NO COMPROMISE

A picture of Rush? Why not!

I am typing this on a Saturday morning, so you won’t see this until either Sunday or Monday, depending on how I schedule it. No matter how many bands/artists influenced me over the years, if there’s one band that really made a severe dent in my skull, it’s the power trio from Canada.

As I sit here listening to HEMISPHERES with my headphones on, I am always reminded of what compelled me to be the guitarist/musician that I became. And if there’s one thing the late great Neil Peart said in an interview: “Compromise is not a word in my dictionary” (or something to that effect).

As a pre-teen, I was grooving to my Atari video games as well as bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, Cheap Trick, Kiss and Bay City Rollers (no shame here, not one to act “too cool for school” because I will never be cool). I don’t miss my youth at all but I have those fleeting moments of nostalgia where for a brief period, it was cool to be a kid. Almost.

I heard this strange noise come through my radio after hearing (and taping) Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” on WNEW. What is this?! I listened a bit more…and was sucked in. At the end of it, the DJ said, “That was brand new Rush from the album MOVING PICTURES called ‘Tom Sawyer’.” My 11-year-old brain couldn’t process this sci-fi sound. I had to have more of this!

I bought MP on cassette and my world changed. And I wasn’t even really learning guitar (that’s where Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore came in a year later). I was fixated on this band, this sound. I was teased for liking them (and other bands…life in North Arlington sucked). When I really focused on learning guitar, after figuring out Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and The Cars “Drive”, I had to tackle Rush songs.

There’s no such thing as an easy Rush song.

I learned about time signatures and funny chords as if the band invented them. I had to be a great musician. NO COMPROMISE! Yes, I honestly convinced myself in my halcyon days that if I wasn’t a great guitarist, nobody would like me.

Oh I was so wrong there.

Here I am many years later, still with the same perfectionism and undying appetite to grow as a musician. Others are content with “This is what I know, so leave me alone” but not me. You can thank or blame Rush for who/how/why I am the way I am. I still get excited hearing them, whether it’s “La Villa Strangiato” or “Time Stand Still”, or a deep cut like “Alien Shore”.

Now to crank that F#7add11 chord…