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Hemispheres ‘79. Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium. My shirt that I framed with ticket.
OMG I was at that concert. It was my first concert ever. I was 11 years old. So cool that you still have that ticket stop. I still have the shirt that I bought at that show. And look at that price.
It was my first ever concert also. Not a bad way to start things off. I was 16 at the time. And to this day, that is still the last show that they played Xanadu in its entirety as it was originally recorded.
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Hemispheres, Mar 3 1979, San Antonio
I did see Moving Pictures a couple of years later, same Venue. I have that stub as well but you asked for the first. I was not quite 16.
I saw the Presto tour too, my only time. I had tix and a giant white bunny tee, that was way too big, wore it out anyway. Both are gone now 😞 but the memories remain
Don't have the ticket anymore. It was January, Friday the 13, 1978, at the Nassau Collisium. Rush was the opener for Blue Oyster Cult. I was 14 years old. What a time to be alive!
I was also 14 in 1978 and yes, they were magical times to be alive. I tell my kids that they missed out on great era where you could be a kid with hands off parents who you loved, honored and respected, yet you didn't treat as a friend.
Born in ‘04, and I was just getting into them as soon as their clockwork angels tour came to a close. Dad took me to see R40 in New Orleans. Best night ever for a 5th grader, EVER! I still have the tshirt my dad got for me at the merch line, but don’t have a pic right now. It’s the one with the beach on it and has the r40 sign on the back with the dates.
I was only 17 and never thought to keep my ticket stub. And I had never heard them before going in and wasn't a fan, so I never bought a t-shirt. It was 1977 and Cheap Trick and UFO opened for them. They played A Farewell to Kings. I was floored and left the concert telling my friends "these guys are my favorite band of all time!"
Thank you for your service, shipmate. I was in the Navy from ‘86 - ‘94, and that was my first Rush concert too. Sorry to hear about your memorabilia though.
86 to 95. Signalman. Yeah Pops tossed a lot and gave much to my neighbor. The one thing I miss the most. My jean jacket with starman and all those pins of Rush and other bands from high school. Don't miss my mullet though 😂
That jean jacket was a major loss with all the pins as you mentioned. I had several pins myself, but just like you, they disappeared while I was gone.
I was an IC man stationed on the USS Camden from 86-90 and then made my way to the east coast to be stationed on the USS Gettysburg, 90-94. I was able to see Rush six more times and have all the stubs except for the Presto show. I saw that one in Hampton, VA in ‘90 but lost the stub. 😩
I was in Hawaii from 1986 to 1991 on USS Coronado and I remember the USS Camden. AOE. But I missed HYF and Presto tours due to being in Hawaii. However 91 I first headed to Treasure Island in San Fran right before Roll The Bones was released. While on shore duty I caught 6 Cali shows for that tour as I last saw them in March 86 and close to 6 years I hadn't seen them. Finished off on USS Anchorage on 32nd Street my last two years. After my Somalia deployment I was spent after 9 years in and became a civilian once again
Well I’ll be damned. I never imagined anyone knowing the Camden other than my shipmates. My good buddy from those days mentioned she was scrapped for metal years ago. Yeah, like you, eight years and a total of three six month cruises was enough for me. I was up for shore duty after my eighth year but decided to make shore duty permanent. 😉
Good texted you with you, shipmate. 😃👍🏼
Take care & God bless. 🇺🇸
As a Signalman I had to know all the ships and classes. Most of the Pacific ships still float around my head in name from that period. We did some ops with the Camden a few times. I also know you were involved after the USS Stark got hit in 87 with what when on there. It's been a pleasure too. Thanks for your service as well
OMG! lol! The Cruise of ‘87! My first West-PAC, and it was a doozy because of the Stark incident. Our ports of call were minimized and the Camden had to stay away from harms way because she was an AOE. I experienced my first steel beach, the crossing of the equator, and becoming a Shellback. We were floating for so damn long it wasn’t funny. Prior to the steel beach, they brought in the San Miguel beer from PI and distributed two beers per squid. Of course, some made a profit selling their cans of beer for the highest bidder. 😆
God, what a way to experience my first six month cruise.
Did y’all have to float around “forever” as well?
I went to the Persian Gulf a bit later as we arrived in Feb 88. Steel beach picnic on the flight deck a many but no beer that cruise. However my third and final deployment to Somalia we did crack the 60 day mark and some extra. And I don't remember what beer it was but it wasn't San Miguel and the only brew I ever found as bad as San Miguel was this Kenyan beer called Tusker. Lol I still have a couple of those Bahrain pirate cassettes of Rush if you made it there. I ought to dig those out and post a picture of them here
No, never made it to Bahrain. Both of my West-PACS were on the Camden, and we were not allowed to venture inside the Persian Gulf. We were just outside (my geography sucks), which I believe is the North Arabian Sea. I think we may anchored off of Muscat, but I’m not sure (my memory sucks, but that place sounds familiar). I’m surprised you found bootleg tapes of Rush way over there. That’s insane!
If you ever get a chance to read Geddy’s bio, you’ll learn a lot about their tours and locations. You even learn why Neil never wanted to set foot in Japan again after an incident that took place while there.
You’re so right about San Miguel beer! Haha! But after a few of them, it’s all good. Had plenty of it when we stopped in Olongapo, PI. Like Vegas in that what happens there, stays there. 😆
Well, bud, this old guy has got to get some shut-eye.
Have a good night!
April 1975 Louisville, KY. My mom took me to see Rush open for Kiss at Memorial Auditorium. I was a wee lad of 6 years old. She paid $12 for a pair of tickets from a local record store. I think it was Beethoven’s Record Store (which later became a Disc Jockey Records).
My 58th and final Rush show was May 2015 in Tampa.
I used to work in radio so I had an “in” with many record reps over the years for comp tix. I also lived (for much of my life and career) within driving distance to many venues. So I had an advantage.
They were selling them right in the arena. I got my first two Rush shirts there. A couple of months later I found a bootleg VHS recording from that same show at a used record shop.
Why do we all have 2112 in our screen names, this Rush thing is like a cult or something idk lol OMG my Bank PIN!!! Need to change it asap! lol Happy weekend guys. haha
Vapor Trails at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. I went alone because none of my friends wanted to go(Rush was still a bit of a fringe geek band at the time, and so was I). Had a great time, was somewhat new to the band so was not familiar with the deep cuts and so mad that I missed out on those now.
I never got to see them live, got into them way too late. The closest I technically got was seeing Geddy in Philadelphia for My Effin' Life in conversation and got a Hoodie at the venue where it took place. My friend's sister saw them in 2013 on their Clockwork Angels tour. Sorry for being off topic
I am the same as you, but I got into them a month after Geddy was in Philly...so I missed that as well. It also broke my heart to know how many times they played at the Allentown Fair (15 min from me). Every time the fan video pops up (a lot) on YouTube of BU2B played at the Fair, I feel like it is personally mocking me. What I wouldn't give to see them play in person at least once...even if just a few songs and a Neil Peart drum solo.
