# Moving Pictures Tour

The Moving Pictures Tour was a concert tour by Canadian rock band Rush in support of their eighth studio album, Moving Pictures.

## Background

Prior to the tour stating in February 1981 and preparing to enter the studio to record Moving Pictures, the band performed an isolated number of shows from September 11 to October 1, 1980 with Saxon as a support act. The tour began in Kalamazoo on February 20, 1981 and concluded on July 5 in East Troy. Max Webster, FM, Goddo and The Joe Perry Project were also opening acts for Rush on the tour. The March 27, 1981 performance in Montreal was recorded for the band's live album, Exit... Stage Left and its accompanying video. Each show was estimated to have costed $40,000 which featured back-projected film, pyro and dry ice. 905,000 fans had attended the shows overall on tour, with the band making an estimate of $4 million by the end of the tour.

## Reception

John Griffin from the Montreal Gazette who attended the performance in Montreal, noted that Geddy Lee's vocals sounded like a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit, but praised both Lifeson, referring to his guitar playing as ordinary at best, and Peart, acknowledging his drumming as an interesting aspect that he made so little of the massive drum kit.
Don Adair, a reporter from the Spokesman-Review opened his review of the band's show in Spokane, stating that the band gave the nearly full coliseum their money's worth, stating that it was heavy metal all the way complete with flash pot and thunderous decibels. Adair praised the band as a healthy rock and roll band, stating that it wouldn't bait the kids with pandering Van Halenesque sex and booze references, and healthy to do a two hour show with minimum posturing and carry the show with their orchestrated music. He also praised the lighting and effects that contributed to the dynamics of the performance which were designed by Howard Ungerlieder. He however, criticized that the music took it far too seriously, calling it pretentious.
Roman Cooney from the Calgary Herald opened his review of the Edmonton performance, comparing Geddy Lee's vocals to a cat, but continued by stating that the band continued to push the heavy metal tide a little farther from imbecility. He claimed that if the band continued to spoil the heavy metal image and making their concerts more musically arresting than before, the group would be taken more seriously. Cooney commented on Peart's drum solo, noting it as "startlingly innovative". He later commented on the rest of the show with the band switching back and forth between "creative, exciting rock" and "insipid, banal exercises in needless noise and commotion". He concluded his review, stating that the band is becoming more adventurous on stage, being able to recreate the excitement their music had on vinyl.

## Set list

These are example set lists adapted from Rush: Wandering the Face of the Earth – The Official Touring History of what were performed during the tour, but may not represent the majority of the shows.

