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R40 Live
R40 Live
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R40 Live
Live album by
ReleasedNovember 20, 2015
RecordedJune 17 and 19, 2015
VenueAir Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
Genre
Length195:57 (CD version)
LabelAnthem
ProducerAllan Weinrib
Rush chronology
Clockwork Angels Tour
(2013)
R40 Live
(2015)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[1]

R40 Live is a live audio album and video release of Canadian rock band Rush, recorded on their high-grossing R40 Live Tour. Both formats were released November 20, 2015. The performances were filmed on June 17 and 19, 2015, at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada.

The audio CD album consists of three discs. Disc 1 contains the entire first set, disc 2 contains the second set, and disc 3 contains the encore and seven bonus tracks.

R40 Live is noted for containing the only live performances of "Losing It", from the band's 1982 album Signals. During set 1 of all disc formats, Benjamin Mink, who had played electric violin on the original studio recording, is featured as a guest performer. The album's common description, written by Philip Wilding, states: "The version [of Losing It] on the Signals album was raised ever higher by Ben Mink’s...wonderfully affecting violin part, the recreation of which had always put the song beyond the band’s live set."[2] Among the bonus tracks on the third disc of the CD release is a second performance of the song featuring violinist Jonathan Dinklage, a member of the string ensemble that had backed Rush during their Clockwork Angels Tour.

Best Buy sold two deluxe edition box sets of R40 Live: CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray. Both of these included an exclusive and limited-edition Starman projector flashlight, that projected a white Starman logo when the button was held. The metal flashlight is black with a gray label that reads "RUSH R40", and features a keychain on the end. These box sets were the only way to get the concert video and CD soundtrack together in a box set. Best Buy also made a promotional video for these deluxe box sets.

Track listing

[edit]

This is the track list for the three audio CDs.

All tracks are written by Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson except where noted.

Set one (CD 1)
No.TitleLength
1."The World Is...The World Is... [Intro Video]"2:11
2."The Anarchist"7:07
3."Headlong Flight/Drumbastica (drum solo)"8:45
4."Far Cry"5:31
5."The Main Monkey Business"6:07
6."How It Is"4:45
7."Animate"6:15
8."Roll the Bones"6:05
9."Between the Wheels"5:58
10."Losing It" (with Ben Mink)5:55
11."Subdivisions"5:48
Set two (CD 2)
No.TitleLength
1."Tom Sawyer" (Peart, Lee, Lifeson, Pye Dubois)4:59
2."YYZ" (Lee, Peart)4:41
3."The Spirit of Radio"5:03
4."Natural Science"8:31
5."Jacob's Ladder"7:34
6."Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres: Prelude"4:19
7."Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage: Prologue/The Story So Far (drum solo)/Part III"9:21
8."Closer to the Heart" (Peart, Lee, Lifeson, Peter Talbot)3:07
9."Xanadu"10:39
10."2112: Part I ("Overture")/Part II ("The Temples of Syrinx")/Part IV ("Presentation")/Part VII ("Grand Finale")"12:15
Encore (CD 3, part 1)
No.TitleLength
1."Mel's Rock Pile [Intro Video, featuring Eugene Levy]"1:35
2."Lakeside Park/Anthem"5:29
3."What You're Doing/Working Man" (Lee, Lifeson)9:35
Bonus (CD 3, part 2)
No.TitleLength
1."One Little Victory"5:47
2."Distant Early Warning"5:24
3."Red Barchetta"7:08
4."Clockwork Angels"7:46
5."The Wreckers"5:39
6."The Camera Eye"10:21
7."Losing It" (with Jonathan Dinklage)6:13

The following info is on the CD bonus performances:

Track 4, “Clockwork Angels”, was recorded in Denver, Colorado on July 11, 2015.

Track 5, "The Wreckers", was recorded in Buffalo, New York on June 10, 2015.

Track 6, "The Camera Eye", was recorded in Kansas City, Missouri on July 9, 2015.