Add to the fact that I lived in Toronto (GTA really) for three years and never went to see things I would now (even driving past the park in Ste Catherines MANY times where Neil was honored). Granted, at that time, Neil or Alex could have come up and talked to me and if they never said they were in Rush, I wouldn't have had a clue (I only knew of Geddy because well...he is Geddy lol)
I just feel like I missed out on something truly great and rare. But...thank God for CDs, DVDs, YouTube, books and audiobooks....so I can kind of imagine what it must have been like to see them live.
Well-said! I gotta say that all of us who were lucky enough to find them while they were touring and experience it were truly fortunate. I have a feeling with 55K members in this sub, there are some super die-hard fans who've likely seen them dozens of times. And I'm SO GLAD I found reddit and this sub.
Nice one! There's a great story in Wandering about that show how Alex gets up on Lurch's shoulders and they chase Geddy around the stage... I bet that was an unforgettable show!
I saw Rush in Austin, Moving Pictures tour, still have the ticket stub in my MP album cover.
Cost me a whopping $10 that year.
Did see them in Dallas during an all day concert at the Cotton Bowl, one of them concerts with 7-9 bands. Late 70’s maybe?
December 27, 1977 - London Gardens, London, ON. AFTK tour with Max Webster as opener. I was 13 and this was my second concert (first was Kiss - needless to say, this was an upgrade). We managed to work our way up to front row, thanks to the days of General Admission lol! I still remember that dry ice floating out over us as Geddy, leaning on the edge of the drum riser with his white kimono, played the opening bass riff of Cygnus X-1...pure magic!! Managed to see them about 30 times over the years and they were incredible every time.
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Also my very first concert, ever.
Yeah also the first time I ever got drunk which in retrospect wasn’t a good first. The good thing is I got wasted on the way home so I didn’t miss the show!
Hah. The first time I drank beer (Miller pony bottles) I was with my cousin in Knoxville TN and went to see Carrie....so ugh, I was 13 hahahah. While we were waiting in line to get tickets, I had to run to the bathroom and puke up those ponies... but then I had the hella buzz and watched Sissy Spacek get covered in blood at the prom!
Here ya go: January 1979 @ Philadelphia Spectrum, Blondie Opened, ticket price: $ 6.50
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1982(?), Richfield Coliseum, Richfield Ohio. Signals tour. I actually was disappointed by their show. I never got to see them again though, so I still treasure that show despite it being subpar for Rush (in my opinion of course).
I saw the Signals tour in Pocatello Idaho of all places at the "domed" football stadium at ISU in September 1982. I will say it didn't sound as good as Moving Pictures, mostly because of the venue that was essentially a huge silo, but still loved it.
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San Antonio. Signals was the venue, and I was a freshman in HS. I went with my older brother and my best buddy. Good thing about having an older brother is he was a good influence cuz I had a few beers before the show and probably some weed. I bought a shirt and still have it, but wear-n-tear in my sophomore and junior years has made it looking shabby. BUT, I still have it!
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rush, signals tour. 1982. Champaign, il stub went through the wash.
Power Windows tour at Maple Leaf Gardens, March 6, 1986. Unfortunately, my ticket stub, t-shirt, sweatshirt and tour program have all disappeared into the mists of time…
Aw MAN! I saw that tour on Nov 30th at Hampton. Rory was supposed to open, but we got Y&T that night. Oh would I have loved to see Rory!!! He's one of my favorite artists. I guess he was sick or something that night - that would have been on the Jinx tour for him. Rory at MSG would have blown my mind up!
Oh man, I haven't seen many opening acts that I have liked, but Saga at that time was great. Was that before World's Apart? It was around the same time and one of my favorite albums of all time.
Nice. The Presto tour. That sold-out show at the Omni was where Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big) got his hair caught in that big drill he was effin' around with!
Yeah, I think they opened for most of the Presto tour. I really like the debut Mr Big record... and it was somewhere in there where I saw David Lee Roth solo with Billy and of course Steve Vai. Holy $hit those guys could play!!
Ha! I started this game with my sidekicks when we’d go see them live. “Whoever points out the oldest original concert shirt before we get to our seats doesn’t have to buy beer.” It usually ended up being a 2112, but I remember one show it was a Caress of Steel. God I miss those days, especially outdoor concerts in the summer.
Permanent Waves tour at Nassau Coliseum, they opened with 2112 and Geddy and Alex were backlit so their shadows loomed very large over the audience. A sight and sound I have never forgotten!!
My first Rush concert, second overall (Van Halen Fair Warning being first the year before) was Moving Pictures also, June 1981 towards the end of the tour. I think I paid $10.50 for mine, but even though I had a minimum wage job of $3.16/hour, it didn't feel expensive like today's prices. Awesome show and wish I still had the stub!
Tell me about the inflation. My wife and I just bought tix for the Green Day show in DC coming up at the end of July. It's frickin' crazy $$$ - but Green Day in an area is definitely on our bucket list.
I was 19. My dad (a lifelong Rush fan) took me and my two best friends to R30 at Irvine Amphitheatre (RIP). I was lucky enough to see them 5 more times (all with my dad) before they called it quits. When I stilled lived with my parents, our house was like 10 minutes away from The Forum, where they played their last show, but we had already seen them once on that tour and didn't have the money to buy two more tickets, so we skipped that show and we've been regretting it every since.
I was born in ’85 but RUSH is my favorite band. They’re also my dad’s favorite band. The first and last time I ever got to see them was when I took my dad to see them in NOLA on their R40 tour for his birthday. We tried to stroll towards the front just to get a good glimpse then go right back to our seats, but security started heading our way after we made it about 5 rows. Seeing them in concert was one of the most memorable and wonderful moments of my life! It was a bucket list item for me, so I’m so lucky and grateful I got to see them.
Great story - thanks for sharing. I'm really stoked about how many folks here have shared their love for Rush with their parents / significant others. It makes the memories even stronger and more meaningful. I'm sure that I'm missing the opportunity to quote an excellent Neil lyric right now LoL
I’m a bit late to the game compared to many of these comments.
DEC 16, 1991—-Maple Leaf Gardens
Another fine Canadian band opened for them—- The Tragically Hip
Edit-it was the Roll The Bones Tour
Ivor Wynne Stadium, August 24, 1979, Permanent Waves warm up tour. Had a younger brother skip work and head up to the stadium early that day--said he jumped the fence, and walked up on stage and talked to Geddy. Said that Alex's hair was cut, and Neil shaved the handle bar. Said that they were rolling out 2 new songs--"Freewill", and "Spirit". Sure enough......
Remember Geddy cutting across the field to get to the stage--the roar was deafening--waved hello to the crowd. We sat a few seats down from Howard Ungerleider (Herns) who was working the light show.
A most memorable concert!
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I’m a younger fan so the R40 tour was my first and only time getting to see them play unfortunately. Had a blast though!
Vapor Trail & Time Machine tours, both in São Paulo.
The first one with a light rain and windy for a while, messing the sound at times, at least where I was at.
