Thursday, July 17, 2014

Toronto considering naming Art Park after Rush members



The north Toronto neighbourhood of Willowdale is considering naming a new Art Park after Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.

Inside Toronto reports the proposal for the name Lee Lifeson Art Park is scheduled to come before North York community council on August 12.

The new facility will be more than an ordinary park.

“Two years ago, I came up with the idea to create a park that would focus on the arts and would be a celebration of creativity, where people could go to be creative or go to enjoy others’ creativity,” explained Willowdale Councillor John Filion. “All the arts will be represented there but the focus will be on music and sound. This is really a new concept, there isn’t a prototype anywhere. It’s nothing we’re copying from anywhere else.”

When it came time to think of a name for the park, Lee and Lifeson’s names “just jumped off the page,” Filion said. The pair launched Rush as students of nearby Fisherville Junior High School.

“All their early rehearsals were at their parents’ homes in Willowdale. Most of their early gigs were at local high schools, like Earl Haig,” said Filion. “They’re very connected to Willowdale and they’re very renowned musicians.”

Rush recently released their 1974 self-titled debut album as an LP Box Set reissue to mark its 40th anniversary.

“Rush ReDISCovered” features the band’s debut re-mastered at Abbey Road studios by Sean McGee, who has been responsible for all recent Beatles vinyl re-masters.



See also:

VIDEO: Rush receive honorary degrees from Nipissing University
Rush: Presto to be reissued as limited-edition SACD
Rush to receive honorary degrees from Nipissing University
Rush’s music publishing company purchased by ole
Search Rush at hennemusic