Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

According to a posting on the Rush fan site Power Windows, Zoe/Rounder has pushed back the projected U.S. release date of the DVD version of Rush's classic "Exit...Stage Left" concert film to March 7 from the previously announced February 7.

"Everything's been remixed to 5.1, and that was the intention — to keep it all intact, except for the remix," guitarist Alex Lifeson recently told Billboard.com. "So it's available in surround."

Lifeson told Billboard.com he enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane while refurbishing the material. "It was interesting to see the development in the arrangements, and how our sound changed over the course of a decade," he said. "I definitely found it fascinating, looking at that. And how the stage show changed over the years — of course, [in] 10 years a lot of stuff changes. But it was a little fascinating to watch that, actually."

"Exit...Stage Left" was filmed at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec on March 27, 1981 and was issued in 1981 on VHS/Laserdisk (out of print). The 60-minute video featured the following track listing:
1. Limelight
2. Tom Sawyer
3. The Trees
4. Instrumental
5. Xanadu
6. Red Barchetta
7. Free Will
8. Closer To The Heart
9. YYZ (with voice over)
10. By-Tor
11. Snow Dog/In The End/In The Mood/2112 Finale

Yep...I actually saw them on the 'mini-tour' they set up to promote 'Exit', they played 'Subdivisions' at the show...this was before they had started to record 'Signals'...I think they even wore the same clothes that night, LOL...

Yeah, those were the "Exit" shows, I think they had written some of Signals and had to go out and do some shows. They also did that for Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures. Hm.....playing the songs live = great albums. Hmmmmmm...

Sounds very interesting! Another DVD to buy soon.

What about the Grace Under Pressure show and A Show Of Hands? Those were supposed to be on DVD soon. I can't wait for those. I've only seen each movie once and they were great.

Steve, thanks for the information. I first saw the Exit Stage Left video on cable tv (I think) with a couple of buddies at a friend's house in the early 80's. It was amazing, of course, and certainly made me want a black Rick bass. I'll have to watch for the DVD release.

I remember watching ESL in 81 or 82 in my friend's basement and thought it was the best concert footage ever. To this day, it's still my favourite RUSH concert footage. I finally got around to buying a 4003 JG last month...all because of that film. The P/G (I saw them here in Toronto for that tour) and ASOH concert DVD's are also supposed to be released with ESL...all in one deluxe package. I'll be the first in line to buy that one for sure.

Alex, welcome... I agree, there was something about that Exit Stage Left video that was compelling.... and, I'm most certainly with you on lining up for those videos.

It's all the RED stage lighting!

Cole

Thanks for the welcome...you guys really know your stuff and this website is a great source for Ric info. I've been plying the waters in Ric's member forum for some time, but this one gives me a much more broad source of info.

As for the red lights, I read that the concert was filmed using polarized filters, which may have been a "cool" effect in the early 80's, but sucks from a visual point of view watching old VCR tapes. I hope they clean up the footage for the DVD.

What do you guys think of the R30 concert? Although I love RUSH for their music, I hate it when they do all those medleys...doesn't do the songs justice and I think it cheapens the songs quite a bit. Would have loved to see them perform Xanadu all the way through.

alex

For those who haven't seen it, the R30 concert will be broadcast on VH1 Classics this weekend.

Alex, they said that the medley at the beginning was a nod to some of the songs they wanted to do but couldn't, also some of their opening songs on those tours over the years made into one opener.

I guess they've played those songs so much over the years they can't really play them with too much conviction anymore. What would I pay to hear them play all of Hemispheres side one!!

They can all PLAY the old songs perfectly...it's just Ged can't hit the upper registers anymore.

Which blows my mind how Jon Anderson of Yes can still grab the high notes. Unreal.