Jonathan Dinklage played the violin part for track 7, "Losing It", which was recorded in Los Angeles on August 1. He performed with the band during their earlier Clockwork Angels Tour, as part of the Clockwork Angels String Ensemble.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Audio
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[3] 30
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[4] 54
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5] 49
UK Albums (OCC)[6] 47
US Billboard 200[7] 24
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[8] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[9] 1
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)[10] 2

Certifications

[edit]
DVD
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
R40 Live is a live album and by the Canadian band Rush, documenting performances from their 2015 , a 35-date North American trek celebrating the group's 40th anniversary that ran from May 8 in , to August 1 in , , and served as their final major tour with the original lineup before retiring from large-scale touring following Peart's retirement and death in 2020; in October 2025, surviving members and announced a reunion tour for 2026 honoring Peart. The release captures the band's elaborate stage production, which featured a rotating, mobile set designed to simulate a chronological journey backward through their discography, beginning with tracks from their most recent album (2012) and culminating in early hits like "Working Man" from their 1974 debut. The audio album, a three-disc set containing 29 tracks spanning Rush's career, was primarily recorded during two sold-out hometown shows at Toronto's on June 17 and 19, 2015, with select bonus tracks sourced from other tour dates such as , and . Notable highlights include the live debut of "Losing It" from the 1982 album Signals, performed with original guest violinist , and extended medleys like the 12-minute rendition of "2112." Released on November 20, 2015, by Anthem Records and Zoë Records, the album peaked at number 24 on the and received acclaim for preserving Rush's technical prowess and emotional farewell vibe. The accompanying concert film, directed by Dale Heslip and executive produced by Pegi Cecconi, , and John Virant, was filmed at the same performances and released simultaneously in various formats including Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming, offering fans high-definition visuals of the tour's innovative staging and the band's synchronized instrumentation. As a capstone to Rush's touring legacy with Peart, R40 Live encapsulates over four decades of evolution from roots to progressive mastery, with the tour grossing $37.8 million and drawing 442,000 attendees across 35 sold-out shows.

Background

Tour origins

The R40 Live Tour was launched by the Canadian rock band to celebrate the 40th anniversary of drummer joining the group on July 29, 1974, an event that solidified the band's enduring lineup of bassist/vocalist , guitarist , and Peart. This milestone marked a pivotal shift for Rush, transitioning from their early configuration to the creative synergy that defined their legacy over the subsequent decades. The tour's conception emphasized reflection on the band's history, with performances designed to span their catalog while honoring Peart's transformative role. Rush officially announced the on January 22, 2015, scheduling 35 concerts across North American arenas from May 8 in , to August 1 in , . The itinerary focused exclusively on the continent, delivering high-production shows that drew strong attendance and underscored the band's enduring popularity among fans. The tour ultimately grossed $32.3 million in ticket revenue, positioning it among Rush's most financially successful outings and highlighting the robust demand for their live presentations. In interviews following the tour's completion, band members expressed that the R40 outing represented their farewell to large-scale touring, influenced by personal considerations including Peart's desire for retirement and Lifeson's health challenges with . While the band viewed R40 as their touring farewell at the time, Peart retired in and died on , 2020; in October 2025, Lee and Lifeson announced the "Fifty Something Tour" for 2026 with a new , marking their return to live performances. Guitarist confirmed this stance in 2015, noting the physical toll of extended tours and the fulfillment derived from ending on a high note with this anniversary celebration. Several performances from the tour were captured for the subsequent live album R40 Live, preserving the event's energy for broader audiences.

Setlist and staging

The setlist for the was structured in reverse chronological order, beginning with tracks from the band's most recent album, (2012), such as "The Anarchist" and "," and progressing backward through their discography to conclude with early compositions like "" and "" from their self-titled 1974 debut album. This approach created a narrative arc that mirrored the band's 40-year evolution, allowing audiences to experience Rush's musical progression in reverse. A notable inclusion was the rarely performed "Losing It" from Signals (1982), which made its live debut during the tour and required guest musicians, including violinist or Jonathan Dinklage, to replicate the original track's string elements. The setlist also incorporated medleys, such as segments blending " Book I: The Voyage" from (1977) into "Xanadu" from Hemispheres (1978), to condense expansive material while maintaining thematic continuity. During rehearsals, the band refined the setlist through iterative adjustments to achieve a balance between fan favorites like "," deep cuts such as "The Larger Bowl (A Pantomime)," and these medleys, ensuring the show remained dynamic without exceeding practical time limits. The stage design complemented this chronology with a state-of-the-art setup featuring a rotating and pivoting structure that rolled and dived to evoke different eras, including a specialized drum riser for that descended dramatically during segments like "." Large LED video walls—a central 25-foot by 25-foot screen flanked by two 7-foot by 25-foot side panels—displayed era-specific visuals, archival footage of past tours, and thematic animations, such as machinery for early phases.

