Rush References In Pop Culture

"Art as expression, not as market campaigns, will still capture our imaginations"

A chronological listing of all known occurences of Rush references in pop culture, including television, movies, and the occasional printed word. Please feel free to email any suggestions, but please note this list does not include references made during talkshows, gameshows, sporting events, news programs, etc., as they are too numerous to list.

1. Reefer Madness, 1938 (Special Addiction, April 20, 2004)
   An anti-pot propaganda film originally released in 1938, this film was colorized and reissued in 2004 with an audio commentary by Mike Nelson of Mystery Science Theater 3000. During a scene where one of the young pot heads is talking to the principal in his office, Nelson says in the commentary, "You know, I could have have gotten away with so much more in highschool if I thought to wear the twead jackets and the sweater vests and the bow ties, you know, maybe slick my hair back. It was my feathered hair and RUSH t-shirts that pegged me as a trouble maker."

2. American Hot Wax, Mar. 17, 1978
   The true story about Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950's, is reported include a Rush song.

3. Long Live Rock 'N Roll by Rainbow, 1978
   Not exactly a tribute... Polydor Records used an altered version of an original Rush photo this album's gatefold art. Without Rush's knowledge, the photo of a crowd holding a Rush starman banner was mirrored and airbrushed to read "Long Live Rock 'N Roll" and printed on the album's inside gatefold. Rush photographer Fin Costello had used the original Rush picture in a mock up demonstrating a shot he intended taking at the next Rainbow concert which would then be used in the actual album art. Polydor rejected his idea, then later retouched the Rush photo without his knowledge. The original Rush photo has been included in various Rush literature, such as The Words And The Pictures, Vol. I (1979) and Brian Harrigan's Rush (1982).

4. Over The Edge, 1979
   In the openning scene of the film at the rec center, a quart of beer is taken away from a teenager who is wearing an A Farewell To Kings tour shirt (the teen is escorted out past a young Matt Dillon, starring in his first film, click the image to enlarge). Ironically, although "Subdivisions" would not be written for a few years yet, this movie is about teenage angst while growing up in a subdivision/planned community, and of course includes a scene in a basement bar.

5. Return of the Secaucus 7, Sep. 5, 1980
   Rush is mentioned during the bar scene in this movie which inspired The Big Chill. Two of the main characters, Jeff and J.T., are discussing music and flirting with two women at the bar – one of them a music critic. When asked what she listens to, the music critic replies, “Oh, progressive rock mostly: King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Rush.” Country singer J.T. dismisses such fare as “heavy metal goes to college,” but the woman defends her tastes, saying “It’s the only thing playing now with any kind of sophisticated melody line that still has its...you know, innocence.” She’s later impressed with Jeff when he waxes philosophic about the complexities of the genre.

6. Gas, July 24, 1981
   This Canadian movie includes a scene where a TV helicopter is circling a busy gas station as "Limelight" is played in the backround.

7. Gregory's Girl, 1981
   The male lead, who also has a drumkit in his room, has two Rush posters on his bedroom wall: a poster of Rush live during the Hemispheres era as well as a promotional poster for All the Worlds A Stage featuring cover images of the first five albums (Rush through All The World's A Stage).
   

8. Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress, the video game, June 1, 1982
   2112 sighting: During the game there are doors which lead to different time periods, the future one being the year 2112, in which the world has been devastated by the evil enchantress Minax.

9. The Last American Virgin, July 30, 1982
   A character in this teenage comedy is reported to have a Rush sticker on her notebook, seen as she is seen walking down the stairs.

10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Aug. 13, 1982
    During the scene in the record store (35 minutes into the movie) where Mike Damone is giving Mark Ratner his five point plan on dating ("When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV."), there is a row of Exit Stage Left albums in the racks under the "Licorice Pizza" sign (they are between Ted Nugent's Great Gonzos and The Cars' Shake It Up ).
    

11. The Young Ones, the British television series, aired Nov. 23, 1982
    During the episode titled "Boring", Vyvyan wears a 2112 t-shirt.
    
12. Strange Brew, Aug. 26, 1983
    Starring Bob and Doug McKenzie (Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis), who drive a red van with a Rush bumper sticker. Previously, Geddy Lee sang on "Take Off", the single from the McKenzie Brothers' comedy album, Great White North.
    

13. Synchronicity Concert, music video by The Police, filmed Nov. 3, 1983
    A fan in the crowd can be seen wearing a Rush Signals t-shirt right after "De Do Do Do De Da Da Da".

14. Teachers, Oct. 5, 1984
    Three minutes before the end of the move, as the school is evacuating during a fire alarm, Ralph Macchio asks Nick Nolte "So are you gonna stay or are you gonna go?" Nolte exits the frame and coming up behind him is a short kid with long hair and sunglasses reportedly wearing a Grace Under Pressure t-shirt.
    

15. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Nov. 9, 1984
    Glenn, played by Johnny Depp, has a Grace Under Pressure album cover poster on the wall above his bed.
    
16. MacGyver, the television series, 1985-1992
    In Brazil, this television program about a modern day warrior used "Tom Sawyer" as its theme music.

    "...we were told 'Tom Sawyer' was used on Brazilian television as the theme song for 'McGyver'. That's what we said, 'What?'" - Neil Peart, Flying Down To Rio, Leaving Vapor Trails Behind

17. Mach Rider, the video game, Oct. 18, 1985
    2112 sighting: the game takes place in the year 2112, and Earth is being invaded ("we have assumed control?"). First released on October 18, 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, as one of the 18 initial launch games, in July 2007 a modified version was released on the Wii's Virtual Console.

18. 1986, the television news program, 1986
    This American television news program used "Mystic Rythms" as its theme music.

    "I don't know how they came to hear the song, but the show approached us and asked if they could use it. Of course, they didn't pay us anything, but they said they'd give us a credit. How did we feel about it? We thought it was nice." - Neil Peart, Backstage Club Newsletter, Mar. 1990

19. Incident at Channel Q, 1986
    This movie, directed by Storm Thorgerson (the man responsible for most of the Pink Floyd covers), is about a quiet suburban neighborhood which declares war on a heavy metal music video jockey. He then locks himself in the station and plays hard rock videos, one of which is "The Body Electric". "The Camera Eye" is played during a chase scene, and one character is seen wearing a Rush t-shirt.

20. The Gate, May 15, 1987
    This Canadian movie reportedly includes a Rush poster hanging in the bedroom of one of the characters.

21. Degrassi Junior High, the Canadian television series, aired ~Jan. 1989
    • During the episode "He Ain't Heavy", as Joey takes the demo tape from his band, the Zit Remedy, to the local radio station (C-RAZ) in hopes of that they will play it on the air, "Force 10" is reportedly heard playing 'on the air'. Then, as Joey is trying to give the DJ his demo tape, the very end drum fills of "Limelight" are head.
    • During the episode "The Whole Truth", as Joey is going through records at the radio station (C-RAZ), after he gets fired and Dr. Sally comes and tells him his tape was good and to keep working, he is listening to his walkman and "Lock And Key" is playing through his headphones.
    • During a third episode, name unknown, when Joey goes to see the 'Gourmet Scum', he gets in his car and as it pulls away you hear "Fly By Night".

22. The Mighty Quinn, Feb. 16, 1989
    As the credits are still rolling at the very beginning of this movie starring Denzel Washington, a live reggae band is performing at a wedding reception. A man in the crowd, watching the dancers, is wearing a faded black Signals t-shirt.
    

23. "Same Ol' Situation", music video by Motley Crue, 1990
    In the video a fan is clearly seen wearing a Presto tour t-shirt.

24. Mystery Science Theater 3000, the television series, 1989-1999
    Rush acknowledges "MST-3K" in the Counterparts linernotes. This sci-fi series featured three characters from the future, who would sit in a theater (we would see their silhouettes from behind) and discuss bad sci-fi movies.Here are some Rush references, although there is no doubt others exist.

