Geddy Lee of Rush, the mythic Canadian rock group performs in front of a crowd of close to 100,000 fans Thursday, July 15, 2010 as part of the Quebec Summer Festival in Quebec City.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
You could say that Darryl Lamb is among the legions of Rush uber-fans.
He has seen the iconic Canadian rockers perform in stadiums, amphitheatres, and the great outdoors ("They put on a great show anywhere," he says); he has watched hours of documentary and concert footage; and he eventually lured his wife into the fold. Their first child was even conceived on a Rush concert weekend, and high on Mr. Lamb's list of boy names was Geddy Alex Neil – the names of all three Rush members. They had a girl.
One time, when a friend who worked at Gotham Steakhouse gave him a copy of Geddy Lee's dinner bill, Mr. Lamb and his wife went to the restaurant and recreated the meal. "We couldn't do the wines because there was $850 worth," says Mr. Lamb with a laugh. "But I think that's the most nerdish thing I've ever done."
Mr. Lamb is far from alone. For over 40 years, the Toronto trio has belted out blistering prog rock, gathering feverishly faithful fans and influencing myriad other acts. They have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, and in 2012 even sold more than Jay-Z, Blake Shelton and the Black Keys. Only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones have had more consecutive gold albums.
The band is also known for legendary live shows, which involve hours of music taken from an expansive catalogue, as well as themed visuals and on-stage theatrics.
"It's the combination of the musicianship and the lyrics, which is why you get the mathematicians hanging out with the gearheads," explains Mr. Lamb, who hopes to hear all four sections of the band's sweeping 2112 overture on Friday.
So what would he do if he ever bumped into the trio on the street? "I would just thank them for the entertainment they have provided over the years. It wouldn't be anything crazy," he says. "But inside I would be pretty stoked."