Yes thats a good documentary on Rush! Here are some stories, remember you asked! HA :-P
I definitely have some funny stories: Rush was on tour with Kiss, as not too many bands could open for them
without getting booed off. It could’ve been from the same show those photos were from, they said “Come back
tomorrow night, the guys from Kiss will be here and we can have a drink or something. But whatever you do don’t
say anything because they want to cut and keep it low-key.” Okay so we showed up the next day were sitting
around and there were two swinging doors that opened up. Pretty much all you could see was the silhouettes
of the guys walking in, and although they had no makeup or costumes on, Gene had his hair in a ponytail on
top of his head, they all were wearing six” platform shoes, Paul Stanley had a cut off denim jacket with the words
“Kiss” in rhinestones on the back 10 inches tall. It was pretty funny. I think the guys in Rush were serious at the time,
but it was so obvious who they were! I remember Alex saying how crazy Gene was. He would blow fire and spit up blood
every show. Alex said that some girl through her panties on stage that had blood stains on them, and Gene stuck them in his mouth
half hanging out and sang a whole song like that!
Another story we were backstage at the Whisky at their first show Los Angeles. There was only a handful of people there
as they were pretty much totally unknown at the time. A friend from Canada said “Hey you got to go check this band
out there pretty good”, so we went down to see them. Hollywood is about 1.5 hours south from Ventura, and we did
not really like driving there that much then, or now. Ventura was a very small beach town then although its slowly being
absorbed into the giant LA megalopolis. Since there was only a couple of us there, we went backstage to hang out,
smoke a joint etc.. Now I’m not sure how many of you guys have played in bands, but when you come off stage you’re really wet.
The backstage at the Whisky at that time was the top floor, it was the office of the manager & booking agent. So as they
came off stage we followed them to this office to hang out. Of course they were all sweaty so they wanted to change their clothes.
As they did, it turned out there wearing bikini underwear. Now at the time we’re around probably 17 or 18, and I think they were
just a few years older than us. But at the time in Southern California we never seem that at the beach, in person or especially
on a guy. I remember one of the guys in our band leaning over to me and saying “well you know they’re Canadian!” HA
I really liked them but mostly there first few albums. I like Kansas too and just saw them last year. They were amazing
when they first came out with all the original members, a true force of nature.
I’m not sure it was Rush or Iron maiden when they were first starting out. Our band, we used to make these really cool
framed images of our logo, which we would give out to special friends. Back at the time you have to remember it was in the 70s
and the beginning of the 80s, everyone (of course not me!) was doing tons of coke. I’m pretty sure Rush was not in that same
camp, but all the bands around them, and pretty much everyone at the time was. So I remember years later, talking to some
other guys In a band and when they found out who we were, they said we were like a household name. Because that framed image
had been on several major tour buses over a few seasons with everyone using it! HA
One last quick story, fast-forward a few years, Rush was really getting big and we went to see them at one of the larger venues.
We met up with their tour manager at the time Howard, who stayed with them through most of their career in different capacities.
He said, “hey do you guys have tickets”, and we said, “yeah we have these pretty good seats." He says,” Well hey, I have these ones
that are on the front row, you want to switch, I’ll give these to some other fans.” And we said, “Of course.” Turns out both seats were behind
some kind of structural pole, either holding up the building, the balcony or the rigging, I can’t remember. But we thought it was hilarious.
Back in the day the audiences were much cooler and so you could just move around until you found an empty seat, and no one complained.
What everyone was scared of was the narcs, guys that would dress like fans, but when they saw someone smoking pot, they would grab
them and drag them off.
After traveling in Europe these last two years, I’m amazed at how much more civilized, many western european countries are than the US…….
But of course we raised them to be that way after WWII, I think that structure is slowly breaking down and glad I wont be around to see it………
We are getting ready for some big shows in Germany, France and Spain coming up……no Italy though……….
Rob
here is a sticker I recently gave away to the guy that worked with me on my new drums, and ppics
of our singer Tim with Dio and Iron Maiden
<00000023.jpeg><dio and me.jpeg><tim-maiden.jpeg>
Lashdeep,
Watch the Rush "Beyond The Lighted Stage" documentary - Gene Simmons talks about it. I think they had a mutual respect musically back in those days (though Rush eventually far exceeded anything Kiss ever did, musically speaking), as well as a lot of goofy "fun" times - they just seemed to get along well, despite their wildly different styles. But Rush has said (well, Neil and Geddy at least) that by touring with Kiss, they learned what *not* to do.
That said, I think "very close friends" might be a bit of a stretch, but your point is well taken.
BTW - another that Rush (or Neil, anyway) liked is my other favorite band - Kansas. Neil often included Kansas' "Journey From Mariabronn" (an awesome piece of music if there ever was one - and from their very *first* album!) in the Rush pre-show "mix-tape". Neil had great respect for Kansas drummer Phil Ehart.
FWIW, YMMV, yadda yadda....
gp
p.s. - Alice Cooper is another with an intense respect and admiration for Rush - he called them "musician's musicians".
Rob, can you shed any light on the curious affinity Rush and Kiss had for each other?
They were very close friends to the shock of many Rush fans...
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