Editing Rush (band) (section)

===1968–1974: early years and debut album===
[[File:Alex Lifeson.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Alex Lifeson, guitarist and co-founder of Rush]]

The band was formed in the neighbourhood of [[Willowdale, Toronto|Willowdale]] in Toronto, Ontario, by guitarist [[Alex Lifeson]], bassist and frontman [[Jeff Jones (bassist)|Jeff Jones]], and drummer [[John Rutsey]], in August 1968.<ref name="RV88"/> Lifeson and Rutsey had been friends since a young age and played together in a short-lived band, The Projection (formerly known as The Lost Cause).{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|p=16-17}}<ref name=familytree>{{cite web |url=https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2018/09/17/5149/50th-anniversary-of-Rushs-first-show |title=Rush is a Band Blog: 50th anniversary of Rush's first show |website= rushisaband.com |access-date=April 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Banasiewicz |first= Bill |title= Rush Visions: The Official Biography (excerpt) |url= http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/BanasiewiczVisions.htm |access-date=March 10, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071011130610/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/BanasiewiczVisions.htm |archive-date= October 11, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Afterward the two stuck together and brought in Jones to form a new group; their first gig was in September at the Coff-Inn, a youth centre in the basement of St. Theodore of Canterbury Anglican Church in Willowdale; they were paid CA$25.<ref name=RV88/><ref name="PROG13">{{cite web |last=Elliot |first=Paul |date=April 2013 |title=PROG: Rush Limited Edition – Men at Work |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20130400prog.htm |access-date=December 27, 2018 |website=Prog |issue=35 |archive-date=December 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035100/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20130400prog.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> They had not named themselves at the time of the booking; Rutsey's brother Bill thought they needed a name that was short and to the point. He suggested Rush, and the group went with it.<ref name="LS16">{{cite web |last=Elliott |first=Paul |date=February 3, 2016 |title=The History of Rush by Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson: The Early Years |url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-02-03/rush-s-early-years-exclusive-interview-with-geddy-lee-alex-lifeson |access-date=February 6, 2017 |publisher=Loudersound |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125175241/http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-02-03/rush-s-early-years-exclusive-interview-with-geddy-lee-alex-lifeson |url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to increasing difficulties in getting to Lifeson's house for practice, Jones suggested that Lifeson get his schoolmate Gary "Geddy" Weinrib to step in on lead vocals and bass.<ref name="JONES22">{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Andrew |date=November 7, 2022 |title=Rush before Geddy Lee: meet the bass player who stepped aside |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/rush-before-geddy-lee-meet-the-bass-player-who-stepped-aside |access-date=December 13, 2022 |publisher=Loudersound }}</ref> Weinrib replaced Jones as Rush's frontman, adopting the stage name [[Geddy Lee]]. Rush rehearsed a set mainly formed of covers by various rock artists, including [[Cream (band)|Cream]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], and [[John Mayall]]. The band underwent several line-up configurations that included Lindy Young (who was recruited in early 1969) on keyboards and various instruments, and Mitch Bossi on second guitar (later on, in 1971).<ref name=RV88/> Shortly after becoming a four-piece band of Lee, Lifeson, Young and Rutsey, [[Ray Danniels]] was hired to be their manager. As Lee recounted years later, 
{{blockquote|Ray came along. He had no real reputation yet as a manager or anything. He was just kind of an agent working in Toronto. So he started directing the band and he just thought I wasn't suitable, for whatever reasons he had. I don't know whether it was the way I looked, or my religious background – who the f--- knew? Anyway, he influenced them and they went along with it, Alex Lifeson and John Rutsey, and I was out.<ref name=UCR_Lee_talks>[https://ultimateclassicrock.com/geddy-lee-talks-about-getting-fired-from-rush-in-the-early-days/ "Geddy Lee Talks About Getting Fired From Rush In The Early Days"]. ultimateclassicrock.com, June 2, 2012.</ref>}}

With Lee kicked out of the band in spring 1969, Rutsey recruited new bassist and vocalist Joe Perna, and the group of Lifeson, Rutsey, Young and Perna named themselves Hadrian. But after a disastrous gig with Perna, Rutsey invited Lee back in September 1969 and the group resumed as Rush.<ref name=PROG13/> Lee stated, "I started a blues band (named Ogilvie, then Judd, and joined by Lindy Young<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.cygnus-x1.net/2018/09/geddy-lee-joined-rush-fifty-years-ago.html | title=Geddy Lee Joined Rush Fifty Years Ago Today | date=September 25, 2018 }}</ref>) and I was, frankly speaking, doing better than they were. Then I got a call from John and he said, 'Can we get together?' Basically, 'Can you come back? We're sorry.{{'"}}<ref name=UCR_Lee_talks /> Second guitarist Mitch Bossi joined during the first half of 1971<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.2112.net/powerwindows/tours/700000mitchbossi.htm | title=Rush with Mitch Bossi, Fall 1970 - Spring 1971 }}</ref> but after that, the band stabilized as a trio of Lifeson, Rutsey and Lee.{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|p=35-36}} They kept Danniels as their manager, with his business partner and agent Vic Wilson sharing duties.<ref name=RV88/>

