RUSH 2112 BY DAVE KLOC

I got into Rush late in life (my 20's) and I was not prepared for what discovering their glory would do to me. I grew up a Primus fan, so a bass-driven, mega 3-piece band was already very much my speed but Rush felt like meeting a long-lost brother I had only hoped existed. Instantly, after getting into Rush I found the joy of taking on a new album as an entire work of creativity and craftsmanship and like no other band i've heard, they made that feel like a vacation rather than homework.

I started with Hemispheres and then Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves but man... when I got to 2112 and the monolithic titular intro track, it was like hitting musical oil. MANY years later, after my career had somehow become a band poster artist, I always answered the question of "What band would you like to work for the most?" - with a simple "RUSH but... they don't make music or tour anymore..."

So when I was asked to illustrate a piece for the 50th anniversary of this masterwork, I was both excited and deeply intimidated. I wanted to show the band, in their era specific robes, that was for sure. And I knew I had to include the Temple of Syrinx and I wanted to show the push and pull of technology with the ancient learned ways so drew these glowing literary vacuum tubes throughout the piece. But most of all I kept returning to the lyric "Let the banners be unfurled. Hold the red star proudly high in hand." and that's what I started sketching and built the temple around that.

Within the floating orbs that Geddy, Alex and Neil travel in - you'll see them with their instruments, bass, guitar, drumsticks and notebook - respectively. One of the things I've loved most about being a Rush fan is talking to other fans and seeing the enthusiasm that they all share for the band and the history they created. So I hope this piece exudes the same feeling that we all have as fans of the band, forever enjoying the connection to the music and Neil's timeless lyrics.