2112 Celebrates It's 40th Anniversary

40 years ago on April 1st, Rush released what has become known as a progressive rock cult classic – 2112!  This Friday, celebrate the 40th birthday of Rush 2112 and win your own copy of the band’s latest release, R40, when you hear the Rush Cue to Call.

The fourth album from the band came from a “do or die” situation.  After the relative failure of their previous concept album, Caress of Steel, Rush faced pressure from Mercury Records to forget concept albums and record more radio-friendly material.  The band, however, stuck to their guns and released an album that in the 40 years since its release, has become a fan-favourite, a cultural icon, and the closer of almost every Rush concert ever since.

The 20-minute A-side and title track tells the story of a man who faces off against the “Priests of the Temple of Syrinx,” and is divided into seven acts:

• I. “Overture” (0:00 – 4:33)
• II. “The Temples of Syrinx” (4:33 – 6:45)
• III. “Discovery”  (6:45 – 10:14)
• IV. “Presentation” (10:14 – 13:56)
• V. “Oracle: The Dream” (13:56 – 15:56)
• VI. “Soliloquy” (15:56 – 18:17)
• VII. “Grand Finale” (18:17 – 20:34)“

In the lyrics penned by Neil Peart, the man lives in a time where technology is heavily controlled and individualism is lost.  He discovers a guitar, but when sharing his discovery with the Priests, the guitar is destroyed.  The man, distraught, goes into hiding and after realizing there is no hope of a life void of control from the Priests, commits suicide.  Many fans relate the theme of the album to the Music Industry.

When recording 2112, Peart realized many similarities between his lyrics and the plot of “Anthem,” a novella by Ayn Rand.  Not wanting to plagiarize, Rush has given Rand a writing credit on the album.

To any fan of the band, the importance of this album is well known.  However, non-fans or “casual” Rush fans (because it’s fun to sound elite), might be surprised by how much this album is used in pop culture:

• Marvel “Defenders” comic based an entire plot line off of 2112 and dedicated the comic to Alex, Neil, and Geddy.
• Primus, known to be huge Rush fans, has sold lots of merch based off ideas from Rush albums.
• In “School of Rock,” Jack Black passes off 2112 to the class’ drummer as homework

• In Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, the cinema is showing movies based off of 2112 (and some Tragically Hip songs

• Members of metal band, In Flames, recently opened up a restaurant named 2112 after the album.
• The upcoming motion picture and novel, “Ready Player One,” is based in the future described in the song and features Rush references throughout.

I would go as far as to call 2112 the essential Rush album.  Even with its 20 minute futuristic concept A-side, the band still showed their ability to write radio hits for Mercury Records with the B-Sides such as “Something for Nothing, “A Passage to Bangkok,” and “the Twilight Zone.”

In closing, 40 years later, this is still an album worth listening to,  You should probably do just that at some point Friday.