Taylor Hawkins nailed it when he said, if you like Genesis and Yes for the complexity, and you like the heaviness of Black Sabbath, then Rush is the perfect band for you.

That's Alex Lifeson on the guitar, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time!

Alex does not get the recognition he deserves! He is awesome! Fire!!!

“Listen to my music and hear what it can do… there’s something here that’s as strong as life, I know that it will reach you!” RUSH forever!! RIP professor 💔 😢

Saw this live in a small venue in Houston in 1976. The experience is still seared into my brain 46 years later!

Have listened to 2112 many many times but first time hearing this live version. EPIC!!! Alex Lifeson's guitar playing to me is unmatched and no question one of the greatest ever. PERIOD!!

Eddie Van Halen was once asked, "What's it like to be a guitar god?". He replied, "I don't know, ask Alex Lifeson".

It’s amazing how Geddy Lee has had an excellent singing voice for 40 years

One of the greatest live song performances by a rock band ever.

You are a lucky man! What a blessing to have a wife that appreciates GREAT music.

On January 15th, 1977 I was front row center arms on stage as I watched them play this masterpiece and all the others. I was 16. Attended solo. 48 year RUSH LIFER. The GOAT.

PLEASE keep doing more Rush reactions!! I love seeing your faces when they transition! Natural Science is a great song of theirs if you like all the transitions.....but please do the album version first so you can appreciate the live version! Just a suggestion. My favorite band of all time.....RIP Professor 🥁 Blessed to have seen the 14 times live!!🎶🎸🥁🎶❤️

Alex's guitar tone and performance here is beyond the beyond !

2112 was released in 1976. Mind blowing album for the time

Alex Lifeson's guitar composing/arrangements and his mastery of TONE is one of a kind in rock history. He's also a total goofball, a very kind person, and runs a cool beer brewery back home.

Welcome to one of the greatest songs every created

That's the best 2112 live version I've ever seen.

It's amazing that much sound is coming out of just three dudes. Love Rush since 1976

RUSH Army is present and prepared for duty.

My God, I forget how good of a guitarist Alex is. Rush has always been a huge influence for so many musicians, their creativity always inspired me to explore different genres and creativity. Amazing live performance.

Neil controlled hyper kinetic odd time chaos! R.I.P. LEGEND, ICON...AND BEST OF ALL A GOOD MAN.

This album is the one that gave them their musical freedom. It was such a hit that the studios said "You can do whatever you want." It remains a classic prog-rock piece and will probably be played for as long as people listen to music. This concert was the first time they played the whole piece from beginning to end. It was an AMAZING experience.

2112 was the album that really launched them a bit before Moving Pictures, saved their career probably. It's phenomenal as you can tell. Thus live version I hadn't seen before it's awesome. Thank you!

hi guys i'm Manuel from Rome...please, absolutely must see and hear marathon rush live a show of hands 1988, one of the best rush live in my opinion. Enjoy from Rush's fan

Any Rush fan can tell you… you can listen to each song many many many times and you will find new things every time. As you were saying your ears switched from Geddy to Alex to Neil… that’s why we love Rush! You listen to Alex play and you hear his virtuoso. You listen to Geddy jamming away on his bass. You get blown away by Neil. But you can hear a different sense of the song by focusing on just one guy at a time. Then you can get a whole different experience by letting the whole sound engulf you. And yet another experience focusing on lyrics… become a lifelong fan of Rush… and it is clear, you can enjoy their music forever! ❤️

2112 is a story that takes place in the year 2112. Society is controlled by the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx. The protagonist finds a guitar behind a waterfall, learns to play it, and presents it to the Priests. They reject it and destroy the guitar. Depressed, he goes home, falls asleep, and has a vision from an Oracle of better times that nurtured creativity and learning. The elder race that left generations earlier will return later. Some people believe that the protagonist commits suicide due to the line; "My spirits are low in the depths of despair, my lifeblood spills over." Although that is up for interpretation. When the elders return and take over, there is a belting "Attention All Planets of The Solar Federation. We have Assumed Control." three times. Unfortunately, you can barely hear that in this live performance. I recommend now listening to the lyrics version or, even better, the comic-book-like animated version to get a better sense of the story.

