Rush: Beyond The Lighted StageSynopsis: An in-depth look at the Canadian rock band Rush, chronicling the band's musical evolution from their progressive rock sound of the '70s to their current heavy rock style.
When I read that the directors for this rockumentary were Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, the makers of the excellent Metal: A Headbanger's Journey, I had faith that it would be a solid representation of Rush's career... and I was right. It's pretty much a well done Behind The Music episode on steroids.
They start with the roots of the band, as these things do, and it's loaded with old photos and even home videos of the members of the band as youngsters. It progresses from the early days of the band (playing church halls) through finally getting their record deal (thanks to the song Working Man), subsequent tours and goes album by album right up until current day tours.
One of the things I like best is all the interviews with other rockers who give praise and claim influence. Guys like Jack Black (Tenacious D), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Kirk Hammett (Metallica) and Gene Simmons (KISS) give stories from tours with the band or just throw accolades their way. Jack Black seems an odd choice, but he gives one of the great line I think when he says they have a "deep reservoir of rocket sauce". Sebastian Bach gets a few quotes as well, and is one of the negatives I think. Who can take this guy serious and who really cares what he thinks?
Unlike a Behind The Music episode though, it never takes a turn into one of the band members descent into drugs really, but focuses mainly on the music. It does go over some details and events of Neil Peart's dark descent into seclusion after his wife and daughter's deaths but it emphasizes the final chapter of what it means for the guys to play music together.
Mostly though, the band discusses the progression of their music from the early heavy sound through the epic extended song era and debates over the keyboard era. There are a lot of insightful tidbits that made me go back and dig out the CDs and listen anew all over again.
There's also some great concert footage as you would expect, but not full songs. That's a bit sad as I'd love to see a documentary like this add about an hour and show full live songs and videos... but then again it'd be closer to 4 or 5 hours if they did so correctly I guess (see KISS' Kisstory DVDs for the proper way to do this).
This is a fantastic, well-written/produced/directed documentary on 3 great musicians called Rush which is a great intro for future fans and a great retrospective for current ones.
8.5/10