    "I'm a big fan of the sports shows. But MST3K, I mean, that's forever. I was a huge MST3K fan, by the way. I still have a bunch of them on tape. I have a friend in New York who turned me on to that show, because we weren't getting it up here in Canada. She would send me these tapes and we'd watch them on the bus. They're just fantastic." - Geddy Lee, Sporting News, Apr. 13, 2007

    • Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, 1966 (#213 aired Feb. 2, 1991): Commenting on a letter, Joel says "Very trippy, and I bet you listen to Rush, don't you?" and later Tom Servo notes that Joel identified "The Rush Guy".
    • Pod People, 1984 (#303 aired June 15, 1991): Tom Servo listening to the soundtrack: "Neil Peart on Drums"
    • Time of the Apes, 1987 (#306 aired July 6, 1991): Tom Servo notices "Neil Peart on drums."
    • Secret Agent Super Dragon, 1966 (#504 aired Aug. 7, 1993): A long-haired brunette spy-lady draws this riff from Joel Robinson: "In this light, she looks like Geddy Lee."
    • Operation Double 007, 1967 (#508 aired Sep. 9, 1993): A dead body is wearing headphones. Tom: "He died listening to Rush." Joel: "2112."
    • Alien from L.A., 1985 (#516 aired Nov. 20, 1993): Mike sees three guys who kind of look like the boys and says "Hey, it's the band Rush!".
    • Girls Town, 1959 (#601 July 16, 1994): Someone in the movies calls for "Mary Lee", who isn't there, so Crow says "Well, then, is GEDDY Lee there?"
    • San Francisco International, 1970 (#614 aired Nov. 19, 1994): A shipping crate of vital serum is marked "rush." Crow T. Robot: "Hey, guys, it's a crate of Rush albums!" All: "Whooo!" Later, over another shot of the crate, Tom says: "Serum. The new CD from Rush."
    • The Deadly Mantis, 1957 (#804 Feb. 22, 1997): Mike says "Man, I'm so baked right now. You gotta hear this Rush tape." Mike also reads Peanut's letter, talking about his "miraculous escape" to the year 2112.
    • Hobgoblins, 1985 (#907 aired June 27, 1998): Someone is air-drumming when Tom Servo says "The true story of Neil Peart."
    • The Touch of Satan, 1970 (#908 aired July 11, 1998): Mike starts the opening verse of "The Trees" but Crow stops him.
    • The Final Sacrifice, 1990 (#910 aired July 25, 1998): Crow: "Geddy Lee's birthplace" when Rowsdower and whatisface come across an abandoned cabin in the Canadian wilderness. Also the robots make fun of Canada, but Mike counters by saying "They gave us Ed the Sock and Rush!"

25. Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, the video game, 1992
    During the game, a group of pirates say that while they were stranded on a tiny desert island, they came across a philosopher who told them something that changed their lives: "all the world is a stage, and we are merely players." This may be a reference to "Limelight", which was in turn inspired by William Shakespeare's As Your Like It.

26. Ultima VII: The Black Gate, the video game, 1992
    In the game, one of the books found in a library opens to show "'THE TRIO' by Leepeartson, Compiled from the music of three master bards, this full volume contains a collection of songs for a variety of stringed and percussion instruments."
    

27. "Rocket", music video by Smashing Pumpkins, July 1993
    At the beginning of the video there is a close up of Billy Corgan's guitar on which a Rush sticker is clearly displayed. Corgan has always referred to Rush as a major influence and along with verbally giving thanks to Rush, performed a live, unplugged version of "Limelight" during a Smashing Pumpkins' concert in Toronto, Canada, in March 2000,

28. Warcraft, Orcs & Humans, real-time strategy computer game, Jan. 15, 1994
    In this first installment from the Warcraft universe, some of the cheat codes are lines from Rush songs. For example, for extra wood you type "Hatchet, axe, and saw", and for more gold type "glittering prizes."

29. Chrome Circle, by Mercedes Lackey, July 1, 1994
    It is reported that this novel's main character, Tannim, comments on Rush's "Roll The Bones" and the importance of the lyrics. Rush is mentioned in other Lackey novels as well.

30. Spider Man 2099, #19, by Marvel Comics, June 1994
    2112 sighting: The character "Discord" tells Spider-man he has predicted the end of civilization in the year 2112.

31. Airheads, August 5, 1994
    During the scene where the band is raiding the radio station's CD archives, on the partition of one of the desks is a blue Rush bumper sticker with the Hemispheres logo.

32. Beavis and Butt-head, the animated television series, aired Dec. 19, 1994
    During the episode "Plastic Surgin'", Beavis & Butt-head go to a plastic surgeon to get "wiener implants". The episode includes Rush's "Stick It Out" video; when Beavis realizes its Rush, he starts singing "Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antenna bristle with the energy".

33. The Grave, 1996
    In this film about two escaped prisoners searching for treasure supposedly found in the grave of a dead millionaire, the funeral director, played by Anthony Michael Hall, reportedly wears a 2112 t-shirt throughout the entire movie.

34. Brass Eye, the British television series, 1996
    A spoof documentary series where British Celebrities were fooled into endorsing false products. It is reported that during the original airing of the episode "Animal", the character Bernard Lehring ("a pompous Londoner who makes a living from fighting otters") pulls up to a nightclub with "The Spirit of Radio" emanating from his Jaguar's stereo. Writer Chris Morris reportedly often includes his favorite musicians in the credits of his programs, and Geddy Lee and Neil Peart have both appeared in the credits as cameramen, etc.

35. Roseanne, the television series, 1988-1997
    Possible Rush siting...during the episode "Roseanne-Feld" (aired Mar. 4, 1997): While Mark and Jackie are outside making a phone call, the words "I LOVE RUSH!" are reportedly written on the wall behind Jackie.

36. Orgazmo, Sep. 6, 1997
    Written and directed by South Park's Trey Parker, includes a scene where "Dave The Lighting Guy", played by South Park collaborator Matt Stone, takes a picture of the cast of a porno film. He says, "say Geddy Lee" to which one of the stars responds "Who's Geddy Lee?". He replies "Geddy Lee, best bass player, ever!" (Click here for a video clip). On the DVD release, in the bonus features blooper reel there is an outtake of this same scene where Matt says "Okay, now everyone say, 'Neeeeil Peart'!" (pronounced 'Pert')...Neil Peart! Only the greatest drummer ever, duh."

37. South Park, the animated television series, 1997-
    • "Timmy 2000" (#404, aired Apr. 19, 2000): Timmy (the handicap kid) is asked to sing for Skyler's band "The Lords of the Underworld". The music to their big hit, "Timmy", is thought by some Rush fans to include a sped up riff from "The Spirit of Radio" (the first riff after the intro). The song was later released as a cd single, Timmy & The Lords of the Underworld, Sept. 5, 2000.
    • During the special biography of Chef, "Behind the Menu", there is an interview with a recording engineer wearing a Rush starman t-shirt.

38. Small Soldiers, July 10, 1998
    "Tom Sawyer" is playing in the background during the scene where Christy, played Kirsten Dunst, is on the telephone with Alan, played by Gregory Smith (a Led Zeppelin poster is hanging on her wall). A remix of the song was included on the soundtrack album, and two separate remixes were included on a promo cd.

39. Whatever, July 10, 1998
    "Tom Sawyer" is played at a party and is included on the soundtrack album.

40. Free Enterprise, Oct. 23, 1998
    This film is about two disfunctional Trekkies that meet their hero, William Shatner, who in reality is not the Captain Kirk of their childhood. The film contains a scene 27 minutes into the movie where the two main characters (one of whom is played by Eric McCormack of "Will and Grace") go to "Toys 'R Us" with their other two friends to buy action figures. While there, the other two friends have this conversation: "What did you think of 'Christian McBride?'" "Oh, I didn't listen to it yet." "Dude, you did the same thing when I gave you Tales From Topographic Oceans." "That's that Rush album that you lent me?" "Dude, it's Yes! Ughh!" Not exactly the most glowing reference, but there it is.

41. Waterboy, Nov. 6, 1998
    "Tom Sawyer" is played during the movie's climactic final game and is included on the soundtrack album.

42. SLC Punk, Jan. 22, 1999
    Near the end of this movie about punk rockers in Salt Lake City in 1985, a flashback scene shows the two main characters discussing Dungeons and Dragons while listening to "The Trees".

43. American Movie: The Making of Northwestern, Jan. 1999
    A documentary film about the making of the independent short-horror film Coven, 1997, from which it is hoped would yield enough profit to finish another, full length independent feature film, Northwestern. 1:33 into the film, in a scene which was recorded in June, 1997, after spending three years to create his 39 minute short film Mark Borchardt asks his stoner friend Mike Schank "Would you buy this movie for $14.95?". Mike answers "Yeah, hell yeah, man...course man, shit that's what Rush tickets were." In a scene five minutes later, Mike is seen wearing the tie-died Test for Echo tour t-shirt. This is an actual documentary film which takes place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which we can assume he had just seen the June 13 concert at the Marcus Amphitheater. Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
    

44. EDtv, Mar. 26, 1999
    Ed, played by Matthew McConaughey, wears a 2112 starman t-shirt under his unzipped gray sweatshirt in the scene where he visits the hospital.
    
45. ReBoot, the computer animated television series, aired May 6, 1999
    During episode 39, "End Prog", a "binome" character appears dressed wearing clothes and a hairdoo very similar to the woman on the Permanent Waves album cover, and pulls the curtain back to allow the camera in as on the cover of Exit...stage Left.
    
46. Prayers for Rain, the novel by Dennis Lehane, June 2, 1999
    At the bottom of page 61 of the hardcover edition, as the character Patrick Kenzie is narrating, he tells us, "I think Warhol is to art what Rush is to rock music, which is to say, I think he sucks." Not a glowing endorsement for the band, but a Rush reference all the same.

47. Magnolia, Dec. 8, 1999
    On the DVD version, in the special features, there is a "Frank T.J. Mackey Infomercial", with a scene of Frank, played by Tom Cruise, calling a girl (Janet). Hanging on the wall of his apartment is a HUGE Chronicles poster.
    
48. Star Trek Starship Creator, the video game, 1999
    This computer game reportedly has starships named "USS Syrinx" and "USS Lamneth". In addition, in the crew roster bios, included under the hobbies and interests of Commander Kyle is "Works of early 21st century Canadian poet Neil Peart."
    
