Roll the Bones Tour


The Roll the Bones Tour was a concert tour by Canadian rock band Rush in support of their fourteenth studio album Roll the Bones.

Background

The tour kicked off October 25, 1991 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario and culminated on June 28, 1992 at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois, estimated to have performed to more than 960,000 fans. Guitarist Eric Johnson was the initial opening act in the autumn of 1991, following the band losing a Grammy nomination for "Rush instrumentals#Where's My Thing?|Where's My Thing?]" to Johnson's "Cliffs of Dover". American rock band Primus were the opening act for Rush later on this tour when Johnson canceled his last two weeks on the first leg as an opening act, as well as Vinnie Moore and Mr. Big. Opening for the band's hometown show in Toronto, Ontario on December 16 was The Tragically Hip, which was set up as a benefit for United Way, alongside the Daily Bread Food Bank - in which the audience had donated fifty thousand pounds of food. The band included super-sized screens, laser lights and moving pictures throughout their performances.
In Sacramento on January 27, 1992, the band performed what they had considered their worst show, as they performed to an unruly audience who threw objects at the band throughout the performance. Prior to the show, Rush refused to perform "general admission" performances due to rowdiness, potential injury and death in the crowd, but was booked to perform the show and was unexpectedly general admission.

Reception

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazettes John Hayes, reviewing the Pittsburgh performance on October 28, 1991, opined that Rush had found an effective formula that held the attention of rock fans after the release of twenty albums and a long history of successful concert tours, later stating that the shows are kept alive by the "sheer talent" of the band members. Notifying the Roll the Bones Tour as one of the biggest productions on the road, he acknowledged the stage's usage of lasers, lighting, special effects, a rotating drum platform during Peart's solo and inflatable rabbits throughout the show.
Reviewing the Burgettstown concert on June 21, 1992, Kurt Bruner of the Observer-Reporter opened that the trio pulled no punches and was a knockout, sending the audience who was predominantly late 20s to middle aged reeling. He expressed on the usage of special effects and lighting, praising its usage in highlighting the songs performed, as well as the choreographed lasers and lights during Peart's drum solo, which he also noted as "outstanding", "superb" and as one of the memorable aspects of the show. He acknowledged the band, stating that they looked to be enjoying themselves without exerting much effort - as well as praising the stage design as simple, with only a ramp featured around the band.
The Toledo Blades Ralph Kisiel, reviewing the Toledo performance, stated that Rush still showed that they could do their performances with "intensity" and "imagination". Noting on the audience, Kisiel commented that the overwhelming responses and emotions of the audience were whipped up quickly when the band performed crowd favorites, and when the show was over, had left fans satisfied. Kisiel continued, saying the band "clearly illustatrated that they can rock and rattle your bones for more than two hours".

Set list

This is an example set list 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. For the encore, the band performed a medley of older material, which would feature a minute of each song for the medley. This was also the first and only Rush tour to not feature "YYZ" in the setlist since the song's release.
  1. "Force Ten"
  2. "Limelight"
  3. "Freewill"
  4. "Distant Early Warning"
  5. "Time Stand Still"
  6. "Dreamline"
  7. "Bravado"
  8. "Roll the Bones"
  9. "Show Don't Tell"
  10. "The Big Money"
  11. "Ghost of a Chance"
  12. "Subdivisions"
  13. "The Pass"
  14. "The Trees"
  15. "Where's My Thing?"
  16. "The Rhythm Method"
  17. "Closer to the Heart"
  18. "Xanadu"
  19. "Superconductor"
  20. "Tom Sawyer"
  21. ;Encore
  22. "The Spirit of Radio"
  23. Medley: "2112" / "Finding My Way" / "La Villa Strangiato" / "Anthem" / "Red Barchetta" / "The Spirit of Radio"
  24. "Cygnus X-1"

