RUSH ART OF RUSH Table Book Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Hugh Syme

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RUSH ART OF RUSH Table Book Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Hugh Syme:
$362.12

The Art of Rush is a 272 page coffee table book that delves into the 40 year relationship with Rush and their longtime artist and illustrator Hugh Syme. The stunning book begins with a foreword penned by Neil Peart, and contains original illustrations, paintings, photography, and the incredible stories behind each album that he has designed with the band since 1975.

The book\'s narration was written by music journalist Stephen Humphries and includes in-depth interviews with each Rush band member, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and artist Hugh Syme. The Art of Rush also contains entertaining anecdotes and commentary from a wide array of notable musicians, actors, athletes, writers, radio personalities and Rush insiders about their favourite Rush album covers, which clearly reveals how vital and impactful the visual representation of their music has been through the years. ... \"From the first time Hugh and I met, we shared a level of communication that would sustain us through all the years of discussing art by long distance. We had the same values and tastes in images and design, and simply spoke the same language. That\'s why I off-handedly referred to him one time as \'serving a life sentence as my art director,\" said drummer and lyricist Neil Peart ...

One of the hallmarks of Rush releases is the considerable care and consideration that goes into each one – including the conceptual artwork. Readers of theArt of Rushmay be surprised to discover just how much effort went into each concept and the execution for every album cover. In the days before Photoshop, each element of the artwork had to be handcrafted and pieced together. Take the gatefold forHold Your Fire, for example, Hugh first constructed a miniature set of a city street and then superimposed a picture of a fireball juggler on it. It’s akin to what the Hollywood special effects studio used to do. Nowadays, of course, Hugh utilizes digital technology to create Rush’s art. But as Neil Peart adds,“the tools got easier, but the thinking doesn’t.”

Some of the regaled stories include furtively crossing the border for a guerilla-style shoot forA Farewell to Kings, trying to herd a warren of rabbits for the cover thePresto, descending into the depths of an autopsy lab to find a brain forHemispheres, building a pool inside Hugh’s studio forTest for Echo, and a stunt involving fire, whiskey and photographerDeborah SamuelforMoving Pictures. But no history of the band’s art would be complete without the story of the creation of arguably the band’s most iconic image, The Starman, and cover art for2112.

Rushdrummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who has worked with Hugh on the art for every project the bandhas released, said:

“From the first time Hugh and I met, we shared a level of communication that would sustain us through all the years of discussing art by long distance. We had the same values and tastes in images and design, and simply spoke the same language. That’s why I off-handedly referred to him one time as ‘serving a life sentence as my art director.”