Rush 1980-1989 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Permanent Waves

Permanent Waves released in North America in early January 1980; they would record an album at Le Studio for the last time in 1993. There is contention as to the album's exact release date; it is a common misconception that the album was released on January 1st, but it actually hit shelves more than a week later.

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel

In "The Sound of Silence," Simon and Garfunkel wrote that "the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls" - note the change from "prophet" to "profit," in line with Rush's message about the music industry.

Answer: Pye Dubois

Dubois was the primary songwriter for Max Webster; he and Peart met when Max Webster and Rush teamed up to record the song "Battlescar" in the summer of 1980. Kim Mitchell was the lead singer of Max Webster, and Peter Talbot is credited as co-writer on 1977's "Closer to the Heart."

Answer: The Fear Series

"Witch Hunt" was part three of the Fear series; parts two and one were released in 1982 and 1984, respectively, with part four released on "Vapor Trails" nearly twenty years later. There is one part of the "Gangster of Boats trilogy" - of course, it is part four. Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," occasionally referred to as the Guide, was another trilogy with more than three parts, and "Garden Road" was an unreleased Rush single.

Answer: Chemistry

In the 1982 "Signals" tourbook, Neil Peart said that Chemistry "was probably the easiest song to write on the album."

Answer: Dalmatian

Signals was the source of "New World Man," Rush's highest charting single in their native Canada, as well as "Subdivisions" and "Countdown." The dalmatian on the cover is pictured investigating a fire hydrant in a green field.

Answer: Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway is quoted as having said that "courage is grace under pressure." "Losing It" alludes to his novel "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Neil Peart was an avid reader and was familiar with Hemingway's work. "Grace Under Pressure" was released in 1984.

Answer: Robbie Whelan

Whelan was an employee of Le Studio who was killed in a car accident between the releases of "Signals" and "Grace Under Pressure."

Answer: Power Windows

Rush recorded the album with producer Peter Collins, who also worked with Alice Cooper and Billy Squier, among others. The album features additional keyboards by Andy Richards. Interestingly, half of the songs on "Power Windows" have titles that begin with the letter M.

Answer: John Dos Passos

Peart stated of the novel and song that, ideologically, "the only connection is in the titles." John Carstairs and Belinda Lee respectively directed and starred in a 1958 film titled "The Big Money," and Neil Cunningham modeled for the album cover.

Answer: It's the first Rush song to feature a singer besides Geddy Lee

Aimee Mann, lead singer of Til Tuesday and noted solo artist, is the featured vocalist and the first to sing the song's title. Neil Peart penned the lyrics, "Hold Your Fire" didn't sell as well as the band had hoped, and Alex Lifeson can only be heard playing the guitar.

Answer: Stanley Brock

Brock is perhaps best remembered for his role as Uncle Harvey in "UHF," a vehicle for "Weird Al" Yankovic which flopped upon its theatrical release. He also appeared as various characters on "Night Court" throughout its TV run.

Answer: Rupert Hine

Hine provided backing vocals on the album and also produced "Roll The Bones" in 1991. Terry Brown produced their albums from the '70s until 1982, Peter Grant was a manager who worked for Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, and Alan Parsons worked famously with Pink Floyd and Al Stewart.

Answer: Blazing Saddles

Mongo is a large, intimidating cowboy who rides a bull instead of a horse and is defeated by Bart, the sheriff of the fictional town of Rock Ridge, when he tricks him with a fake "candygram" which is actually a stick of dynamite. The song is written with an anagram in each line (i.e. "no safe seat at the feast").

Answer: Hugh Syme

Syme designed every Rush album from 1975's "Fly By Night" up to 2011's "Clockwork Angels," and has also worked with Dream Theater and Deep Blue Something, among other artists and groups. He also played piano on "Different Strings" and synthesizer on "Witch Hunt."