49. Freaks and Geeks, the television series, 1999-2000
    Set during the 1980-1981 school year, this television series had many Rush references, music samples, and characters wearing t-shirts during its 21 episode run. Not surprising, the Freaks And Geeks: Original Soundtrack And Score includes "The Spirit of Radio".
    • "Meet the Geeks" (pilot, #100, aired Sep. 25, 1999): In the pilot episode, Nick (Jason Segel) takes Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) to see his monster drum kit, which fills his garage. After he describes the kit to her, he concludes, "six more pieces I got a bigger kit than Neil Peart [mispronounced as "Pert"] from Rush, yeah!"
    • "I'm With the Band", (#105): The episode opens with Nick in his basement singing and playing drums while listening to "The Spirit of Radio" (click here for a video clip). The episode closes with another scene where he is drumming along to the live version of "The Spirit of Radio". During the episode, Nick is seen wearing two different Rush shirts: the first has the photo of Peart on poster from the Hemispheres album; the second has the Permanent Waves album cover. In addition, Ken is seen wearing the Retrospectives t-shirt for the first time (over fifteen years before it should have existed!). [Note: this episode has two anachronisms which are noticeable only to Rush fans. Although set in late 1980, in the opening scene we see Nick play an 8-track of Exit Stage Left, which wasn't released until Oct. 1981, and the live version of "The Spirit of Radio" is heard at the end of the episode. In addition, Ken is seen wearing a Retrospectives I t-shirt, which wasn't released until 1996! He wears this shirt in episodes #105 "I'm With The Band", #107 "Girlfriends And Boyfriends", #114 "Noshing And Moshing", and the series finale #115 "Discos And Dragons".]
    • "Girlfriends and Boyfriends" (#107): The episode opens with the freaks meeting in the guidance counselor, Mr. Rosso's office, and Ken is again wearing the Retrospectives t-shirt. Later, Lindsay again meets with Mr. Rosso, who breaks the ice with "Hey, have you checked out the new Rush album? I've gotta say it rocks pretty heavily, and that's coming from a guy who's seen Hendrix live..."
    • "Smooching and Mooching" (#113): While at the Weirs' house during quiet hour, Nick breaks the silence by blasting "Tom Sawyer" from Linsay's room claiming listening to music is his homework. After a brief conversation about screwing around, Mr. Weir says "That drummer you're listening to, he's terrible...Neil Peart couldn't drum his way out of a paper bag...you wanna hear drumming? I'll play you drumming...I grew up with Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich" (Ironically, Harold Weir is played by Joe Flaherty, SCTV's "Count Floyd" who introduced the song "The Weapon" on the concert video screen during the Signals and Grace Under Pressure tours, as well as on the single release).
    • "Noshing And Moshing" (#114): Ken wears his Retrospectives t-shirt to the punk bar.
    • "Discos And Dragons" (#115): Ken wears his Retrospectives t-shirt when he goes to the disco to torment Nick. (Note, the disco dj, who also plays the store manager of the disco clothing store in an episode is Joel from MST3K.)

50. Avalon, the online comic strip, Nov. 8, 1999-
    This comic has referenced Rush on more than one occasion, one of which included Geddy Lee during the segment "Live with Regis and Geddy Lee", which appeared on Jan. 24, 2000.

51. Front Mission 3, the video game, Feb. 29, 2000
    2112 sighting: This mech battle stategy game is set in Japan in the year 2112.

52. Primus tour t-shirt, Feb.-Apr. 2000
    Known to be Rush fans, for their 2000 Antipop tour, Priums sold a concert t-shirt with artwork similar to the 2112 cover. For more on Primus, click here.

53. Backyard Baseball 2001, the video game, Mar. 15, 2000
    After clicking a few times on Randy Johnson in the "Cards" section of the game, Randy, who is known to be a Rush fan, says "If baseball doesn't work out I'm going to play drums in a rock band like Neil Peart (mispronounced as Pert) from Rush." [Also, see below entry for Backyard Baseball 2003].

54. High Fidelity, Mar. 17, 2000
    During the first scene in the record store (8 minutes into the movie), Barry, played by Jack Black, arrives late for work singing the instrumental section of "Jacob's Ladder". The films credits confirm this by giving credit to Neil Peart, Gary Weinrib, and Alex Zivojinovich.

55. Planet Reverb by Jetpack, May 5, 2000
    Perhaps one of the most subtle yet humorous Rush tributes ever, in the innersleve photos by surf duo Jetpack, guitarist Dan Standiford is striking the same pose as Alex Lifeson in the Permanent Waves album art, right down to the guitar, shipping crates and coffee cup! The credits of include the statement "Apologies: Alex Lifeson and Stewart Copeland-we stole your poses!" (as the drummer posed like Copeland).

56. The Onion, satirical newspaper
    
    • Issue 36-27, Aug. 9, 2000: "Congress Debates Coolness of Rush"
    • Issue 38-18, May 15, 2002: "U.S. Protests Mexi-Canadian Overpass", includes a quote from a Texas resident who says "the sound of thousands of cars going back and forth to Canada and Mexico is more than I can take. I can hear those goddamn radios blaring Mariachi music and Rush all day and night."
    • Issue 38-47, Dec. 18, 2002: Included in the Infograph: Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, which asks "Why is there so much exictement?" over the films' release, is the bullet item, "Are Neil Peart; need new lyrical inspiration"
    • Issue 40-07, Feb. 18, 2004: "Day Job Officially Becomes Job", while discussing giving up one's dreams for reality, an author states "But, hey, we can't all be the next Geddy Lee, right?"

57. 2001 Nissan Maxima, television commercial, Fall 2000
    The first two measures of "Tom Sawyer" (repeating once) served as background music for the 20th Anniversary Nissan Maxima television commercial.

    "Yes, this was approved by both the band and Anthem. We really don't have a problem with it as it was tastefully done. In this day and age where there's no real rock radio left and video TV only plays pop music, we are trying other directions to get the music out there. I know the whole 'corporate sell out' lines. I just don't think they're applicable any longer." - Anthem Records, Oct. 17, 2000.

    "We've never had a policy that's precluded that possibility and we've been offered situations in the past that we didn't feel were interesting or monetarily viable so we never had a hard rule about it and it seems it's such a common thing right now and over the last few years we've been offered so many things! So we just try to pick the best situations for ourselves." - Geddy Lee, Barnesandnoble.com chat, Nov. 13, 2000

58. People Get Ready by Mooney Suzuki, Sep. 5, 2000
    This album's back cover artwork contains a variety of seemingly random and mispelled words interspersed between the tracklist and credits, including the phrase "snow dog is victoious".

59. Strange Frequency, the VH-1 Original Movie, Jan. 24, 2001
    From VH-1's "Movies That Rock", this movie is a four part anthology of the VH-1 "Twilight Zone-esque" series of the same name. In the opening segment, "Disco Inferno", Buck (Erik Palladino) and Randy (Danny Masterson) are in a car accident and go to metalhead hell: a disco. Buck survives after being revived by the song in his walkman: "Tom Sawyer".

60. That 70's Show, the television series, 1998-
    
    • "Canadian Road Trip" (aired May 8, 2001): During a road trip to Canada the guys are questioned by two Mounties (played by Dave Thomas and Joe Flaherty of SCTV, i.e. "Bob MacKenzie" and "Count Floyd"). When asked why they are in Canada, Eric, played by Topher Grace, responds "We just came here to get the beer...and I love Rush. Fly By Night! Owww!"
      
    • "Eric's Corvette Caper" (aired Apr. 9, 2002): When Red and Kitty go out of town, Eric, defying Red’s orders, goes joyriding in the Corvette with a girl he's trying to impress. Red stays convinced Eric didn't touch his Corvette, until he turns on the radio and hears "The Temples of Syrinx". (Note: repeats of this episode have alternate music in place of "Temples of Syrinx". Anthem Records explained via email that "That 70's Show" held the rights for a two year period which expired in April 2004, and passed on the option to buy the rights in perpetuity which would have allowed the use of the Rush snippet in all future broadcasts/DVD releases, etc. Accordingly, since they let the rights expire they simply chose to replace the Rush track altogether. "And the words of the profits...." indeed!)
    • "The Girl I Love" (aired Jan. 7, 2003): This episode about a battle of the sexes begins as Donna and Eric are returning from a visit to an arboretum (a park where trees are grown for study and display), as the opening of the "The Trees" is heard.
    • "Hey, Hey What Can I Do?" (aired Mar. 12, 2003): A few seconds of "Working Man" are heard in this episode where Eric must find work after Red and Kitty withdraw their offer of college tuition.
    • "On With The Show" (aired Feb. 23, 2005): Reportedly about five minutes into the show Hyde, Eric, Kelso and his girlfriend are in a record store, and to the left of Kelso's girlfriend's head is a poster of the 2112 album cover.

61. Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2001 issue
    Speaking of Pop Culture References, the Power Windows album cover is used on the front cover of this issue of the quarterly publication for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in a cover story titled "Pop Culture: Only a Wasteland?". "Paul Cantor suggests that, like the ancient Greeks, Americans know themselves through their popular culture...". Other than the cover image, no other references to Rush were included in the article.

62. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Aug. 24, 2001
    At the end of the scene in the comic book store, two actors appear to 'sing' part of "La Villa Strangiato" (or possibly Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse", the song which inspired this same section of "La Villa Strangiato").
    
63. UltraPlayer version 2.112, media player software, 2001
    When not playing a file, the player scrolls the text "UltraPlayer 2112...Attention all planets of the Solar Federation....We have assumed control...We have assumed control." - www.ultraplayer.com

64. Banzai, the British television series, 2001
    
    • "Jacob's Ladder" is played in an episode where the two old ladies play chicken in wheelchairs. Later, in the same episode, the intro to "Xanadu" is played to add tension to the guy who was trying to jump 10 cream pies in a shopping cart.
    • "Hemispheres: Prelude" was played during an episode (additional information is requested).

65. Barenaked Ladies, bass drum during 2001 tour
    Known Rush fans, BNL have frequently performed "The Spirit of Radio" in their live show, and included short tributes to "Tom Sawyer" and "The Spirit of Radio" in their song "Grade 9" on the album Gordon, and drummer Tyler Stewart used a caricature of Rush's Star Man on his bass drum during their 2001 tour. Guitarist/singer Ed Robertson performed with Rush and Mike Smith of the Trailer Park Boys to record a special version of "Closer To The Heart" for the charity television telethon "Canada For Asia" in early 2005 (included on the bonus disk of Rush's R30 DVD). In addition, Robertson can be seen wearing a Rush t-shirt throughout the Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan DVD.

66. "Amber" music video by 311, 2001
    In the video, drummer Chad Sexton wears a Signals concert t-shirt.

67. "Rockin' the Suburbs" music video by Ben Folds, 2001
    Ben Folds wears a white 2112 shirt in one of the shots of this video directed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Ben Folds previously gave thanks to Geddy Lee in the linernotes Ben Folds Five album The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner.

68. Impostor, Jan. 4, 2002
    2112 sighting: in a scene 27 minutes into this sci-fi movie which takes place in the year 2079, Spence Olham, played by Gary Sinise, calls his wife Maya, played by Madeline Stowe, on his video phone. In her message, she says "...please leave a message. If this is a medical emergency enter code twenty-one-twelve..."

69. Futurama, the animated television series, Mar. 1999 - Aug. 2003
    Fox's animated series Futurama, by Simpsons creator Matt Groening, has included two Rush references:
    • "Anthology of Interest II" (#47, aired Jan. 6, 2002): To save the world from alien invaders using his videogame skills, Fry says "All right! It's Saturday night, I have no date, a two liter bottle of Shasta and my all Rush mix tape, let's rock!" and then proceeds to play "Space Invaders" while listening to "Tom Sawyer" (click here for a video clip).
    • "Obsoletely Fabulous" (#70, aired July 27, 2003): After being told he is obsolete, Bender joins a colony of other obsolete robots and declares "We'll soon stage an attack on technology worthy of being chronicled in an anthem by Rush!" (click here for a video clip).
      

70. The Simpsons, the animated television series, Dec. 17, 1989 -
    
    • During episode DABF06, "The Bart Wants What it Wants", aired Feb. 17, 2002, two clips of Geddy's performance on Bob and Doug McKenzie's "Take Off" are used during the Simpsons' visit to Toronto.
    • A possible Rush reference, a comic book titled "RUSH comic" is seen on the wall behind the counter in the comic book store, both during various Spring 2004 episodes as well as the Simpson's Ritz Bitz "S'mores" commercial.
      

71. Backyard Baseball 2003, the video game, March 15, 2002
    In the "Cards" section of the game is a card for Major League pitcher/Rush fan Randy Johnson, which says "Hobbies include photography, playing the drums, and listening to 'RUSH' albums." [Also, see above entry for Backyard Baseball 2001].

72. Trudeau, the Canadian television miniseries, Mar. 31, 2002
    It is reported that a clip from "The Spirit of Radio" is heard during the scene where Trudeau, played by Colm Feore, wins his final election.

73. Gore, the video game, Apr. 24, 2002
    The head map designer for this first person shooter PC game designed most of his work to the music of Rush (I know, because he told me!), including two game maps called "UMC Anthem" and "Stepps of Cygnus".

74. Gilmore Girls, the television series
    • "Help Wanted", airdate May 7, 2002, Lane discovers a new desire to become a rock drummer when a former New Yorker (played by singer/songwriter Carole King) opens the town's first music store. After obsessing over the store's candy apple red drum set, Lane calls Rory and says "I have found my calling...my future, my path, my destiny...I'm gonna be a drummer...I am Keith Moon, I am Neil Peart (pronounced "Pert"), I am Rick Allen, with and without the arm, because I am Rock And Roll baby!"
    • "Will You Be My Lorelai, Gilmore?" (season 7 episode 16), Geddy Lee and daughter Kyla made a non-acting appearance in the final scene; click here for a screen capture.

      "Sure enough, when I get to the production office to rehearse the song we perform in the episode, there in the flesh is Mr. Geddy Lee & his beautiful daughter Kyla! Turns out Kyla has impeccable taste & never misses an episode of her favorite show, 'The Gilmore girls', right beside Dad who watches every one with her! Geddy told us that he was in LA listening to mixes of the new Rush CD, & set up a tour of the WB lot with Kyla, who had a great time meeting the cast & watching us work. I said to Geddy 'Well, hey ..... why don't you guys BE IN THE SHOW???'" - Sebastian Bach, (singer and Gilmore Girls regular for those not familar with the show) MySpace blog (click here for more), Mar. 8, 2007
      

75. Bubba Ho-Tep, June 9, 2002
    A small Rush sighting from another fan with a quick eye! On the DVD release during the "Making Of" documentary, there is a quick scene showing fans lined up to see the film at the Toronto Film Festival (Sep. 7, 2002), with a glimpse of a placard that reads "Line for Rush tickets only" (during the Vapor Trails tour).

76. Need for Speed - Hot Pursuit 2, the video game, July 9, 2002
    Two versions of "One Little Victory" play randomly during the game, both the original Vapor Trails track and an instrumental edit.

77. The Rules of Attraction, Oct. 11, 2002
    2112 sighting: Sean Bateman, played by James Van Der Beek, receives love notes in a mailbox with number 2112.

78. Mr. Birch, the online comic strip, Oct. 2002
    This online comic strip featured a Rush related storyline when Rush visited Rochester, N.Y., during the Vapor Trails tour.

79. Sealab 2021, the animated television series, aired Nov. 3, 2002
    "The Policy" (ep. 15, season 2, aired Nov. 3, 2002). One of the characters marvels at another's new jukebox, marveling "Check it out, every Rush album ever!". The captain replies "Yeah, Caress of Steel!, it's an import." Click here for a video clip.

80. Sonny, Dec. 29, 2002
    Set in 1981, during a scene 26 minutes into the film, "Limelight" plays as Sonny leaves his home and drives to his new life.

81. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, 2002
    During the music loop for the in-game radio station "VROCK", shortly after Iron Maiden’s "Two Minutes To Midnight" is heard, the DJ takes a call from someone named "Snowdog". In addition, for the "Publicity Tour" mission, according to the official video game strategy guide written by Tim Bogenn, a limo carrying the fictitious band "Love Fist" is rigged with a bomb, and that the drummer is the smartest member of the band and "it takes the professor on the drum kit approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds to defuse the bomb."

82. Star Trek Enterprise, the television series, aired Feb. 12, 2003
    2112 sighting: during episode 41, "Cease Fire", Captain Archer is called in to mediate an ongoing border dispute between Vulcans and Andorians, when he mentions "the border incursion of twenty-one-twelve".

83. Hittin' the Note, by Allman Brothers Band, March 18, 2003
    Not exactly a tribute... Graphic artist Hugh Syme reused Dimo Safari's photo of the crowd from Different Stages in the Hittin' the Note album artwork. The image of the crowd viewing a gigantic tinkertoy was reimaged, with the tinkertoy replaced by giant mushrooms. This is not the first time that Rush album art was recycled by another artist; in 1978 a photo of a Rush crowd was reused in Rainbow's Long Live Rock 'N Roll gatefold art (see entry above). In both cases, the usage of the images was done without the knowledge of SRO/Anthem. Unlike the Rainbow usage, however, where Polydor retouched a mockup that they had originally rejected from Fin Costello, Hugh Syme was the graphic artist for both Different Stages and Hittin' The Note.

84. Music in High Places (Live In Alaska), music video by the Goo Goo Dolls, released Mar. 18, 2003
    During the performance of "Big Machine", one of the guitarists is wearing a red Hold Your Fire t-shirt.
    

85. Trailer Park Boys, the television series
    • "Closer To The Heart" (season 3, episode 5, aired May 18th, 2003): "Bubbles is so devastated about not getting tickets to the RUSH concert that Ricky decides to bring Alex Lifeson (played by Alex Lifeson) to the park to perform a private concert." One scene of the episode was filmed during the October 22nd, 2002, Vapor Trails concert at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, as actor Mike Smith, who portrays Bubbles on the Nova Scotia, Canada, based comedy series, was filmed playing the part of a Rush roadie. As he walked on stage to hand Alex a new guitar, Geddy told the crowd "he is a new guy." The final scene of the episode features Alex and Bubbles playing "Closer To The Heart" on dual acoustic guitars.

