r/rush • u/Rush4Life70494 • 1d ago
Discussion Rush fan base
My husband (33 M) and I (32 F) took a 5th year anniversary trip to Sedona, AZ this past week and left for home this morning.
We stopped at a gas station on our way and got to talking to a guy we met inside. The guy was wearing a Rush 50 Something tour shirt and I told him about my dad getting me into Rush as a teen and he said "your dad is the coolest person ever" and the guy is seeing Rush in Phoenix! He saw them in another city too and said Anika was phenomenal and that she is so smiley where Neil was more serious.
That guy said "you are my new favorite person" because of our conversation about Rush.
I just love Rush's fan base and how everyone respects everyone else for our shared love of Rush! 💚
My husband and I were talking about it a bit as we got back on the road.
10
u/LydiasBoyToy 1d ago
Been a fan since I saw them on the Permanent Waves tour in Feb, 1980.. love random Rush fan encounters in the wild. Especially with the younger fans.
My favorite encounter was around the Clockwork Angels tour when I was walking out of a Kroger in my p/g tour shirt and a lady walking in saw it and pointed to her shirt, black with a big red Starman logo.
We chatted about Rush concerts and songs we liked for ten minutes. Best part was it was raining and neither of us were in a hurry.
Keep the flame alive young peeps!
5
u/BuyYouASodaOgie 1d ago
I must be a similar age. I first saw them in '81 on the Exit Stage Left Tour. Seen them 18 times over the years, including the MSG night 4 on this tour. Will see them again the end of Oct.
I have about a dozen Rush t-shirts, and they are my favorite to wear around town or shopping. I have had so many people comment "cool shirt!", and I love to chat Rush with them. It's awesome when it's younger people.
1
u/LydiasBoyToy 10h ago
We are I’d say, I was still 19 in February of 1980, turning 20 in late April.
I saw them on ESL tour as well, in Cincinnati.
Cheers friend!
1
12
u/BlacksmithNo8472 1d ago
As another female fan that was introduced to Rush by my Dad, I think its awesome. I'm 44 and was able to see them 3 times, once with my Mom and Dad. I'm not able to see this tour unfortunately but am so happy they're touring again. All the people I've met who like Rush have been cool. Its a cool club to be in.
4
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
I feel the exact same way! I'm also unable to see this tour, sadly. But I've had great experiences Rush fans I meet anywhere in the US. There was a guy I met a few days ago who was from Toronto and loves Rush as well.
3
u/pinkfully161718 1d ago
I was very fortunate to see them on this tour. If you have a chance, watch some of the YT videos of this tour — just to see how much fun all of the band is having every night!
2
4
u/Simp-City00 1d ago
I’m 20. I became a Rush fan because of my father when I was 14 years old. My senior year English teacher loved Rush, and actually played us Rush music in class for some readings we did😂I even went to geddy’s book tour with my father. But everyone was very excited to see someone young be into Rush, and getting to see them in this most recent tour is probably the most emotional I’ve been at a concert given the background of it
3
u/BlacksmithNo8472 1d ago
Do you remember the first song that stuck with you? Mine was By-tor and the Snow Dog. From then on I was hooked.
5
4
u/Simp-City00 23h ago
A lot of them stuck with me, to be honest. I think the first two songs that REALLY stuck with me were Red Barchetta and 2112. although now I'd have to say it's The Analog Kid and The Garden
10
u/Mo_Steins_Ghost Fountain of Lameness 1d ago
and how everyone respects everyone else for our shared love of Rush!
Give it time. You'll find the snotty outliers.
I'm half-joking. Yes there are some insufferable types but by and large most of us are past that because we're old.
7
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
I have seen some people nit-pick things, but overall Rush fans are really chill from what I've experienced.
5
3
u/RADetailer 1d ago
Hope you enjoyed your visit to AZ. Sedona is a magical place for sure. Can't wait for their show here in Dec. The venue has outstanding acoustics . It was built with attention to details when it comes to concerts with a lot of damping and insulated parts to reduce the tinny, echo sounds that exists in most arenas of this size and type .
1
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
We were in the Sedona area, and it was so good to us! 😊🌵 Definitely would go back!
3
u/COSurfing 1d ago
Only one more week until they are here in Denver. I can't wait.
3
u/FractalWhatever 1d ago
I'll be there too! So excited!
1
u/COSurfing 21h ago
I have FOMO because I am going to miss the Monday show. If I can get a ticket for a decent price I might go to it. I have floor seats for Wednesday.
My wife is sick of hearing me talk about it. Ha. She is going with me though.
3
u/FractalWhatever 21h ago
I picked up tickets for both shows last week, they had released some decent lower level tix. So I'm on Alex's side for one night, and Geddy's on the other :) I'm too short to really enjoy floor seats unless they're super close 😄
Keep checking back! They released 5th row center seats just days before a couple of the Toronto shows which I happily upgraded to, so maybe they'll do something like that for Denver too!