I gotta hand it to you guys, you really know how to react to RUSH. Ha Ha! It’s a thing being RUSH ARMY! Imagine thousands of us in one big room with the band playing! RUSH Night was special. Very special.

I saw Rush in concert 18 times since 1981. There was only one concert in all that time that they performed 2112 in its entirety, with all seven parts, This was on the Test for Echo Tour in 1997. Sadly, I attended the concert alone, very much a last-minute ticket purchase, and to this day I regret that none of my best Rush friends were there to see this epic played live!

This is from the Test for Echo tour. It had been awhile since they played 2112 in its entirety. Previous tours had seen them play the first two parts only.

Even hard-core fans, forget how great some of the live performances are if you haven’t seen them in a while. Thanks and Rush on!

I was at this tour watching them in San Jose. Rush live wakes you up to how much heavier they are live than on their studio discs. There will never be anyone close to them again. Virtuoso performances were guaranteed at any tour date. Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart will never be again. I grew up on Rush from the age of 9 on and now in my early fifties no other band gives you complete satisfaction for every penny you spend to see them live. These are three master musicians who were so far ahead of their time.

You have so much more Rush to discover , And yes you will become addicted …🥰🥰

I listen to this LP once a month. ITS timeless. Lifeson is incredible

1976, 14 year old me. Already a fan of Rush, bought this album on release day. Went home and lost my everlovin' mind. You have to put on headphones and listen to the studio version, close your eyes and just take a journey. I had never heard anything like this before, Rush gave a hint of what was to come on the previous album, Caress of Steel with the songs Fountain of Lamneth.and The Necromancer. (one of my favorite songs.) Rush live was an experiance. These guys played thier hearts out each time. There was no "going through the motions" for them. You left thier concert knowing that they gave you thier best each time. Even though they retired after the 2015 tour, there was still hope that there could be some one-off shows, or some new stuff from them. But, sadly it wasn't to be. Neil's passing hit hard, he was such a private person that his illness wasn't known to most. After all he had been through, to have found some happiness in his life, and for it to be taken away from him so early. I just thank whatever forces of the Universe that brought these three together to form something special. Three Masters of music, that the World may never expeience again. I was blessed to be able to take thier music on my Journey through life, and it still plays a big part of my day.

I was at this concert, Alex wet crazy on this song...

Xanadu (live video) from Exit Stage Left album….just epic

Imagine being a stoned, drunk teenager seeing this live for the first time when this came out. That was standard operating procedure for EVERY concert! Nothing like RUSH point blank from forth row.

If only I could hear this for the first time again! RUSH FOREVER!

While this is certainly a great performance, this track is worth listening to the original studio version with lyrics because the seven parts make up the pretty deep story and worth listening to.

Alex Lifeson is the most criminally underrated guitarist in history.

That was fantastic!! I hadn't seen this live performance before. Alex was on fire! 🔥 💥⚡️ Next I would suggest La Villa Strangiato official music video. Xanadu from Exit Stage Left Please do more Rush. Loving your reactions!! 🧡❤️ Cheers

unbelievable performance. alex in particular, my god he fills that auditorium with his sound. immense.

Great to see young people enjoy the music I grew up on!

I've seen alot of reactors, and you've even responded to say thanks.....I always come back to see your genuine excitement and introspection of feelings towards the music! Thanks again, from west coast Canada 🇨🇦, peace.

And they created this in 1976. No words. Ever.

Sophisticated rock and roll. Been calling it that since the late 1970's.

Alex Lifeson

You two are awesome! This was the entire 2112 suite around 20 yrs after the recording and they are playing at such a high level. I was fortunate enough to see them on this tour 3 times and I was equally blown away every time!

Saw them play this live 3 times since 1977.

It’s crazy live. All the fans can sing all the songs, word for word. We’ve been doing it for decades! Your accountant might be able to sing this! Ha Ha! I am the Old School! RUSH ARMY!!

An all-time rock classic from perhaps the most talented trio ever to play!

This is performance is the literal meaning of a Masterpiece!

God damn it man , watching Neil play is always a jaw dropping experience. lots of love from chile to you both ! 🤟

Greatest band ever. Three geniuses in one band. Xanadu. Exit stage left 1981 was a great show.

THAT much sound from THREE GUYS? They will always be the best for me...

