Longtime RUSH Photographer Dies

Longtime RUSH friend and photographer Andrew MacNaughtan died of a heart attack while on assignment with the band in Los Angeles.

In a statement, the members of the group said, "We're deeply shocked and heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of our close friend and longtime photographer, Andrew MacNaughtan. He was a sweet person and a very talented artist. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed."

MacNaughtan, a four-time Juno Award winner (for RUSH, OUR LADY PEACE, Tom Cochrane and Jann Arden),had worked with RUSH as a photographer and videographer since the 1980s.

MacNaughtan travelled to Tanzania and Kenya in November 2010 with the purpose of capturing the spirit and beauty of the landscapes, wildlife and people to raise funds for the prevention, care and advocacy of children in HIV/AIDS-affected regions. The idea to use these photographs in a book was taken a step further when MacNaughtan enlisted the help of friends in the recording industry to lend poetic voice to the images. More than 30 artists including Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, Bryan Adams, Annie Lennox, Daniel Lanois, Hedley, Bruce Cockburn, Fefe Dobson, Ed Robertson, Jann Arden, Serena Ryder, Lights, Nikki Yanofsky and Tom Cochrane, to name a few, graciously provided commentary to photos that inspired them.

Through ArtGivesHope, a charity founded by MacNaughtan in 2006, the sales of the limited edition images and book support World Vision's Hope Program.

To see a sampling of the photographs, visit artgiveshope.ca.