FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!

Billy Corgan Talks Clockwork Angels With Rush

June 12, 2012

Rush

Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart, collectively known as Rush, unleashed their first new collection of original material in over five years today (June 12). Clockwork Angels marks the band's 20th studio album and is their first studio release via Anthem / Roadrunner Records. The band once again worked with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who also collaborated and co-produced 2007’s Snakes & Arrows.

Lyrically, Clockwork Angels chronicles a young man’s quest across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy as he attempts to follow his dreams. The story features lost cities, pirates, anarchists, an exotic carnival, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life.

To mark the release of Clockwork Angels, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson connected with Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins for a lengthy conversation about the new album.

"We all face this thing of we love the classic albums, but why should I listen to them now?," Corgan asked during the interview, adding "I would say to anybody who's a Rush fan, there's a particular passion in this record thaty I haven't heard for a while and that was really attractive to me."

In the interview Lee and Lifeson discuss making music, Neil Peart's lyrical prowess, the development of Clockwork Angels as a story, Rush's disdain for the "c word" (concept), their influence on other musicians, why an album still matters and much more.

Talking about their frame of mind going into the recording sessions for Clockwork Angels, Lee stated, "There was a certain new level of playing that we felt we achieved on the last tour. Because we allowed ourselves some moments, which is rare for us, being victims of our own patterns, you know, we're structure freaks. We love to overstructure the songs. We don't leave much room for jamming or a momentary burt of inspiration, but we did on this last tour and we noticed that we kind of went to a really fun and interesting and a little bit dangerous place some nights. We just kind of elevated the thing into a new zone of intensity. Furious was the best way to describe it."

When asked about their influence on other musicians, Lifeson said, "It's a wonderful compliment to have passed along something. The role of teacher is quite an honorable one. We like to take chances. We like to push ourselves. We try to do all those things that so many musicians aspire to, you know, that freedom to do what you want and the way you want to do it. It's a lot easier to say that when you've got a strong audience that's willing to buy your records and support you and come and see you play but it's an important part of development and growth. A lot of younger musicians, especially through the '90s and 2000s, were quite influenced by that."

And not to be overlooked was Corgan offering up The Smashing Pumpkins as an opener for Rush on a future tour.

Check out the full 49+ minute interview here:

Music News
	Vampire Weekend Notches Best Sales Week Yet
	Metallica Writing New Tunes, But Focused On Film
	Quick Hits: One Direction, Daft Punk, Trevor Bolder, Interlocken Music Festival
	Doors Keyboardist Ray Manzarek Passes Away
	Johnny Marr: Don’t Shoot The Messenger
	Quick Hits: Prince, Cee-Lo Green, Thirty Seconds To Mars, The X Factor, The Transplants, Sick Puppies, Cage The Elephant, First City Festival, The Clash
	Taylor Swift Dominates Billboard Music Awards
	Kanye West Unveils New Songs On SNL
	Chester Bennington Joins STP At KROQ Weenie Roast, Release Single Together
	Quick Hits: Beyonce/Jay-Z, The Voice, Ed Sheeran, Coachella, Interlocken Music Festival, The Beatles
	Britney Spears To Hit The Studio Next Week
	The Week In Review: 5/13-5/17
	Quick Hits: American Idol / Candice Glover, Madonna, Emeli Sandé, PSY, Cody Simpson, Nine Inch Nails, Summerfest, The Pogues
	Beck, Frank Ocean Among Nominees For MTV's Eclectic O Awards
	Quick Hits: The Voice, Riot Fest, Drake, One Direction, Franz Ferdinand, Nine Inch Nails, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen & Dropkick Murphys, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Mayhem Festival

Breaking News
	Mat Mitchell Named PD For KZZP & KYOT/Phoenix
	Kirdis Postelle Named SVP Of Marketing For Capitol Music Group
	Cox Enterprises Donates $1 Million For Oklahoma Relief
	SiriusXM CEO Meyer Touts "Superior Revenue Model"
	Monte & Avery Lipman Deliver Commencement Speech At University Of Albany
	In Brief - May 22, 2013
	FMQB FYI... Links You Should Know About
	May 21, 2013
	Arbitron & Edison Release More Infinite Dial Data On AC P1s
	Rob Wells Joins Universal Music Group's Executive Board
	Spotify Launching Top 50 Charts
	Pandora To Preview New Releases With "Pandora Premieres"
	Bill Pugh Named PD Of KFOG & KSAN/San Francisco, Dennis Constantine Exits
	Jacobs Media Releases Techsurvey 9 Data On News/Talk Format
	Duke Professor Connolly Rumored As Next FCC Nominee
	NAB Commends Broadcasters On Oklahoma Tornado Coverage
	In Brief - May 21, 2013
	May 20, 2013
	Clyburn Takes Over As Acting FCC Chairwoman
	Report: "Song Skipping" Option Holding Back Apple's iRadio
	Dave & Chuck The Freak Named New WRIF/Detroit Morning Team
	In Brief - May 20, 2013
	May 17, 2013
	eQB NOW
	The Week In Review: 5/13-5/17
	RAB: Radio Revenue Flat In Q1 2013
	Drew & Mike Say Goodbye At WRIF/Detroit
	Jacobs Media Release Techsurvey 9 Data On Christian Radio
	CHR Innovator Paul Drew Passes Away
	In Brief - May 17, 2013