Moving Pictures Tour


The Moving Pictures Tour was a concert tour by Canadian rock band Rush in support of their eighth studio album, Moving Pictures.

Background

While preparing to enter the studio to record Moving Pictures, the band performed an isolated number of shows from September 11 to October 1, 1980 with Saxon as a support act. The tour began in Kalamazoo on February 20, 1981 and concluded on July 5 in East Troy. Max Webster, FM, Goddo and The Joe Perry Project were also opening acts for Rush on the tour. The March 27, 1981 performance in Montreal was recorded for the band's live album, Exit... Stage Left and its accompanying video. Each show was estimated to have cost $40,000 and featured back-projected film, pyrotechnics, and dry ice. 905,000 fans attended the shows overall, with the band making an estimated $4 million by the end of the tour.

Reception

John Griffin from the Montreal Gazette who attended the performance in Montreal, noted that Geddy Lee's vocals sounded like a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit, but praised both Lifeson, referring to his guitar playing as ordinary at best, and Peart, acknowledging his drumming as an interesting aspect that he made so little of the massive drum kit.
Don Adair, a reporter from the Spokesman-Review opened his review of the band's show in Spokane, stating that the band gave the nearly full coliseum their money's worth, stating that it was heavy metal all the way complete with flash pot and thunderous decibels. Adair praised the band as a healthy rock and roll band, stating that it wouldn't bait the kids with pandering Van Halenesque sex and booze references, and healthy to do a two hour show with minimum posturing and carry the show with their orchestrated music. He also praised the lighting and effects that contributed to the dynamics of the performance which were designed by Howard Ungerlieder. He however, criticized that the music took it far too seriously, calling it pretentious.
Roman Cooney from the Calgary Herald opened his review of the Edmonton performance, comparing Geddy Lee's vocals to a cat, but continued by stating that the band continued to push the heavy metal tide a little farther from imbecility. He claimed that if the band continued to spoil the heavy metal image and making their concerts more musically arresting than before, the group would be taken more seriously. Cooney commented on Peart's drum solo, noting it as "startlingly innovative". He later commented on the rest of the show with the band switching back and forth between "creative, exciting rock" and "insipid, banal exercises in needless noise and commotion". He concluded his review, stating that the band is becoming more adventurous on stage, being able to recreate the excitement their music had on vinyl.

