Rush Have an FAQ Now, Because a Biography Wouldn’t Be Nerdy Enough

If we can’t judge a book by its cover, then how about its title? Max Mobley, or possibly just the PR at his publishing company but let’s just roll with it, describes himself as an “unabased Rush geek,” and I’ll believe it. He’s titled his new rock biography the “Rush FAQ.” This official strategy guide will show you all the pro-tips and secret codes that you’ll need to properly appreciate arguably the first and greatest nerdy prog-rock/metal band, Rush.

While the band’s peers in Yes and King Crimson managed to spend the ’70s fooling us into thinking they were a bunch of cool art-rock types until their ’80s haircuts and attire revealed them to be just as dorky as the rest of us (honestly, you can’t memorize that many scales and paradiddles if you spend all your time smoking grass and getting laid), Rush proudly donned the nerd mantle from day one and said “deal with it.”

’70s King Crimson seemed like mildy dangerous and sexy rock guys…

…until they broke out the sweaters a decade later.

 
But surely Yes had a rock n’ roll swagger…

…eh, not so much.

Rush: even when they all had long hair, they were never cool.

And okay, fine, Genesis never fooled us into thinking they were cool either.
Ironically the one rugged-looking guy is Phil Collins.

The story of Rush and their success despite the band’s 12-sided-die-in-a-square-hole nature is by all accounts a harrowing tale. It has a mean, mean stride:

Rush has been maligned by the press for decades, and misunderstood by a legion of mainstream rock fans and rock glitterati. And yet only the Beatles and Rolling Stones have earned more gold and platinum records. Few artists, if any, have been as influential as Rush’s three virtuoso bassist-keyboardist-vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer-lyricist Neil Peart. Rush’s focus has always been about its muse and its music. As such, Rush FAQ studies the evolution of the band’s sound, from the early days of Zeppelin-esque blues-rock to complex, synth-laden opuses to the return of concept-album bombast with the critically acclaimed Clockwork Angels . With wit, humor, and authority, music industry veteran and unabashed Rush geek Max Mobley examines the music, gear, personalities, and trials and tribulations of one of rock and roll’s truly legendary acts. It is a story Rush fans will treasure and rock and roll fans will admire.

To order a copy you can head to the Hall Leonard Books website, or get the Kindle version via Amazon. It sells for $24.99 but Amazon currently has a $10 discount.