John Rutsey

utsey and Lifeson became close friends while attending St. Paschals School, and the pair would play street hockey together in their neighborhood.[5] Both were interested in rock music, and talked often about forming a band.[5] Together, they initially were members of the bands The Projection with Bill Fitzgerald and “Doc” Cooper.[3] Eventually another school friend, Lee, joined them and the earliest version of Rush was formed.

Rutsey’s commitment has been credited with providing the band’s early direction, as it was he who took the band most seriously and he who would insist on regular practice sessions. According to Ian Grandy, a member of the band’s early roadcrew, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There would have been no ‘Rush’ without John.” At Rutsey’s suggestion, Rush was initially a glam rock band. “John led the guys as far as being ‘glam rockers’, with really flashy jackets and pants, and eight-inch high boots”, according to Grandy. “One time, he was speaking to me at the Gasworks and I said, ‘Didn’t we used to be the same height (5’8”)?’ He laughed and said ‘Well, maybe a long time ago!'”[3]

It was Rutsey’s brother, Bill, who came up with the name Rush for the band during a rehearsal in the Rutsey family basement in mid 1968