Moving Pictures Tour

{{Short description|1980–1981 concert tour by Rush}} {{Infobox concert | concert_tour_name = Moving Pictures Tour | image = | type = | location = North America | album = ''[[Moving Pictures (Rush album)|Moving Pictures]]'' | artist = [[Rush (band)|Rush]] | start_date = September 11, 1980 | end_date = July 5, 1981 | number_of_legs = 2 | number_of_shows = 95 | last_tour = Permanent Waves Tour (1979–1980) | this_tour = '''Moving Pictures Tour''' (1980–1981) | next_tour = [[Exit... Stage Left Tour]] (1981) }}

The '''Moving Pictures Tour''' was a concert tour by Canadian [[rock music|rock]] band [[Rush (band)|Rush]] in support of their eighth studio album, ''[[Moving Pictures (Rush album)|Moving Pictures]]''.

==Background== While preparing to enter the studio to record ''Moving Pictures'', the band performed an isolated number of shows from September 11 to October 1, 1980 with [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]] as a support act. The tour began in Kalamazoo on February 20, 1981 and concluded on July 5 in East Troy. [[Max Webster]], [[FM (Canadian band)|FM]], [[Goddo]] and [[The Joe Perry Project]] were also opening acts for Rush on the tour.{{sfn|Popoff|2021|pp=90–92}} The March 27, 1981 performance in Montreal was recorded for the band's live album, ''[[Exit... Stage Left]]'' and its [[Exit... Stage Left (video)|accompanying video]].{{sfn|Mobley|2014}}{{sfn|Body|2019}} Each show was estimated to have cost $40,000 and featured back-projected film, pyrotechnics, and dry ice. 905,000 fans attended the shows overall, with the band making an estimated $4 million by the end of the tour. {{sfn|Popoff|2021|p=93}}

==Reception== John Griffin from the ''Montreal Gazette'' who attended the performance in Montreal, noted that Geddy Lee's vocals sounded like a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit, but praised both Lifeson, referring to his guitar playing as ordinary at best, and Peart, acknowledging his drumming as an interesting aspect that he made so little of the massive drum kit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=John |title=Rush: Pomp-rock trio hot on tedium |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Fr8DH2VBP9sC&dat=19810328&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=June 26, 2022 |work=The Montreal Gazette |date=March 28, 1981 |location=Montreal, Quebec |page=117 |language=en}}</ref>

Don Adair, a reporter from the Spokesman-Review opened his review of the band's show in Spokane, stating that the band gave the nearly full coliseum their money's worth, stating that it was heavy metal all the way complete with flash pot and thunderous decibels. Adair praised the band as a healthy rock and roll band, stating that it wouldn't bait the kids with pandering Van Halenesque sex and booze references, and healthy to do a two hour show with minimum posturing and carry the show with their orchestrated music. He also praised the lighting and effects that contributed to the dynamics of the performance which were designed by Howard Ungerlieder. He however, criticized that the music took it far too seriously, calling it pretentious.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adair |first1=Don |title=No one accused Rush of subtlety |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BUtOAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+concert+review&pg=PA7&article_id=6064,3121747 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |issue=35 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 22, 1981 |location=Spokane, Washington |page=13 |language=en}}</ref>

Roman Cooney from the ''Calgary Herald'' opened his review of the Edmonton performance, comparing Geddy Lee's vocals to a cat, but continued by stating that the band continued to push the heavy metal tide a little farther from imbecility. He claimed that if the band continued to spoil the heavy metal image and making their concerts more musically arresting than before, the group would be taken more seriously. Cooney commented on Peart's drum solo, noting it as "startlingly innovative". He later commented on the rest of the show with the band switching back and forth between "creative, exciting rock" and "insipid, banal exercises in needless noise and commotion". He concluded his review, stating that the band is becoming more adventurous on stage, being able to recreate the excitement their music had on vinyl.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cooney |first1=Roman |title=Canning heavy metal moves Rush towards sanity |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FXNkAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+moving+pictures+tour&pg=PA74&article_id=1447,3048188 |access-date=May 7, 2022 |publisher=The Calgary Herald |date=June 26, 1981 |location=Calgary, Alberta |page=D1 |language=en}}</ref>