Major props for making the effort to use my remaster as your reaction material, that is exactly why I do it, so everyone's first impression with Rush lives up to the quality standards that they deserve!

My favorite band of all time🎸🥁🎶❤absolutely beautiful song with amazing visuals

"2112" was performed for the first time in its entirety on this tour in 1997. It was 20 years since they first recorded it. Also, the Test For Echo Tour was their first tour as "An Evening With", so no opening act. It was just Rush and their fans for about 3 hours. They toured that way all the way up until the end.

and that would be the Test for Echo Tour 97 :) Rock!!

Imagine while on tour they are doing this song each time.

After the "failure" of their previous album Caress of Steel and the record company pressuring them to make more radio friendly music, the band decided, since this would most likely be their last album, they were going to go out with a bang and do the music THEY wanted to do. Love the reactions! If you haven't heard them, La Villa Strangiato (1979), Tom Sawyer (the South Park into is awesome), Limelight, Xanadu (1981). Welcome to the Rush family. You'll never regret it....

Your guys reactions are great ..you guys get it …yep i was there… 2nd row ….I’ve seen Rush 7 times and this is the only time they played 2112 in its entirety on this tour……2112 came out in 76 ….you are right on they were the first hard rock prog band and catapulted Rush to the big time this album grew and exploded by word of mouth alone and the 2112 story is timeless

I saw them on this tour at the Starplex Ampitheater in Dallas. The tour was called "An Evening with Rush". No opening act, just Rush doing 2 sets. The first set was side one of 2112. I saw them 4 times in total, but this was my favorite concert. Oh, and Alex's haircut was called the "Caesar". I never wore it personally, but it was popular back in the day.

Love many, many bands and styles/genres, about all I listen to lately is Rush, I never tire of it, ever...their music is quite something

3 MONSTER solos from Alex. And Geddy just playing the freakin strings off that bass

Way ahead of everything else in the 70's and 80's. 3 guys!!!!

Damn, I just love the shuffle Peart adds to this version.

I was there. Saw Rush 8 times, this was the only time I saw them do 2112 in its entirety. Beautiful summer evening with Rush at the amphitheatre beside the lake. I'll never forget it. They also played Natural Science at this one.

It takes a few hundred listens of 2112 to understand how amazing and complex and nuanced it actually is. I think I am almost there. :-)

nothing beats live rush

Best reaction, emoctionally, to something HISTORICAL. Thanks

I saw Rush 4 times in concert, the sound was crystal clear every time. Awesomely talented band.

Awesome react, kids! This is my first time seeing this live one. It rocked!

Sorry you two weren’t children of the seventies. This is what we grew up on but great to see you enjoying it as much as we did.

Enjoyed watching both your faces disolve in Alex's guitar phenomenon 😂

Considering Alex's sense of humor I'm surprised he never rigged a little smoke canister to his guitar and activated it after one of his solos 😂

Someone asked Eddie Van Halen , how does it feel to be the greatest guitar player in the world ... he said I don't know , ask Alex Lifeson. True story.

I was able to witness all the legendary rock groups live

Your reactions are spot on, and you appreciate the talent of the band as a whole and the individual chops each member has. I've been a Rush fan since the early eighties. Thanks for bringing their music to the younger crowd and keeping it alive for us older folks!!

The greatest love song ever written about a guitar...🤗

Short story about when I was a kid in the mid 70s. My big sister brought me her a friends house to hang with her for the day. Tall Dude with long hair and moustache let us in. I remember walking into this house with not much furniture. Just a stereo that had the clear blue plastic dome over it. Looked liked list something from an old cheap sci-fi movie, and a drum kit under the chandelier Infront of a huge window were a dining room table would be. The dude showed me the stereo and put on a record. I was fascinated by the stereo and really did not pay attention to the DRUM kit gleaming in the sunlight from a huge window. LOL then I went home and never asked her about it till many years later. Only ever met him once after that 30 ish years ago. I lived with my big sister in Toronto. Her boyfriend and I had a big frankenstein drum kit in the basement. Any who, I came home from work one night ( @ midnight ) and they were having a party ( they did that alot ) Walked in and people were everywhere. I look at a guy sitting in the corner. Hmmm is that freaking Gary Bussie? LOL yes it is. Then I notice they are jamming in the basement and the whoever was playing the drums made that kit sound amazing!. Went downstairs and who is playing the drums you ask? Ya him. Ok Gary Bussie blew my mind and then again down stairs. Was a good night. Sorry for the short story. Ya my Sister is freaking cool and still is.

