Rush Biography  Review The Artist (5)   A signing to Ray
Danniels' fledgling SRO Productions led to their first, self-
titled release in 1973 on Moon Records. Rutsey would soon leave
the band due to poor health and St. Catherines native Neil Peart
was brought in not only as drummer, but as songwriter as well.
Danniels' new label, Anthem (named after an Ayn Rand novel that
was also a song Peart wrote for 'Fly By Night') re-issued the
first album in 1974.  Rush's direction began to change from a
straight ahead 4 chord bar band to cerebral progressive rock
entity. Their second album, 'Fly By Night' still had short
commercially accessible songs and they were able to land a deal
with Phonogram in the US due to consistent airplay on Cleveland
radio.  1975 saw the more progressive 'Caress Of Steel' drawing
curious reviews from critics, but it was 1976's Terry Brown
produced '2112' that changed not only their outlook on Rush, but
at progressive rock in general. The album is generally
considered a Canadian milestone (n