==Set list== These are example set lists adapted from ''Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History'' of what were performed during the tour, but may not represent the majority of the shows.{{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|pp=199; 205}} {{col-start}} {{col-2}} ;1980 Setlist #"[[2112 (song)|2112: Overture/Temples of Syrinx]]" #"[[Freewill (song)|Freewill]]" #"By-Tor and the Snow Dog" #"[[Xanadu (Rush song)|Xanadu]]" #"[[Limelight (Rush song)|Limelight]]" #"[[The Trees (Rush song)|The Trees]]" #"[[Cygnus X-1 (song series)|Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres – Prelude]]" #"[[The Spirit of Radio]]" #"[[Closer to the Heart]]" #"Beneath, Between and Behind" #"[[Tom Sawyer (song)|Tom Sawyer]]" #"[[Jacob's Ladder (Rush song)|Jacob's Ladder]]" #"[[A Passage to Bangkok]]" #"[[Natural Science (song)|Natural Science]]" #"[[Working Man]]" #"Finding My Way" #"Anthem" #"[[Bastille Day (song)|Bastille Day]]" #"[[In the Mood (Rush song)|In the Mood]]" (with Neil Peart drum solo) #;Encore #"[[List of Rush instrumentals#La Villa Strangiato|La Villa Strangiato]]" {{col-2}} ;1981 Setlist #"2112: Overture/Temples of Syrinx" #"Freewill" #"Limelight" #"Book II: Hemispheres – Prelude" #"Beneath, Between and Behind" #"The Camera Eye" #"[[YYZ (song)|YYZ]]" (with drum solo) #"[[List of Rush instrumentals#Broon's Bane|Broon's Bane]]" #"The Trees" #"Xanadu" #"The Spirit of Radio" #"[[Red Barchetta]]" #"Closer to the Heart" #"Tom Sawyer" #"[[Vital Signs (Rush song)|Vital Signs]]" #"Natural Science" #"Working Man" #"Book II: Hemispheres – Armageddon" #"By-Tor and the Snow Dog" #"In the End" #"In the Mood" #"2112: Grand Finale" #;Encore #"La Villa Strangiato" {{col-end}}

==Tour dates== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of 1980 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and opening act(s){{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|pp=197–213}}<ref name="mptourdates">{{cite web |title=Moving Pictures Tour |url=https://www.rush.com/tour/moving-pictures/ |website=Rush.com |access-date=April 30, 2022 |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=September 27, 1980 |volume=92 |issue=39 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=rush+concert&pg=PT36 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=October 4, 1980 |volume=92 |issue=40 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=rush+concert&pg=PT36 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=October 11, 1980 |volume=92 |issue=41 |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EiUEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=May 6, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> |-

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of 1981 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and opening act(s){{sfn|Daly|Hansen|2019|pp=197–213}}<ref name="mptourdates"/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=July 4, 1981 |volume=93 |issue=26 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JiQEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=July 11, 1981 |volume=93 |issue=27 |page=48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rCQEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Box Office |magazine=Billboard |date=July 18, 1981 |volume=93 |issue=28 |page=51 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSQEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=May 12, 2022 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |language=en |issn=0006-2510}}</ref> |-

! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Date ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| City ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Country ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Venue ! scope="col" style="width:13em;"| Opening Act(s) ! scope="col" style="width:13em;"| Attendance ! scope="col" style="width:13em;"| Gross |- |February 20, 1981 |[[Kalamazoo, Michigan|Kalamazoo]] |rowspan="18"|United States |[[Wings Event Center|Wings Stadium]] |rowspan="18"|[[Max Webster]] |7,888 / 8,596 | rowspan="4" | |- |February 21, 1981 |[[Dubuque, Iowa|Dubuque]] |[[Five Flags Center|Five Flags Arena]] |3,945 / 5,200 |- |February 22, 1981 |[[Davenport, Iowa|Davenport]] |[[Palmer College of Chiropractic|Palmer Alumni Auditorium]] |4,500 / 4,500 |- |February 24, 1981 |[[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]] |[[La Crosse Center]] |4,608 / 7,000 |- |February 26, 1981 |rowspan="4"|[[Chicago]] |rowspan="4"|[[International Amphitheatre]] | rowspan="4" |39,416 / 39,416 | rowspan="4" |$450,856 |- |February 27, 1981 |- |February 28, 1981 |- |March 1, 1981 |- |March 2, 1981 |[[Milwaukee]] |[[UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena|Mecca Arena]] |9,741 / 9,741 |$98,990 |- |March 4, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[St. Louis]] |rowspan="2"|[[St. Louis Arena|Checkerdome]] | rowspan="2" |22,788 / 22,788 | rowspan="2" |$212,824 |- |March 5, 1981 |- |March 7, 1981 |[[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] |[[Freedom Hall]] |8,145 / 8,145 |$66,671 |- |March 8, 1981 |[[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]] |[[Hara Arena]] |8,000 / 8,000 |$44,000 |- |March 10, 1981 |[[Evansville, Indiana|Evansville]] |[[Roberts Municipal Stadium]] |5,054 / 10,500 |$39,585 |- |March 11, 1981 |[[Indianapolis]] |[[Market Square Arena]] |16,000 / 16,510 |$121,363 |- |March 13, 1981 |rowspan="3"|[[Detroit]] |rowspan="3"|[[Huntington Place|Cobo Hall]] | rowspan="3" |34,809 / 34,809 | rowspan="3" |$353,100 |- |March 14, 1981 |- |March 15, 1981 |- |March 21, 1981 |[[London, Ontario|London]] |rowspan="6"|Canada |[[London Ice House]] |rowspan="4"|[[FM (Canadian band)|FM]] |6,000 / 6,000 | rowspan="15" | |- |March 23, 1981 |rowspan="3"|[[Toronto]] |rowspan="3"|[[Maple Leaf Gardens]] | rowspan="3" |39,180 / 39,180 |- |March 24, 1981 |- |March 25, 1981 |- |March 27, 1981<ref>{{cite news |title=Friday: Evening |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uFFNAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+exit+stage+left+montreal&pg=PA15&article_id=4105,5640997 |access-date=May 12, 2022 |issue=336 |publisher=Rome News-Tribune |date=May 30, 1986 |location=Rome, Georgia |page=6 |language=en |quote=This concert filmed in 1981 at the Montreal Forum}}</ref> |[[Montreal]] |[[Montreal Forum]] |Max Webster |14,055 / 14,055 |- |March 28, 1981 |[[Ottawa]] |[[TD Place Arena|Ottawa Civic Centre]] |FM |9,349 / 9,349 |- |April 3, 1981 |[[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] |rowspan="49"|United States |[[Tucson Convention Center|Tucson Community Center]] |rowspan="11"|Max Webster |8,407 / 8,407 |- |April 4, 1981 |[[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] |[[Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum]] |14,137 / 14,137 |- |April 5, 1981 |[[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] |[[Tingley Coliseum]] |10,153 / 10,153 |- |April 7, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Houston]] |rowspan="2"|[[Sam Houston Coliseum]] | rowspan="2" |18,926 / 18,926 |- |April 8, 1981 |- |April 10, 1981 |[[Dallas]] |[[Reunion Arena]] |15,439 / 15,439 |- |April 11, 1981 |[[San Antonio]] |[[Henry B. González Convention Center|Convention