"Molson Canadian Rocks For Toronto"
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Rush performed for approximately 450,000 people in Toronto's Downsview Park as part of the "Molson Canadian Rocks For Toronto" concert to benefit Toronto's SARS-depressed economy. The list of performers for the nine hour concert included The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Guess Who, Justin Timberlake, Sam Roberts, The Flaming Lips, Kathleen Edwards, The Isley Brothers, Sass Jordan, La Chincane, and Dan Aykroyd with Jim Belushi and the "have love will travel revue". Rush's 35 minute set was followed by AC/DC (55 min.) and The Stones (70 min.) who closed the show. The Stones were touring with guests AC/DC at the time. During Rush's set, which included an instrumental cover of the Stones' "Paint It, Black", The Stones' drummer, Charlie Watts, watched as a Rush fan from off stage.
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Setlist: Tom Sawyer, Limelight, Dreamline, YYZ, Freewill, Closer To The Heart, Paint It Black (instrumental), The Spirit Of Radio.
"When we were first asked to play Molson Canadian Rocks For Toronto, it seemed impossible to say yes. We had been off the road for 8 months, our gear was in the warehouse, most of our crew was out on other tours, and even we were all over the place - Geddy with his family in France, Alex working in the studio mixing our Rio de Janeiro show, and me on my motorcycle in the California mountains. However, when we thought about everything Toronto meant to our lives, to our work and play, our homes and families and friends, it seemed impossible to say no!" Neil Peart, Rush.com Newsletter, July 3, 2003
"We had narrowed the set down to seven songs, eliminating 'New World Man' (with its risky sequencer beginning that might go awry in such a chaotic setting), and reviving the old warhorse, 'Working Man,' as a possible encore song."Finally, it was showtime. We walked across the vast area backstage and up the high steps to the massive stage, and stood at the back corner, waiting...A short, older man stepped up to me, sticking out his hand an saying something I couldn't hear. Thinking, 'Now who's this?' I took out one of my ear monitors and said, 'Sorry, I couldn't hear you.' He spoke again, smiling, 'Hello, I'm Charlie Watts.' 'Oh!' I said, taken aback, 'Hello.' And I shook his hand. He asked if we were going on soon, and I said yes, any minute, and he said, with a twinkle, 'I'm going to watch you!'
"At the end of 'The Spirit of Radio,' we ran offstage, waiting to see if we should play an encore or not. Everyone was supposed to know about that plan, but somebody obviously didn't. Taped music started playing over the P.A., as if our set was over, and stagehands began walking onstage to strike the gear. We were still standing at the side of the stage, tensed for action but no knowing what to do, when Alex turned to go, saying, 'Forget it. It would be embarrassing to go back on now.' He was right. It was over." - Neil Peart, Traveling Music, pp. 357-364
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Released June 29th, 2004 (same day as Feedback), Toronto Rocks includes three songs from Rush's seven song set. The all day concert was edited for DVD to include six songs by the Stones, and between one to three songs from the remaining performers. Each performer was sent a tape of their performance, and allowed to choose their favorites: Rush chose "Limelight", "Freewill" and "The Spirit of Radio" (with the "Paint It, Black" intro). Included in the bonus footage is Peart's meeting the Stones' Charlie Watts. A two disk set in Canada, the DVD was released as a single disk elsewhere by cutting out some of the lesser known Canadian talent. All artists agreed to donate all DVD sales revenue to several charities, especially those related to the SARS outbreak (benefitting hospitality and health workers).
Related News & Interviews
- CBC News Review, July 30, 2003
- The Stones rock 450,000 fans in T.O., Toronto Sun, July 31, 2003
- CNN Review