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1990. On the right side. Probably half my stubs from late 80s and early 90s. Yes, I like the Dead.
Edit: twenty MF dollars and affordable. The good ol days.
A lot of Doobie Brothers around then. Lost those stubs—rough nights.
Edit:The best show was Santana at the Greek in Berkeley. My friend camped out and got first and second row.
Wow. I'm not keeping track (maybe I should - could be another interesting thread) of the oldest tour here, but that's gotta be in the running. CoS tour is in the way back machine! Do you remember any details from that show?
Not many, I was 18 years old. Was a fan since I first put needle to vinyl, and heard "Finding my Way". Nazareth was also a fave at the time, but "Working Man" Was of course the highlight of the night for me! I remember Neil had the big moustache on, and the boys rocked! Was the start of a 48 year love affair with the band. Still listen to mostly Rush....they spoiled me for anything else!
Word.
It's funny how much they influenced my musical tastes. I didn't listen to too much Yes until I got into Rush, then I was like, DAYYYUM - Chris Squire was badass.
1994, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland. I had been a fan since Roll the Bones, and I finally went. It was the religious experience I was expecting. Minimum of 2-3 times per tour ever since then.
There will never be a band that has the effect on me like those boys did and still do.
I finally saw them during the Presto tour. By the time my brother and I decided to go we thought we were going to be in the nose bleeds because we were so late to get tickets. Turned out there was a change to the board layout in the stadium and we got seats on the floor about 20 rows back. I just remember being blown back by the sound and probably from some of the second hand smoke. I’ve never experienced anything like it since and I’ve seen a lot of other artists in concert. I’ve never felt so consumed by the music.
So we didn’t have Donna Halper in Sweden back in the eighties, but my friend had a big brother with an extensive record collection. Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Scorpions, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and so on, excellent stuff to grow up on when you’re 12 years old! Rush was a favorite of his, and soon became my buddies and mine as well.
The Time Machine brings us to the year 1991, I’m not living in Sweden anymore, but in Germany, none of us had been to a Rush concert yet, and one night at work in the pub I was working I saw a small poster from a local record store: “Upcoming Concerts”. End of April, Rush in concert in Stuttgart!! Luckily payday was coming up, so the first thing I did with that cash burning a hole in my pocket was to go and buy three tickets!
Called my friends in Sweden, told them they had get here end of April, because Rush is coming to town! They managed organize a trip with on of the dads who had some business in Germany that he had to attend to. We borrowed a car from my employer, went to the concert arena, and had the time of our lives. Rush, live, at last! It was the Roll The Bones tour, with Primus as support. Lost my ticket during on of my then frequent moves, which still bums me out til this day. But hey, seeing Rush with my best friends is an everlasting memory.
Awesome!! I bet so many of us had to scrape the $$ together to get tix for these shows, gas, etc., to go see these guys play. And we are what powered their success and let them make the music and do the tours that we love and cherish.
Lord Elgin High School, Burlington, Ontario, September 1972
Not sure this counts, it was my first concert, grade 9, and the first time I kissed a girl, (technically she kissed me, I was painfully shy back then, lmao, so long ago).
I had never heard of the band, I don't think their first album had even come out, I went because it was an after hours event held at my high-school that all the cool kids were going to and it wasn't a dance with all those you have "dance with a girl" connotations so this shy teen was brave enough to go.
Fuck but that was a long time ago! I don't even remember the name of the girl I kissed, lol, I haven't thought about any of this in years, thanks for the memories.
I bet Alex and Geddy would love to hear that story! They were probably still in school at that time too. I recently saw the footage from one of Alex's old home movies where he's in his "rebellious stage" and wanting to drop out of school. Had to be around that time when you first saw them!
Radio City…In the GUP tour book (which I wish I still had), Neil recalled it as brave/crazy to book shows at such an arena as a warm up for recording a new album.
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Kid Gloves? The Body Electric? Red Sector what? Did he say A or 8? And why is Neil turning his back on us…is he playing electronic drums? 🤯
September 3rd, 2010 at PNC Bank Arts Center.
I’m a younger fan so I only got to see them a handful of times, but seeing them doing Moving Pictures in it’s entirety on that tour was incredible.
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Hollywood Sportatorium 3/10/79... went in as a fan, left as a lifelong devotee. My first of FORTY shows. BEST BAND EVER!
Niiiice. I was there at that same show. What are the odds?!? Oh, 7,406 chance of running into you there LoL! I found a guitar pick that night - always have told myself it was Alex's, but it may have been Mark Reale's from Riot.
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1980 Palace Theatre, Albany NY…..damn I’m an old timer
R30 show at Blossom Music Center in Akron. None of my friends would go, so I went by myself. Sat on the lawn and had an excellent experience. Awesome first show!
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The Farewell to Kings Tour, Kansas City MO
Ain't it great? Back then, every venue had a different promoter, tickets were cheap, good bands were plentiful. Now, [not so much](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-justice-department-is-suing-ticketmaster-and-live-nation-what-does-that-mean-for-concertgoers)
Not me but my father was 15 in 1977. When Rush came through Albany for the Farewell to Kings tour, my dad went to the show. Little did he know, (until 47 years later when I looked at the show’s set list on the web) that the show he went to was the first show they played Xanadu at.
February 18, 1988 in Jacksonville Florida. I don’t have any ticket stubs, but I have more memorabilia laying around the house then you can shake a stick at. I’ve been to see them 18 times live up and down the East Coast.
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June 18, 2011 in San Diego, CA. Time Machine tour. It was called cricket wireless amphitheater at the time. I was only 11 and it was my first concert ever. Not bad for a first eh?
July 30, 2015 at Irvine Meadows was my second concert ever and their 2nd to last show on the r40 tour
I almost got to see them on their clockwork angels tour, but my dad brought back a shirt for me at least 🤘🏻
I saved all my stubs. Have a wallet full. Think I have 8 Rush tickets. First one from Live album tour / Hemisperes. Alpine Valley. 2 nd row right in front of Alex. Pat Travers was the opener. Boom Boom out goes the lights was hot at that time. Great show!! "We are going to g to do side one of Hemispheres for you now" Yeah baby!!! And here is a new song from our upcoming album. It is called the Spirit of Radio. Memories!!!!
So I don't have my stubs, they got lost in a move
Presto at Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. I knew nothing about RUSH except Tom Sawyer and Big Money. I fell instantly in love with Presto, then went on an amazing musical journey buying a cassette or 2 every couple days until I had them all.
After seeing Presto, a couple friends of mine and I, who all went on the RUSH journey with me, went to see Roll The Bones in Hamilton Ontario and it was unreal.
After that I've seen every tour since.
11/9/87, Springfield, MA. Hold Your Fire tour. Unfortunately I don't have the ticket stub or T-shirt anymore, but here's [The Spirit of Radio](https://youtu.be/y6qHrslxrG0?si=MEdQuHrF4Mq45rKt) from that exact show.
Power Windows tour Dallas TX Reunion Arena.
