Rush ~ Working Man ~ R30 Tour ~ [HD 1080p] ~ September 24, 2004 at the Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany

Recorded live on September 24, 2004 at the Festhalle Frankfurt, Germany from Rush's R30: 30th Anniversary Tour. This is from the Blu-ray version of R30, containing the complete concert, which was released on December 8, 2009 in the US, and in late 2013 in Europe. "Working Man" is from their self-titled debut album. The song's guitar solo was voted 94th in Guitar World magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitar solos. In an interview on the Rolling Stone YouTube channel, bassist and lead vocalist Geddy Lee said that "Working Man" is his favorite song to play live.

Rush released their self-titled debut album on their own label, Moon Records, on March 1, 1974. A DJ named Donna Halper at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio, listened to the last track, "Working Man," and put it on the air, giving the band liftoff. It fit her criteria for three reasons:

1) Cleveland was a working town, and the lyrics were very relatable to their audience.

2) WMMS was an album-oriented rock station, so they looked for songs that other stations weren't playing.

3) Running 7:07, the song gave plenty of time for the DJ to take a bathroom or smoke break.

Immediately, the radio station received calls from people asking when the new Led Zeppelin album was coming out; they were surprised to learn that the vocalist was not Robert Plant, but Geddy Lee, lead singer for a new band called Rush. Thanks to the airplay, the album picked up steam in Cleveland and got the attention of Mercury Records, which signed the band and re-released the album with their promotional might behind it. With the backing of a major label, Rush soon became one of the most popular rock bands in the US and Canada. The band, which gave her special thanks for her part in their early history and dedicated their first two albums to her.

Like all of the songs on the band's first album, the song features original drummer John Rutsey, who was replaced by Neil Peart in 1974. The lyrics for "Working Man" were written by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. On the 1976 live album "All the World's a Stage", the song segues into "Finding My Way" and a drum solo by Peart. After not being performed live for most of the 1980s and 1990s, it returned to Rush's set lists during the 2002 Vapor Trails Tour. With the exception of the 2007-08 Snakes & Arrows Tour, the song appeared on every live set list through the R40 Live Tour of 2015, the band's last. It was included on the live albums and videos of the tours in which it was used, except for Clockwork Angels Tour; for R40 Live, it was played as part of a medley with "What You're Doing" and ended with a snippet of "Garden Road," a song from the band's early catalog.

This was the last song Rush played live, using it as the capper to their R40 Live tour, which ended on August 1, 2015 with a show at The Forum near Los Angeles. On the tour, they played songs in reverse chronological order, starting with their newest songs and working backwards, with the backdrops changing to reflect the era. When the show ended, Neil Peart "crossed the back-line meridian" for the first time, joining Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at the front of the stage to take a bow.

Longtime Rush roadie Ian Grandy once heard Geddy Lee state that if there is one "ultimate" Rush song, it's "Working Man."

Geddy Lee - Bass, Vocals
Alex Lifeson - Guitar
Neil Peart - Drums

#MysticRhythmsLive

[MysticRhythmsLive]

Lyrics:

Well, I get up at seven, yeah
And I go to work at nine
I got no time for livin’
Yes, I’m workin’ all the time

It seems to me I could live my life
Better than I think I am
I guess that’s why they call me
Well, they call me the workin’ man

They call me the workin' man
I guess that's what I am

Well, I get home at five o'clock
And I take myself out an ice cold beer
Always seem to be wond'rin'
Why there's nothin' goin' down here

It seems to me I could live my life
Better than I think I am
I guess that's why they call me
Well, they call me the workin' man

They call me the workin' man
I guess that's what I am

[Guitar Solo]

They call me the workin' man
I guess that's what I am

[Instrumental break with Guitar Solo]

It seems to me I could live my life
A lot better than I think I am, whoa
They call me the workin' man
I guess that's what I am
Ooh, they call me the workin' man
I guess that's what I am
Oh, they call me the workin' man!

[rosscohenderson]

I think it's amazing that Getty's parents were holocaust survivors, and decades later their son is playing for the people of Germany . That's somewhat a miracle to me .

[peterbabooram]

Don't think in this lifetime we'll ever see 3 dudes ripping their instruments to shreds like these guys , pure geniuses

[seekinfindin]

That's a LOT of sound for 3 dudes. ROCKS

[mf]

The bass line in the middle long break is absolutely insane. Geddy goes crazy and keeps up with the guitar.

[edzebrowski]

How do they do this without one mistake. I was at 1984 concert, they opened with Spirit of Radio. Alexs guitar string broke while doing opening of song and Geddy just ran over to syntheser and picked up right where he left off. Just amazing! Luv Rush!

[caseysniper]

that song was the start of 50 years of the best music ever written.

[paulelliott]

That classic guitar riff by Alex
And that first line by Geddy
You know you’re at the end of the concert
Monolithic, iconic and brilliantly played ... the first solo by Alex fantastic and then the Geddy flourish and the primary solo - truly special
Goddamn this is the best band ever
RIP Professor, owning that kit like no one else ever will

[johnord]

John Rutsey's finest hour when he wrote this song, never forget John if you are a true Rush fan

[pleasantvalleypickerca]

Three of the hardest working men in Rock history! RIP Professor.

[GaryHeilmann-hgme]

There isn't another band that could play like rush they were phenomenal band and they had the best drummer in the world RIP. Neal Peart was the best drummer in the music business and its sad that he left the world the way he did I have seen them 8 time's and I enjoyed evey show they did Rock on up in heaven Neal Peart thank you for your drumming and your hard work with the best band ever

[JoannaGalacticTutor]

thank God there was better camera work on their later tours - they made music before the internet - and simply not learned and made in the same way - they are a pulsar of rock that will not be replicated - RIP mr Peart

[JoannaGalacticTutor]

they just clearly rock - RIP Mr Professor

[jjohnsonmadison]

Ive loved this song for like 45 years..Never get tired of it!

[PSLgameplays-ugyc]

you can fell how much this is heavy!! thats heavy metal!

[chriszelez]

Stop and listen to this classic, real men are at work. This is timeless and powerful. RIP Np, carry on Geddy and Alex. I will miss this band until my very end.

[denniswood]

My wife brought me to see them on their last tour. We saw them in Houston. The only time i would be blessed to see them. An amazing show. Thank you Julie. One of the great shows I have ever seen.

[ddummler]

I don’t recall how many times I’ve seen them. Every show was great. They are so tight together and never took the audience/fans for granted.
They left their egos at the door and respected each other all those years.

[JustJeph]

Dang it, why do I cry every time I watch these performances now?? It's like the healthiest addiction I've ever known!😎

[TheRajivShow]

I heard this in 2010 still gives me a chills in 2024 😍