Well, it all started back in the 70's...

Little did we know that this particular Canadian Trio would capture our imagination...

Lines, shapes and forms were evident right from the early recordings, but if one album was to be cited as a kick start for a love affair for most Rush fans of the seventies era, then it would have to be 'All The Worlds a Stage'.

Neil: I read the review of the album in the NME, the reviewer (who shall remain nameless) slated it in two short paragraphs, I never trusted the press anyway and always felt, even as a young man, that you have to listen with an open mind to anything and judge for yourself, When it came to music, I generally knew within minutes if I would endure the remainder of an album for pleasure, or pain, it was only fair; and in this case it was obviously the former than the latter.

I was very lucky as a young man, I'd joined a band whilst still at school in 1976 and whilst at a rehearsal one October evening, an older friend of the band, someone who attended rehearsals to help out and provide listening critique, had the album with him purposefully to loan it to me, simply saying 'I think you need to listen to this...'.

I explained that I'd read the aforementioned review and was advised that in the main anything this reviewer slated would probably be good. Boy, was he right.

I got home and immediately played the album on my parents stereo-gram, at volume through headphones I may add; and from the very first tones of the opening riff to Bastille Day, I was hooked, seriously hooked... I played the whole album twice whilst studying the cover head to toe in a mesmerised state (and this was the triple gate fold sleeve import version).

A love affair was born...

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