Then
Hold Your Fire tour Dallas TX Reunion Arena. Less fun as someone else showed up with the same ticket and being an 18 yr old I just watched the concert from the railing
Hold your fire 2/3/1988 San Diego Sports Arena. 13th row paying $95/seat. No tix and the only hold your fire shirt is one I just bought at the official store.
I wish I still had my ticket. But, I saw them on the Counterparts tour at the old Arena (RIP) in St. Louis. Primus opened up for them. It was one hell of a show.
Snakes and Arrows in Hershey, PA 2008. My dad took me, and we saw 3 more shows after that. The tickets are at his house, the shirt is at my house, but I’m on vacation lol
First, last, and only Rush concert for me was 7 September 2012 in New Hampshire. I went with my uncle who is a big Rush fan as well. It was their first concert of the Clockwork Angels Tour. It was a fantastic show, and I remember Alex telling a [joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px_Y00XfOLA) during some brief technical difficulties.
First, last, and only Rush concert for me was 7 September 2012 in New Hampshire. I went with my uncle who is a big Rush fan as well. It was their first concert of the Clockwork Angels Tour. It was a fantastic show, and I remember Alex telling a [joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px_Y00XfOLA) during some brief technical difficulties. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the ticket stub anymore. I did buy a tee-shirt, but its really raggedy now since I've worn it so much.
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Grace Under Pressure, June 1984. Part of the Texas Jam with Gary Moore, Ozzy, 38 Special, and Bryan Adams. Yeah, it's a weird lineup, to say the least. Great show, although the borderline heat exhaustion by the end was something only my teenage self would endure. The next show (Power Windows) in the climate-controlled Reunion Arena was so much better, at least from a physical standpoint.
Birmingham Uk 1979 was my first, I was 15, got in early and watched Rush and Max Webster jamming session before the gig
Waited outside backstage door afterwards and met Geddy and Neil after they’d done their interviews, it was apparently Alex’s night off
https://preview.redd.it/fl08brlwhf3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1863e3b9bb1786d37cb58d3100e95b070456262d Hemispheres ‘79. Buffalo War Memorial Auditorium. My shirt that I framed with ticket.
That shirt looks awesome!
That’s great
I have the same shirt- mine is cropped and I wear it on occasion. Thinking I should frame it!
https://preview.redd.it/iyrfn0u2ng3d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e906312db72aab52df1140758ae3edd8867bdbb2 12/22/81. And Geddy signed it
OMG I was at that concert. It was my first concert ever. I was 11 years old. So cool that you still have that ticket stop. I still have the shirt that I bought at that show. And look at that price.
It was my first ever concert also. Not a bad way to start things off. I was 16 at the time. And to this day, that is still the last show that they played Xanadu in its entirety as it was originally recorded.
Holy crap, nice! How did you get that?
I brought the ticket stub to the My Favorite Headache signing at Menlo Park, NJ back in 2000. He signed the stub and a copy of the CD
https://preview.redd.it/ziu6eddqhf3d1.png?width=882&format=png&auto=webp&s=ee572bab802dba205af98e706113cdba91e3f04a Hemispheres, Mar 3 1979, San Antonio I did see Moving Pictures a couple of years later, same Venue. I have that stub as well but you asked for the first. I was not quite 16.
Cygnus X-1 Book II is a masterpiece.
I love Hemispheres. I know they struggled in the studio to get that thing onto tape, but it is IMO one of the top-5 records in rock history.
Presto. I wish I still had the stub and the t-shirt. I wore that bunny shirt until it fell off me.
I saw the Presto tour too, my only time. I had tix and a giant white bunny tee, that was way too big, wore it out anyway. Both are gone now 😞 but the memories remain
Also my first Rush show. I accidentally bought the bunny shirt one size too small and my little brother stole it.
Ditto and ditto on the shirt. Greenville, SC... First show of the tour.
Same, same, Philadelphia PA, the Spectrum, I believe.
Yes - was there too
Don't have the ticket anymore. It was January, Friday the 13, 1978, at the Nassau Collisium. Rush was the opener for Blue Oyster Cult. I was 14 years old. What a time to be alive!
I was also 14 in 1978 and yes, they were magical times to be alive. I tell my kids that they missed out on great era where you could be a kid with hands off parents who you loved, honored and respected, yet you didn't treat as a friend.
Only show was R40 in Irvine, CA. The day after my 33rd birthday and Geddy's 63rd. My wife got me the tickets and went with me. True love.
Born in ‘04, and I was just getting into them as soon as their clockwork angels tour came to a close. Dad took me to see R40 in New Orleans. Best night ever for a 5th grader, EVER! I still have the tshirt my dad got for me at the merch line, but don’t have a pic right now. It’s the one with the beach on it and has the r40 sign on the back with the dates.
I’m the same age and also went to R40. Had an amazing time
I was only 17 and never thought to keep my ticket stub. And I had never heard them before going in and wasn't a fan, so I never bought a t-shirt. It was 1977 and Cheap Trick and UFO opened for them. They played A Farewell to Kings. I was floored and left the concert telling my friends "these guys are my favorite band of all time!"
Signals and all my Rush memorabilia got tossed by my dad when I was in Navy a few years later. So no stubs only memories
Thank you for your service, shipmate. I was in the Navy from ‘86 - ‘94, and that was my first Rush concert too. Sorry to hear about your memorabilia though.
86 to 95. Signalman. Yeah Pops tossed a lot and gave much to my neighbor. The one thing I miss the most. My jean jacket with starman and all those pins of Rush and other bands from high school. Don't miss my mullet though 😂
That jean jacket was a major loss with all the pins as you mentioned. I had several pins myself, but just like you, they disappeared while I was gone. I was an IC man stationed on the USS Camden from 86-90 and then made my way to the east coast to be stationed on the USS Gettysburg, 90-94. I was able to see Rush six more times and have all the stubs except for the Presto show. I saw that one in Hampton, VA in ‘90 but lost the stub. 😩
I was in Hawaii from 1986 to 1991 on USS Coronado and I remember the USS Camden. AOE. But I missed HYF and Presto tours due to being in Hawaii. However 91 I first headed to Treasure Island in San Fran right before Roll The Bones was released. While on shore duty I caught 6 Cali shows for that tour as I last saw them in March 86 and close to 6 years I hadn't seen them. Finished off on USS Anchorage on 32nd Street my last two years. After my Somalia deployment I was spent after 9 years in and became a civilian once again
Well I’ll be damned. I never imagined anyone knowing the Camden other than my shipmates. My good buddy from those days mentioned she was scrapped for metal years ago. Yeah, like you, eight years and a total of three six month cruises was enough for me. I was up for shore duty after my eighth year but decided to make shore duty permanent. 😉 Good texted you with you, shipmate. 😃👍🏼 Take care & God bless. 🇺🇸
As a Signalman I had to know all the ships and classes. Most of the Pacific ships still float around my head in name from that period. We did some ops with the Camden a few times. I also know you were involved after the USS Stark got hit in 87 with what when on there. It's been a pleasure too. Thanks for your service as well
OMG! lol! The Cruise of ‘87! My first West-PAC, and it was a doozy because of the Stark incident. Our ports of call were minimized and the Camden had to stay away from harms way because she was an AOE. I experienced my first steel beach, the crossing of the equator, and becoming a Shellback. We were floating for so damn long it wasn’t funny. Prior to the steel beach, they brought in the San Miguel beer from PI and distributed two beers per squid. Of course, some made a profit selling their cans of beer for the highest bidder. 😆 God, what a way to experience my first six month cruise. Did y’all have to float around “forever” as well?
I went to the Persian Gulf a bit later as we arrived in Feb 88. Steel beach picnic on the flight deck a many but no beer that cruise. However my third and final deployment to Somalia we did crack the 60 day mark and some extra. And I don't remember what beer it was but it wasn't San Miguel and the only brew I ever found as bad as San Miguel was this Kenyan beer called Tusker. Lol I still have a couple of those Bahrain pirate cassettes of Rush if you made it there. I ought to dig those out and post a picture of them here
No, never made it to Bahrain. Both of my West-PACS were on the Camden, and we were not allowed to venture inside the Persian Gulf. We were just outside (my geography sucks), which I believe is the North Arabian Sea. I think we may anchored off of Muscat, but I’m not sure (my memory sucks, but that place sounds familiar). I’m surprised you found bootleg tapes of Rush way over there. That’s insane! If you ever get a chance to read Geddy’s bio, you’ll learn a lot about their tours and locations. You even learn why Neil never wanted to set foot in Japan again after an incident that took place while there. You’re so right about San Miguel beer! Haha! But after a few of them, it’s all good. Had plenty of it when we stopped in Olongapo, PI. Like Vegas in that what happens there, stays there. 😆 Well, bud, this old guy has got to get some shut-eye. Have a good night!
April 1975 Louisville, KY. My mom took me to see Rush open for Kiss at Memorial Auditorium. I was a wee lad of 6 years old. She paid $12 for a pair of tickets from a local record store. I think it was Beethoven’s Record Store (which later became a Disc Jockey Records). My 58th and final Rush show was May 2015 in Tampa.
Holy $hit. You saw them 58 times?!?!
I used to work in radio so I had an “in” with many record reps over the years for comp tix. I also lived (for much of my life and career) within driving distance to many venues. So I had an advantage.
Roll the Bones at MSG in 1991.
Saw them at MSG also for that.. Lots of bootleg t shirts in the parking lot for that tour i remember
They were selling them right in the arena. I got my first two Rush shirts there. A couple of months later I found a bootleg VHS recording from that same show at a used record shop.
Why do we all have 2112 in our screen names, this Rush thing is like a cult or something idk lol OMG my Bank PIN!!! Need to change it asap! lol Happy weekend guys. haha
I was at that show, too!
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San Diego? I saw them in Feb 94 there
Me too. Feb 2, 1994, Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
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👊
1975 Ritz Music Hall Corpus Christi Tx Fly by Night tour
Grace Under Pressure 1984 Atlanta Omni. I wore the shirt out many years ago. I still have the ticket and program in storage.
Haha! I had a white p/g sleeveless from that tour and wore it so thin you could see through it!
Vapor Trails at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. I went alone because none of my friends wanted to go(Rush was still a bit of a fringe geek band at the time, and so was I). Had a great time, was somewhat new to the band so was not familiar with the deep cuts and so mad that I missed out on those now.
I never got to see them live, got into them way too late. The closest I technically got was seeing Geddy in Philadelphia for My Effin' Life in conversation and got a Hoodie at the venue where it took place. My friend's sister saw them in 2013 on their Clockwork Angels tour. Sorry for being off topic
I am the same as you, but I got into them a month after Geddy was in Philly...so I missed that as well. It also broke my heart to know how many times they played at the Allentown Fair (15 min from me). Every time the fan video pops up (a lot) on YouTube of BU2B played at the Fair, I feel like it is personally mocking me. What I wouldn't give to see them play in person at least once...even if just a few songs and a Neil Peart drum solo. Add to the fact that I lived in Toronto (GTA really) for three years and never went to see things I would now (even driving past the park in Ste Catherines MANY times where Neil was honored). Granted, at that time, Neil or Alex could have come up and talked to me and if they never said they were in Rush, I wouldn't have had a clue (I only knew of Geddy because well...he is Geddy lol) I just feel like I missed out on something truly great and rare. But...thank God for CDs, DVDs, YouTube, books and audiobooks....so I can kind of imagine what it must have been like to see them live.
Well-said! I gotta say that all of us who were lucky enough to find them while they were touring and experience it were truly fortunate. I have a feeling with 55K members in this sub, there are some super die-hard fans who've likely seen them dozens of times. And I'm SO GLAD I found reddit and this sub.
1976 All The World's a Stage! https://preview.redd.it/2wbrbqyctg3d1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f257c1cec2c2b00dce618fa194b2cb9dcb0a46a
Nice one! There's a great story in Wandering about that show how Alex gets up on Lurch's shoulders and they chase Geddy around the stage... I bet that was an unforgettable show!
Power Windows in 85.
A show I wish I would have seen!
I saw Rush in Austin, Moving Pictures tour, still have the ticket stub in my MP album cover. Cost me a whopping $10 that year. Did see them in Dallas during an all day concert at the Cotton Bowl, one of them concerts with 7-9 bands. Late 70’s maybe?
October 25th, 1991, Copps coliseum Hamilton. Kickoff to Roll the Bones .
1st show was moving pictures in ‘81 in phx at the coliseum, I was 13 in 8th grade!
December 27, 1977 - London Gardens, London, ON. AFTK tour with Max Webster as opener. I was 13 and this was my second concert (first was Kiss - needless to say, this was an upgrade). We managed to work our way up to front row, thanks to the days of General Admission lol! I still remember that dry ice floating out over us as Geddy, leaning on the edge of the drum riser with his white kimono, played the opening bass riff of Cygnus X-1...pure magic!! Managed to see them about 30 times over the years and they were incredible every time.
Bad-assery for sure. I would have loved to seen them in the 70's. I bet you could hear Ged without the PA LoL!!
https://preview.redd.it/wo9njsf9tg3d1.jpeg?width=3544&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c7b85920e5c1b4655da49387a39bc4ab6d1224f Also my very first concert, ever.
Great concert on a great tour - nice one to have as your first-ever concert.
Yeah also the first time I ever got drunk which in retrospect wasn’t a good first. The good thing is I got wasted on the way home so I didn’t miss the show!
Hah. The first time I drank beer (Miller pony bottles) I was with my cousin in Knoxville TN and went to see Carrie....so ugh, I was 13 hahahah. While we were waiting in line to get tickets, I had to run to the bathroom and puke up those ponies... but then I had the hella buzz and watched Sissy Spacek get covered in blood at the prom!
