50 Years of Rush: Howard Ungerleider on Lighting the Lighted Stage
Gig Gab - The Working Musician's PodcastShow Notes
Step inside five decades of rock history with lighting legend Howard Ungerleider, the man who’s been designing and directing Rush’s light shows since 1974. Hear how a $75-a-week mailroom gig at American Talent International — where he pulled off a rogue booking of Fleetwood Mac before he was even an agent — turned into a lifetime behind the console. Get the story of Howard landing in Toronto to babysit “a club band called Rush,” sleeping on the floor at the manager’s house with a St. Bernard, freezing his hand to a car door at -40 in Cochrane, Ontario, and later jamming with Neil Peart at his house to Genesis and Supertramp records. Howard also talks designing Roll The Bones (the one Rush tour he couldn’t operate), embedding at See Factor to build custom gear nobody else could get, and how Blue Öyster Cult first put him in front of a laser: the same craft he now brings to Foo Fighters, Tool, and Janet Jackson.
Then the conversation turns to the upcoming Rush Fifty Something tour — a four-piece now with Anika Nilles on drums and Loren Gold on keys, freeing Geddy to focus on bass and vocals. Learn why Howard still “plays” the lighting console live with two boards and thousands of touch cues, how robotic spots are quietly changing the craft, and why he and Phish’s Chris Kuroda will be swapping rigs at Madison Square Garden. You’ll also hear the Paul McCartney moment in the Taylor Hawkins tribute dressing room that may have sparked the whole tour, and why Howard insists this is a rejuvenation, a celebration, and proof that no matter the rig, the room, or the era, you’ve gotta ALWAYS BE PERFORMING.
Because it’s what we do.
Press play and enjoy, folks.
00:00:00 Gig Gab 530 – Monday, April 20th, 2026
April 20th: Pizza Delivery Driver Appreciation Day
Guest co-host: Howard Ungerleider
00:02:18 Walked into a NYC office to get a recording contract for his band
“You need to learn about this industry before you come knocking on people’s doors.”
Introduced him to Action Talent (which became American Talent International)
00:06:21 For $75/week delivering coffee and working in the mailroom
After a year and a half he got booted from Monmouth University, then became the ATI gopher
00:08:17 Hey, do you want Fleetwood Mac to play here?
00:11:44 Booking agent
00:13:17 Can you fill in for a week as Blue Oyster Cult’s tour
00:14:51 Howard and Rush were surprised to have Howard working there
“I need ten grand” – “no, you can sleep on the floor instead”
00:18:11 Howard had to show Geddy that New York pizza was better than Toronto pizza
00:19:01 Howard learns about Canadian cold
Howard’s driving, Geddy’s riding shotgun, Neil’s reading, Alex is smoking a joint
00:20:42 Geddy says, “get out and take a breath of fresh air”
00:22:05 John Rutsey had opted out of touring, Howard moves to Toronto while they’re auditioning drummers
“Eventually Neil [Peart] walked in…and that was it.”
00:23:32 Howard and Neil used to jam at Neil’s house
Genesis and Supertramp
00:24:19 Road life’s not so bad
200 gigs a year on the road
00:26:09 Rush took a break, Howard did Queensryche and Tesla
Howard designed Roll The Bones, but it’s the only tour he couldn’t operate
00:27:51 Howard tour-managed and lighting designed and operated every tour up through Presto, after which he dropped tour-managing
00:28:41 Dave realizes he met Howard on the Presto tour
00:31:43 Don’t put up with crap
00:32:03 Howard’s been doing Rush’s lights since 1974
00:33:05 Moving from clubs and theaters to arenas
Howard embedded himself into See Factor, the lighting company.
Lots of custom gear
00:34:54 SPONSOR: Warby Parker – Right now, buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at https://WarbyParker.com/GIGGAB
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00:38:10 Howard first saw lasers with Blue Oyster Cu
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