Exit...Stage Left
Music is Krude's panacea. No matter how shitty a hand
life has handed me,I always have the correct soundtrack playing in the
background. Since 1973.
Many different bands and musical artists have been on my
eternal playlist. One band in particular has been a true obsession since 1981.
I was 10 years old and heard a song on FM radio WPLJ in the NYC area. The song
was Tom Sawyer. The band playing it was Rush. I loved the song so
I scraped up $1.05 and rode my bicycle to the local record shop and bought the
45rpm single of Tom Sawyer. And thus began my Rush fandom.
Since that point of time in 1981, I have bought every Rush
album on the day it is released. I went to every Rush tour starting in 1983. I
bought t shirts and programs at all of the shows. I had posters of Rush on my
walls. I knew every instrument and piece of musical equipment the band members
were using for every tour. I belonged to their fan club the Rush Backstage Club.
I got my haircut like Alex Lifeson had his in 1984. To say Rush is my
favorite band is an accurate assessment.
When me and my closest friends got around to learning how to
play guitar,bass and drums,Rush songs were on top of the list to master. In
1986, I had to live at my closest friends house for 6 months because of issues
within my own family. Living there with my friend (a drummer) and his older
brother (bass and vocals) was great. All of us were huge Rush fans. A drum set
was set up in his living room. His brother had already learned all of Geddy
Lee's bass licks. I was starting to learn guitar. We had a tiny Casio
keyboard. And before long, we worked out playing Tom Sawyer. Being 15 years old
and living at a friend's house was mighty cool. Even though my own dysfunctional
family was in shambles at the time.
Fast forward to 2010. Krude is dating a pretty Italian
chick. She loves playing Guitar Hero on her Xbox. I find out she
really hates Rush because their song The Trees is a bitch to play on
Guitar Hero. So I played it for her on my real guitar. Not a tough song to play
at all. So I decide to bring her to a Rush concert in Allentown PA. Rush is
playing at the Fairgrounds in Allentown. So it was like going to a carnival
with Rush being the entertainment. It was a great show. She ended buying 2
concert t shirts for herself. Wow!?! A chick digging Rush. Who would've thunk
that. A few months after that show,Rush played a gig at Madison Square Garden.
I bought tickets and we went. During intermission at the show,the house lights
came up. She took a look around the whole sold out arena and said " I've
never seen so many people look so happy to be somewhere in my whole life".
That pretty much sums up the Rush experience for all of its fans.
Rush drummer Neil Peart passed away on January
7,2020. The news came as a complete shock to all Rush fans. To write this blog
has been sort of way of dealing with the fact that such a talented,decent man
has left the Earth for a better place. I have so many great memories from my
past relating to Rush. I thought I would share a few with you. Here is a pic
from the 2015 R40 tour at MSG. I look happy to be there. I was.
RIP Neil. You will never be forgotten
There is unrest in the forest...
KK
@kapn_krude