Center]] |14,118 / 14,118 |- |April 12, 1981 |[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] |[[Fort Worth Convention Center|Tarrant County Convention Center]] |13,766 / 13,766 |- |April 14, 1981 |[[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] |[[Barton Coliseum|T.H. Barton Coliseum]] |5,251 / 10,250 |- |April 15, 1981 |[[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]] |[[Mississippi Coliseum]] |6,676 / 10,000 |$62,339 |- |April 16, 1981 |[[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] |[[Mid-South Coliseum]] |9,537 / 9,537 |$83,523 |- |April 18, 1981 |[[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]] |[[Mobile Civic Center|Municipal Auditorium]] |rowspan="7" {{n/a}} |9,772 / 9,772 | rowspan="3" | |- |April 19, 1981 |[[New Orleans]] |[[Municipal Auditorium (New Orleans)|Municipal Auditorium]] |8,100 / 8,100 |- |April 21, 1981 |[[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] |[[Hirsch Memorial Coliseum]] |8,182 / 8,182 |- |April 23, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] |rowspan="2"|[[Hy-Vee Arena|Kemper Arena]] | rowspan="2" |24,438 / 24,438 | rowspan="2" |$230,280 |- |April 24, 1981 |- |April 25, 1981 |[[Oklahoma City]] |[[Prairie Surf Studios|Myriad Arena]] |13,552 / 13,552 | rowspan="2" | |- |April 26, 1981 |[[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] |[[Cox Business Convention Center|Tulsa Assembly Center]] |5,287 / 8,000 |- |May 6, 1981 |[[Pittsburgh]] |[[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]] |rowspan="25"|FM |13,265 / 13,265 |$140,020 |- |May 7, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Richfield, Ohio|Richfield]] |rowspan="2"|[[Richfield Coliseum]] | rowspan="2" |30,600 / 30,600 | rowspan="2" |$275,890 |- |May 8, 1981 |- |May 9, 1981 |[[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] |[[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]] |15,020 / 15,020 | rowspan="2" | |- |May 11, 1981 |[[Binghamton, New York|Binghamton]] |[[Visions Veterans Memorial Arena|Broome County Memorial Arena]] |5,558 / 7,000 |- |May 12, 1981 |[[Rochester, New York|Rochester]] |[[Blue Cross Arena|Rochester Community War Memorial]] |10,130 / 10,130 |$107,100 |- |May 13, 1981 |[[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] |[[Upstate Medical University Arena|Onondaga County War Memorial Auditorium]] |7,072 / 8,200 | |- |May 15, 1981 |[[Glens Falls, New York|Glens Falls]] |[[Cool Insuring Arena|Glens Falls Civic Center]] |6,759 / 6,759 |$66,000 |- |May 16, 1981 |rowspan="2"|Landover |rowspan="2"|Capital Centre | rowspan="2" |37,252 / 37,252 | rowspan="2" | |- |May 17, 1981 |- |May 18, 1981 |[[New York City]] |[[Madison Square Garden]] |17,292 / 17,292 |$195,000 |- |May 20, 1981 |[[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale]] |[[Nassau Coliseum]] |10,567 / 12,500 | |- |May 22, 1981 |[[Philadelphia]] |[[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]] |15,423 / 15,423 |$137,703 |- |May 23, 1981 |[[Boston]] |[[Boston Garden]] |11,406 / 11,406 |$120,391 |- |May 24, 1981 |[[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] |[[Amica Mutual Pavilion|Providence Civic Center]] |10,408 / 10,408 |$93,251 |- |June 1, 1981 |[[Denver]] |[[McNichols Sports Arena]] |14,572 / 14,572 | rowspan="2" | |- |June 3, 1981 |[[Salt Lake City]] |[[Salt Palace (arena)|Salt Palace]] |12,228 / 12,228 |- |June 5, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Oakland, California|Oakland]] |rowspan="2"|[[Oakland Arena|Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena]] | rowspan="2" |23,752 / 23,752 | rowspan="2" |$212,668 |- |June 6, 1981 |- |June 7, 1981 |[[Fresno, California|Fresno]] |[[Selland Arena]] |6,995 / 6,995 |$66,291 |- |June 9, 1981 |[[San