Red Barchetta

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! The Zoo Crew is cranking up the vibes with Red Barchetta from Rush’s iconic 1981 album Moving Pictures. This track is a wild ride, inspired by a 1973 short story called “A Nice Morning Drive” by Richard Foster, published in Road & Track magazine. The story paints a dystopian future where heavy safety regulations have turned cars into bulky “Modern Safety Vehicles,” and reckless drivers ram older cars for sport. In the song, the narrator defies a “Motor Law” by taking his uncle’s hidden red Barchetta—a sleek, two-seat sports car—for a thrilling countryside spin, only to get chased by futuristic “gleaming alloy air cars.” It’s a heart-pounding tale of rebellion and freedom, with Neil Peart’s lyrics and the band’s tight instrumentation making you feel the wind in your hair. Fun fact: the Barchetta in the story was originally an MGB roadster, but Peart swapped it for a Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, a nod to the car’s racing legacy, as the first Ferrari left the Maranello factory in 1947 as a red, V12-powered speedster.

Here’s a cool story: during the recording of Moving Pictures, Rush tried to reach out to Richard Foster to get his blessing for the song but couldn’t track him down through Road & Track. They settled for an “inspired by” credit in the liner notes. Fast forward to 2007, and Peart finally connected with Foster during Rush’s Snakes & Arrows tour. The two hit it off, bonding over their love for BMW motorcycles and taking a ride through West Virginia’s backroads, which Foster later documented in a piece called “The Drummer, The Private Eye, and Me”. Another tidbit: Geddy Lee’s pronunciation of “Barchetta” with a “ch” sound instead of the proper Italian “k” (bar-ketta) has become a quirky hallmark of the song, as noted in fan discussions across The Rush Forum. Fans also love how the song’s video, used during the Moving Pictures tour, brought the car chase to life with vivid visuals, cementing its status as a live favorite.

Rush, the Canadian prog-rock trio behind Red Barchetta, got their start in 1968 in Toronto’s Willowdale neighborhood. Teenagers Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards), Alex Lifeson (guitar), and original drummer John Rutsey began as a high school band, playing covers of Cream and Led Zeppelin at local gigs like coffeehouses and church basements. Inspired by the raw energy of those acts, they honed their sound in Toronto’s bar scene, eventually landing a deal with Mercury Records. Their self-titled debut album in 1974 was a gritty, hard-rock effort, but Rutsey’s departure due to health issues and creative differences led to Neil Peart joining as drummer and lyricist. Peart’s arrival was a game-changer, bringing complex rhythms and cerebral lyrics influenced by sci-fi, philosophy, and literature. Their 1975 album Fly By Night marked this shift, and by 1976’s 2112, Rush’s ambitious concept pieces and virtuosic playing had earned them a cult following, setting the stage for their mainstream breakthrough with 1980’s Permanent Waves and 1981’s Moving Pictures.

Zoo Freaks, you can dive deeper into Rush’s world at their official website, where you’ll find tour archives, discography, and news. Connect with the band on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where posts like Alex Lifeson’s 2025 reflection on the “great vibe” of recording Moving Pictures in a freezing Quebec winter keep fans buzzing. For fan communities, check out The Rush Forum, a lively hub for discussions, and the Rush Fans Facebook Group, where devotees share memories, trivia, and tributes, especially poignant after Neil Peart’s passing in 2020. So, crank up Red Barchetta, feel the “adrenalin surge,” and keep rocking with THE ZOO!