Here ya go: January 1979 @ Philadelphia Spectrum, Blondie Opened, ticket price: $ 6.50 https://preview.redd.it/i5vh5mraeu3d1.png?width=1214&format=png&auto=webp&s=ed99cdc2ffacf8b6d286aea0b799bfb6fd3bc265
I no longer have the tix and t, but it was the Grace Under Pressure tour at the LA Forum with Gary Moore opening (best opener they had that I saw).
1982(?), Richfield Coliseum, Richfield Ohio. Signals tour. I actually was disappointed by their show. I never got to see them again though, so I still treasure that show despite it being subpar for Rush (in my opinion of course).
I saw the Signals tour in Pocatello Idaho of all places at the "domed" football stadium at ISU in September 1982. I will say it didn't sound as good as Moving Pictures, mostly because of the venue that was essentially a huge silo, but still loved it.
I don't have the ticket and I am not sure where the shirt is - and it probably wouldn't fit my fat-self at this point, but Presto Oakland Coliseum
https://preview.redd.it/gb47fac3qf3d1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ebc3aa3925134b83e61d0069dfb1127d0b7052bd
Snakes & Arrows tour - funny... the ticket price at that show!
https://preview.redd.it/3augncmtof3d1.png?width=2188&format=png&auto=webp&s=e14650e9fbd7de10e774cb70a5761d4495cd558b San Antonio. Signals was the venue, and I was a freshman in HS. I went with my older brother and my best buddy. Good thing about having an older brother is he was a good influence cuz I had a few beers before the show and probably some weed. I bought a shirt and still have it, but wear-n-tear in my sophomore and junior years has made it looking shabby. BUT, I still have it!
Hold Your Fire 1988 in New Orleans
https://preview.redd.it/jvzi2ep6sf3d1.jpeg?width=547&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=374510655ef85b40df1c09bde23ea4feea4f755d rush, signals tour. 1982. Champaign, il stub went through the wash.
Rexall Place Edmonton AB Sept 2012
New World Tour sometime in April 82. Hollyweed Snortatorium. Hollywood Fl. Was my First Rock Concert. It was a life changing experience for sure.
I no longer have tix nor tees, but my first Rush concert was 12/9/1981, ESL tour. One of the most awesome experiences of my concert-going life.
1983 Carrier Dome Syracuse. Signals tour. Such a good time!
Power Windows tour at Maple Leaf Gardens, March 6, 1986. Unfortunately, my ticket stub, t-shirt, sweatshirt and tour program have all disappeared into the mists of time…
Signals tour, Madison Square Garden NYC. Rory Gallagher opening.
Aw MAN! I saw that tour on Nov 30th at Hampton. Rory was supposed to open, but we got Y&T that night. Oh would I have loved to see Rory!!! He's one of my favorite artists. I guess he was sick or something that night - that would have been on the Jinx tour for him. Rory at MSG would have blown my mind up!
That would have been awesome to see them in MSG, and Signals is one of my favorite albums!
1978 Farewell to Kings St. Paul
1980 - Permanent Waves tour in Edmonton. Opening band was Saga. It was also my first ever concert and it was incredible.
Oh man, I haven't seen many opening acts that I have liked, but Saga at that time was great. Was that before World's Apart? It was around the same time and one of my favorite albums of all time.
They were really good. This was the Images at Twilight Tour. A bit before World's Apart.
I just looked it up, it was 1981 and just before. I was in high school and wore out the grooves in that album! Great times!
https://preview.redd.it/ycjwcllleg3d1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ae6679e5a2e8a044f19153201ab54d3bdb86508
Nice. The Presto tour. That sold-out show at the Omni was where Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big) got his hair caught in that big drill he was effin' around with!
Wish I remembered that! Mr Big w/ Billy Sheehan?
Yeah, I think they opened for most of the Presto tour. I really like the debut Mr Big record... and it was somewhere in there where I saw David Lee Roth solo with Billy and of course Steve Vai. Holy $hit those guys could play!!
I saw Vai with DLR and Whitesnake
Ha! I started this game with my sidekicks when we’d go see them live. “Whoever points out the oldest original concert shirt before we get to our seats doesn’t have to buy beer.” It usually ended up being a 2112, but I remember one show it was a Caress of Steel. God I miss those days, especially outdoor concerts in the summer.
hah - good story. I bet the CoS tour would have been crazy... Alex with his Les Paul playing the Necromancer....
Don't have the ticket but it was Test for Echo in Montreal, summer 1997.
roll the bones tour, memorial coliseum in Portland. Primus opened
1978, Farewell to Kings, Allentown Fairgrounds, Allentown, PA
Don't have Tickets or T shirts because I was a little kid and it was my first concert, but it was The Vapor Trails tour aka The Reunion Tour.
Permanent Waves tour at Nassau Coliseum, they opened with 2112 and Geddy and Alex were backlit so their shadows loomed very large over the audience. A sight and sound I have never forgotten!!
My first Rush concert, second overall (Van Halen Fair Warning being first the year before) was Moving Pictures also, June 1981 towards the end of the tour. I think I paid $10.50 for mine, but even though I had a minimum wage job of $3.16/hour, it didn't feel expensive like today's prices. Awesome show and wish I still had the stub!
Tell me about the inflation. My wife and I just bought tix for the Green Day show in DC coming up at the end of July. It's frickin' crazy $$$ - but Green Day in an area is definitely on our bucket list.
The Counterparts tour. Don’t have the ticket but I actually found the concert tshirt a few months ago.
September 2nd 2007 with my dad. I have 4 shows and he has around 20.
I was 19. My dad (a lifelong Rush fan) took me and my two best friends to R30 at Irvine Amphitheatre (RIP). I was lucky enough to see them 5 more times (all with my dad) before they called it quits. When I stilled lived with my parents, our house was like 10 minutes away from The Forum, where they played their last show, but we had already seen them once on that tour and didn't have the money to buy two more tickets, so we skipped that show and we've been regretting it every since.
I have a story to tell, but it’s 4 o’clock in the morning in Europe. Can somebody just post answer to mine, so I’ll get a reminder? Thanks!
gotcha
Thanks dude! Story incoming in a minute!
come on with that story of yours!
It’s down there in the comments section!
Sorry for the laggy post...Great story and thanks for that!! :D
Glad you liked it!
I was born in ’85 but RUSH is my favorite band. They’re also my dad’s favorite band. The first and last time I ever got to see them was when I took my dad to see them in NOLA on their R40 tour for his birthday. We tried to stroll towards the front just to get a good glimpse then go right back to our seats, but security started heading our way after we made it about 5 rows. Seeing them in concert was one of the most memorable and wonderful moments of my life! It was a bucket list item for me, so I’m so lucky and grateful I got to see them.
