Album Reviews : Rush – Beyond The Lighted Stage (DVD)

Canada’s biggest and most successful band – only behind Elvis and The Beatles with the most US Platinum and Gold records – Rush have never been middle-of-the-road popular, but have maintained a massive global fan base across their four decade plus career. Produced and directed Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, who also helmed Iron Maiden’s fantastic “Flight 666” documentary and also the equally great “Headbanger’s Journey” and “Global Metal” films, “Beyond the Lighted Stage” is the remarkable story of one of rock music’s greatest trios.

Carrying on the same extremely high standards of the producers previous films, “Beyond The Lighted Stage” is a truly magnificent documentary, with the three-piece’s vast journey almost completely covered, with struggles with record labels, lack of mainstream acceptance and endless musical experimentation all thoroughly explored.  Vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee takes up most of the screen time, with multi-instrumentalist exuding a softly spoken charm and for a majority of the film becomes the captivating narrator. Master percussionist Neil Peart is undoubtedly the most interesting member of the band, with the drummer’s well-known struggles with fame and the tragic loss of his wife and daughter becoming some of the standout scenes in the movie, along with the scenes exploring the lifelong friendship between Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson.

Including a huge selection of very well-known guest interviewee’s, including Jack Black, Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Zakk Wylde, Gene Simmons, Mike Portnoy, Vinnie Paul and more, “Beyond The Lighted Stage” is so well scripted and compiled that it will easily keep the interest of the most die-hard Rush aficionado to someone completely unfamiliar with the band’s music. With a second disc full of whole host of extras, including a few deleted and extended scenes and half a dozen live performances from across the years, “Beyond The Lighted Stage” is an absolute must for even the most casual Rush fan.

Band: Rush
Title: Beyond The Lighted Stage (DVD)
Directors: Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn
Year: 2010
Genre: Progressive Rock/Metal
Origin:
Distribution: Banger Films, Inc.