M&R Rush had its beginnings in the early 70's, when a group of five high school friends from Chicago's Roseland neighborhood had a dream of becoming the best rock band in Chicago. It wasn't long before M&R Rush had won a couple of "Battle of the Bands" contests and started to build a following.
Within a year M&R Rush was signed by the same Chicago based management company who was guiding another local Chicago group called Styx. M&R Rush opened a string of high school and college concerts for the band prior to Styx becoming national recording artists. This gave M&R Rush instant recognition with the 1,500 to 2,000 fans that came to the shows.
The word was now out about this hot new band and high schools and colleges were booking M&R Rush based on their reputation to put on a great show and draw a huge crowd. During the early 70's, M&R Rush performed at over 100 different schools and colleges to sell out crowds nightly. Some of the most memorable Chicagoland dates included Mendel, Marist, Gordon Tech, St.Pats, St. Xavier, St. Rita, Joliet Catholic, New Trier East, Bogan H.S. and Thorton Fractional South.
As the band matured they took their show on the road to the college club scenes in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa . There they rocked the Red Lions in DeKalb, Champaign and Normal. McCabe's and McFly's in Carbondale, Ted's Warehouse in Mattoon, Headliners in Madison, Wis and Junies in Dubuque, Iowa just to name a few. The management of these establishments were not prepared for the crowds that came to see M&R Rush and on many occasions asked, "Who are these guys"?
Moving into the Chicagoland club scene, M&R Rush joined the likes of other local bands such as Survivor, Cheap Trick and Tommy Shaw before he joined Styx, looking for that national recording contract. During this time M&R Rush drew packed houses at Haymakers in Wheeling, The Spirit in Downers Grove, Haywires in Burbank, Point East in Lynwood, Monopoly in Palatine, B'Ginnings in Schaumburg(owned by the drummer from the group Chicago), Thirsty Whale in River Grove, Mothers and Huey's in Chicago.
As the band's following continued to grow, their mailing list also grew to over 10,000 fans. (No such thing as E-mail then.) The band used this to their advantage to book their own sold out shows at various theaters through out Chicagoland.
In 1980, "The Loop" radio in Chicago chose M&R Rush to be on their first hometown album. The song "Rock & Roll Chicago", written and performed by M&R Rush, became the most requested song off the album and finished at 45 for the year at that station.
With their popularity high, M&R Rush released an EP titled "Reach For The Stars" and promoted its release by performing in their hometowns at Chicago Fest, Loop Fest, Hammond Fest, Oak Lawn Fest, Chicago Ridge Fest, Berwyn Fest and more while also hitting the road performing in a fourteen state area in the Midwestern United States.
During this time M&R Rush opened shows for Styx, Survivor, Sammy Hagar, Judas Priest, Black Oak Arkansas, Head East and the Go Go's.
With the music industry changing and record companies looking for new acts who sounded like Flock of Seagulls or at the other extreme Motley Crue and other hair bands, M&R Rush disbanded in 1987.
The band members kept in close contact at an annual golf outing for the former road crew and band. Every year at the outing the question would be asked, "When are you guys getting back together?"
At the 2002 outing, thanks to an impromptu jam session, it was decided that the summer of 2003 would mark the return of M&R Rush. With the help of Jim Lenz from Paradise Artists, M&R Rush performed nine dates at summerfests and clubs as they embarked on their "Rock and Roll Chicago Summer Tour 2003". The response was tremendous as performances included shows with Foghat and Jim Peterik of Survivor as well as second generation M&R Rush musicians. Coinciding with the tour, the band released a compilation CD titled "Rock & Roll Chicago". The disk features re-mastered M&R Rush music from vinyl and cassette releases from the 70's and 80's. 2003 also marked the return of M&R Rush to the airwaves as the CD's title track and the holiday release "Heavy Metal Christmas" received air play in the Chicago Metro area.
With the help of the internet M&R Rush music is now being played in Europe. Amazingly the band is selling more CDs on line across the pond than here in the states with European fans classifying the late 70's & early 80's style of M&R Rush as Pomprock.
In the summer of 2004 the band returned to the stage to promote the release of "The Thrill Of The Chase", their first new studio release in 15 years. The "Pomprock Tour 2004" included shows with Survivor and Heartsfield as well as two unplugged performances live on X-Rock 103.9FM in Northwest Indiana. Chicago radio legend Mitch Michaels stopped by one of the shows to introduce "Rock & Roll Chicago". Mitch was the Program Director and on-air personality at The Loop, WLUP-FM in 1980 when "Rock & Roll Chicago" was chosen to be on the "Chicago Rocks" Hometown Album. Near the end of the 2004 baseball season, when it looked like the Chicago Cubs might be headed for the playoffs, ESPN Radio in Chicago began playing "I'm Dreamin", the first single off "The Thrill Of The Chase". "I'm Dreamin" is a tribute to the Chicago Cubs players of yesterday and today. (If only the Cubs would have...Never mind!!!)
In 2005 the band embarked on the "Reach For The Stars" Tour 2005. This tour included 12 shows in the Chicago metro area and Northwest Indiana including a show with REO Speedwagon and a benefit performance at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana with Chicago legends The Buckinghams, The Cryan Shames and others to benefit The American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
In 2006, the "Tight Tour" included two shows in Roger's new hometown of Indianapolis, a special Roseland Reunion show at Villa De Bruno in Lynwood, Illinois and first time appearances at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago and CD's & Me in Frankfort, Illinois.