Recording

Performance dates

The primary recordings for R40 Live were captured during the band's two sold-out homecoming shows on June 17 and 19, 2015, at the Air Canada Centre in , , serving as the finale of their R40 40th Anniversary Tour. These performances were selected for their emotional significance, marking a triumphant return to the band's hometown after a 35-date North American trek that drew approximately 440,000 fans overall. Each concert attracted 14,182 attendees (sellout capacity), totaling 28,364 across both nights, with the intimate yet grand atmosphere amplifying the celebratory mood. The filming utilized a multi-camera setup of 14 high-definition cameras positioned throughout the 20,000-seat venue to capture the dynamic stage production, including sweeping arena shots and detailed close-ups of the musicians and instruments. This configuration ensured synchronized audio-visual recording, with all cameras and the mobile recording truck timecoded for precision. While the core album draws from the Toronto dates, select bonus tracks incorporated backup audio from other tour stops to enhance completeness; for instance, "The Wreckers" was recorded at the June 10, 2015, show in Buffalo, New York.

Production process

The production of R40 Live involved capturing the band's performances through high-fidelity multi-track audio recording and synchronized video filming, followed by meticulous mixing and editing to preserve the raw energy of the live shows. The audio was recorded using a LiveWire Remote Recorders truck equipped with a 96-input SSL C200 digital console and a Pro Tools HDX system, capturing a 191-track session that included 48 dedicated drum tracks and 14 audience microphones to enhance spatial depth. This setup allowed for detailed isolation of instruments during post-production, with a Tascam X48 serving as a backup recorder to ensure data integrity against potential timecode disruptions. The sessions took place over two nights at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on June 17 and 19, 2015, under the oversight of audio producer David Bottrill, who emphasized maintaining the authentic live sound without extensive alterations. Mixing was handled entirely in-the-box by Bottrill at his studio, utilizing Universal Audio Apollo interfaces and an SSL Nucleus controller to balance subgroups on the master bus, incorporating plugins like UAD Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor and Brainworx BX_digital V2 for subtle dynamic control. The process prioritized stereo and 5.1 surround formats, with the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel dedicated primarily to Geddy Lee's bass to reinforce the trio's sonic foundation. Overdubs were kept minimal to retain the performance's immediacy; assistant engineer Mike Monson manually added low-level drum samples (6-8 for kicks and snares, one per tom) at around -20dB solely for enhancement, not replacement. For the track "Losing It," violinist Ben Mink performed live on stage, reprising his original contribution from the 1982 album Signals, with no additional overdubs noted beyond the core recording. Audio mastering was completed by Joao Carvalho, ensuring compatibility across CD and high-resolution formats. On the video side, director Dale Heslip and Allan Weinrib coordinated the filming with 13 camera operators, slaving the audio timecode to the camera department via BNC cables and an AC-powered generator to mitigate issues from a faulty initial cable. Lead editors Dark and Mark Morton assembled the footage into a full presentation running approximately 195 minutes, incorporating a pre-show virtual provided by front-of-house Brad Madix for precise setup . Inter-set archival clips and bonus performances, such as "The Camera Eye" and "," were integrated from various tour dates, including Kansas City, with director of photography Andre Pienaar ensuring visual consistency under lighting designer Ungerleider's supervision. This technical workflow transformed the raw captures into a cohesive product that highlighted the tour's chronological setlist without compromising the live atmosphere.

Release

Formats

R40 Live was released in multiple formats, catering to both audio enthusiasts and fans seeking visual accompaniment. The audio-only edition is a three-CD set with a total runtime of 195:57, featuring the complete from the performances along with three bonus tracks recorded at other shows during the tour. Bundled options include the three-CD set paired with either a DVD or Blu-ray disc, where the video component presents the full in for an immersive home viewing experience. Digital versions became available for download and streaming on platforms such as and beginning November 20, 2015, allowing broader accessibility without . The release was distributed by Anthem Records in and by Zoë Records internationally, ensuring wide availability across regions.