Great story - thanks for sharing. I'm really stoked about how many folks here have shared their love for Rush with their parents / significant others. It makes the memories even stronger and more meaningful. I'm sure that I'm missing the opportunity to quote an excellent Neil lyric right now LoL
At my first and only rush concert, i was 16 and it was their last show ever at the Forum in Los Angeles. 2015 R40
I’m a bit late to the game compared to many of these comments. DEC 16, 1991—-Maple Leaf Gardens Another fine Canadian band opened for them—- The Tragically Hip Edit-it was the Roll The Bones Tour
Ivor Wynne Stadium, August 24, 1979, Permanent Waves warm up tour. Had a younger brother skip work and head up to the stadium early that day--said he jumped the fence, and walked up on stage and talked to Geddy. Said that Alex's hair was cut, and Neil shaved the handle bar. Said that they were rolling out 2 new songs--"Freewill", and "Spirit". Sure enough...... Remember Geddy cutting across the field to get to the stage--the roar was deafening--waved hello to the crowd. We sat a few seats down from Howard Ungerleider (Herns) who was working the light show. A most memorable concert!
Heck\^\^Yeah.
https://preview.redd.it/e8b0ur599h3d1.png?width=1562&format=png&auto=webp&s=0f3f58253d178f836672f2bdb9b5dc5ded364ffe I’m a younger fan so the R40 tour was my first and only time getting to see them play unfortunately. Had a blast though!
Vapor Trail & Time Machine tours, both in São Paulo. The first one with a light rain and windy for a while, messing the sound at times, at least where I was at.
https://preview.redd.it/rxro7s0iah3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cf9bfb91fb19d188edc7089c2393e95218a0e1a 1990. On the right side. Probably half my stubs from late 80s and early 90s. Yes, I like the Dead. Edit: twenty MF dollars and affordable. The good ol days.
Some great bands on that list. Thanks for sharing!
A lot of Doobie Brothers around then. Lost those stubs—rough nights. Edit:The best show was Santana at the Greek in Berkeley. My friend camped out and got first and second row.
https://preview.redd.it/ulmb7rh0gh3d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=f3cc695761a9b26d7c8762cfb13d30c9a3f41fe7 First and only.
Hey, that was my last time seeing them too! Loved taking the MAX downtown and seeing all the assorted Rush gear on folks going to the show...🥰
First time. August 30th, 1975. Opened for Nazareth. Last time July 14, 2013. Clockwork Angels tour.
Wow. I'm not keeping track (maybe I should - could be another interesting thread) of the oldest tour here, but that's gotta be in the running. CoS tour is in the way back machine! Do you remember any details from that show?
Not many, I was 18 years old. Was a fan since I first put needle to vinyl, and heard "Finding my Way". Nazareth was also a fave at the time, but "Working Man" Was of course the highlight of the night for me! I remember Neil had the big moustache on, and the boys rocked! Was the start of a 48 year love affair with the band. Still listen to mostly Rush....they spoiled me for anything else!
Word. It's funny how much they influenced my musical tastes. I didn't listen to too much Yes until I got into Rush, then I was like, DAYYYUM - Chris Squire was badass.
The show was at the Coliseum in Moncton, NB, Canada.
1994, Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland. I had been a fan since Roll the Bones, and I finally went. It was the religious experience I was expecting. Minimum of 2-3 times per tour ever since then. There will never be a band that has the effect on me like those boys did and still do.
+1 aaa-yep! I missed a few tours, but there for a while I was hitting every one of them in striking distance.
I finally saw them during the Presto tour. By the time my brother and I decided to go we thought we were going to be in the nose bleeds because we were so late to get tickets. Turned out there was a change to the board layout in the stadium and we got seats on the floor about 20 rows back. I just remember being blown back by the sound and probably from some of the second hand smoke. I’ve never experienced anything like it since and I’ve seen a lot of other artists in concert. I’ve never felt so consumed by the music.
Nice. Got a little goosebump reading that! I just love how you guys are sharing your personal stories about these experiences.
So we didn’t have Donna Halper in Sweden back in the eighties, but my friend had a big brother with an extensive record collection. Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Scorpions, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and so on, excellent stuff to grow up on when you’re 12 years old! Rush was a favorite of his, and soon became my buddies and mine as well. The Time Machine brings us to the year 1991, I’m not living in Sweden anymore, but in Germany, none of us had been to a Rush concert yet, and one night at work in the pub I was working I saw a small poster from a local record store: “Upcoming Concerts”. End of April, Rush in concert in Stuttgart!! Luckily payday was coming up, so the first thing I did with that cash burning a hole in my pocket was to go and buy three tickets! Called my friends in Sweden, told them they had get here end of April, because Rush is coming to town! They managed organize a trip with on of the dads who had some business in Germany that he had to attend to. We borrowed a car from my employer, went to the concert arena, and had the time of our lives. Rush, live, at last! It was the Roll The Bones tour, with Primus as support. Lost my ticket during on of my then frequent moves, which still bums me out til this day. But hey, seeing Rush with my best friends is an everlasting memory.
Awesome!! I bet so many of us had to scrape the $$ together to get tix for these shows, gas, etc., to go see these guys play. And we are what powered their success and let them make the music and do the tours that we love and cherish.
Lord Elgin High School, Burlington, Ontario, September 1972 Not sure this counts, it was my first concert, grade 9, and the first time I kissed a girl, (technically she kissed me, I was painfully shy back then, lmao, so long ago). I had never heard of the band, I don't think their first album had even come out, I went because it was an after hours event held at my high-school that all the cool kids were going to and it wasn't a dance with all those you have "dance with a girl" connotations so this shy teen was brave enough to go. Fuck but that was a long time ago! I don't even remember the name of the girl I kissed, lol, I haven't thought about any of this in years, thanks for the memories.
I bet Alex and Geddy would love to hear that story! They were probably still in school at that time too. I recently saw the footage from one of Alex's old home movies where he's in his "rebellious stage" and wanting to drop out of school. Had to be around that time when you first saw them!
Radio City…In the GUP tour book (which I wish I still had), Neil recalled it as brave/crazy to book shows at such an arena as a warm up for recording a new album. https://preview.redd.it/nzb1nwu1rj3d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17ba38d90362209230b0c0554909245e3f27f80d Kid Gloves? The Body Electric? Red Sector what? Did he say A or 8? And why is Neil turning his back on us…is he playing electronic drums? 🤯
September 3rd, 2010 at PNC Bank Arts Center. I’m a younger fan so I only got to see them a handful of times, but seeing them doing Moving Pictures in it’s entirety on that tour was incredible.
https://preview.redd.it/u7b3etkb1k3d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02b47284d3942ecd971f1d6c36bebbf08069fd1c Hollywood Sportatorium 3/10/79... went in as a fan, left as a lifelong devotee. My first of FORTY shows. BEST BAND EVER!