Huge rush fan I think they are the best band of all time RIP Neil.

It's super fun watching you two reacting to music I love. You helped me love Jinjer, and hope you keep loving Rush.

Great reaction guy’s… was at this concert, was totally blown away, first time for me to see 2112 performed live… more Rush please!!

It was more than a series of songs played in order. It was a musical journey. Like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" its meant to be played without interruption. With the lights dimmed. Maybe with a "beverage." 🥳

Great reaction, 2112 Is from 1976 and in studio sound the same except some extras like sound of water, and a few seconds of mute beteewn each parts of this magical and master piece. Three master musician told to se are RUSH. EXCELENT REACTION.

I have enjoyed your reactions to the music of Rush and your authentic reactions of awe. Musically, they are all virtuosos. The music will blow you away. Yet, the lyrics add so much more. In all of their songs there is a message to be gained. Understanding the lyrics adds to much more to the performance. I wish you would revisit some of your reviews again having looked at the lyrics and what the song is trying to say and how the music helps interpret the lyrics. It adds a whole new level to their genius.

Watching you two watching and listening to this song is what gives the musician so much joy more than any drug or alcohol high better than sex just pure unadulterated bliss that is the universal language of music!

Was at this concert, it was Summer 97', at the Molson Amphitheater - first time in a long time they did all of 2112 - so glad you posted this - the concert was on fire as it always is with them!! This was the day after they played it in Montreal, part of the R30 tour - I was there too lol....Neil was on a high and life was great for him but sadly took a massive turn not to long after this as fans know The set list for this concert was beyond comprehension... Neil' drum solo for this concert was phenomenal, first time starting with that THUNDEROUS massive Drum, and echo effect, so cool!!! Same year as THE WHO (Rush' biggest influence) did Quadrophenia at the same venue -that too was mindboggling, with John Entwistle's Bass solo on 5:15, much like hearing Neil do his solo, the crowd literally clapped after that for a minute after he finished in awe!! If these two heard the original Baba O'riley I think they would need to train for that haha....

I was in 8th grade when this album came out and I’ve loved it ever since!

Always makes me smile to see Ged and Lerxst on stage digging each others music backed by the Prof. So many guitarists always look so serious but they are just having fun. Helps that they are two of the best, backed by THE best. Not seen this version with Alex's flamenco solo. Amazing, fits in perfectly with someone discovering what a guitar can do before going to the Priests. thanks for showing it and for recognising that it is a performance of a suite of music with slow bits and light and dark and sp great to see how the heavy bits caused such a reaction.Usual comment for such a vid. YES 3 GUYS DID ALL THIS!!!!! Cover some more. Try Anarchist to see what the could do 30 years later.

The drummer wrote those lyrics. All of them.

This album is what happens when true talent tells the suits to get bent and records with full artistic freedom. Rush's +40 year catalog is the result.

Arguably best track ever hilighting our dystopian society

I first heard this song in September, 1976 (about a week before my 14th birthday) - Rush in concert (All the World's a Stage Tour, I think). I had never heard of Rush, but being in a small town in the middle of nowhere I would go to almost ANY show that came to town. I was at this concert alone. Crowd too big for the venue. Significant contact high going on (a LOT of second hand "smoke"!). The come out an play this! Forever changed music (and possibly reality) for me. I still listen to this regularly (and saw Rush live 7 more times!)

I once read that supposedly in an interview Eddie Van Halen was asked “what’s it like to be the greatest guitar player ever?” And he supposedly answered “ I don’t know. Go ask Alex Lifeson.” I’d like to think that was true.

Great reaction!! One of the few times they play this song in full! This is a really great story song! So now you have to do the comic book version or at least hear the studio version with the liner notes and lyrics! Then you can get the whole “story”! Great reaction y’all!! Be well and God bless… from Texas!!

For those of us who were brought up with rush, led zep, floyd, dc etc feel for your pain

Great reaction! The 2112 album is really only one long story/song. If you read the lyrics you get a story about how the future might be after the Apocalypse.... Hence the title 2112 from the Mayan calendar.