RUSH

More than 40 million records sold worldwide. Countless sold-out tours. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Officers of the Order of Canada. And that's all very nice. But for these three guys, it's all about the music, their friendship, and the fans.

Rush was formed in August 1968 in the Willowdale neighborhood of Toronto. The original lineup included Alex Lifeson on guitar, Jeff Jones on bass and John Rutsey on drums. Jones was soon replaced by Geddy Lee, and, in 1974, after the release of the group’s debut album, Rutsey left and was replaced by Neil Peart (pronounced /ˈpɪərt/). That lineup Lee on vocals, bass and keyboards; Lifeson on guitar, and Peart on drums — has remained stable throughout the years.

The group played around on the Toronto scene for a few years and then, in 1973, released its first single, a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” The record didn’t do well, and the band decided to form its own label, Moon Records. The group released its first album, Rush, in 1974. The album wasn’t faring too well until a Cleveland radio station, WMMS (100.7 FM), added the song “Working Man” to its playlist. The album was then picked up by Mercury Records in the U.S., and sales began to skyrocket.