By Steve Newton
I’m not a huge fan of the Junos. Being mainly a rock and blues fan into guitar-based music, the mainstream Canadian pop acts normally celebrated by the annual awards show don’t really turn my crank. If I don’t get to hear any Drake, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, Shania Twain, the Weeknd, Celine Dion, or Michael Bublé, I’m just fine.
And I’ve noticed over the years that some of the heavier Canadian bands that I enjoy tend to get beaten out for Junos by other less authentic or worthy nominees. Take Rush, for example. Did you know that they didn’t score a best album Juno Award until 1991’s Presto?
Not only that, but back in 1978 their monumental A Farewell to Kings LP got edged out by a Dan Hill disc. And in ’86 their epic Power Windows lost out to a Glass Tiger CD.
I mean, come on! It was no big surprise when those famously braindead twats down at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame refused to induct Rush for ages once they were eligible, but you do expect a little more appreciation from their home and native land.
Everything changed for five minutes last night, though, as Rush stole the awards show with an unexpected performance, its first live appearance in 10 years. It was also the first time the trio was seen with new drummer Anika Nilles, who is manning the drum spot normally held by Neil Peart, who died in 2020 after a private battle with brain cancer.
I thought it was cool that the band went all the way back to its self-titled 1974 debut album to deliver some much-needed raunch, most of it coming via Alex Lifeson‘s nicely cranked Les Paul. Although he’s pushing 73, Geddy Lee can still sing like a banshee. And Nilles proved herself a worthy successor to Peart, in my books.
I just found it a little weird that, in the YouTube video posted by CBC Music, while there were plenty of images of Peart flashed on the video screens, I couldn’t spot any of original Rush drummer John Rutsey, who actually played on “Finding My Way”. Come on guys, we all miss Neil, but give poor John Rutsey his due why don’tcha?
To hear the full audio of my interviews with Rush’s Geddy Lee from 1997 and 2002–and my interview with Alex Lifeson from 1992 as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 600 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with such artists as:
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Alex Van Halen, 1995
Eric Johnson, 2001