Rush Inducted to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Canadian rockers Rush are set to be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday night. Here’s what you need to know about one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

1) Members

(via Facebook.com)

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart are the trio behind one of Canada’s most-love and widely-known rock groups. The band’s original line-up featured Alex Lifeson on guitar, Jeff Jones on bass and John Rutsey on drums. Geddy Lee soon replaced Jones and Neil Peart replaced Rutsey after the group released its debut album.

2) Toronto Roots

Rush got together in the now affluent Toronto neighbourhood of Willowdale back in the summer of 1968. Their first major North American toured finished with a three-night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto.

3) Awards and Success

Rush has had 19 consecutive studio albums certified gold or platinum in Canada, third only to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for the most consecutive gold or platinum studio albums by a rock band, and has sold 25-million records in the United States.

Rush has won a total of eight Juno Awards, was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.

Canada Post announced April 18, 2013 that Rush would be featured on a special edition stamp celebrating Canadian musicians, available for sale in July.

4) Long Time Coming

(via Rush.com)

Rush was eligible for induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, but hadn’t been nominated before this year. Fan input was part of the voting process for determining this year’s inductees.

“It takes a while to ‘get’ Rush,” music critic Ben Rayner told CBC News.

“Once you ‘get’ Rush, even if you don’t necessarily enjoy the music, you can appreciate them. And that’s the thing: people respect them.”

5) In Good Company

(via Rush.com)

Rush is in good company with the other acts being inducted to the Hall of Fame on Thursday night. The other inductees for 2013 include: rock group Heart; record producer and Roxy Theatre owner Lou Adler; producer and composer Quincy Jones; rap troupe Public Enemy, bluesman Albert King; pop singer-songwriter Randy Newman; and disco queen Donna Summer.