## Tour dates

List of 1980 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and opening act(s) :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) |
| September 11, 1980 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum | Saxon |
| September 12, 1980 | Charlotte | United States | Charlotte Coliseum | Saxon |
| September 13, 1980 | Charleston | United States | Charleston Civic Center | Saxon |
| September 14, 1980 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | Saxon |
| September 16, 1980 | Baton Rouge | United States | Riverside Centroplex | Saxon |
| September 18, 1980 | North Fort Myers | United States | Lee County Civic Center | Saxon |
| September 19, 1980 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium | Saxon |
| September 20, 1980 | Lakeland | United States | Lakeland Civic Center | Saxon |
| September 21, 1980 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Saxon |
| September 23, 1980 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum | Saxon |
| September 25, 1980 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | Saxon |
| September 26, 1980 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre | Saxon |
| September 27, 1980 | South Yarmouth | United States | Cape Cod Coliseum | Saxon |
| September 28, 1980 | Springfield | United States | Springfield Civic Center | Saxon |
| September 30, 1980 | Allentown | United States | Allentown Fairgrounds | Saxon |
| October 1, 1980 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center | Saxon |
List of 1981 concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and opening act(s) :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) |
| February 20, 1981 | Kalamazoo | United States | Wings Stadium | Max Webster |
| February 21, 1981 | Dubuque | United States | Five Flags Arena | Max Webster |
| February 22, 1981 | Davenport | United States | Palmer Alumni Auditorium | Max Webster |
| February 24, 1981 | La Crosse | United States | La Crosse Center | Max Webster |
| February 26, 1981 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Max Webster |
| February 27, 1981 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Max Webster |
| February 28, 1981 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Max Webster |
| March 1, 1981 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Max Webster |
| March 2, 1981 | Milwaukee | United States | Mecca Arena | Max Webster |
| March 4, 1981 | St. Louis | United States | Checkerdome | Max Webster |
| March 5, 1981 | St. Louis | United States | Checkerdome | Max Webster |
| March 7, 1981 | Louisville | United States | Freedom Hall | Max Webster |
| March 8, 1981 | Dayton | United States | Hara Arena | Max Webster |
| March 10, 1981 | Evansville | United States | Roberts Municipal Stadium | Max Webster |
| March 11, 1981 | Indianapolis | United States | Market Square Arena | Max Webster |
| March 13, 1981 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Hall | Max Webster |
| March 14, 1981 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Hall | Max Webster |
| March 15, 1981 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Hall | Max Webster |
| March 21, 1981 | London | Canada | London Ice House | FM |
| March 23, 1981 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | FM |
| March 24, 1981 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | FM |
| March 25, 1981 | Toronto | Canada | Maple Leaf Gardens | FM |
| March 27, 1981 | Montreal | Canada | Montreal Forum | Max Webster |
| March 28, 1981 | Ottawa | Canada | Ottawa Civic Centre | FM |
| April 3, 1981 | Tucson | United States | Tucson Community Center | Max Webster |
| April 4, 1981 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 5, 1981 | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 7, 1981 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 8, 1981 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 10, 1981 | Dallas | United States | Reunion Arena | Max Webster |
| April 11, 1981 | San Antonio | United States | Convention Center | Max Webster |
| April 12, 1981 | Fort Worth | United States | Tarrant County Convention Center | Max Webster |
| April 14, 1981 | Little Rock | United States | T.H. Barton Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 15, 1981 | Jackson | United States | Mississippi Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 16, 1981 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum | Max Webster |
| April 18, 1981 | Mobile | United States | Municipal Auditorium | — |
| April 19, 1981 | New Orleans | United States | Municipal Auditorium | — |
| April 21, 1981 | Shreveport | United States | Hirsch Memorial Coliseum | — |
| April 23, 1981 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena | — |
| April 24, 1981 | Kansas City | United States | Kemper Arena | — |
| April 25, 1981 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Arena | — |
| April 26, 1981 | Tulsa | United States | Tulsa Assembly Center | — |
| May 6, 1981 | Pittsburgh | United States | Civic Arena | FM |
| May 7, 1981 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | FM |
| May 8, 1981 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | FM |
| May 9, 1981 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | FM |
| May 11, 1981 | Binghamton | United States | Broome County Memorial Arena | FM |
| May 12, 1981 | Rochester | United States | Rochester Community War Memorial | FM |
| May 13, 1981 | Syracuse | United States | Onondaga County War Memorial Auditorium | FM |
| May 15, 1981 | Glens Falls | United States | Glens Falls Civic Center | FM |
| May 16, 1981 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre | FM |
| May 17, 1981 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre | FM |
| May 18, 1981 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden | FM |
| May 20, 1981 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Coliseum | FM |
| May 22, 1981 | Philadelphia | United States | Spectrum | FM |
| May 23, 1981 | Boston | United States | Boston Garden | FM |
| May 24, 1981 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center | FM |
| June 1, 1981 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena | FM |
| June 3, 1981 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace | FM |
| June 5, 1981 | Oakland | United States | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | FM |
| June 6, 1981 | Oakland | United States | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | FM |
| June 7, 1981 | Fresno | United States | Selland Arena | FM |
| June 9, 1981 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | FM |
| June 10, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | FM |
| June 11, 1981 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum | FM |
| June 12, 1981 | Anaheim | United States | Convention Center | FM |
| June 14, 1981 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | FM |
| June 15, 1981 | Las Vegas | United States | Aladdin Theatre | — |
| June 16, 1981 | Reno | United States | Centennial Coliseum | — |
| June 18, 1981 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | FM |
| June 19, 1981 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | FM |
| June 20, 1981 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum | FM |
| June 21, 1981 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Coliseum | FM |
| June 23, 1981 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | Goddo |
| June 25, 1981 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum | Goddo |
| July 2, 1981 | Bloomington | United States | Metropolitan Sports Center | The Joe Perry Project |
| July 3, 1981 | Bloomington | United States | Metropolitan Sports Center | The Joe Perry Project |
| July 4, 1981 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | The Joe Perry Project |
| July 5, 1981 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | The Joe Perry Project |

### Box office score data

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references :
| Date | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross |
| September 11, 1980 | Hampton, United States | Coliseum | 4,287 | $34,820 |
| September 13, 1980 | Charleston, United States | Civic Center Coliseum | 3,198 | $25,894 |
| September 20, 1980 | Lakeland, United States | Civic Center | 10,000 / 10,000 | $84,600 |
| September 25, 1980 | Philadelphia, United States | The Spectrum | 14,500 | $120,483 |
| September 27, 1980 | South Yarmouth, United States | Coliseum | 7,200 / 7,200 | $61,637 |
| June 18–19, 1981 | Seattle, United States | Coliseum | 24,641 | $237,325 |
| June 20, 1981 | Portland, United States | Coliseum | 9,780 | $98,944 |
| June 21, 1981 | Spokane, United States | Coliseum | 6,172 | $53,930 |
| June 23, 1981 | Vancouver, Canada | Pacific Coliseum | 11,408 / 11,408 | $121,668 |
| June 25, 1981 | Edmonton, Canada | Northlands Coliseum | 11,285 | $129,661 |
| July 2, 1981 | Minneapolis, United States | Met Center | 23,691 | $249,390 |
| July 4–5, 1981 | East Troy, United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | 40,000 / 40,000 | $394,900 |

## Personnel

* Geddy Lee – vocals, bass, keyboards
* Alex Lifeson – guitar, backing vocals
* Neil Peart – drums