Rush - An Evening With 1997 (2025)

1997 BROADCAST RECORDING FROM THE TEST FOR ECHO TOUR Rush s sixteenth studio album, Test for Echo, was released on September 10, 1996 on Anthem Records. It marked the final Rush work prior to the tragic events in Neil Peart's life that put the band on hiatus for several years; it was the final Rush album to be co-produced by Peter Collins. The Test For Echo Tour was the band's first with no opening act on any date, and was billed as "An Evening With Rush." The tour kicked off October 19, 1996 at the Knickerbocker Arena in Albany, New York and culminated on July 4, 1997 at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. This was the only concert tour during which Rush played the song 2112 in its entirety. One of the final dates also turned out to be the tour s undoubted highlight when the band performed at Toronto s Molson Amphitheater, on June 30th 97, for a show that was recorded for live FM broadcast. Previously unreleased this extraordinary concert is now available of this double CD set for the first time, acting as both a superb collector s item for fans and a fitting tribute to drummer Neil Peart, who so sadly passed away recently at the tragically young age of 67. The producers of this CD wish to extend their condolences to Neil s family and friends, and to the Rush fans who have so loyally flown the flag for Rush across almost 50 years - 45 of which featured Neil as the band s drummer.