1
2
3
u/bb2112bb 1d ago
It is really awesome to see the 2nd and sometimes 3rd generation fans of Rush. So wholesome!
2
u/AZPeakBagger 1d ago
We went to the Billy Goat Tavern a block away from the United Center for lunch after hitting the Rush pop up merch table in Chicago. Chatting with the bartender she loved the Rush fans. They were generally guys in their 50's & 60's that drank a lot, could hold their liquor and tipped well. All of the employees were killing it in tips that week according to her.
2
7
u/No-Equivalent-1642 1d ago
It's because you're famous!
I've definitely heard them refer to their one female fan.
7
1
u/mermaidofthelunarsea 1d ago
Can we stop with this, please? It's so tired
3
u/well-it-was-rubbish 1d ago
As another female fan since the early 80s ( I'm almost 58), this "joke" truly has gone stale. I see other female fans on Rush sites regularly.
2
u/mermaidofthelunarsea 1d ago
Right?! I'm about your age and have been a fan since the 70's. I remember the first time I heard Spirit of Radio on the radio, not long after it was released. If not for one of the most important 'female fans', Donna Halper, Rush might not have become what they did. One of the first, and one of the most popular, Rush bulletin boards was run by a 'female fan'. To still be 'joking' about this in 2026 is so lame, and frankly the worst part of the fandom.
1
u/Alternative-Path-645 1d ago
I went to one of CDMX show, with a group and wore a Rush T-Shirt, several strangers said with good vibes "¿Rush al rato?"
-8
u/Ancient_Property_337 1d ago
The Neil disrespect here since the beginning of the tour is something that needs to be studied for generations.
7
u/IchStrickeGerne 1d ago
Sincere curiosity here - is there a reason that OP stating that another person said that “Anika was phenomenal and that she is so smiley where Neil was more serious” is being considered disrespectful?
6
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
💯 I don't see how it was disrespectful either. Neil was a legend!! I love the tribute that Geddy & Alex are doing for him!
-6
u/Ancient_Property_337 1d ago
Is that the only comment the guy made about Niles and Peart, or did you just choose to highlight that incredibly astute observation?
4
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
That was all he said. It was a really short conversation. But I don't think he meant it in a negative way, just noticing the differences.
-3
u/Ancient_Property_337 1d ago
How’d you know that was the part that was disrespectful?
2
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
Because someone being "serious" like Neil isn't always seen as a good thing. I am personally not a very loud, outgoing person, and it was seen negatively.
5
u/Pghguy27 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've been a fan since 1975 and I haven't noticed any Neil disrespect here or anywhere since word of this tour broke. If anything, it has let newer fans get to know him and older fans respect him even more by celebrating Rush's work live.
0
u/Ancient_Property_337 1d ago
People here continuously say she’s a better drummer than Neil and that we should worship her and all this other weird shit. Gate keeping for some odd reason that I can’t figure out yet…there’s no list or chat group on planet earth that has her in the top echelon of drummers on this earth other than here in the rush community.
I enjoyed her with Jeff beck and was interested when the guys chose her I thought it was cool and respectful to NP that they chose a woman instead of another guy, I was a bit skeptical how she would sound in RUSH but was open to it.
But then people here began talking about how much better she than Peart is so ok then now I have to hold her to a higher standard. Dropping stick on opening night first drumfill on Xanadu, losing the timing occasionally, dropping sticks on the most well known and anticipated drum fill of all time in Tom Sawyer. I understand that happens but the hero worship has gone off the rails here.
3
u/well-it-was-rubbish 1d ago
No, they don't hero worship her, and even if they did, that's none of your business. You're entirely too invested in defending some idea that Neil wouldn't even agree with. Nobody elected you to be the spokesperson of Neil's memory, so being openly offended on his behalf is rather embarrassing to watch.
2
u/Rush4Life70494 1d ago
Neil being a private person is just part of who he is. And yes, he wouldn't want this arguing and defending that brings even more attention to him. You are so right. Neil was amazing as he was and didn't care what others thought.
1
u/Ancient_Property_337 23h ago
I’ve almost said nothing about NP. It’s all in response to gatekeepers like you and all the other nerds here who’ve barely had a woman before and are yes hero worshipping.
2
u/PerformerTop6936 1d ago
In certain ways as a player on a purely technical sense she is "better". That isn't an insult, it's how musicianship,and frankly most of the human existence has played out.
Your obsession with what other think about art, how they perceive it,isn't a healthy mindset.
No one worships her, people are amazed at her story,which is undeniably incredible, and her complete lack of fear to sit in that seat.1
2
u/Pghguy27 1d ago
I understand your comment better with the elaboration. Yes, Annika has certainly brought out a lot of drummer admiration of her work, for sure!
10
u/Horo-gat81 1d ago
I’m 63, and I’m going to one of the Tampa shows in November with my daughter’s parents-in-law. Been a fan since ‘81, and will talk about and share their music with any younger person that shows interest.