Friday, June 11, 2010 | 1:15 p.m.
* Yes, dozens of black tees, from various tours, dotted the long line to get into the new Rush documentary’s first and only local showing at Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18.
* Far more surprising: The ratio of men-to-women in the crowd. As in, there actually were women in attendance for a two-hour film about one of history’s most notoriously dude-supported rock bands. Rush stereotypes be damned!
* Best historical footage: Home video of teenage guitarist Alex Lifeson breaking his decision to drop out of high school and pursue his musical dreams to his confused parents. Who in the world had the foresight to record that moment?!
* Coolest preserved photo: A shot of the young trio playing a school gymnasium in Toronto, with the band was partially obscured by a low-hanging basketball rim.
* Paying respect: Nice to see so much attention paid to the contributions of original drummer John Rutsey, who played on Rush’s first, self-titled album before being replaced by Neil Peart. Rutsey died in 2008.
* Best guest spot: Of the many musicians who pay homage to Rush in the film, Billy Corgan might be the most insightful and Jack Black the most attention-grabbing. But ultimately, it’s Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford who contributes the most memorable line, about the way singer Geddy Lee uses his famously large nose as a mic-adjusting device while his hands and feet are busy with bass guitars and keyboards.
* Worth watching?: If you love Rush, obviously. If you’re curious about their cultish draw, probably. Haters? Don’t bother. If the film has one overriding message, it’s that the band, and its generation-spanning mob of supporters, couldn’t care less what anyone else thinks.
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage premiers on VH1 and VH1 Classic June 26 at 9 p.m.
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