New Documentary To Focus On RUSH Roadies

December 18, 2007

According to a posting on the RUSH fan site RushIsABand.com, WhistleStop Productions is currently putting the final touches on a five-part documentary series shot this past summer during the Canadian leg of the band's "Snakes & Arrows" tour. Entitled "Backstage Secrets", the series was shot in High Definition and 5.1 Surround audio with the full permission of the band. Each one-hour episode follows various members of the RUSH road crew during a typical day out on the road with the band. Featured in the series are RUSH lighting director Howard Ungerleider; sound guys Brad Madix and Brent Carpenter; instrument technicians Lorne Weaton, Bobby Huck, Tony Geranios and Russ Ryan; video guys David Davidian and Bob Larkin; and production manager Craig Blazier.

"Backstage Secrets" will air in February on Rush HD in Canada — available in HD via satellite on Bell ExpressVu. It will be broadcast in the U.S. on Rave HD.

As previously reported, boutique distributor Grindstone Media is working on "Rush: The Documentary", the $1.5 million feature film produced and directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn — the creative team behind the 2005's "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" — and executive produced by Grindstone president Paul Zimic.

According to a press release, "Rush: The Documentary" will be the first in-depth look at the history and influence of RUSH. It will trace the band's fascinating musical evolution, from their science fiction-inspired progressive rock of the '70s to their current heavy rock style. Combining new exclusive interviews and performance footage from the 2007 "Snakes & Arrows" tour as well as material from the band's massive visual archive, the film will offer Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart's own perspective on their spectacular achievements. It will also present interviews with musicians influenced by RUSH's music, including members of METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, TOOL, NIRVANA, and many others. The documentary is in pre-production with an anticipated release in late 2008.

The documentary will be directed and produced by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, creators of "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey", which featured interviews with metal icons including Geddy Lee. "Metal" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005 and has been released in over 25 countries with DVD sales reaching 200,000 copies. "Metal" has received widespread praise from metal fans and musicians and has garnered rave reviews from press and film festival audiences around the world. Sam and Scot's follow-up film "Global Metal" will be released in spring 2008 and explores the globalization of metal music in Japan, China, Indonesia, Israel, Dubai, India and Brazil.

The makers of "Rush: The Documentary" are reaching out to RUSH fans around the world to collect rare, good quality video/film footage of:

(A) the band performing live (concerts, TV shows etc.)
(B) rare interviews with TV stations etc.

They are especially looking for stuff from the early period of the band's career ('70s and early '80s),and from outside of North America. At this time, they are NOT looking for photographs, ticket stubs, tour books, audio recordings etc. ONLY footage and interviews.

If you have any of this material, please contact researcher Liisa at [email protected]. Of course, any material that we request will be safely stored and returned.

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