      "I was a bit nervous up there. I mean, it's dark, and I can't see, and I'm stepping over cables and stuff...Alex is a big fan of the show...Alex came to us and asked to do a cameo. The director was like, 'No, but why don't we write a whole episode based around you?' And he was totally into that. So we flew him out to Halifax and we shot with him for three days and had really great times. He's a really amazing person." - Mike Smith ("Bubbles"), TorontoStar.com. Oct. 28, 2002

    • "You Got To Blame The Thing Up Here" (season 5, episode #4, aired May 8th, 2005): At the beginning of the episode there are some people standing around Ricky's dad's burned down trailer. One of guys in the backround is wearing the black Rush 30th anniversary "Party" t-shirt with the dragon on the front.

86. King Of The Hill, the animated television series, aired May 18th, 2003
    Bobby finds new friends who believe in witchcraft and "The Trees" is heard [webmaster note: what "The Trees" has to do with witchcraft is beyond me!].

87. "Voltage" music video by Mexican band Fancy Free, ~2003
    Seen on a Mexican video channel called Telehit, during the video one of the band members is seen wearing a black 2112 Starman t-shirt.

88. Lara Croft Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, July 25, 2003
    2112 sighting: When Lara (played by Angelina Jolie) travels to Hong Kong, during a shot of city traffic a large "2112-8888" is seen on the back of a bus.

89. Train 48, the Canadian television series, June 2003-
    Taking place on a Toronto "Go Train" with 10 commuters riding home to Burlington, Rush is the favorite band of the character named "Johnny". Loosely scripted and filmed the day it airs, the actors improvise all the dialogue often including current events (such as Rush performing at the SARS benefit concert). The series has had at least three Rush references to date, original air dates or episode names are unknown:
    • Johnny tries to sell storage sheds to the other people on the train, one of which he has set up in his back yard as a "love shed" for he and his wife. Johnny says that he used the song "Closer to the Heart" (his wife's fave song) to entice her into the "love shed", and sings a few lines of the song in a pseudo-Geddy voice.
    • Several of the passengers are talking about famous people that they have met, and Johnny mentions that he once saw Geddy Lee in a 7-11, and says something like "Well, I was in a 7-11, eh? And I saw this guy, he looked kind of familiar. Then, he turned around, and I was like, 'Holy crap! That guy has an elbow on his face!' (they all laugh) So I said 'Hey Geddy!', and then he waved back at me and left, eh."
    • (Aired July 30, 2003): On the day of the Toronto SARS concert, Johnny was sitting with another passenger, Liz, telling her how upset he was becuase he was not able to go to the concert to see Rush. Liz remarks, "Yeah, they're probably on right now." to which Johnny sighs and sadly says "Yeah, I know". He then sings the first few lines of "Closer to the Heart", his hands raised in the air, praising the band he is unable to see live. Later in the same episode, Johnny is teaching Liz how to "rock", becuase he thinks that she needs a lesson in Rock'n'Roll. He recites the first few lines of some songs, and tells Liz to finish the line: Johnny: Okay, how about some Rush? (Liz nods) "A modern day worrier, mean mean stride, todays Tom Sawyer".....Liz: Oh, I know this one! (thinks) I know it rhymes....Johnny: "Mean, mean..."? Liz: "Pride! See, I knew it rhymed!"

90. Reno-911, the television series, aired Sep. 10th, 2003
    A spoof of "Cops", this is a faux-reality series which airs on Comedy Central. During the episode, while making a presentation to a high school class, Lt. Dangle plays a silly song on his guitar about the dangers of crystal meth. After he finishes, he askes if there are any questions, but simply gets blank stares from the students. As they have about 45 minutes left, he asks if there are any requests and says "I can play some Rush".

91. School Of Rock, Oct. 3rd, 2003
    During the scene where Jack Black's character gives the students music cd's for inspiration, he gives the drummer "Rush, 2112. Neil Peart [pronounced Pert], one of the great drummers of all time, study up." A later scene shows a closeup of a chalkboard displaying a "family tree" of rock, with RUSH listed under "Prog Rock". On the DVD release, there is an interactive feature of this same chalkboard titled "Dewey Finn's Chalkboard of Rock", with short biographies of each of the bands listed (and the Rush's bio has Lifeson's true last name misspelled as Zivojinowich and is written as if the band disbanded in the 90's!).

    "At last, after seeing that movie, my kid thinks her dad rocks." - Geddy Lee, Q Classic Prog Rock Special Edition, July 15, 2005

    "Shaking his hand, I...told him how pleased I had been by the reference in School of Rock. Jack said, 'That was my idea!' I also mentioned how we had originally wanted him to play the part of the 'awakening dreamer' in our opening film, the part Jerry Stiller had ended up doing ('What did they put in my tea?'). At the time, we had been told by Jack's people that he wasn't available, but typically, he had never even heard about it." - Neil Peart, Roadshow

92. "El Caminos in the West" music video by Grandaddy, 2003
    Found on the DVD "Sumday - The Videos", in this video where the band is replaced by young girls who tour in their stead, one of the characters is wearing a black 2112 starman shirt.

93. Duck Dodgers, the animated television series, 2003-
    This series starring Daffy Duck, part of The Looney Tunes Show airing every Saturday at 11:30 AM on Cartoon Network (in Canada, it airs weekends at 8:30 AM and Sunday nights at 7:30 PM), has had two Rush references:
    • "They Stole Dodgers' Brain/The Wrath of Canasta" (#8, aired Oct. 11, 2003): Duck Dodgers uses Attack Pattern "YYZ".
    • "The Green Loontern" (#9, aired Oct. 18, 2003): When Duck Dodgers enters the enemy base, the robots open "Red Sector A", allowing Duck to enter.

94. Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the animated television series
    Part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup, which along with Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law and Squidbillies have all referenced Rush.

    "Rush fans? Yes! Yeah, in a big way!...Yeah, we love them!...We tried getting Geddy on the show. But he had 'other obligations.'" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force creators Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro, Readmag.com, issue #24

    • "Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary" (#34, aired Oct. 19, 2003): During the episode, Master Shake puts together a metal version of teh "Birthday" song, hoping to cash in on royalties, and says "it came to Geddy and I in a dream...Geddy Lee...lead singer of Rush" as Meatwad chimes in with "Rush! Geddy Lee!" and starts singing "Fly By Night". Master Shake later promises that Geddy would arrive in person, and when he doesn't show, denies this by saying "Geddy who?", to which Meatwad responds "Of Rush...of salesman?...Of SALESMEN!" In a later scene, Meatwad sings the keyboard solo of "Tom Saywer" as we see Geddy's jet airplane which is shaped like a bass guitar and has the Fly By Night owl on the nose, and Meadwad says "Hi Geddy - The River!". Click here for a video montage. This episode first aired two days before the release of Rush In Rio and was followed by the episode of SeaLab 2021 titled "The Policy" (see above, originally aired Nov. 3, 2002), after which Adult Swim made the comment that they had just aired two shows in a row with Rush references, and no they did not plan that, yet they included in parentheses "Caress of Swim".
    • Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 3 DVD: As an added feature to the episode "Spirit Journey Formation Anniversary", the DVD includes Master Shake's million-dollar heavy metal Geddy Lee birthday song in three karaoke versions - one sung by "Geddy" (actually co-creator Matt Maiellaro), one by Master Shake and one without vocals.
    • "The Marines" (#508, aired Mar. 16, 2008): When Meatwad unwittingly enlists the Aqua Teens into the Marine Corps, Frylock flees to Canada. In the ATHF universe, "Canada" is merely a red barn, where Jigsaw, the star of the Saw horror movie franchise, taunts and tortures people via a live video feed. In one scene, Jigsaw tries to lure Meatwad into the barn with "Want to play a game...I've got all the Rush records!". Click here for a video clip.

95. Chilly Beach, the Canadian animated television series, aired Nov. 5, 2003
    "Dale" refers to his "To Do" list which includes "Play Guitar for Rush" (as well as "Win The Stanley Cup").

96. 24, the television series, 2001-
    • One degree from Rush reference: episode 1 of season 1, aired Nov. 6, 2001: "Everything and Nothing" by Geddy Lee's nephew's band Rocketscience is heard.
    • 2112 sighting: episode 3 of season 3, aired Nov. 11, 2003: Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) says "call Meteorology, extension two-one-one-two".

97. Green Lantern #170, by DC Comics, Dec. 2003
    This comic book opens with this conversation between the Green Lantern (who is reading a book) and the Flash:
    • Flash: 'I hear Neil Peart's new book's really good too - and you don't have to be a Rush fan to enjoy it.'
    • Green Lantern: 'Why am I not surprised you listen to a band called "Rush"?'
    • Flash: 'A buddy of mine calls their music "math rock" because of all the odd time signatures - but when you're the fastest man alive - basic 4/4 rhythm is pretty tedious.'

