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Rush has a new animated video for “The Spirit of Radio” that honours Neil Peart and gives a nod to radio stations that helped the band

I’ve told the story many times before. One January day in 1980, some friends came over to my house to listen to the new Rush album, Permanent Waves. As side one, track one played, I scanned the liner notes. At the bottom of the lyrics for that first song was a footnote: “Inspired by the Spirit of Radio in Toronto, alive and well (so far).”

I was in my last year of high school and already thinking about a career in radio. My reaction was “Cool. My favourite band wrote a song about a radio station. Wouldn’t it be cool to work there one day?” Six years later, I walked in the door of CFNY-FM to take over the all-night shift. And all these decades later, I’m still there.

Two weeks ago, the march of 40th anniversary box sets continued with a vastly expanded edition of Permanent Waves.

Today (June 12), the band has released a new animated video for “The Spirit of Radio.” Note all the references to real radio stations and real DJs that helped Rush throughout their career. And if you don’t tear up over all the images of Neil, you’re not a fan.

Rolling Stone has this nice shout-out.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “Rush has a new animated video for “The Spirit of Radio” that honours Neil Peart and gives a nod to radio stations that helped the band

  • My radio station growing up in Wyoming was KOMA out of Oklahoma City. As I grew older and moved to a town with a true FM station, not the type we have now, I can remember hearing Moving Pictures and the DJ spinning other cuts from the album. Still enjoy FM, but it’s not the same.

    Reply
  • Oddly enough, that was the first song I ever heard by RUSH. DC101, from that point I saw RUSH 15 times. DC. Columbus. NYC. Indianapolis They have been my favorite band ever since. I miss their live music so much. Miss you Neil. RIP

    Reply

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