RUSH:Pebbles & Bam-Bam In Alphaville

The first thing you notice about Rush, according to one observer, is that they're not as gross-looking as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and they have a somewhat lower thud weight than most other Canadian bands. True enough — Canuck rockers do seem to have some sort of an uglier-than-thou competition going among themselves along with ' a tendency to pounce on unsuspecting ears like a carnivorous dumptruck.

But Rush isn't exactly a bunch of Joni Mitchell cupcakes either, as anyone who's caught one of their numerous appearances with Kiss or increasing nymber of headlining gigs can attest to.

Mistaken assumptions and bent comparisons have confounded the band from the very beginning. "We've been compared to everybody from .the New York Dolls to Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie, (but al) those comparisons are just superficial," asserts vocalist Geddy Lee, who along with guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart make up one of the few remaining classic power trios. "Like, RoberhPlant and I both have high voices so they expect us to play 'Whole Lotta Love.'"