Rush 1 - Early Days Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jeff Jones

Jones only played one gig with Rush. On the afternoon of the band's second gig, he decided to go to a party instead, leaving Alex Lifeson only a matter of hours to find a replacement - Geddy Lee.

Answer: 'The Coff-In', Toronto

'The Coff-In' was located in the basement of an Anglican Church. At this time, the band were too young to play in any of Toronto's bars.

Answer: John Rutsey's brother.

Although the band had used the name 'The Projection' at one stage, the band found themselves without a name only days before the 'Coff-In' gig when John's brother pulled the name out of the air.

Answer: Lindy Young

Lindy Young is Geddy Lee's brother-in-law.

Answer: Joe Perna

Joe Perna did not last long, as the band broke up soon after Geddy's departure.

Answer: Ogilvie

Ogilvie were a rhythm'n'blues band who soon changed their name to Judd.

Answer: Hadrian

Hadrian did not last long and soon broke up. In September 1969, Rush reformed with Geddy, Alex and John.

Answer: Ray Danniels

Ray Danniels was only 16 when he formed his own booking agency. After becoming the manager of Rush, a position he holds to this day, he formed his own management company, SRO.

Answer: Mitch Bossi

By all accounts, Mitch Bossi was a very mediocre musician, hence he was only a member of Rush for a few months.

Answer: Bad Boy

'Bad Boy' is featured on a number of Rush bootlegs that are in circulation, one of the best being 'The Fifth Order of Angels'.

Answer: Losing Again

According to the 'Visions' biography, 'Losing Again' was written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson with some contributions from John Rutsey, although Rutsey claims that it was a collaboration between himself and Lifeson.

Answer: You Can't Fight It

'You Can't Fight It' was the b-side of 'Not Fade Away', a cover of the Buddy Holly classic, which was their debut single.

Answer: Moon Records

Moon Records was set up by Ray Danniels when he was unable to get Rush a record deal. The whole process cost him $400.

Answer: David Stock

The single was recorded at Eastern Sound Studios in Toronto. The single sold a few copies in the Toronto area but received no airplay. Since then, copies have become highly sought after by Rush collectors.

Answer: London Records

The promise by London Records to distibute the single was instrumental in Ray Danniels forming Moon Records. The company also agreed to distribute Rush's self-titled debut album.

Answer: Rush

David Stock, producer of the single, was originally supposed to produce the album but the band did not like the sound he got so they did it themselves. Terry Brown was called in at the last minute to do a re-mix of the album and beef the sound up a little, hence his credit of 're-mix engineer'. This is the only instance where the band have a solo production credit.

Answer: Red

The Moon Records pressings had the red cover (another collector's item for Rush fans). When Mercury re-issued the album in the USA and Worldwide, the cover, for some inexplicable reason, been altered to ahorrible shade of pink.

Answer: Health reasons and musical differences.

John Rutsey has gone on record as saying that he did not like the musical direction the band was taking. In addition, as a diabetic, he did not think he would be able to stand the rigours of touring. When last heard of, he was a body-builder in the Toronto area.

Answer: Neil Peart

Did anyone really get this one wrong?

Neil Ellwood Peart joined Rush on July 29, 1974 (Geddy Lee's 21st birthday).

Answer: August 14, 1974, The Civic Arena, Pittsburgh

Rush played a 26 minute set (comprising 'Finding My Way', 'In the Mood', 'Bad Boy', 'Working Man' and a drum solo) opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann. The show, remarkably, was taped and is available on the bootlegs 'First Time' and 'Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down.'