Xanadu (Live 1981)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the epic "Xanadu (Live 1981)" by Rush, a track that’s a favorite among Zoo Freaks for its sprawling, immersive vibe. This 11-minute masterpiece, captured live in Montreal for the Exit… Stage Left concert film, showcases the band’s technical prowess and storytelling. One wild tidbit comes from guitarist Alex Lifeson, who shared in an interview that the studio version from 1977’s A Farewell to Kings was nailed in a single take. The engineer, Pat Moran, was floored, saying, “You come in here and play a 9-minute song in one take? Who are you guys?!” That raw energy carries over to the 1981 live cut, where Geddy Lee juggles bass, synths, and vocals while Alex rips into double-neck guitar solos. Drummer Neil Peart, who wrote the lyrics inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan, weaves a tale of immortality gone sour—a perfect fit for the Crew’s trippy, reflective vibe.

Another gem about "Xanadu" is its gearhead appeal. Fans on Reddit geek out over Geddy’s Rickenbacker 4080/12 double-neck, which rocks a bass on top and a 12-string guitar below. It’s iconic in the live performance, especially when he switches necks mid-song, a moment Zoo Freaks probably lose it over. The song’s complex 7/8 time signature and synth-heavy intro, complete with chirping bird effects, pushed Rush into new territory. Some fans even recall cranking it so loud it blew speakers or drove pets nuts—like one guy’s parakeet going berserk during the intro. Rush played "Xanadu" live on nearly every tour until 1983, then brought it back for later runs, cementing its status as a fan obsession, ranking #6 in a Rolling Stone readers’ poll of top Rush tracks.

Rush’s origin story kicks off in 1968 in Toronto’s Willowdale neighborhood, where Alex Lifeson (then Alex Zivojinovich) and bassist Jeff Jones formed a scrappy band. They cycled through drummers until John Rutsey joined, and by ’69, Geddy Lee (Gary Lee Weinrib) replaced Jones after a fallout. Calling themselves Rush, inspired by a friend’s suggestion, they gigged hard in local bars and high schools, covering Cream and Hendrix. Their self-titled 1974 debut, with Rutsey, leaned bluesy, but Neil Peart’s arrival that year—replacing Rutsey, who had health issues—flipped the script. Peart’s cerebral lyrics and insane drumming pushed Rush into prog-rock stardom with albums like Fly by Night and 2112. By the time "Xanadu" dropped, they were Canada’s biggest rock export, blending brains and brawn for a cult following that still thrives.

You can dive deeper into Rush’s world at their official website, where you’ll find tour archives, merch, and news. They’re active on Facebook, sharing throwback photos and fan tributes, and their Instagram posts killer live shots and album art. On X, they engage with fans and repost memories, though it’s less frequent since their 2020 hiatus after Neil Peart’s passing. For Zoo Freaks wanting more, check out fan hubs like RushIsABand.com for obsessive discographies or join the Rush Fans Facebook group, where thousands swap stories and rare bootlegs. Another gem is Cygnus-X1.net, a fan site with lyrics, scans, and trivia that’s been running since the ’90s.