UAWIL #251: Rush - Caress of Steel

The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast · Sep 11, 2025 · 1h 27m

In late 1975, Rush were feeling confident. Their previous album Fly By Night had taken a step forward from their eponymous debut and new drummer Neil Peart had not only set a new standard for drumming but was ready to become the band's lyricist thanks to his voracious appetite for reading. Thanks to Neil, the lyrics could become more introspective while also walking into a fantastic fantasy world of conquering heroes and their journies.

But not everything they did was relatable for the average teenage rock fan. Bastille Day, a triumphant rocker that opens the album, harkens back to the French…