If you’re Canadian, you know who Rush is. Formed in 1968, the three-member band made up of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart brought their signature style of melodic rock to the masses with Lee’s unique, octave-defying voice, Peart’s expert drumming and Lifeson’s guitar virtuosity.
From long-haired prog rockers to rock icons, Rush has always walked to their own beat. Never becoming critical darlings and gaining cult status from their fans, the three men spent decades making music to suit their interests and not a record label’s orders. They wrote epic musical sagas with complicated compositions, staying true to their artistic vision and finally making a mark with some hit albums like “2112” and “Moving Pictures.”
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is a thoughtful documentary about a world-renowned rock band made up of 3 regular guys from Toronto. Beginning as teenage misfits and soaring to a 60,000 full house stadium, Rush’s influence on musicians like Jack Black, Trent Reznor, and Kirk Hammett—all brilliant in their own right—never pushed them to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but kept them iconic. The documentary talks to the three men as they look at their life evolving as a band, their friendship and never giving in to the pressures of the business. Director Sam Dunn, who has made several music documentaries, reaches in and gets candid anecdotes from the band members, as they recount the cost of touring on their families, dealing with fame, the lifelong fans, family tragedy, and the bond that kept them together.