      "As the author of GREEN LANTERN #170, and a diehard Rush fan for the past 23 years, I was more than psyched to see that scene between GL & the Flash make your list of pop culture references! Thanks for including it! Stay tuned for more Rush references in the future...Great job on your website, by the way! Keep it up! Best, Ben Raab. www.benraab.com" - Sep. 13, 2004

98. Transworld Skateboarding Magazine, Volume 21, Number 12, Dec. 2003
    As an acknowlegement that this was issue 21-12 of the popular skateboard magazine, the issue included a small "starman" from Rush's 2112 on the spine of the magzine.
    

99. Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, the animated television series, Dec. 30, 2000-
    Part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup, which along with Sealab 2021, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Squidbillies have all referenced Rush.
    • "Blackwatch Plaid" (#10, aired Jan 1, 2004): The security level in Harvey's office building is raised to "Moving Pictures", their highest level, and displayed the Moving Pictures album cover. Click here to view a 1:29 segment from the episode (it is recommended downloading it to your desktop first).
    • "Peanut Puberty" (#17, aired June 6, 2004): When Peanut is called to the blackboard in class, he uses his binder to hide his "arising" event of "superty", and on his binder is a RUSH sticker - the logo from the first album.

100. Cider with Roadies, by Stuart Maconie, Feb 5, 2004
     This autobiography by BBC Radio 2 DJ and TV “face” contains many references to Rush, including making love to his girlfriend to 2112. It is reportedly quite an interesting read with regard to the state of music journalism and music in general in the UK during the 70s and 80s.

101. The Canadian Army Official Website, Feb. 2004
     "One Little Victory" is heard on the website. Visit http://www.army.dnd.ca and wait for the flash presentation to load.

102. Maroon 5
     
     • Sessions@AOL in-studio performance, original air date June 24, 2004: As seen in the videos for "This Love" and "She Will Be Loved", during this intimate in-studio performance for Sessions@AOL, guitarist James Valentine is seen wearing a Power Windows t-shirt.
     • MTV Cribs, episode 1002, original air date July 28, 2004: The guitarist of Maroon 5 is wearing the same Power Windows t-shirt (coincidence, or a closet fan?).

103. WWE Summerslam 2004, aired Aug. 15, 2004
     "Summertime Blues" from Feedback was the official song for this pay-per-view event. Besides being played as background music during the event, the song was also used during commercials promoting the event (which also promoted the Feedback release).

104. Beck, sticker on guitar, Aug. 16, 2004
     From Beck's website added Aug. 16, 2004, in a publicity photo taken while in the recording studio, a Rush decal is plainly seen on Beck Hansen's guitar.

105. Phil the Alien, Sep. 11, 2004
     "Tom Sawyer" is heard in this Canadian comedy film about an alien who crashes to Earth and find himself alone in the wilds of northern Canada. "Tom Sawyer" is heard while the clueless alien wanders around in the woods; the individiual band members as well as SRO are thanked during the credits. Note, non-Canadian releases do not include "Tom Sawyer", as the rights were only secured for Canada.
     

106. Feels Like Today by Rascal Flatts, Sep. 28, 2004
     One of the members of this country band is wearing a Signals t-shirt in the photo on the inside sleeve of the album artwork.
     
107. Saturday Night Live, the television series, Oct. 2, 2004
     2112 sighting: Rush on SNL? Not exactly, but during a skit where James Carville, played by Ben Affleck, visits then Democratic Presidential candidate John and Theresa Kerry in their hotel room, the room number on the door (which is left standing open throughout the skit) is '2112'.

108. Second Hand Stories, the television series, Oct. 14, 2004
     During the pilot episode of this PBS series, the hosts visit "Joe's Used Record Store" in Baltimore, thumb through the albums, and one pulls out a plastic wrapped copy of 2112.

109. World Of Warcraft, massively multiplayer online game, Nov. 22, 2004
     
     • On page 204 of the game's instruction manual, the "Additional Thanks" section includes "Happy 30th to RUSH".
     • During level 39, in the "Arathi Highlands" area you are required to retrieve a piece of stolen property during a quest named "Wand Over Fist," a possible reference to Presto.
     • During level 49, in the "Un'Goro Crater" area there is a quest one can reach named "Roll the Bones".

110. "Sugarcube" music video by Yo La Tengo, Dec. 2004
     This video has a theme similar to the film School of Rock (see entry above), where the band must learn to be rock stars. At 2:00 into the video, the teacher reads the lyrics to "Closer To The Heart" while holding the A Farewell To Kings vinyl album cover.
     

111. Sally Forth, the comic strip, Jan. 10, 2005
     When Sally says she saw someone at the store whose name "starts with an 'R' and ends with an 'H'", her husband responds "You saw the rock group 'RUSH' at Target?"

112. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, the video game, Feb. 7, 2005
     The first story mission of this video game is "The Enemy Within", which one might pass off as coincidentally sharing the name of a Rush song, until learning that the first password earned during the game is "OCANADA".

113. It's the Whiskey Talking, DVD by comedian Artie Lange, Feb. 8, 2005
     About ten minutes into this DVD by comedian Artie Lange (known as part of Howard Stern's radio show), in describing his attire, he remarks "I'm wearing the same jacket I wore to a Rush concert in 1981."

114. MVP Baseball 2005, the video game, Feb. 10, 2005
     One of the fans found sprinkled among the spectators in this video game bears a striking resemlance to baseball fan Geddy Lee.

115. House, the television series, aired Feb. 15, 2005
     2112 sighting: during the episode titled "Detox", House is speaking with another doctor in front of a hospital directory which reads "Beds 2043 - 2112" on the bottom line, and for most of the conversation all that can be seen is "2112".

116. Numb3rs, the television series, Jan. 2005 -
     • "Sabotage" (#106, aired Feb. 25, 2005): During the opening credits the words "2112 Derailments" are seen.
     • "Soft Target" (#206, aired Nov. 4, 2005): A computer screename is shown as "'something'_2112" (first part of the screename was not remembered, feel free to email more info).

117. Ghost In The Shell, the animated series, March 6, 2004
     During the episode "Inductance" (#31), original air date March 6, 2004, one of the characters makes a list essays and reportedly includes "'A Farewell To Kings' by Neil Peart".

118. OverCompensating, the online comic strip, Mar. 8, 2005
     The lead character writes a song about hacking to the tune of "Tom Sawyer".
     

119. Red Sector 2112, the video game, March 15, 2005
     With a title taken from two Rush songs, this video game for the Pocket PC appears to be very similar to Doom. It of course takes place in the year 2112...

120. Cheap Seats, the television series
     This comedic parody show, broadcast on ESPN's Classic Sports, features two twin brothers, Randy and Jason, who comment on old and crazy sporting events such as "Wide World of Sports", rodeo, spelling bee, skeet shooting, outdoor games, celebrity events, etc.
     • The episode which aired Mar. 28, 2005 featured the 2003 "Scrabble Championship" and 1979 "Frisbee from the Rosebowl". During the Frisbee segment, when there's a drum break in the music one of the brothers says "and Neil Peart (mispronounced as "Pert") breaks it down on the drums."
     • The episode which featured the "1995 High School Slam Jam" and the "2003 NHL SuperSkills" had one of the brothers saying "play 'Subdivisions', eh?" during the NHL segment.

121. According To Jim, the television series, aired Mar. 29, 2005
     At the opening of the show, Jim and his blues band are in the garage practicing and Jim's brother-in-law, Andy, does a few extra slides down the keyboard to end the song Jerry Lee Lewis style. Jim looks at him and says, "Well, that really blew" to which Andy replies, "Yeah, like were going to open for Rush!"

122. Speed - The Ride, promotional video, May 2005
     Visit americancoasters.com to watch the Quicktime video for "Speed - The Ride", a rollercoaster at the Sahara Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Rush's "Driven" serves as the video's soundtrack.
     

123. Out Of The Gene Pool, the comic strip

     

     • June 5, 2005: Rush fans with a knowing eye noticed one of the characters in this syndicated comic strip is wearing an R30 tour shirt.
     • Feb. 5, 2006: The same character is seen again wearing his R30 tour shirt!

124. Pray For Us Sinners, the novel by Kathryn Lively, June 2005
     The protagonist of this murder mystery is a Rush fan, and a few Rush references are dropped throughout the book.

125. Dying to Live, 2005
     During this one hour skateboarding video starring Zero Skateboards' team Zero, skater Jamie Thomas skates to "The Temples of syrinx".

126. Playboy Studio West, 2112 Broadway, Santa Monica
     2112 Sighting: "Playboy Studio West" is located at 2112 Broadway Avenue in Santa Monica, California. Its exterior with its highly visible street number, 2112, were frequently shown in episodes of the E! Reality television series The Girls Next Door (debuted August 7, 2005) throughout its run. It is one of Playboy's key studio facilities for Playboy photographers to shoot centerfolds and playmate pictorials. Many models had their test nude shoots taken at this facility prior to being considered for a playmate pictorial in Playboy.

127. The Posies, 1986 - present
     This photo of Posies guitarist Ken Stringfellow taken in 2005 shows the band's name printed on the bass drum with the identical pink and black logo style used by Rush on their debut album.

128. Doom RPG, the mobile phone game, Sep. 2005
     2112 sighting: at one point in the game a civilian in Junction 4 says "Welcome! This is the oldest part of the base. Built in 2112..."

