Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage


Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage is a 2010 documentary film directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn. The film offers an in-depth look at the Canadian hard rock band Rush, chronicling the band's history and musical evolution. The film made its debut at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, where it earned the 2010 Audience Award. The film was also nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at 53rd Grammy Awards, losing to When You're Strange, a documentary about The Doors. A limited theatrical run began on June 10, 2010 and the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the US and Canada on June 29 of that year. John Rutsey, the band's original drummer, died in 2008; tape-recorded comments from him are incorporated into the film.

Interviews

Individuals are listed in alphabetical order.
Musicians
CelebrityBand
Sebastian BachSkid Row
Jack BlackTenacious D
Mick BoxUriah Heep
Danny CareyTool
Jimmy ChamberlinThe Smashing Pumpkins
Les ClaypoolPrimus
Tim CommerfordRage Against the Machine
Billy CorganThe Smashing Pumpkins
Freddie GruberFreddie Gruber
Kirk HammettMetallica
Taylor HawkinsFoo Fighters
Jason McGerrDeath Cab for Cutie
Kim MitchellMax Webster
Vinnie PaulPantera
Mike PortnoyDream Theater
Trent ReznorNine Inch Nails
Gene SimmonsKiss
Matt StoneDVDA
Zakk WyldeBlack Label Society

Non-musicians
NameDescription
Liam BirtTour manager
Terry BrownRush's producer, 1975–1982
Cliff BurnsteinQ Prime Management
Frank CiampaFan
John BaicichFan
Peter CollinsRush's producer, 1985–1987, 1993–1996
Ray DannielsBand manager
Donna HalperMedia historian, former music director for WMMS
Rupert HineRush's producer, 1989–1991
Kelly ParisFan
Glen and Betty PeartNeil Peart's parents
Nick RaskulineczRush's producer, 2006–2012
John RobertsFox News Channel anchor, former MuchMusic video jockey
Christopher SchnebergerFan
Kevin ShirleyEngineer, 1993
Howard UngerleiderTour lighting designer
Mary WeinribGeddy Lee's mother
Vic WilsonFormer band manager
Melanija ZivojinovichAlex Lifeson's mother

Release

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage premiered on VH1 on June 26, 2010.

DVD

The DVD issue consists of two discs, with the film on one and a collection of deleted/extended scenes and live performances on the other.

Deleted/extended scenes

  • Being Bullied and The Search for the First Gig
  • Reflections on the album HemispheresPresto and "Roll the Bones" Rap
  • The Rush Fashion
  • Hobbies on the Road
  • Rush Trekkies
  • Pre-Gig Warm-Up - An extended version of the backstage footage shown at the start of the film
  • Dinner with Rush at a Hunting Lodge - An extended version of the footage shown during the film's closing credits

Live performances

Combined, the two discs include over three hours of content.

Reception

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics.