Finally Rush is in The Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame

On March 4^th in 1981 I saw Rush for the first time at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. When I started going to concerts my Step-Dad told me he wasn’t going to pay for my new obsession, but if I could pay for my tickets I could go to as many shows as I wanted to. I shoveled snow, took out trash and all kinds of odd jobs around my neighborhood. I got the money together and got my ticket.

Now I was 15, it was a school night and when I started to leave the house my Mom wanted to know where I was going. I told her the Rush show and she said “oh no you’re not, it’s a school night” I told her that Bob had said if I could pay for my tickets I could go concerts. The look she shot him is something I will always chuckle about. Bob just said the boy was right and if I had the ticket I could go. I didn’t stick around for the conversation my ride was here and I was going to the Rush show.

We got to the show and it was kick-ass! After the show I went to the car and waited for the guys. I waited and I waited, until there was only a couple of cars left, the building was locked up, the lights where off and the only thing going on was the load-out for Rush. Later I found out they went to jail and didn’t even make the show, I guess it’s a bad idea to light up in front of the cops.

I walk about 4 maybe 5 miles through south city to uncle’s house, called my Mom and crashed for a couple of hours. My uncle dropped me off in the morning on his way to work and my Mom was pissed. She told me if I thought I was staying home from school that day I better check again. She made me go to school where needless to say I wasn’t my chipper self. I don’t really remember that day at school but the concert will stay with me forever.

I have now seen Rush 7 times and I will tell you this is one of the bands you should have on your bucket list. I have been to a lot of show and without a doubt Rush is one of the very best live shows I have ever seen.

http://youtu.be/odxUiWWLkTc