Customer Reviews

Rush: Success Under Pressure

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As far as I know, I think this may have been the first book about Rush to come out. Published in 1984, basically we get a relatively short 48 page book which takes us from the beginning to the current(at that time) Grace Under Pressure tour of 1984. While the information within doesn't contain anything that can't be found in any of the other various books on Rush to come out since, it is interesting to note that this book is from the pre-internet age and came out smack dab at the beginning of the middle of Rush' career as their synthesizer era was being established. While other books are retrospective, this one is set in a once present time with an eye to the future - a future eventually covered by all those other books. Maybe it's nostalgia, but some readers may find it refreshing to read about Rush FROM the past rather than about Rush ABOUT the past, if that makes any sense.

IN 'SUCCESS UNDER PRESSURE', the writer covers the band's beginnings, Geddy on working with keyboards, the change from sci-fi epics to more urgent and streamlined material, the current album(1984's Grace Under Pressure) and the struggle to find the right co-producer and more. Also interesting to note is the last page which touches on rumors about the band splitting. Of course there were almost ten more studio albums since then and countless tours, but from a 1984 perspective this is a smooth read. Nothing groundbreaking here, but a nice smooth snapshot from the 80's which presents Rush as a current act.