John Rutsey
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John Rutsey (born 1953) was a founding member of Rush along with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. He was the band's drummer from spring 1968 to July, 1974. Rutsey played only on the debut EP, and subsequent eponymous album, after which he quit the band, citing health reasons and creative differences. He's rumored to still be friends with Alex Lifeson.
Rutsey's parting is very often considered a 'blessing in disguise' by Rush fans. His replacement, Neil Peart ended up being one of the most respected drummers and lyricists of all time. Peart would eventually record over 17 studio albums and 5 live albums with the band.
In a 1989 Rockline interview, Alex Lifeson remarked, "John's still around. I see John quite often. He gave up playing shortly after he left the band and went into bodybuilding. He competed on an amateur level for a while, doing that for a few years, and has sort of been in and out of that, but he still works out, and I work out with him a few times a week at a local gym - at a Gold's, here in Toronto."
| Rush |
| Geddy Lee | Alex Lifeson | Neil Peart | John Rutsey |
| Original studio albums |
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| Rush | Fly by Night | Caress of Steel | 2112 | A Farewell to Kings | Hemispheres | Permanent Waves | Moving Pictures | Signals | Grace Under Pressure | Power Windows | Hold Your Fire | Presto | Roll the Bones | Counterparts | Test for Echo | Vapor Trails |
| Other studio records |
| Not Fade Away | Feedback |
| Live albums |
| All The World's a Stage | Exit...Stage Left | A Show of Hands | Different Stages | Rush in Rio |
| Compilations |
| Archives | Chronicles | Retrospective I | Retrospective II | The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 |
| Side projects |
| Burning For Buddy | Burning For Buddy, Vol. 2 | Victor | My Favorite Headache |