rush 197-2026 retrospective

Retrospective Rush 1982 and 2026

In 1982 a friend who heard I was photographing concerts had asked me about doing Rush for her as she loved the new album and I said that I wanted to see them too. She gave me money for the tickets, 4 rolls of film and developing. I keep the negatives and any extra prints and enlargements was extra. I was big fan of Rush since the album Fly by Night and with 2112 and it was goal to see them play the first side of 2112 which I heard they were doing this tour. I told her I Would get the tickets Ticketron as working part time at the food store and Carsons (Ticketron) was across the street and the boss would let us take off to stand in line for tickets, as it built loyalty plus it was in the morning grocery stores are slow in the morning. I had to work when the Rush tickets went on sale, so I asked the boss if I could come in after I get the Rush tickets and he said OK. They were going to be at Rosemont Horizon 3 concerts. They were appearing 3 nights 19th, 20th and 21st of Nov. I got pretty good seats, first concert but with a telephoto lens, I will get good shots no matter what. The Rosemount Horizon was the new venue to see entertainment and they had a accident in construction of it on installing the roof as the roof was a new type that was where it was held by all pieces holding itself up. Five persons were killed and many hurt. So when the Horizon finished construction and was open for business, it was having its first concert, Fleetwood Mac, (I was there to photograph the concert) there was a sense being of hesitation for some. For this Rush concert this would be the second time I would see a concert at the Rosemont Horizon after it was opened for business. For the Rush concert the joke was if Rush doesn't bring down the roof nobody can. We had got there a little early as Chicago has been a great fan of Rush so most of the people were true fans not a hot concert to say you were there the next day. The concert it self was great and they did the A side of 2112, overall a good mix of old and new including Fly by Night. Got some great photos and because it wasn't a date she welcomed me to walk around to get good photos and the same observation the larger the Camera Lens the less likely the Andy Fran (security) will say anything to me taking photos. We got our Rush T shirts outside after the concert. As the tradition stopping off at Taco Bell. Over the years, 40 plus, some people have reported some witnessing and reporting ghosts, unexplainable sightings and strange occupancies. The Rosemount Theatre is the place to see a concert a smaller place for up front kind of venue.....To be continued!

Rush Concert July 20 2026

As I write this I am listening and watching the Post on You Tube of the July 16th Rush Concert in Chicago. Well,the rumor that Rush was going to go back out on tour was always in the minds of most Rush fans as in many bands have lost their drummer and decided to carry on. I heard about it first by the chatter was coming across You Tube posts about who they had chosen for their tour Drummer. I had heard enough about her before and there are enough examples out there (toured with Jeff Beck) to see just how good she is, a great pick. This alone would get fans to buy tickets just to see this melding of talents. In the Chicago/ Milwaukee area this has been a great spot for Rush as fans have sold out arenas for many past Tours. This area has embraced them from day one, as early as Fly by Night. So when tickets went on sale, they are appearing at the United Center, a place where a 6'1'' person their seats are not the best, more suited to 5'9'' person or shorter. We got some for July 20th show. I have loved the Phone as ticket from day one who I am a web designer, it is all about the efficiencies of digital. It didn't matter where the seats were as Rush have had always great sound people, and with huge screens, seeing is never an issue.. As I arrived the concert started. They sounded really good and one thing about Rush's songs not only did they bring me back to the first hearing them but their music brings my thoughts and feelings so vividly back to that time of their music and is as distinctive as the group YES. Getty Lee can't hit all the high notes any more but who can at 72, takes nothing away from the music. I was literally visiting the 1982 concert in my mind at the same time as I had gone through the photos I took in 1982 as it was just like yesterday. (some of the photos of them below this retrospective) They did a great tribute to Neil Peart without making it into a dirge. The half time the audience was similar as it was in 1982 just older, and at least 2 generations some 3rd, at the same 50/50 mix male /female as they always have a great female fan base. The interesting thing is it looked like a Grandfather/mother brought the grand kids which look a little more conservative than granddad/ma. The second half started with the South Park parody leading right into the song Tom Sawyer, once again spanning generations. I like to People watch at these concerts as being older I am less likely to eat and drink. There was no real smell of Pot in1982 with the crowd was similar of the no real smell of Pot now. The song selections came from as early as 1975 Anthem, Fly By Night to the latest music. The Drumming by Anika Nilles is truly great, she looked real comfortable and having fun. There is always slight differences but she makes it her own. She is a great drummer, they picked the right person, a great addition to Rush. Is it possible the choice of her was influenced by the great female audience base they have always had from the beginning..Well I bought a t-shirt as the teenager that still is in me (55 dollars, 1982 12 dollars) and we ended the night as normal, Taco Bell, great evening.... to be continued