Different Stages is a live album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1998 (see 1998 in music). The bulk of the first and second discs were recorded at the World Amphitheater in suburban Chicago during the 1997 Test for Echo tour, along with three songs from the 1994 Counterparts tour. The third disc is taken from a performance at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during the A Farewell to Kings tour in 1978.

This album was compiled and released in the wake of the deaths of Neil Peart's daughter and wife in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Production of the album occurred during Peart's recovery from his loss as chronicled in his book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road and as a consequence he was not involved in the production of the album; at the time, Peart had declared to his bandmates that they should consider him retired, and so Lifeson and Lee were facing the possibility that it might be the band's last ever release. The album is dedicated to the memory of Neil Peart's daughter Selena, who died in a car accident in 1997, and his wife Jacqueline, who died of cancer 10 months later. The text, "Suddenly... You were gone... from all the lives you left your mark upon. In loving memory of Jackie and Selena," is printed inside the foldout cardboard sleeve. The lyrics featured are from the song "Afterimage," from their 1984 album Grace Under Pressure.


Track Listing [320k MP3]

Disc 1

    "Dreamline" ΓÇô 5:34
    "Limelight" ΓÇô 4:32
    "Driven" ΓÇô 5:16
    "Bravado" (recorded on April 30, 1994 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia) ΓÇô 6:23
    "Animate" ΓÇô 6:29
    "Show Don't Tell" (recorded on February 27, 1994 at the Miami Arena) ΓÇô 5:29
    "The Trees"  ΓÇô 5:28
    "Nobody's Hero" ΓÇô 5:01
    "Closer to the Heart" (Lifeson, Lee, Peart, Peter Talbot) ΓÇô 5:13
    "2112: Overture" - 4:35
    "2112: The Temples of Syrinx" - 2:22
    "2112: Discovery" - 4:19
    "2112: Presentation" - 3:42
    "2112: Oracle" - 1:51
    "2112: Soliloquy" - 2:10
    "2112: Grand Finale" - 2:37

Disc 2

    "Test for Echo" (Lifeson, Lee, Peart, Pye Dubois) ΓÇô 6:15
    "The Analog Kid" ΓÇô 5:14
    "Freewill" ΓÇô 5:36
    "Roll the Bones" ΓÇô 5:58
    "Stick It Out" ΓÇô 4:42
    "Resist"  ΓÇô 4:27
    "Leave That Thing Alone" (Lifeson, Lee) ΓÇô 4:46
    "The Rhythm Method - 1997" (Peart) ΓÇô 8:19
    "Natural Science" ΓÇô 8:05
    "The Spirit of Radio" ΓÇô 4:47
    "Tom Sawyer" (Lifeson, Lee, Peart, Pye Dubois) ΓÇô 5:18
    "YYZ" (Lee, Peart) ΓÇô 5:25

Disc 3

Recorded on February 20, 1978 in London at the Hammersmith Odeon.

    "Bastille Day" ΓÇô 5:07
    "By-Tor & The Snow Dog" ΓÇô 4:59
    "Xanadu" ΓÇô 12:32
    "A Farewell to Kings" ΓÇô 5:53
    "Something for Nothing" (Lee, Peart) ΓÇô 4:01
    "Cygnus X-1" ΓÇô 10:23
    "Anthem" ΓÇô 4:47
    "Working Man" (Lifeson, Lee) ΓÇô 4:00
    "Fly by Night" (Lee, Peart) ΓÇô 2:04
    "In the Mood" (Lee) ΓÇô 3:34
    "Cinderella Man" (Lee, Lifeson) ΓÇô 5:09