In 2007, M&R Rush performed on their "Keep On Rockin'" Tour 2007 which promoted the release of their new studio CD of the same name.
In 2008, M&R Rush performed on their "Ticket To Kick It" Tour. Highlights from 2008 include a show with the legendary Temptations, a performance at the Taste of Lincoln Avenue in the heart of Chicago at the corner of Lincoln Avenue & Fullerton and a show with our good friends The Dancing Noodles.......................
Ever year at the end of the tour – the band takes a few months off for the holidays and then gets back together for a meeting in February. Meeting topics include tour name, light show, sound company, venues and market conditions.
At this year's meeting, with the current condition of the market place and with the economy being what it is, it was decided that M&R Rush will take this summer off from touring…….It was a tough decision. We will miss playing and seeing all our friends and fans who have made it to so many of the shows each summer….. Although we will not be playing live, we will not be taking it easy on the beach somewhere. Our plan is to write and record a new album over the summer which we will promote during our 2010 summer tour.
In the past most of the song writing was done by one of the writers in the band then the completed song was presented to the remaining guys, with input coming from other members on the arrangements and production. The plan for this album is to collaborate more as a band in the writing of each song and see where it takes us.
So……we promise to update you on our success in our creative process and keep in touch with you…………………
Thank you so much for all your support! See you in 2010!!!
HELLO from Aces 13! We'd like to announce the addition of Jeff Horner of Filthy Mittens on guitar and vocals! Our debut show on December 12th has been moved to The Lodge in Lisle Thanks for the friendship!
Hello M&R Rush. Just wanted to let you know that we added both "Come Back To Me" & "Time Waits For No One" to our play list rotation. The songs will be featured every 2 hours on Monday 19th (Midnight-7:00 EST).
CHEERS!!! You Guyz Rock!!!
Adam Z STEEL 93 Returning Rock 'N' Roll To The People
ROCKESTRA 2 REVISITED: SONG & VIDEO. Bill Hayden collaborated with numerous local musicians to recreate Paul McCartney's 1979 RockestraTheme Song & Video. This endeavor was strictly for fun and camaraderie amongst fellow musicians. This was recorded with Dale Ivers at The Music Barn in Gary Indiana, engineering at The Spot Studio. Musicians at the session included Bill Hayden - Piano, John Huber - Guitar, Steve Crabtree - Drums, TrapKat & Effects (in memory of Keith Moon), Bill "The Sax Man" Demos (Charlie Blum & The Star Orchestra), Tom Ashe - Guitar, Steve Vansak - Guitar, Marc Gee - Keys, Eric Canchola -Drummer, Joe Fuqua - Bass, Jack Atwood-Guitar ,Bob Clabaugh - Drums, Dan Souris (Percussion), Brian Smolar - Bass/Vocals, Don Hero - Bass, Scott Caviness - Guitar, Paul Werner - Piano, Tom Ashe - Guitar, Kevin Doll - Guitar, Dan Metz -Bass, Kid Jackson - Drums, J.T. Miller - Drums, Scott Crucean - Guitar, Chris Clarkson-Photographer, Jack Atwood - Guitar, Jen Quasney - camera, Anafe Munoz-Camera, Rick Trevino-Camera, Jeff Richmond-
Said Paul: "You get ideas and some of them are madder than others. I was in bed one night and I thought wouldn't it be a great idea if, in a town like Cleveland or wherever, just like an ordinary town where they've got a school orchestra or a town orchestra, wouldn't it be great if another tradition grew up where all the people who played guitars and all the people who played drums and all the people who played b
Thank you for the add. Please let me know if you or anyone you know are looking to get any artwork (Tattoo or traditional). Check out the deals on my bulletin! Many thanks, Josh.
Just stopping by to let you know that I just released my new single, "Long, Long Time". It's up and available to listen to and download. Give it a spin and let me know what you think...
Hey Marty, I am on Facebook, you can send gifts to eachother on there. One of the gift applications is all stuff from Chicago. One of the gifts is a M&R Rush pin! I thought you would get a kick out of that ;)
How is the new album coming along? I have missed you guys this summer! Keep in touch ;)
Just checking in to see if anyone is needing, wanting, or ready for any artwork (TATTOOS, painting, photo-fixing, etc.) Check out my portfolio and songs and leave lots of comments! Many thanks and please pass the word. Josh
Just wondering if anyone wanted to have some art done; I'm in dire need of the work so feel free to check out my albums and pass the word. Also doing trades, and willing to travel a bit if necessary...Preferably for tattoo parties if that's a concept. I also do traditional art, photo-retouching and fixing, graphic design, freelance research and writing, (I'm sort of a Jack-of-All-Trades), portraitures, etc...
SPREAD THE WORD!
Also, check out some of my original music here on my profile playlist if you haven't already and let me know what you think.
By the way…We are planning a move to Charleston so let me know if anyone knows of a studio space in the town applicable to tattooing privately (I prefer Japanese style, custom, personal settings over the average tattoo shop effect anyway. Must be clean and comfortable)
上線中！
Hope your weekend ROCKS 
