Rush’s “Fly By Night” Turns 46

May 3, 2021

Fly by Night is the second studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in February 1975 on Mercury Records. It was the first Rush album to showcase elements of progressive rock for which the band has become known. It was also the first to feature lyricist and drummer Neil Peart.

In March 1974, the second Rush line-up, consisting of guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer John Rutsey, and singer and bassist Geddy Lee, released their self-titled debut album. In the following four months, however, Rutsey fell ill following complications with diabetes and had to sit out from some gigs while the group continued with a replacement, Jerry Fielding. Rutsey to leave due to the difficulty in managing his health on tour and musical differences between them.

Rush auditioned five drummers, the fourth of which was Neil Peart of a local band named J R flood. The three played along to “Anthem”, a song mostly written while Rutsey was in the group that Rush later recorded for Fly by Night. Peart joined on July 29, 1974, Lee’s birthday, two weeks before the band’s first US tour kicked off on August 14 at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann. By the end of the year the group had written new material for a follow-up album.

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Photo Credit: Harmony Gerber / Shutterstock.com

Written by: Vipology Staff Writer

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