Rush honed their skills with regular gigs, initially touring the Ontario high school circuit. In 1971, the legal drinking age was decreased from 21 to 18, allowing the band to play bars and clubs. Lee said it was at this point that Rush turned "from a basement garage band that played the occasional high school gig to a regular working band playing six days a week."<ref name=PROG13/><ref name=SUP85/> A demo tape was then shipped to various record labels, but Rush were unable to secure a deal, leading to the formation of their own label, [[Moon Records (Canada)|Moon Records]], with Danniels.<ref>{{cite web |last=Somers |first=Marcie |date=July 4, 2007 |title=Geddy Lee of Rush – Making Music |url=http://www.popentertainment.com/rush.htm |access-date=July 15, 2019 |website=Pop Entertainment |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715043928/http://www.popentertainment.com/rush.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Rush entered the studio in 1973 to record their first single; their cover of "[[Not Fade Away (song)#Rush version|Not Fade Away]]" by [[Buddy Holly]] was chosen as it had become a crowd favourite. "You Can't Fight It", an original song, was put on the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]]. Released in September, it went to No. 88 on the Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles chart. That same month, Rush performed their first major gig, opening for the [[New York Dolls]] in Toronto, and finished putting down tracks for their first album. The initial sessions produced undesirable results over the sound quality, so tracks were recut and remixed with a new engineer, [[Terry Brown (record producer)|Terry Brown]].<ref name=MR74/> Danniels sold his management company to help raise funds to make the record.<ref name=BH82/> Rutsey wrote the lyrics, but tore them up on the day Lee was to record them and would not produce a new set. Lee quickly wrote a fresh set based on earlier versions, which was used on the final takes.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|pp=13–14}}

[[File:Rush logo.png|thumb|left|The first Rush logo, as seen on their debut album]]
The debut album, ''[[Rush (Rush album)|Rush]]'', was released in March 1974; the initial pressing of 3,500 copies quickly sold out.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kerridge-Porter |first=Nathan |date=March 21, 2014 |title=Rush Reissue Their 1974 Self-Titled Moon Records |url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2014/03/21/rush-reissue-their-1974-self-titled-moon-records/ |access-date=January 4, 2021 |publisher=Entertainment Focus |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204163117/https://entertainment-focus.com/2014/03/21/rush-reissue-their-1974-self-titled-moon-records/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It went on to peak at No. 86 on the ''RPM'' Top Albums chart. Most critics considered the album highly derivative of [[Led Zeppelin]].<ref name="Led Zeppelin" /> It saw a limited release until it was picked up by [[Donna Halper]], a music director and DJ at rock station [[WMMS]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio. She added "[[Working Man]]" to the station's regular playlist, and the song's blue-collar theme resonated with hard rock fans in the predominantly working class city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halper |first=Donna |title=The Rush Discovery Story |url=http://www.rushtrader.com/interviews/discovery.htm |access-date=February 6, 2017 |website=RushTrader |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624191019/http://www.rushtrader.com/interviews/discovery.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 1974, Danniels signed Rush to the American booking agency ATI, of which executive Ira Blacker sent a copy of ''Rush'' to [[Mercury Records]]. The record caught the attention of [[A&R]] man Cliff Burnstein, who signed Rush with a $75,000 advance as part of a $200,000 deal.{{sfn|Popoff|2004|p=16}}<ref name="MR74">{{cite web |date=July 17, 1974 |title='RUSH' Press Kit |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740717mercurybio.htm |access-date=January 5, 2021 |publisher=Mercury Records |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206110047/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19740717mercurybio.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BH82">{{cite web |last=Harrigan |first=Brian |date=1982 |title=RUSH – By Brian Harrigan |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19820000harriganrush.htm |access-date=January 1, 2021 |archive-date=January 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110224208/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19820000harriganrush.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following a series of Canadian dates, Rutsey played his last gig with the band on July 25. His preference for more straightforward rock was incompatible with the more complex music that Lifeson and Lee had written, and Lee recalled that Rutsey had a general distaste for life as a touring musician.<ref name="SUP85">{{cite web |last=Gett |first=Steve |year=1985 |title=Books – Success Under Pressure by Steve Gett |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19850100gettsuccess.htm |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915145909/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/19850100gettsuccess.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> His [[Type 1 diabetes]] caused further complications, as he required frequent hospital visits to have tests and receive insulin.<ref name=PROG13/><ref name="TCS11">{{cite web |date=April 6, 2011 |title=The Girl Who Loved Rush: Donna Halper |url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20110406clevelandsound.htm |access-date=January 1, 2021 |website=The Cleveland Sound |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204004803/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20110406clevelandsound.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Since October 1973, Rutsey's health had often been too critical for him to perform; in the months prior to his departure, Rush temporarily replaced him with a substitute drummer, Gerry Fielding.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Taylor|first=Peter|date=October 20, 1973|title=Nuts & Bolts|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/70s/RPM-1973-10-20-OCR-Page-0007.pdf |access-date=April 22, 2024 |magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]}}</ref><ref name=LS16/>