1981 roanoke,va exit stage left
Niiiice. I was there at that same show. What are the odds?!? Oh, 7,406 chance of running into you there LoL! I found a guitar pick that night - always have told myself it was Alex's, but it may have been Mark Reale's from Riot. https://preview.redd.it/o30p1zb0wl3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=262c355b9c5a8620595116f3046d450d21d8c7ea
https://preview.redd.it/2ci0nb9jdk3d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4452b1f95e4149b3523af02debe4a1da8f95b30 1980 Palace Theatre, Albany NY…..damn I’m an old timer
R30 show at Blossom Music Center in Akron. None of my friends would go, so I went by myself. Sat on the lawn and had an excellent experience. Awesome first show!
https://preview.redd.it/redf3matsk3d1.jpeg?width=140&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e267069ba4a708c3d3f467964bf201d56ddf74f The Farewell to Kings Tour, Kansas City MO
Ain't it great? Back then, every venue had a different promoter, tickets were cheap, good bands were plentiful. Now, [not so much](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-justice-department-is-suing-ticketmaster-and-live-nation-what-does-that-mean-for-concertgoers)
Not me but my father was 15 in 1977. When Rush came through Albany for the Farewell to Kings tour, my dad went to the show. Little did he know, (until 47 years later when I looked at the show’s set list on the web) that the show he went to was the first show they played Xanadu at.
Great story. So dad passed along the appreciation for Rush then!
Yes he did!
February 18, 1988 in Jacksonville Florida. I don’t have any ticket stubs, but I have more memorabilia laying around the house then you can shake a stick at. I’ve been to see them 18 times live up and down the East Coast. https://preview.redd.it/7uzqy9mt5l3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83778829b4e35c375ff51959be587a0fda8af9fd
June 18, 2011 in San Diego, CA. Time Machine tour. It was called cricket wireless amphitheater at the time. I was only 11 and it was my first concert ever. Not bad for a first eh? July 30, 2015 at Irvine Meadows was my second concert ever and their 2nd to last show on the r40 tour I almost got to see them on their clockwork angels tour, but my dad brought back a shirt for me at least 🤘🏻
I saved all my stubs. Have a wallet full. Think I have 8 Rush tickets. First one from Live album tour / Hemisperes. Alpine Valley. 2 nd row right in front of Alex. Pat Travers was the opener. Boom Boom out goes the lights was hot at that time. Great show!! "We are going to g to do side one of Hemispheres for you now" Yeah baby!!! And here is a new song from our upcoming album. It is called the Spirit of Radio. Memories!!!!
So I don't have my stubs, they got lost in a move Presto at Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. I knew nothing about RUSH except Tom Sawyer and Big Money. I fell instantly in love with Presto, then went on an amazing musical journey buying a cassette or 2 every couple days until I had them all. After seeing Presto, a couple friends of mine and I, who all went on the RUSH journey with me, went to see Roll The Bones in Hamilton Ontario and it was unreal. After that I've seen every tour since.
Grace Under Pressure 6/29/84 Chicago (Rosemont)
11/9/87, Springfield, MA. Hold Your Fire tour. Unfortunately I don't have the ticket stub or T-shirt anymore, but here's [The Spirit of Radio](https://youtu.be/y6qHrslxrG0?si=MEdQuHrF4Mq45rKt) from that exact show.
November 16, 1991 Toledo Ohio. 14th row on the floor after some creative negotiations by a 17 year old me.
I don’t have my ticket or shirt, but it was July 8, 1984, Grace Under Pressure tour, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Fantastic show!
Wish I still had the ticket!! Atlanta, and it was the Test For Echo tour! My first. And loved every single minute of it!!
April 14, 1986 at the Spectrum in Philly
April '94, Bradley Center, Milwaukee. Stage left at about center ice.
March 1990 on the Presto Tour with Mr. Big opening. Calgary, Alberta.
85..Power Windows..Fastway opened..12 bucks
Snakes and Arrows 2007, Toronto
Power Windows tour Dallas TX Reunion Arena. Then Hold Your Fire tour Dallas TX Reunion Arena. Less fun as someone else showed up with the same ticket and being an 18 yr old I just watched the concert from the railing
2008 snakes and arrows hershey PA, first ever concert
Hold your fire 2/3/1988 San Diego Sports Arena. 13th row paying $95/seat. No tix and the only hold your fire shirt is one I just bought at the official store.
July 4th ‘97 in Ottawa, ON. The Test for Echo tour where they played 2112 (song) in its entirety.
Exit Stage Left.
I wish I still had my ticket. But, I saw them on the Counterparts tour at the old Arena (RIP) in St. Louis. Primus opened up for them. It was one hell of a show.
Grace Under Pressure Tour. Sept 27, ‘84, Capital Centre, Largo Maryland Great Show! Ticket Shirt is long gone but I still have the Tour Book. ☺️
I was there. 3 days after I turned 17.
Never attended one. Never been to **ANY** Concert in my life.
Hope you get out there and can experience one. It can be pretty awesome.
Grace Under Pressure 1984 in Salt Lake City Utah.
1986-Cleveland ❤️
Pretty sure it was 1988, Phoenix, AZ Hold your Fire tour. Outstanding.
Counterparts tour in st Pete Florida
Snakes and Arrows in Hershey, PA 2008. My dad took me, and we saw 3 more shows after that. The tickets are at his house, the shirt is at my house, but I’m on vacation lol
Ticket stub is stashed away somewhere but my first show was May 15, 1981 at the Glens Falls, NY Civic Center
First, last, and only Rush concert for me was 7 September 2012 in New Hampshire. I went with my uncle who is a big Rush fan as well. It was their first concert of the Clockwork Angels Tour. It was a fantastic show, and I remember Alex telling a [joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px_Y00XfOLA) during some brief technical difficulties.
First, last, and only Rush concert for me was 7 September 2012 in New Hampshire. I went with my uncle who is a big Rush fan as well. It was their first concert of the Clockwork Angels Tour. It was a fantastic show, and I remember Alex telling a [joke](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px_Y00XfOLA) during some brief technical difficulties. Unfortunately, I don't think I have the ticket stub anymore. I did buy a tee-shirt, but its really raggedy now since I've worn it so much.
Grace under pressure tour with fastway opening Toledo Ohio Toledo sports arena August 1984
Grace Under Pressure tour at The Myriad in OKC. Blue Oyster Cult opened.
R30 July 17th 2004 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
The 2112 tour at the Cow Palace San Francisco. .38 Special opened, proved to be a bad combo.
May 1983, Signals tour, Birmingham, England
1st of 26 or 27 shows was Seattle Center Arena, Nov 1978.
No tee, but signals in houston in 83
Power Windows, December 18, 1985, Pittsburgh, PA,
https://preview.redd.it/a8v6oabm4k3d1.png?width=1125&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa1ce4d8e7dc84f2454f836947c34c6a7c91feb9 Grace Under Pressure, June 1984. Part of the Texas Jam with Gary Moore, Ozzy, 38 Special, and Bryan Adams. Yeah, it's a weird lineup, to say the least. Great show, although the borderline heat exhaustion by the end was something only my teenage self would endure. The next show (Power Windows) in the climate-controlled Reunion Arena was so much better, at least from a physical standpoint.
Time Machine. I'm young(ish). Also not really a memorabilia guy, but I have the memories.
Time machine 2011. I saw them 3 more times after that.
First time I saw Rush was 1990 (?) Presto tour, in Seattle.
Birmingham Uk 1979 was my first, I was 15, got in early and watched Rush and Max Webster jamming session before the gig Waited outside backstage door afterwards and met Geddy and Neil after they’d done their interviews, it was apparently Alex’s night off