Canada Holiday November 2004 -

The Rush Fan's Field Guide to Toronto

Rush, as every good fan will tell you, are from the Toronto area (OK - so Neil is from Saint Catherines just along the lakes). So naturally once armed with my camera and a map I just had to seek out some of these places. The Rush references begin the minute you land - the code for the airport is YYZ (more about that in the diary). I should point out that this list is far from complete - I simply did not have the time and knowledge required to put together a complete history - the Varsity Stadium and the several studios used by Rush eluded me. Also if you spot a mistake or can add to what I have written here then please do not hesitate to contact me.

This is Yonge Street, Toronto - the longest street in the world I am told. This is a kind of nerve centre for Rush History - the Colonial Tavern was here - a jazz club that also housed a rock club that was a common venue for Rock bands - including Rush in the PNP days (Pre Neil Peart) - early Rush played You Can't Fight It here whilst a bloody great fight broke out on the dance floor - truly surreal. Rush first played here (accoring to cygnus-x1.net) in July 1973. Sam the Record Man (the best record shop in the world FACT!) is also housed here - recently namechecked in the Travelling Music book by Neil Peart. The night cruising scenes from the promo video to Subdivisions were filmed here - see below. The big circular hording marks the Eaton Centre. Massey Hall is also just off Yonge Street on Shuter Street.

The three captures above took ages to find (I don't have the correct equipment!). As detailed above, they are the scenes filmed on Yonge Street, Toronto in the promo to Subdivisions - one of the best of all Rush tracks (it has a wicked mini moog break in it). I may be wrong, but I think the building directly above the head of the blonde girl on the middle picture is the afore mentioned Sam the Record Man (no doubt lots of people will tell me I am wrong). I have included the You Tube link to the Subdivisions promo video so you can decide for yourself......

".....will you please welcome home, Rush! Dabada dah dadadadada dah dadadadada dah dum dum dum (etc.)" This is of course Massey Hall, where Rush cut their concert teeth from about the early 1970's onwards (as both a supporting and headlining act - the first time they played here was supporting Nazareth in 1974) - until their size moved them into venues like the local Hockey Barn (see below). The first live album, All the World's a Stage, was recorded here on June 11th 12th 13th 1976 and engineered by Rush legend Terry Brown - you can find pictures from inside the hall in the gatefold. This can be found just off Yonge Street near the Eaton Centre. Sadly, we were not in town to see Bare Naked Ladies (secret Rush devotees) who played the old hall after we left in early December 2004 (ironically we caught up with them back in Liverpool).

Looking towards the Eaton Centre - the big old sign.... and the cover from the live LP that was drawn from the concerts and some lucky punter's ticket..... popular Rush legend states that at the build up to the end of the track Bastille Day, a fan can be heard shouting "Nighthawk!".... this was a fan trying to promote his band in the most cynical way imaginable as he knew that a live album was being recorded.... this fan was the brother of an ex-pat Canadian who grew up to be..... Mike Myers.

Myself pictured under the big old sign.....

The Stage Door - to think that the big old Slingerland kit was once upon a time humped through these doors. I have no idea if the pic in the middle is from Massey Hall (in fact, it most certainly is not) but it just works well here.....

.... here is Massey Hall School in Warrington. Rush have never played here.....

For a band of the stature of Rush, it was inevitable that Massey would not hold them for too long and this became their Toronto venue from 1977 onwards (as you can see from the ticket above). This is Maple Leaf Gardens, Carlton Street, Toronto - about 100 yards from our hotel. The live video Grace Under Pressure Live ("Ooohh! This one's scary!") was filmed here back in 1984 and Rush used this as their main venue in Toronto until they discovered the Molson Amphitheatre. In his book, Travelling Music, Neil Peart relates that he once took his daughter, Selina (not to mention her mate Mishka), to MLG see stupid-pretend-band New Kids on the Block. The delights of parenthood.

Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs play here any more - they have moved to the Air Canada Centre near the CN Tower (and at the time of typing they were on strike!). It's very sad to see this big old 1930's place unused - the Beatles and Stones played here in the 1960's and it is one of the original six NHL venues (along with Madison Square Gardens, Chicago Stadium, Montreal Forum - where Rush filmed the Exit Stage Left Video, Boston Garden etc) - none of which are used for Ice Hockey any more. The Garden was the last original venue in use - now they all play in massive corporate sponsored arenas (though I think the New York Rangers may still use Madison Square Gardens from time to time). That's progress for you.

Now surely this must be familiar to you all - the Queen's Park Steps that turned up on the front of Moving Pictures 1981 - this was later turned into a cartoon to introduce Tom Sawyer on the 1987 Hold Your Fire Tour ("Hey kid....") and a short film version turned up on the aforementioned Grace Under Pressure Tour. Do not make the same mistake that I made and go to Old City Hall thinking that is the same place - it is virtually identical. I actually went into Sam the Record Man holding up a copy of the CD and asking where it was.

Devotees of the track La Villa Strangiato (from huge instrumental from Hemispheres) will notice that the song is divided into sections - Danforth and Pape being the section that Geddy adds vocals to on Exit Stage Left. Here is the reference - the junction of Pape and Danforth - right in the middle of the Greek section of town..... perhaps they liked eating here? mark assures me that Bare Naked ladies also namecheck the Danforth area in a song as well.

Back when Rush used to do massive Sword-and-Sorcery type tracks, a track turned up on Caress of Steel called the Necromancer. This began with a lovely quiet opening and a deep voiceover that said "...... three travellers, men of Willowdale....". So, Willowdale will be the North Toronto suburb, and the three travellers, I'm guessing that will be the lads then. At least they didn't take themselves too seriously.

Going a bit further north to a town called Elora, I am assured that Rush once stayed here for some R&R whilst practicing in the local area..... this is Dalby House where they had some rooms. You won't find this info in any biography - you just have to know the right people who know the right people - like Dan.........

There is no genuine Rush link to this photo. However, the real anoraks amongst you may notice one - big clue - check the CD inlay cards. First prize is another trip to see this website - send your answers to The Old Rush, Behind the Water Pipes, Lime Street Station, Liverpool L1.

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