Rush - Countdown

What this video is

Released in 1983 during the height of Rush's commercial and artistic peak, 'Countdown' occupies a unique cultural position as one of the few rock music videos to incorporate NASA-authorized archival footage of an actual Space Shuttle launch. The song was inspired by Rush being present as NASA guests at the STS-1 launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981, at Kennedy Space Center. The video therefore…

Why it matters

A landmark in progressive rock's engagement with the music video format, 'Countdown' demonstrates how the medium could serve documentary and memorial functions rather than purely promotional ones. The integration of authentic NASA audio and imagery into a rock promo was rare for 1983 and…

The director

Grant Lough is a Canadian director and production manager whose IMDb-credited work is closely associated with Rush. His directorial credits include Rush: Subdivisions (1982) and Rush: Countdown (1983), and he served as production manager on the Rush live…