129. Supernatural, the television series
     • "Wendingo" (#2, aired Sep. 20, 2005): "Fly By Night" was heard during the very last 30 seconds of the episode.
     • "Phantom Traveler" (#4, aired Oct. 4, 2005): "Working Man" is heard as the main characters are in search of a demon.

130. Squidbillies, the animated television series, aired Oct. 16, 2005
     Part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup, which along with Sealab 2021, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law have all referenced Rush. During the Squidbillies pilot, "This Show Is Called Squidbillies", the main character starts hallucinating and says "I'm in that band, Rush," as a slightly off tempo version of "Tom Sawyer" is heard in the background. He has a flashback where he is onstage jamming out with Rush, and we see the squid on stage with two guys who are only seen from the chest down. In the end, however, he recalls it never really happened.

131. Batman Begins, Dec. 8, 2005
     In the special features of the deluxe edition DVD, during some of the interviews actor Christian Bale (Batman/Bruce Wayne) is seen a black Rush starman t-shirt (it takes a quick eye to notice, only the very top of the star is seen!).
     
132. Corner Gas, the Canadian television series, aired December 12, 2005
     YYZ sighting: Details are sparse, but during the episode "Merry Gasmas" (season 3, episode 44), Lacey, played by Gabrielle Miller, mentions YYZ. Whether she is referencing the song or the airport is unknown (additional details are welcome!).

133. Comedians Of Comedy, the series, Dec. 2005
     During episode 4 of season 1, comedian Brian Posehn wears a Rush T-shirt.
     

134. Slowpoke, the online comic strip, Feb. 27, 2006
     Includes an eggplant that looks like Geddy Lee.

135. SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate expansion pack for the video game SWAT 4, Feb. 28, 2006
     During one mission from this first person shooter, the player is directed to go to "2112 Geddy Avenue".

136. Supergroup, the VH-1 reality television show, Spring/Summer 2006
     Supergroup is a pseudo-reality show "with the premise being to lock several musicians in a house for 10 days and get them to write and record some new original music." Stars included Scott Ian (Anthrax; guitar), Ted Nugent (guitar), Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard; bass), Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row; vocals) and Jason Bonham (Bonham, UFO, Foreigner; drums). During episode 103, lead singer Sebastian Bach is seen wearing a Moving Pictures t-shirt; later, during episode 105, he is seen wearing 2112 boxers. Sebastian Bach previously recorded "What Your Doing" with his band Skid Row, and also performed on two Rush tribute albums: Working Man and Subdivisions.

137. Bang Cartoon, online cartoon, June 19, 2006
     In an online cartoon which makes light of one time NFL great Ricky Williams' signing with the Toronto Argonauts (where Marijuana is legal), a caricature of Geddy Lee makes a plea for more US football talent.
     

138. PvPonline, the online comic strip, June 30, 2006
     In this online comic strip, a 2112 poster is seen on the wall behind the artist, Scott Kurtz, who is reading an X-Men comic.

139. Saxondale, the British television series
     Comedian/actor Steve Coogan plays Tommy Saxondale, an ex-roadie who now runs a pest control business.
     • Original air date July 24, 2006: a competitor who has sold out to a big corporation invites Tommy to join him. Tommy replies "Glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity!" The competitor is confused, and Tommy continues "You know nothing, do you? Track One Side One of the Hemispheres [webmaster note: "Hemispheres?!"] album by Rush. Download it and scrap one of your Dido albums."
     • Original air date Sep. 28, 2007: The opening of "The Necromancer, Part III, Return of the Prince" was played a few times. Then toward the end of the episode, Mags wants to make out and says to Saxondale, "Bugger this, I want to listen to a bit of RUSH, so put on Caress of Steel, the Necromancer part III, Return of the Prince". Saxondale replies, "SHHHH, you had me at Caress of Steel, the Necromancer part III, Return of the Prince".
       

140. Alice I Think, the Canadian television series, aired July 28, 2006
     During the episode "Pit Stop" which first aired July 28th, 2006, on The Comedy Channel, Diane, Alice's mother, invites her friend Geraldine and her daughter to stay with them after a house fire. Geraldine upsets John, Alice's father, when she accidentally spills her drink on his favorite Rush shirt. When he confronts her about it, she replies that she has a case of the same shirts at home because she used to date a Rush Roadie. After this bit of information, he decides he likes her again, and they eventually get drunk together. When his wife walks in, John plays a riff on his guitar and says, "Honey, Geraldine told me Alex Lifeson showed her this, well actually his roadie." Later, Geraldine begins telling a story about "this one time on the tour bus, Geddy grabs his guitar and..." but stops as Diane is obviously unimpressed that her friend is getting hammered with her husband. In a later scene, even more drunk, John and Geraldine begin a poor rendition of "Subdivisions" accompanied by an even worse performance on the guitar.

141. Dead Rising, the video game, Aug. 8, 2006
     During the Xbox 360 game, while fighting with prisoners on the jeep in the leisure park, the song "Gone Guru" by the rap band Lifeseeker plays. From their self titled debut album, the song includes a sample of the main guitar riff from "A Passage to Bangkok"; click here for a sample; the Bangkok riff begins at 1:07.

142. Beer League, Sep. 15, 2006
     Artie, 37, who lives at home with his mom, brings a girl back to his bedroom. She is concerned that the walls are too thin, and that Artie's mom will hear. Artie says "These walls are completely sound proof...you could play drums in here! You could do the solo from 'Tom Sawyer'!" The girl replies "Who's Tom Sawyer?".

143. Hunters Of Dune, by Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson, Aug. 22, 2006
     In this Dune sequel co-authored by Peart's friend Kevin J. Anderson (click here for related info), the chapter leading epigram on page 427 reads:
     A choice can be as dangerous as a weapon. Refusing to choose is in itself a choice. -Pearten, ancient Mentat

144. Trailer Park Boys: The Big Dirty, Oct. 6, 2006
     The TPB's scheme to rob a change machine, named the "Quiznoid 2112", from inside the local theater, whose marquee lists "Bastille Day", "The Temples of Syrinx", "Cygnus X1", "Red Barchetta", "La Villa Strangiato", "The Trees" & "Return of the Prince" among the films now showing. The movie also includes a cameo by Alex Lifeson in the role of a policeman, as of course it also includes the obligatory Rush t-shirt. Click here for details regarding the soundtrack.
     

145. Heroes, the television series, Oct. 23, 2006
     Fly By Night sighting: Possibly coincidental, as the phrase certainly was not invented by Rush, but still worth a mention: during the episode titled "Hiros", the name of the dinner outside Las Vegas where time-traveling Hiro Nakamura first witnesses Nathan Petrelli fly out of the sky is the "Fly By Night". Perhaps there is a Rush fan in the production crew...?
     

146. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, the video game, Oct. 24, 2006
     2112 sighting: At two points during the video game, access codes are given as 2112. One of them are found when you interrogate a crew member on a cruise ship and he gives the access code to the navigation room as "2112". The location of the second code is apparently found during the eight mission, "JBA, Headquarters 3".

147. Wolverine: Road of Bones, the novel by David Mack, Oct. 31, 2006
     A character who assists Wolverine on his mission is named Alex Zivojinovich, and a cab driver is named Gary Lee. The back of the book states that author David Mack is a Rush fan and has seen them on every tour since 1982.

148. Once Upon a Lifetime, the book by Vincent M. Jeffries, November 3, 2006
     The author references Rush frequently in this book about divorce, family and friendship.

149. "Guitar Hero 2", the video game, Nov. 7th, 2006
     During this interactive guitar playing game, players perform to 55 songs, including a cover of "YYZ".

150. Tenacious D Rush Star Merchandise, Fall 2006
     Items available via the official Tenacious D website include a t-shirt, keychain and magnet with their take on the Rush Star. Singer & backup guitarist Jack Black was Rush's original choice to act in the opening film of the R30 Tour, a part which Jerry Stiller ended up doing. Black is a longtime Rush fan, and can be seen 'singing' the music of "Jacob's Ladder" in the film High Fidelity, calling Peart "one of the great drummers of all time" in School of Rock, and even did his laundry on stage during one show of the R30 Tour. Note, while Rush's star has been mistakenly called a pentagram, well...

151. Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, the television series, aired Nov. 13, 2006
     During the episode "Nevada Day Part 2" (#108), a Neil Peart poster for Paragon Cymbals is seen hanging on the door of "Dillon's" dressing room.

152. Family Guy, the animated television series
     • Aired Nov. 26, 2006: During the episode "Chick Cancer" (#87), after Stewie says he is "cooler than that cheetah from the commercials", it flashes to Chester Cheetah sitting in his living room which has a Rush starman poster on the wall while listening to "Tom Sawyer". He opens a bag of Cheetos, chops them with a razor blade, snorts the powder, and then says "Ah God there is no f(bleeped out) drummer better than Neil Peart (pronounced 'Pert')!" (click here for a video clip).
       
     • Aired Jan. 28, 2007: 2112 sighting - as Stewie and Brian are leaving Aspen, Colorado, a highway mileage sign gives the distance to Rhode Island as 2112 miles (note, this is in fact the actual milelage from Aspen to Rhode Island, +/- 6 miles!).

