WHY IS RUSH HERE? BECAUSE THEY'RE HERE! As one well-known rocker put it in a recent documentary about the legendary Canadian band, "somebody has to explain." In RANDOM SAMPLES, writer Jude Joseph Lovell volunteers his services. What Rush has achieved is practically miraculous: over four decades of popular success without a single line-up change or public spat; 24 gold and 13 platinum records; over 40 million albums sold worldwide; appointment to the Order of Canada and induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame; incalculable influence over an entire generation of musicians and artists. This compelling book focuses mainly on three Rush albums from different eras - none of which are considered canonical - and explores how each record informed the writer as he developed from a bookish youth to a grown man with family responsibilities and wild literary ambitions. In the process, intriguing discoveries are made about the role of music and creativity; the arduous process of finding and then trusting in one's own voice; the necessity of ignoring detractors; and the enduring power of friendship - and even love. RANDOM SAMPLES will stand as both a tribute to a great rock n' roll band and a thoughtful examination of how art adds clarity and meaning to our complicated lives.