Promotion and editions

The promotion for R40 Live kicked off with the release of an official trailer on October 8, 2015, uploaded to by the band's label, Anthem Records. The two-minute video highlighted electrifying live performances from the R40 tour, such as pyrotechnics during "Tom Sawyer" and the band's synchronized stage movements, while underscoring the 40th anniversary celebration of Rush's career. Pre-order campaigns were initiated through the official Rush.com store and retailers like Amazon starting in early October 2015, encouraging fans to secure copies ahead of the November 20 release. Incentives included bundling purchases with exclusive merchandise, such as a special R40 All Over t-shirt for orders placed directly via the band's website. Special editions enhanced the appeal for collectors, with Best Buy offering an exclusive deluxe box set in both CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray configurations. This limited-edition package included the core audio-visual content plus unique memorabilia, notably a Starman projector flashlight capable of displaying the iconic logo, along with a glossy poster, a 40-page booklet featuring tour photos, and a replica laminate. To build anticipation, participated in media appearances around the release, including radio interviews on stations like Toronto's Q107, where and discussed the tour's elaborate staging and emotional weight. Print coverage in outlets such as , which had featured on its cover earlier that year during the tour, emphasized the R40 outing as a milestone signaling the end of their large-scale touring era. The timing aligned with the holiday shopping period, positioning the set as an ideal gift for enthusiasts.

Musical content

Track listing

R40 Live is a triple-disc live album that captures the band's performance during their 40th anniversary tour, structured to reflect the chronological progression of their career from recent material to early classics. The sequencing mirrors the live show order, beginning with songs from the 2012 album and progressing backward through their discography. All compositions are credited to , , and unless otherwise specified, with instrumental tracks like "YYZ" attributed to Lee and Peart. The total runtime of the album is approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes.

Disc 1 (Set 1)

This disc features 11 tracks primarily from the band's later-period albums, emphasizing elements with extended arrangements.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1The World Is... The World Is.../Lifeson/Peart2:11
2The Anarchist/Lifeson/Peart7:07
3Headlong Flight/Lifeson/Peart8:46
4/Lifeson/Peart5:31
5The Main Monkey Business/Lifeson6:08
6/Lifeson/Peart4:45
7Animate/Lifeson/Peart6:15
8/Lifeson/Peart6:05
9Between the Wheels/Lifeson/Peart5:58
10Losing It/Lifeson/Peart5:55
11Subdivisions/Lifeson/Peart5:49

Disc 2 (Set 2)

Comprising 10 tracks from the band's mid-career era, this disc includes the full suite from 2112 and highlights intricate instrumental sections.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1Lee/Lifeson/Peart5:00
2YYZLee/Peart4:32
3Lee/Lifeson/Peart5:03
4Lee/Lifeson/Peart8:32
5Lee/Lifeson/Peart7:34
6Hemispheres: PreludeLee/Lifeson/Peart4:19
7 / The Story So Far (Drum Solo)Lee/Lifeson/Peart9:21
8Lee/Lifeson/Peart/Talbin3:08
9XanaduLee/Lifeson/Peart10:40
102112Lee/Lifeson/Peart12:15

Disc 3 (Encore and Bonus Tracks)

The third disc opens with three encore tracks forming a medley of early material, followed by seven bonus performances recorded at various tour dates, including a second rendition of "Losing It" from the Buffalo show featuring violinist Jonathan Dinklage.
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1Mel's (Narrator: )Traditional (arr. /Lifeson/Peart)1:36
2Lakeside Park / Anthem/Lifeson/Peart5:29
3 / /Lifeson9:35
4One Little Victory (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart5:47
5Distant Early Warning (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart5:24
6 (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart7:09
7 (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart7:46
8 (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart5:39
9The Camera Eye (Bonus)/Lifeson/Peart10:22
10Losing It (Bonus; Electric : Jonathan Dinklage)/Lifeson/Peart6:13
Note: "Losing It" on Disc 1 features on .

Notable performances

One of the standout moments in R40 Live is the revival of "Losing It" from the 1982 album Signals, marking its live debut during the tour and captured on the recording. The performance features guest violinists , who originally played on the studio version, and Jonathan Dinklage, whose emotive solo adds a poignant, intimate layer to the ballad's themes of lost dreams and fading ambition. The album showcases seamless medley transitions that highlight the band's roots, particularly the medley of "" from 1977's and "The Story So Far" from 1978's Hemispheres, leading into "Xanadu" from . This sequence incorporates extended improvisations, blending intricate instrumentation with dynamic builds that evoke the epic storytelling of the original recordings while allowing for live spontaneity. High-energy renditions of staples like "" from 1981's Moving Pictures energize the second set, with Geddy Lee's vocals and keyboards updated using modern synthesizers to faithfully recreate yet enhance the track's iconic Oberheim-driven synth lines and driving rhythm. Neil Peart's drum solo, integrated into the " / The Story So Far" medley, evolves from established tour elements into a narrative journey reflecting his career, using electronic mallet instruments for textural elements. The acoustic set segment further emphasizes the band's versatility, featuring tracks like "" from 1976's 2112 and "Hemispheres: Prelude" from 1978's Hemispheres in stripped-down arrangements.

