Brian Clemens

Annotated Bibliography

Berti, Jim, and Durrell. Bowman. Rush and Philosophy: Heart and Mind United. Popular
Culture and Philosophy; v. 57. Chicago: Open Court, 2011.

Released a few months after the band’s “Beyond the Lighted Stage” documentary, this book
analyzes many Rush tunes for their philosophical meaning. In addition, it also covers the music
theory in several of their songs. It has been noted that it is not for the casual fan.

Blumenfeld, Zach. “Rush’s 2112 Turns 40: A Battle Against Conformity.” Consequence of
Sound. March 31, 2016. March 2, 2018. https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/03/rushs-
2112-turns-40-a-battle-against-conformity/.

An online article stating how Rush gained is fan base in the mid 1970’s through its breakthrough
album 2112 and how the main theme of the album was a rise against conformity. The article also
includes a brief history of the band’s work leading up to that album and how it is viewed 40
years later.

Bowman, Durrell, and Walser, Robert. Permanent Change: Rush, Musicians' Rock, and the
Progressive Post -counterculture, 2003, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

An overview and analytical approach to Rush’s music from their first album in 1974 to 2003.
Included within the article are the musical changes that took place over time, the placement of
Rush’s music within an ideology and how it related to various value systems. There is a analysis
on their music in the late 1970’s and 1980’s.

Collins, Jon. Rush - Chemistry: The Definitive Biography. London: Helter Skelter, 2010.

An in-depth biography of the band covering up until their Time Machine Tour of 2010. Included
in the book are various interviews with people involved with Rush’s history throughout the
years.

King, Andrew. "TRAVELLING BACK IN TIME WITH RUSH." Canadian Musician 37,
no. 6 (2015): 34-37.
This article recounts the tremendous legacy of the band in light of their recent R40 tour and it’s
concluding date in Los Angeles. The author highlights why the band has made a tremendous
impact over the years and what the R40 tour was all about.

Martin, Bill. Listening to the Future: The Time of Progressive Rock, 1968-1978. Feedback
(Chicago, Ill.) ; v. 2. Chicago, Ill.: Open Court, 1998.

A survey of the history of progressive rock music. The author argues that the nature of rock
music has always allowed for a gateway to explore new ideas and therefore the creation of
Progressive Rock.

McDonald, Christopher, and Bowman, Robert. Grand Designs: A Musical, Social and
Ethnographic Study of Rush, 2003, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

This is a dissertation that gives an in-depth description of Rush’s music style, lyric style and it’s
reception by fans and audiences. Other parts of the work describe the politics involved in the
music and why the band received negative acclaim from critics and how it related to their
authenticity.

Mcdonald, Chris. "Open Secrets: Individualism and Middle‐Class Identity in the Songs of
Rush." Popular Music and Society 31, no. 3 (2008): 313-28.

This article analyzes how Rush’s music interprets the lives of the American and Canadian
middle-class and specifically it’s views on individualism and escapism. The article discusses
songs like “Tom Sawyer” and Subdivisions” and how they relate to such a view.

McDonald, Chris. Rush, Rock Music, and the Middle Class: Dreaming in Middletown.
Profiles in Popular Music. Bloomington, IN: Indiana UP, 2009.

This book analyzes the bands overall impact on popular music. Highlighted is how the band
commented on the middle class of America and Canada and how such a commentary have
affected fans and made an overall impact on rock music of the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Melhuish, M. (2014, Mar). Now we're here...CM'S LOOK BACK AT 35 YEARS OF

CANADIAN MUSIC. Canadian Musician, 36, 34-41. Retrieved from https://search-
proquest-com.lib-proxy.fullerton.edu/docview/1518648247?accountid=9840
A look back at the history of Canada’s contribution to popular music. Specific emphasis is put on
the time period of the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Rush is covered in the group within the context of
other Canadian’s group that were rising at the time.

Morris, Samantha, and Straw, Will. Much More than Music Video: An Examination of
Canadian Response to American Paradigms, 2001, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.

An analysis describing the relationship between Canada in the United States in terms of their
cultural output. Particular emphasis is placed on the music videos coming out of each country
and their programming philosophy. The article also describes how Canada has imitated
American popular culture.

Myers, Paul. "Rush Put Themselves to the "Test"." Canadian Musician 18, no. 6 (1996):
34-39.

Written in 1994, this work covers a profile of the band’s twenty-year history. Summarized is
their story up until the release of the 1994 album, Test For Echo. Specifically covered is the
groups two-year hiatus before releasing that new album. Their relationship with their producer
Terry Collins is also covered.

Pearce, J. (2000, 09). Geddy lee: Rush's front man flies solo. Canadian Musician, 22, 34-36,
39. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.lib-
proxy.fullerton.edu/docview/1356930?accountid=9840

An article from 2000 that covers Rush bassist Geddy Lee and his approach to making music.
Highlighted are his bass technique, songwriting, and recording technique.

Priske, R. (2002, May). Rush. Canadian Musician, 24, 34-39. Retrieved from https://search-
proquest-com.lib-proxy.fullerton.edu/docview/216300053?accountid=9840

An in-depth looking into the making and history leading up to the band’s 2002 album, Vapor
Trails. The author talks about his own history with the band and what appealed to him and many
other fans. He also includes a list of the band’s awards and achievements.

Walsh, Brian, and Green, Burdette L. Structure, Function, and Process in the Early Song
Cycles and Extended Songs of the Canadian Rock Group Rush, 2002, ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses.

This article showcases the larger works of the band and attempts to analyze these works by
various non-traditional ways that solely fit rock music. The article attempts to gain an insider’s
perspective on the compositional process and how such a study gives way to a deeper
understanding of the music.

Welsh, T. "Lyricist Neil Peart: A Brandenian Pedigree." The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies
5, no. 1 (2003): 225-27.

Various interpretations of Neil Peart’s lyrics and how they relate to Ayn Rand’s philosophies.
The author articles that the ideas might include a large Randian influence than previously
thought and how Peart’s lyrics have influenced popular culture through the transmission of
Rand’s ideas.

Young, K. (2007, May). In the studio with RUSH. Canadian Musician, 29, 35-37. Retrieved
from https://search-proquest-com.lib-
proxy.fullerton.edu/docview/216522011?accountid=9840

A detailed analysis of how Rush makes their albums. The information is gathered from a
collection of stories and personal accounts with the band during the recording of their albums
such as Snakes and Arrows. Included in the article are interviews with the band members.

Cast in This Unlikely Role: Genre, Demographics, and the Music of the Rock Band Rush.”
Studies in Music, University of Western Ontario. Proceedings of the
InternationalAssociation for the Study of Popular Music—Canada. (In Press.)

A dissertation that investigates the music of the band through their music from the mid 1970’s to
early 2000’s. The author argues that the appeal of the music to several million people fits within
a larger post-countercultural context. The work also analyzes how Rush incorporated several
music genres into their music.

"Experiencing Rush: A Listener's Companion." Publishers Weekly 261, no. 43 (2014): 85.

An overall history of the band from their debut album in 1974 to their most recent and final
album in 2012. Topics discusses are the recordings, career, and a brief bit about the personal
lives of the band members. The author includes an extensive analysis on the musicianship of the
band and how they were able to appeal to their fans. The work includes intricate analyses of the
musical aspects of the band’s music.

"The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock." Publishers Weekly 264, no.
15 (2017): 65.
This is largely a survey of the genre based on interviews with musicians, producers, and fans.
Various artists are highlighted and their part in the rise of Prog Rock is discussed and analyzed.