Rush Plays Summerfest Milwaukee July 4

Rush, a band with a history that spans 45 years, is coming to Summerfest in 2013. This tour is in support of their 2011 disk, titled Clockwork Angels.  They will perform on the Marcus Amphitheater stage on July 4. Long gone are the days when the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra was the top act at Summerfest on such a momentous day.  Get your Rush Summerfest tickets here.

Rush is now part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That honor was bestowed upon this group of talented musicians in 2013.  When they first formed, the now famous drummer Neil Pert was not part of the lineup.  John Rutsey was banging on the skins when they first recorded a Buddy Holly cover tune. That was forty years ago, and Rutsey was replaced just a year after that first recording. In fact, Neil Pert had just 14 days to prepare for their first big tour. It was fortunate that Neil joined the group, seeing that they needed someone to focus on lyrics. That job was certainly not loved by other members of the band.

By 1977, the band had found their sound.  They took parts from other "Prog" rock bands, added their hard rock sound to those influences, and found commercial success.  Their Moving Pictures album is a fine example of their refined sound. After a five year break, Rush came roaring back with their Vapor Trails album.  That album was stripped of keys, and synth.  It was back to basics for the band.  With two dozen gold records under their belt, the band certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.