Credits

Band personnel

The core band personnel for R40 Live were the longstanding trio of Rush, performing a retrospective set drawn from their 40-year career during the 2015 R40 tour. Geddy Lee handled lead vocals, bass guitar, and keyboards, utilizing a variety of vintage and signature basses—including Fender Jazz Basses from the 1960s and 1970s, models, and Gibson Thunderbirds—along with foot pedals to manage bass lines and synthesizer elements simultaneously while singing and playing. Alex Lifeson provided guitars on electric models such as Gibson Les Pauls and ES-355s, as well as acoustic guitars for select tracks, in addition to backing vocals that supported Lee's leads throughout the performance. Neil Peart played drums and percussion on a custom DW kit featuring shells crafted from 1,500-year-old Romanian River Oak, incorporating electronic triggers via Roland TD-30 modules, a MalletKat MIDI mallet controller, and a KAT pedal for sampled sounds processed through Ableton Live, enabling seamless transitions between acoustic and electronic elements without a rotating riser.

Additional contributors

Beyond the core band members, R40 Live featured notable guest artists who enhanced specific performances. Violinist , who originally played on the 1982 studio version of "Losing It" from the album Signals, reprised his role as a guest performer during the shows captured for the release. The production team was led by Allan Weinrib, who served as the overall producer for the video and live elements, overseeing the integration of audio and visual components from the R40 tour's final dates. Audio production and mixing were handled by David Bottrill, a veteran engineer known for his work with artists like Tool and , who captured and refined the multitrack recordings from the Air Canada Centre concerts to preserve the band's dynamic live sound. The video direction was managed by Dale Heslip, who directed the concert film, focusing on multi-camera setups to highlight the band's stagecraft and the tour's thematic reverse chronology. Supporting the visual and auditory experience, lighting designer Howard Ungerleider, a longtime collaborator with Rush since 1974, crafted the tour's illumination to complement the setlist's progression from recent material to early classics. Concert sound engineer Brad Madix provided front-of-house mixing, ensuring clarity across the venue's PA system during the recorded performances. Additionally, drum technician Lorne Wheaton maintained Neil Peart's elaborate kit setup, contributing to the precision of the percussion elements throughout the show. Executive producers: , , John Virant. Mastering: Joao Carvalho. Liner notes: .

Reception

Critical reviews

Critical reception to R40 Live was generally positive, with reviewers praising the band's enduring energy and the comprehensive setlist that chronicled their four-decade career. awarded the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "stunning look at the band's 41 year career with a setlist that spans all eras of Rush's amazing catalogue" and highlighting the "defiantly youthful performance" despite the musicians' ages. Louder Sound lauded the production as "absolutely incredible," emphasizing the chemistry between , , and , along with the inspired reverse-chronological setlist that included rarities like "Losing It" featuring violinist . gave it 7 out of 10, calling it an "entertaining listen" that captured the band's tightness and the ecstatic crowd's energy, while noting its historical significance as potentially their final major tour document. Some critics offered more tempered assessments, pointing to production choices and the album's length as minor drawbacks. The Daily Vault rated it a B, commending the exceptional musicianship on tracks like "Losing It" and "YYZ" but criticizing the "muddy" audio mix that obscured individual elements and the overall runtime, including an excessive four-minute drum solo. Prog Archives users gave it an average of 3.97 out of 5 based on 76 ratings, reflecting a solidly positive but not exceptional consensus, with some reviews noting it as competent yet redundant amid Rush's frequent live releases. Fan reception was mixed but leaned positive, particularly as a fitting send-off for the band's retirement-era tour. Many appreciated the inclusion of rare performances such as "Losing It," which made its live debut, but others complained about the audio mix favoring Peart's drums at the expense of balance. Overall, enthusiasts viewed it as a vital celebrating Rush's legacy.

Chart performance and sales

R40 Live debuted at number 24 on the US Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release, with 24,000 copies sold. The release also reached number 1 on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts, marking Rush's third number-one album on the former and second on the latter. In Canada, the album peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. The accompanying concert video received RIAA Gold certification on July 19, 2018, for shipments exceeding 50,000 units in the Video Longform category. Sales of both the album and video were supported by bundle offerings with tour merchandise during the R40 Live Tour.

References

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