Set list

These are example set lists adapted from Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History of what were performed during the tour, but may not represent the majority of the shows.
;1980 Setlist
  1. "2112: Overture/Temples of Syrinx"
  2. "Freewill"
  3. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"
  4. "Xanadu"
  5. "Limelight"
  6. "The Trees"
  7. "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres – Prelude"
  8. "The Spirit of Radio"
  9. "Closer to the Heart"
  10. "Beneath, Between and Behind"
  11. "Tom Sawyer"
  12. "Jacob's Ladder"
  13. "A Passage to Bangkok"
  14. "Natural Science"
  15. "Working Man"
  16. "Finding My Way"
  17. "Anthem"
  18. "Bastille Day"
  19. "In the Mood"
  20. ;Encore
  21. "La Villa Strangiato"
;1981 Setlist
  1. "2112: Overture/Temples of Syrinx"
  2. "Freewill"
  3. "Limelight"
  4. "Book II: Hemispheres – Prelude"
  5. "Beneath, Between and Behind"
  6. "The Camera Eye"
  7. "YYZ"
  8. "Broon's Bane"
  9. "The Trees"
  10. "Xanadu"
  11. "The Spirit of Radio"
  12. "Red Barchetta"
  13. "Closer to the Heart"
  14. "Tom Sawyer"
  15. "Vital Signs"
  16. "Natural Science"
  17. "Working Man"
  18. "Book II: Hemispheres – Armageddon"
  19. "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"
  20. "In the End"
  21. "In the Mood"
  22. "2112: Grand Finale"
  23. ;Encore
  24. "La Villa Strangiato"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenueOpening ActAttendance / Capacity / Gross
February 20, 1981KalamazooUnited StatesWings StadiumMax Webster7,888 / 8,596 / $80,852
February 21, 1981DubuqueUnited StatesFive Flags ArenaMax Webster3,945 / 4,500 / $33,533
February 22, 1981DavenportUnited StatesPalmer Alumni AuditoriumMax Webster??? / ??? / ???
February 24, 1981La CrosseUnited StatesLa Crosse CenterMax Webster4,608 / 7,000 / $34,560
February 26, 1981ChicagoUnited StatesInternational AmphitheatreMax Webster39,416 / 39,416 / $450,896
February 27, 1981ChicagoUnited StatesInternational AmphitheatreMax Webster39,416 / 39,416 / $450,896
February 28, 1981ChicagoUnited StatesInternational AmphitheatreMax Webster39,416 / 39,416 / $450,896
March 1, 1981ChicagoUnited StatesInternational AmphitheatreMax Webster39,416 / 39,416 / $450,896
March 2, 1981MilwaukeeUnited StatesMecca ArenaMax Webster9,741 / 9,741 / $98,990
March 4, 1981St. LouisUnited StatesCheckerdomeMax Webster22,788 / 22,788 / $212,824
March 5, 1981St. LouisUnited StatesCheckerdomeMax Webster22,788 / 22,788 / $212,824
March 7, 1981LouisvilleUnited StatesFreedom HallMax Webster8,145 / 8,145 / $66,670
March 8, 1981DaytonUnited StatesHara ArenaMax Webster8,000 / 8,000 / $44,000
March 10, 1981EvansvilleUnited StatesRoberts Municipal StadiumMax Webster5,054 / 10,000 / $39,585
March 11, 1981IndianapolisUnited StatesMarket Square ArenaMax Webster16,000 / 16,510 / $121,363
March 13, 1981DetroitUnited StatesCobo HallMax Webster34,809 / 34,809 / $353,100
March 14, 1981DetroitUnited StatesCobo HallMax Webster34,809 / 34,809 / $353,100
March 15, 1981DetroitUnited StatesCobo HallMax Webster34,809 / 34,809 / $353,100
March 21, 1981LondonCanadaLondon Ice HouseFM6,000 / 6,000 / C$57,000
March 23, 1981TorontoCanadaMaple Leaf GardensFM39,180 / 39,180 / C$411,390
March 24, 1981TorontoCanadaMaple Leaf GardensFM39,180 / 39,180 / C$411,390
March 25, 1981TorontoCanadaMaple Leaf GardensFM39,180 / 39,180 / C$411,390
March 27, 1981MontrealCanadaMontreal ForumMax Webster14,055 / 14,055 / C$133,523
March 28, 1981OttawaCanadaOttawa Civic CentreFM9,349 / 9,349 / C$88,816
April 3, 1981TucsonUnited StatesTucson Community CenterMax Webster8,407 / 8,407 / $79,867
April 4, 1981PhoenixUnited StatesArizona Veterans Memorial ColiseumMax Webster??? / ??? / ???
April 5, 1981AlbuquerqueUnited StatesTingley ColiseumMax Webster10,153 / 10,153 / $86,301
April 7, 1981HoustonUnited StatesSam Houston ColiseumMax Webster18,926 / 18,926 / $189,260
April 8, 1981HoustonUnited StatesSam Houston ColiseumMax Webster18,926 / 18,926 / $189,260
April 10, 1981DallasUnited StatesReunion ArenaMax Webster15,439 / 15,439 / $154,390
April 11, 1981San AntonioUnited StatesConvention CenterMax Webster14,118 / 14,118 / $137,651
