RUSH’s album “2112” was released on April 1, 1976.

RUSH is definitely one of the best rock bands in the world. When I was 14 years old, I listened to the album “Hemispheres” first time at the room of my classmate. Still remember that blew my mind and since then, I thought I wanna play bass freely like Geddy Lee someday.

At the age of 20, I was luckily enough to watch their one and only live tour in Japan at Budokan. Alex Lifeson started to play guitar intro of “The Spirit of Radio”, that was the most exciting moment of my life. Because, I didn’t think RUSH came to Japan for live act. And it’s true, the band hasn’t come back to Japan since then.

It’s sad that Neil Peart announced his retirement from playing live. His drum sound was always sharp and powerful, but in exchange, that made his body exhausted, I guess. So, the memory at Budokan goes to eternity inside of me. Anyway, happy anniversary!