
• Interview With Dwush
• Family Goy
• Family Sawyer
• The Watchmaker (intermission tour film)
• Office Of The Watchmaker (closing tour film)

Labels: blu-ray, Clockwork Angels tour 2012, Clockwork Angels tour 2013, Clockwork Angels Tour Video and CD

Fadoo Productions has released a trailer for the forthcoming Clockwork Angels concert tour video. You can see it here or inline:

Thanks to Rushisaband for the head's up!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, videos

I've been following a lot of Rush tours over the years -- both as a concert-goer and, for the past 8 years, on this blog. The Clockwork Angels show was definitely Rush's most elaborate spectacle to date.

So much happened during this tour, I thought this was a good time to look back at the highlights (some of them for Rush, and some for me). Enjoy.

Sep 7, 2012: Opening night in Manchester, NH

As I followed along on Twitter, I was genuinely surprised with the changes to the show, including:

• Deep cuts from Power Windows, Grace Under Pressure, and Roll the Bones for the first time in many years
• A small orchestra joining the band onstage as they played through much of Clockwork Angels and a few other songs.
• Three (yes, three!) drum solos by Neil Peart (still playing his Time Machine kit)
• Neil Peart firing T-shirts from a cannon!

Sep 9: Washington, DC - More set changes

Rush changed the set again, swapping out multiple songs. This trend would continue until they settled on essentially two main sets. To see how many sets Rush played on this tour, check out this handy table at Power Windows. (In case you were wondering, there were 12 different sets.)

Neil Peart interviewed as part of New York Times article about drumming and fitness.

Sep 10 - Rush receive "Album of the Year" from Progressive Music Awards for Clockwork Angels

Sep 11 - Neil Peart cover story in DRUM!

Sep 12 - Neil's 60th birthday

While Neil celebrated this major milestone on the road, there was also a virtual party in the Twitterverse with Rush fans, friends, and colleagues wishing the Professor many happy returns.

Sep 17 - Clockwork Angels the Novel debuts at #18 on the New York Times bestsellers list

Oct 5 - Rush nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

I was actually pretty stunned by this one. I never thought they'd get nominated (let alone get inducted).

Oct 11 -  Tour Update #1 from NEP: "The Better Angels"

Oct 15 - Taking Center Stage companion book released

Oct 15 and 17 - Rush plays two nights in Toronto

Neil Peart meets Don George, his first  drum teacher, for the first time in over 45 years.

Nov 13 - Seattle show!

• My son Drew's first Rush show
• Michael Shrieve interviews Neil Peart

Nov 17 - Tour Update #2 from NEP: "Witness to the Fall"

Nov 18 - Lorne "Gump" Wheaton's new site launches

If you haven't been to Gump's new site yet, I think you'll want to check out some of these amazing behind-the-scenes videos!

Nov 20 - Rush inducted into RockWalk in LA

Nov 26 - Phoenix show filmed for upcoming DVD

This was my second and final show on the CA tour. Rush was on fire!

Nov 28 - Dallas show filmed for upcoming DVD

Nov 30 - Randy Johnson's Phoenix show photos published

Dec 2 - Last show in Houston (show #34)

Dec 11 - Rush inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Dec 13 - Tour update #3 from NEP: Adventures in the Wild West

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

In this installment of Neil's blog, "Adventures in the Wild West," he writes about his latest journeys on the Clockwork Angels tour with riding partner Michael Mossbach , including:

• Computer crashes
• Happy Camp road
• The Lost Coast (Cape Mendocino)

• Neil's new post-ride song
• Operation Mandy
• Special presents for motorcyclists at motels
• Riding with Brian Catterson
• Big Bend National Park
• Frackers in Texas
• Padre Island
• Talkin' to the orchestra during soundcheck:

• Firing a "T-shirt gun"
• Proof that Neil can run faster than Brittney Spears after a show
• Michael's names for Neil's solos

• His interview with Michael Shrieve in Seattle (one of the best interviews I've heard with Neil)

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, neilpeart.net, written by NEP

Here are two photos from the final Clockwork Angels 2012 show in Houston, TX.