Diego]] |[[Pechanga Arena|San Diego Sports Arena]] |12,339 / 12,339 |$114,670 |- |June 10, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]] |rowspan="2"|[[Kia Forum|The Forum]] | rowspan="2" |29,344 / 29,344 | rowspan="2" |$275,240 |- |June 11, 1981 |- |June 12, 1981 |[[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]] |[[Anaheim Convention Center|Convention Center]] |7,321 / 7,321 |$74,884 |- |June 14, 1981 |[[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] |[[Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center|Long Beach Arena]] |12,796 / 12,796 |$131,438 |- |June 15, 1981 |[[Las Vegas]] |[[Zappos Theater|Aladdin Theatre]] |rowspan="2" {{n/a}} |7,450 / 7,450 |$89,400 |- |June 16, 1981 |[[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] |[[Reno-Sparks Convention Center|Centennial Coliseum]] |6,500 / 6,500 | |- |June 18, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Seattle]] |rowspan="2"|[[Climate Pledge Arena|Seattle Center Coliseum]] |rowspan="4"|FM | rowspan="2" |24,640 / 24,640 | rowspan="2" |$237,324 |- |June 19, 1981 |- |June 20, 1981 |[[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] |[[Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)|Memorial Coliseum]] |9,780 / 9,780 |$98,944 |- |June 21, 1981<ref>{{cite news |title=Day by Day: Today |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BEtOAAAAIBAJ&dq=rush+concert+review&pg=PA33&article_id=5203,2309412 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |issue=34 |publisher=The Spokesman-Review |date=June 21, 1981 |location=Spokane, Washington |page=D10 |language=en |quote=Concert - Rush, 7:30 p.m., Spokane Coliseum}}</ref> |[[Spokane, Washington|Spokane]] |[[Spokane Coliseum]] |6,172 / 6,172 |$53,930 |- |June 23, 1981 |[[Vancouver]] |rowspan="2"|Canada |[[Pacific Coliseum]] |rowspan="2"|[[Goddo]] |11,645 / 11,645 |$121,668 |- |June 25, 1981 |[[Edmonton]] |[[Northlands Coliseum]] |11,363 / 11,363 |$129,661 |- |July 2, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]] |rowspan="4"|United States |rowspan="2"|[[Met Center|Metropolitan Sports Center]] |rowspan="4"|[[The Joe Perry Project]] | rowspan="2" |23,690 / 23,690 | rowspan="2" |$249,390 |- |July 3, 1981 |- |July 4, 1981 |rowspan="2"|[[East Troy, Wisconsin|East Troy]] |rowspan="2"|[[Alpine Valley Music Theatre]] | rowspan="2" |28,211 / 40,000 | rowspan="2" |$394,900 |- |July 5, 1981 |}

==Personnel== * [[Geddy Lee]] – vocals, bass, keyboards * [[Alex Lifeson]] – guitar, backing vocals * [[Neil Peart]] – drums

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Sources=== * {{cite book |last1=Mobley |first1=Max |title=Rush FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Rock's Greatest Power Trio |date=2014 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-1-61713-604-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KM3dAwAAQBAJ |language=en}} * {{cite book |last1=Body |first1=Alex |title=Rush: Song by Song |date=2019 |publisher=Fonthill Media |isbn=978-1-78155-729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VNygDwAAQBAJ&dq=exit+stage+left+montreal+glasgow+rush&pg=PT168 |language=en}} * {{cite book |last1=Daly|first1=Skip|last2=Hansen|first2=Eric|title=Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History|year=2019|publisher=Insight Editions|isbn=978-1-68383-450-2}} * {{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=Limelight: Rush in the '80s |date=2021 |publisher=ECW Press |location=Toronto, Canada |isbn=978-1-77041-569-0 |language=en}}

[[Category:Rush (band) concert tours]] [[Category:1980 concert tours]] [[Category:1981 concert tours]] [[Category:Concert tours of North America]] [[Category:Concert tours of the United States]] [[Category:Concert tours of Canada]]