April 12, 1981Fort WorthUnited StatesTarrant County Convention CenterMax Webster13,766 / 13,766 / $137,660
April 14, 1981Little RockUnited StatesT.H. Barton ColiseumMax Webster5,251 / 10,250 / $49,689
April 15, 1981JacksonUnited StatesMississippi ColiseumMax Webster6,676 / 10,000 / $62,339
April 16, 1981MemphisUnited StatesMid-South ColiseumMax Webster9,537 / 9,537 / $83,523
April 18, 1981MobileUnited StatesMunicipal Auditoriumrowspan="7" 9,772 / 9,772 / $92,834
April 19, 1981New OrleansUnited StatesMunicipal Auditorium8,100 / 8,100 / $89,100-
April 21, 1981ShreveportUnited StatesHirsch Memorial Coliseum8,182 / 8,182 / $77,729-
April 23, 1981Kansas CityUnited StatesKemper Arena24,438 / 24,438 / $230,280-
April 24, 1981Kansas CityUnited StatesKemper Arena24,438 / 24,438 / $230,280-
April 25, 1981Oklahoma CityUnited StatesMyriad Arena13,552 / 13,552 / $135,520-
April 26, 1981TulsaUnited StatesTulsa Assembly Center5,287 / 8,000 / $50,227-
May 6, 1981PittsburghUnited StatesCivic ArenaFM13,265 / 13,265 / $140,020
May 7, 1981RichfieldUnited StatesRichfield ColiseumFM30,600 / 30,600 / $275,890
May 8, 1981RichfieldUnited StatesRichfield ColiseumFM30,600 / 30,600 / $275,890
May 9, 1981BuffaloUnited StatesBuffalo Memorial AuditoriumFM15,020 / 15,020 / $135,180
May 11, 1981BinghamtonUnited StatesBroome County Memorial ArenaFM5,558 / 7,000 / $58,359
May 12, 1981RochesterUnited StatesRochester Community War MemorialFM10,130 / 10,130 / $107,100
May 13, 1981SyracuseUnited StatesOnondaga County War Memorial AuditoriumFM7,072 / 8,200 / $63,648
May 15, 1981Glens FallsUnited StatesGlens Falls Civic CenterFM6,759 / 6,759 / $66,000
May 16, 1981LandoverUnited StatesCapital CentreFM37,252 / 37,252 / $348,306
May 17, 1981LandoverUnited StatesCapital CentreFM37,252 / 37,252 / $348,306
May 18, 1981New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square GardenFM17,292 / 17,292 / $195,000
May 20, 1981UniondaleUnited StatesNassau ColiseumFM10,567 / 12,500 / $116,237
May 22, 1981PhiladelphiaUnited StatesSpectrumFM15,423 / 15,423 / $137,703
May 23, 1981BostonUnited StatesBoston GardenFM11,406 / 11,406 / $120,391
May 24, 1981ProvidenceUnited StatesProvidence Civic CenterFM10,408 / 10,408 / $93,251
June 1, 1981DenverUnited StatesMcNichols Sports ArenaFM??? / ??? / ???
June 3, 1981Salt Lake CityUnited StatesSalt PalaceFM??? / ??? / ???
June 5, 1981OaklandUnited StatesOakland-Alameda County Coliseum ArenaFM23,752 / 23,752 / $212,668
June 6, 1981OaklandUnited StatesOakland-Alameda County Coliseum ArenaFM23,752 / 23,752 / $212,668
June 7, 1981FresnoUnited StatesSelland ArenaFM6,995 / 6,995 / $66,291
June 9, 1981San DiegoUnited StatesSan Diego Sports ArenaFM12,339 / 12,339 / $114,670
June 10, 1981InglewoodUnited StatesThe ForumFM29,344 / 29,344 / $275,240
June 11, 1981InglewoodUnited StatesThe ForumFM29,344 / 29,344 / $275,240
June 12, 1981AnaheimUnited StatesConvention CenterFM7,321 / 7,321 / $74,884
June 14, 1981Long BeachUnited StatesLong Beach ArenaFM12,796 / 12,796 / $131,438
June 15, 1981Las VegasUnited StatesAladdin Theatrerowspan="2" 7,450 / 7,450 / $89,400
June 16, 1981RenoUnited StatesCentennial Coliseum6,500 / 6,500 / $61,750-
June 18, 1981SeattleUnited StatesSeattle Center ColiseumFM24,640 / 24,640 / $237,324
June 19, 1981SeattleUnited StatesSeattle Center ColiseumFM24,640 / 24,640 / $237,324
June 20, 1981PortlandUnited StatesMemorial ColiseumFM9,780 / 9,780 / $98,944
June 21, 1981SpokaneUnited StatesSpokane ColiseumFM6,172 / 6,172 / $53,930
June 23, 1981VancouverCanadaPacific ColiseumGoddo11,645 / 11,645 / C$121,668
June 25, 1981EdmontonCanadaNorthlands ColiseumGoddo11,363 / 11,363 / C$129,661
July 2, 1981BloomingtonUnited StatesMetropolitan Sports CenterThe Joe Perry Project23,691 / 23,691 / $249,390
July 3, 1981BloomingtonUnited StatesMetropolitan Sports CenterThe Joe Perry Project23,691 / 23,691 / $249,390
July 4, 1981East TroyUnited StatesAlpine Valley Music TheatreThe Joe Perry Project28,211 / 40,000 / $394,900
July 5, 1981East TroyUnited StatesAlpine Valley Music TheatreThe Joe Perry Project28,211 / 40,000 / $394,900

Personnel