Thanks again to Rush and John Arrowsmith for posting these photos for the fans!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Rush will play their last 2012 show in Houston tonight. This will be their 34th show on the Clockwork Angels tour.

I'll have a full write-up soon, but I think we can all agree this was a great tour!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

Dallas - Nov 28, 2012

This show was filmed for Rush's upcoming DVD release:

San Antonio - Nov 30, 2012

In this photo, here's the look you'd receive from Mr. Peart if he caught you eating his sandwich after the show (see Time Machine outro):

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

The Phoenix Rush photos just keep coming! Randy Johnson, baseball pitching legend and photographer, took this great photo of Neil Peart during soundcheck -- and many others of the band.

Follow Randy on Twitter and go to his site to see Rush and other cool photos (motorsports, Africa, concerts, KISS, U2, USO, and more).

Click to see the entire gallery (including photos from past tours).

Thanks, Randy, for sharing these photos!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night, Randy Johnson

I wasn't originally planning on going to the Clockwork Angels show in Phoenix, AZ. I'd just seen the band in Seattle a week or so before, and I was looking forward to a quiet, four-day Thanksgiving weekend.

But then the ticket angels smiled upon me.

This, of course, meant I needed to make last-minute travel arrangements during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. I'd be flying in on Saturday, staying with my friend Dan and his family, and flying out on Monday.

But it's always amazing how much you can pack into two days -- including one of the best Rush shows I've ever seen.

Here are some pictures I took before and during the show:

Notes from the show

• Rush was filming this show for their next DVD/Blu-ray release
• The cameras were all miniaturized and remote (except for one cameraman I saw on the floor). You wouldn't have known they were filming.
• Rush put on one of the most energetic, passionate shows I've seen from them in my years of being a fan. The only other one I've seen at this level was the final show of the "Time Machine" tour at the Gorge in 2011 (where Geddy dropped an F-bomb at the end).
• Dan and I had sixth row tickets, close to center. We were right next to Phil Michelson's caddy, Jim "Bones" MacKay. Dan (the best golfer I know) was ecstatic to shake Bones's hand before the show started.
• Many parents brought their children with them to the show (as I did with my two sons in Seattle). It was amazing to see those kids singing along with the older hits -- as well as the Clockwork Angels songs.

Photos:

Rush in Phoenix - AndyO's photos

Rush in Phoenix - Dan's photos

Here are some great photos that Dan took of Neil, Geddy, and Alex:

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

I was at this one, and it was one of the best Rush performances I've seen. I also took a bunch of photos, which I'll be posting soon.

Only 3 more shows left!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Two great photos from San Diego:

Stick flying...

Orchestra playing...

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

It's been 20 long years since Rush rocked Key Arena (formally Seattle Center Coliseum). As one of the thousands in attendance, I can say it was a triumphant return.

Congrats to my son, Drew, for seeing his first Rush show!

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Rush completed the second leg of their Clockwork Angels tour after 13 shows. The last show of the leg was in Tampa, FL. They'll pick up the tour again in Seattle, WA, on November 13 -- which means I'll finally get to see a show!

There are l0 more shows left in the 2012 Clockwork Angels tour.

Photos of the Night

John Arrowsmith continues to take great photos every night. I've been posting my favorite "photos of the night" after each show. Here are a few of my favorites from the second leg:

Buffalo, NY - Oct 26, 2012

Newark, NJ - Oct 20, 2012

Montreal, QC - Oct 18, 2012

Twitter updates from the road

Michael, Neil, and Brutus have continued to tweet from the road from the "West Coast Beemer Boyz" Twitter account. If you've missed these, or don't use Twitter, here are some of my favorite photos. (Click the photo to go to the Twitter photo.)

Fan photos on Twitter

I've also really enjoyed all the fan photos and updates on Twitter. I captured what this looked like for Toronto in this update.

@rushinconcert has been tweeting and retweeting a lot of great photos.

Here are some others that you might like:

Thanks to Michael and all the folks on Twitter for posting the updates and photos.

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night

Labels: Clockwork Angels tour 2012, photo of the night