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenueAttendance / Capacity / Gross
January 18, 1992Las CrucesUnited StatesPan American Center9,803 / 9,803 / $196,060
January 20, 1992San DiegoUnited StatesSan Diego Sports Arena11,607 / 12,068 / $241,317
January 22, 1992InglewoodUnited StatesGreat Western Forum29,316 / 29,316 / $653,664
January 23, 1992InglewoodUnited StatesGreat Western Forum29,316 / 29,316 / $653,664
January 25, 1992FresnoUnited StatesSelland Arena9,011 / 9,011 / $156,640
January 27, 1992SacramentoUnited StatesARCO Arena11,067 / 12,000 / $250,710
January 29, 1992OaklandUnited StatesOakland Arena25,254 / 25,254 / $571,940
January 30, 1992OaklandUnited StatesOakland Arena25,254 / 25,254 / $571,940
February 2, 1992VancouverCanadaPacific Coliseum9,000 / 16,123 / $250,205
February 4, 1992SeattleUnited StatesSeattle Center Coliseum12,453 / 12,453 / $274,610
February 5, 1992PortlandUnited StatesMemorial Coliseum8,826 / 9,500 / $203,429
February 15, 1992San AntonioUnited StatesHemisFair Arena11,491 / 14,518 / $212,438
February 16, 1992DallasUnited StatesReunion Arena14,690 / 14,690 / $317,466
February 18, 1992HoustonUnited StatesThe Summit11,784 / 13,608 / $274,431
February 20, 1992AustinUnited StatesFrank Erwin Center9,222 / 12,589 / $190,314
February 22, 1992ShreveportUnited StatesHirsch Memorial Coliseum-
February 23, 1992New OrleansUnited StatesLakefront Arena7,495 / 7,495 / $160,904
February 25, 1992PensacolaUnited StatesPensacola Civic Center6,190 / 7,500 / $129,990
February 26, 1992JacksonvilleUnited StatesJacksonville Coliseum5,166 / 6,000 / $116,235
February 28, 1992MiamiUnited StatesMiami Arena12,364 / 12,364 / $295,428
February 29, 1992St. PetersburgUnited StatesFlorida Suncoast Dome12,075 / 12,500 / $271,688
March 2, 1992OrlandoUnited StatesOrlando Arena10,859 / 10,859 / $244,328
March 4, 1992AtlantaUnited StatesOmni Coliseum13,966 / 13,966 / $309,569
March 5, 1992ColumbiaUnited StatesCarolina Coliseum5,616 / 8,712 / $115,128
March 7, 1992Chapel HillUnited StatesDean Smith Center11,039 / 13,114 / $226,300
March 8, 1992HamptonUnited StatesHampton Coliseum7,653 / 9,880 / $149,234
March 10, 1992RichmondUnited StatesRichmond Coliseum5,152 / 9,692 / $100,464
March 12, 1992BinghamtonUnited StatesBroome County Veterans Memorial Arena5,627 / 5,800 / $139,112
March 14, 1992New HavenUnited StatesNew Haven Coliseum8,881 / 9,500 / $197,850
March 15, 1992UniondaleUnited StatesNassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum15,290 / 15,503 / $347,855
April 10, 1992SheffieldEnglandSheffield Arena??? / ??? / ???
April 12, 1992BirminghamEnglandNational Exhibition Centre??? / ??? / ???
April 13, 1992BirminghamEnglandNational Exhibition Centre??? / ??? / ???
April 15, 1992GlasgowScotlandScottish Exhibition and Conference Centre??? / ??? / ???
April 17, 1992LondonEnglandWembley Arena??? / ??? / ???
April 18, 1992LondonEnglandWembley Arena??? / ??? / ???
April 21, 1992HanoverGermanyMusic Hall??? / ??? / ???
April 23, 1992CologneGermanySporthalle??? / ??? / ???
April 24, 1992FrankfurtGermanyFesthalle Frankfurt??? / ??? / ???
April 27, 1992BerlinGermanyEissporthalle an der Jafféstraße??? / ??? / ???
April 28, 1992NurembergGermanyFrankenhalle??? / ??? / ???
April 29, 1992StuttgartGermanyHanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle??? / ??? / ???
May 1, 1992ParisFranceLe Zénith5,000 / 6,293 / $130,211
May 3, 1992RotterdamNetherlandsRotterdam Ahoy??? / ??? / ???
May 21, 1992MemphisUnited StatesMid-South Coliseum6,503 / 8,500 / $120,306
May 23, 1992Kansas CityUnited StatesKemper Arena9,544 / 16,871 / $194,682
May 24, 1992Valley CenterUnited StatesKansas Coliseum5,541 / 9,237 / $110,820
May 25, 1992Oklahoma CityUnited StatesMyriad Convention Center6,796 / 10,500 / $140,843
May 27, 1992Greenwood VillageUnited StatesFiddler's Green Amphitheatre16,212 / 17,990 / $277,806
May 29, 1992Salt Lake CityUnited StatesDelta Center11,046 / 14,000 / $221,998
May 31, 1992Mountain ViewUnited StatesShoreline Amphitheatre15,691 / 20,000 / $306,356
June 1, 1992RenoUnited StatesLawlor Events Center4,236 / 8,500 / $95,310
June 3, 1992IrvineUnited StatesIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre28,492 / 30,000 / $724,294
June 4, 1992IrvineUnited StatesIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre28,492 / 30,000 / $724,294
June 6, 1992Las VegasUnited StatesThomas & Mack Center8,993 / 10,500 / $206,198
June 7, 1992PhoenixUnited StatesDesert Sky Pavilion14,523 / 19,945 / $294,957
June 9, 1992AlbuquerqueUnited StatesTingley Coliseum5,916 / 7,500 / $115,974
June 10, 1992LubbockUnited StatesLubbock Municipal Coliseum7,199 / 7,199 / $140,746
June 12, 1992Maryland HeightsUnited StatesRiverport Amphitheatre13,955 / 19,861 / $254,910
June 13, 1992NashvilleUnited StatesStarwood Amphitheatre8,426 / 17,128 / $122,247
June 14, 1992CharlotteUnited StatesBlockbuster Pavilion6,440 / 18,728 / $129,839
June 16, 1992ColumbiaUnited StatesMerriweather Post Pavilion11,600 / 15,772 / $239,770
June 17, 1992MansfieldUnited StatesGreat Woods PAC14,978 / 14,978 / $299,997
June 19, 1992East RutherfordUnited StatesBrendan Byrne Arena15,634 / 18,650 / $335,081
June 20, 1992WantaghUnited StatesJones Beach Amphitheater10,700 / 10,700 / $279,365
June 21, 1992BurgettstownUnited StatesStar Lake Amphitheater13,129 / 20,131 / $184,752
June 23, 1992FairbornUnited StatesNutter Center9,026 / 9,324 / $180,520
June 24, 1992NoblesvilleUnited StatesDeer Creek Music Center9,120 / 12,000 / $168,230
June 26, 1992ClarkstonUnited StatesPine Knob Music Theater14,977 / 14,977 / $325,965
June 27, 1992East TroyUnited StatesAlpine Valley Music Theatre21,474 / 35,000 / $359,932
June 28, 1992Tinley ParkUnited StatesNew World Music Theater11,944 / 15,000 / $288,410

Personnel