153. White Noise 2: The Light, Jan. 5, 2007
     Late in this film about a man who sees a light emanating from those about to die, a school choir sings "The Spirit of Radio". The choral version is sung by the Bach Children's Choir, and the credits lists Rush. This film has currently only been released in Europe.

154. The Knights Of Prosperity, the television series, aired Jan. 17, 2007
     During the opening scene of the episode "Operation: Fighting Shape", the leader of the group chooses "Tom Sawyer" as their theme song, then begins to sing Tom Sawyer along with a karaoke machine as the other members join in (click here for a video clip). Twice later in the episode the Rush version is played as well.

155. Patriots: A Nation Under Fire, the video game Jan. 23, 2007
     A first person shooter PC game by the developers of Gore (see previous entry, released Apr. 2002), in the very last building of the final mission, above a garage door in the dark is the word "Rush". This is a small homage to the band by the lead designer, a Rush fan!
     

156. Ghost Rider, Feb. 16, 2007
     Fitting as it shares the title of both the Rush song and Neil Peart' book, in on of the "making of" featurettes found on the DVD release, the visual effects director is seen wearing the tie-dyed Feedback tour shirt.
     

157. Stuck Between Stations, music video by The Hold Steady, Mar. 1, 2007
     The drummer in this video from this Brooklyn-based alternative rock band is wearing a Rush t-shirt. The video can be seen here.

158. The Enlightened Bracketologist - The Final Four of Everything, March 6, 2007
     In this book "for determining what we really love or hate - and why", 32 studio songs of at least 10 minutes in length are listed under the topic of "Long Songs". On pages 55-56 "The Camera Eye" loses to Pink Floyd's "Echoes".

159. Joomla Open Source Content Management System Software, Spring 2007
     The next software release for Joomla, software for building Content Rich Websites, has dubbed their next release the Red Barchetta.

     "We've dubbed Beta-2 'Red Barchetta', in keeping with the spirit of freedom, power, simplicity and flexibility unknown in an Open Source framework. Besides Red Barchetta conjuring up triumph through coding revolution, this baby provides developers and designers with unequaled tools. This makes Joomla! 1.5 Beta-2 the ultimate enabler for your projects. Now is the time for you to take it for a serious drive to help our team refine the software for our release candidate goals." - Joomla.org

160. My Name Is Earl, the television series, aired May 3, 2007
     During the episode "Get A Real Job", airdate May 3, 2007, "Working Man" is heard when Earl gets a full time job on the loading dock of an appliance store and tries to get promoted into sales.

161. The Sopranos, the television series, aired May 6, 2007
     During episode #82, "Walk Like A Man", airdate May 6, 2007, as Tony Soprano pulls into the driveway of his house, "Tom Sawyer" is playing on his car stereo.

162. Crossing Made Easy, television commercial, June 2007
     A humorous video at CrossingMadeEasy.com promotes the ease of crossing the Canadian border as a car full of guys pick their favorite Canadian song. "Tom Sawyer" is of course one of the songs chosen, but the humor is found when another chooses Celine Dion. - CrossingMadeEasy.com

163. Semplice, computer software, 2007
     In the "about" dialogue box for the "Semplice Storefront Manager" program, in fine print are the words "All Songs composed by Lee and Lifeson with lyrics by Peart". As there is no music in the software, this is apparently a small tribute by the program's authors.

164. Code Monkeys, the televiison series, (July 11, 2007 - )
     • During episode 1, "The Woz", aired July 11, 2007, an actual Rush poster can be seen hanging on the wall in Dave and Jerry's office (click here to see the original).
     • During episode 3, "Stonervision", aired July 25, 2007, one of the characters reportedly said "This must be how Rush felt after they recorded 2112. In addition, the previous Rush poster has been replaced by a second Rush poster, which does not appear to be a recreation of an actual poster as was done previously.
       
165. All-Pro Football 2K8, the video game, July 16, 2007
     The DJ- remix of "Tom Sawyer", originally from the Small Soldiers soundtrack, is one of many classic remixes found in the game's soundtrack. To hear the track, visit the game's official site.

166. UFOs At The Zoo, music video by The Flaming Lips, Aug. 21, 2007
     During one of the fan features from the Oklahoma City Zoo, a fan is seen wearing a Rush A Farewell To Kings tshirt. He first appears briefly 33 minutes into the film, then again 10 minutes later.

167. Halloween, Aug. 31, 2007
     "Tom Sawyer" is heard in this remake of the 1978 horror classic by Rob Zombie, and is also included on the soundtrack.

168. The Sarah Silverman Program, aired Oct. 3, 2007
     Airing on Comedy Central, during the episode "Bored of the Rings", after one of Sarah's gay and geeky friends played Dungeons & Dragons and missed a date, his boyfriend says something like "I made up a picnic basket and we were going to see the Rush concert tonight at the amphitheater!"

169. Everybody Hates Chris, the television series, aired Oct. 8, 2007
     During the episode "Everybody Hates Caruso", "Tom Sawyer" begins to play when the bully Caruso begins to fight the Asian student, Yao, in the school corridor.

170. "Guitar Hero 3", the video game, Oct. 28th, 2007
     This third edition of the interactive guitar playing game does not include any Rush songs, but does include a couple of Rush references. One of the guitars that can be purchased in the game's store looks like a playing card and is called "Farewell To Kings" with the decription "Its time to play your cards, but don't rush into it". Also, you can unlock a Gibson ES-355, which includes in its description "users of this guitar include Alex Lifeson of Rush..."

171. Barenaked Ladies, Talk To The Hand DVD, Nov. 7, 2007
     BNL guitarist/singer Ed Robertson can be seen wearing a Rush t-shirt throughout this concert DVD. Pictured on the shirt is a photo of Rush from around '77. Robertson performed with Rush and Mike Smith of the Trailer Park Boys to record a special version of "Closer To The Heart" for the charity television telethon "Canada For Asia" in early 2005 (included on the bonus disk of Rush's R30 DVD). Known Rush fans, BNL have frequently performed "The Spirit of Radio" in their live show, and included short tributes to "Tom Sawyer" and "The Spirit of Radio" in their song "Grade 9" on the album Gordon, and drummer Tyler Stewart used a caricature of Rush's Star Man on his bass drum during their 2001 tour.

172. "Rock Band", the video game, Nov. 20th, 2007
     This interactive game allows players to perform lead guitar, bass, drums and vocals. A cover of "Tom Sawyer" is one of the original 26 songs included on the game disk, while "Limelight" and "Working Man" are available as a download purchase.

     "With a lot of the rock guitar games that are available now...a whole new audience is coming around to knowing who we are. We're seeing a lot of young kids that have learned about Rush that way. So its very interesting to us to see all of these 11 - 14 year old budding guitar players coming to our shows." - Alex Lifeson, KZRR Albuquerque phone interview, April 8th, 2008

173. Hit List Countdown, Poland's "Polskie Radio Program 3", November 2007
     A sample of "Where's My Thing?" is used as the main theme of this popular hit list countdown on Poland Radio 3.

174. Xavier: Renegade Angel, the animated television series, aired December 9th, 2007
     2112 Sighting! Part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup, which has frequently referenced Rush in other animated series. During the episode "World Of Hurt, BC", Xavier travels back in time to confront a cro-magnon wifebeater (by eating bacon and smoking to "take minutes off his life and thus go back in time"). To travel back to the future, he reguratates the bacon but goes too far, to the year 2112.
     

175. Adventures Of Power, January 20, 2008
     Neil Peart makes a cameo appearance in this comedy about one man's quest to win an "air-drumming" competition. "Tom Sawyer" is heard during the film's trailer, which includes a glimpse of a Rush poster. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and as of yet there currently is no date set for a theatrical release; the film may be released direct to DVD.

176. Cygnus X-1 Porter, Flat Earth Brewing Company
     "This robust English style porter has an add twist, rye. Rye is used in making Canadian whiskey. It was created as a tribute to our favorite band - Rush. Cygnus X-1 has a creamy mocha chocolate flavor with a hint of spice. It has a slightly dry finish leaving you wanting more." - Flat Earth Brewing Company
     

177. "Freedom", the Japanese anime series, January 25th, 2008
     Produced by anime legend Katsuhiro Otomo (of "Akira" fame), during the first scene of volume 6, the main character is seen wearing a space suit with an Apollo 18 mission patch embroidered with the names "Lee, Lifeson, Peart".

178. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, January 29, 2008
     In this documentary which follows a pair diehard video game fans as they compete to break World Records on classic arcade games, one of the subjects performs Neil Peart's "The Rhythm Method" solo on the drums. For more, visit Reelzchannel.com.
     

179. "Fanboys", Spring 2008 (tentative)
     In this comedy where "Star Wars" fans travel to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in 1998 to steal an early copy of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace", actor Dan Fogler wears a retro Rush shirt circa 1974. The film is tentatively scheduled for release in Spring 2008.
     

180. Chad The Fat Kid, the online comic strip, February 29, 2008
     This online comic strip featured one of the characters wearing a Rush starman tshirt.