Rush – Xanadu (Live From The Montreal Forum – 1981)

This live performance of “Xanadu” was recorded during Rush’s Moving Pictures tour and appears on their 1981 live album, Exit… Stage Left. The performance was recorded on March 27, 1981, at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

This song is based on an unfinished poem called Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who started writing it while under the influence of drugs. Once the effects of the drugs wore off, he was unable to complete it. Rush have never been known to use illegal substances, however.

“Xanadu” is the first Rush song in which synthesizers play an integral part. Unlike the previous albums, 2112 and Caress of Steel, “Xanadu” uses both guitar and synthesizer effects.

“Xanadu” requires each band member to utilize an array of instruments to effect the performance. Alex Lifeson used a double-necked Gibson electric guitar (one twelve-string, the other six-string) as well as synthesizer pedals; Geddy Lee made use of a double-necked Rickenbacker 4080/12 guitar (bass and twelve-string guitar), as well as extensive synthesizer arrangements (through both pedals and manual keyboards) in addition to singing; and Peart took on various percussion instruments (temple blocks, tubular bells, bell tree, glockenspiel, and wind chimes) in addition to his drum kit.

Despite its complexity and length, “Xanadu” was recorded in a single, uninterrupted take. According to Alex Lifeson, “Xanadu was well rehearsed before going to Rockfield, I remember that. On the day we recorded it, Pat Moran, the resident engineer, set all the mics up and we ran the song down, partially to get balances and tones. Because it was a long song, we didn’t need to complete that test run. We then played it a second time from top to bottom and that’s what you hear on the album. Needless to say, Pat was shocked that we ran an 11-minute song down in one complete take. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but it sure helps!”

Geddy Lee played rhythm guitar on this song.

Video: “Xanadu” – live from album Exit… Stage Left, released October 29, 1981.
Recorded June 10–11, 1980 at The Apollo, Glasgow (Side 2)
March 27, 1981 at The Forum, Montreal, and other 1981 dates (Sides 1, 3, 4)

“Xanadu” – Song by Rush from the album A Farewell to Kings (Original release)
Released August 29, 1977
Composers Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson
Lyricist Neil Peart