<img width="750" height="750" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?fit=750%2C750&amp;ssl=1" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="50 Years of Rush: Howard Ungerleider on Lighting the Lighted Stage – Gig Gab 530 episode image" style="display: block; margin: auto; margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%;" link_thumbnail="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=1536%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=2048%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?resize=50%2C50&amp;ssl=1 50w, https://i0.wp.com/www.giggabpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/howard-ungerleider-rush-50-gg530.jpg?w=2250&amp;ssl=1 2250w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><p>Step inside five decades of rock history with lighting legend Howard Ungerleider, the man who&#8217;s been designing and directing Rush&#8217;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 &#8220;a club band called Rush,&#8221; sleeping on the floor at the manager&#8217;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&#8217;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.</p> <p>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 &#8220;plays&#8221; 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&#8217;s Chris Kuroda will be swapping rigs at Madison Square Garden. You&#8217;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&#8217;ve gotta ALWAYS BE PERFORMING.</p> <p>Because it&#8217;s what we do.</p> <p>Press play and enjoy, folks.</p> <p><iframe class="youtube-player" width="750" height="422" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i9H8Pc48Rxw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"></iframe></p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">00:00:00 <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/">Gig Gab</a> 530 &#8211; Monday, <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/april-20">April 20th</a>, 2026 <ul> <li aria-level="1">April 20th: <a href="https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pizza-delivery-driver-appreciation-day/">Pizza Delivery Driver Appreciation Day</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Guest co-host: <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/tag/howard-ungerleider">Howard Ungerleider</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:02:18 Walked into a NYC office to get a recording contract for his band <ul> <li aria-level="1">“You need to learn about this industry before you come knocking on people’s doors.”</li> <li aria-level="1">Introduced him to Action Talent (which became American Talent International)</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:06:21 For $75/week delivering coffee and working in the mailroom <ul> <li aria-level="1">After a year and a half he got booted from Monmouth University, then became the ATI gopher</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:08:17 Hey, do you want Fleetwood Mac to play here?</li> <li aria-level="1">00:11:44 Booking agent</li> <li aria-level="1">00:13:17 Can you fill in for a week as Blue Oyster Cult’s tour</li> <li aria-level="1">00:14:51 Howard and Rush were surprised to have Howard working there <ul> <li aria-level="1">“I need ten grand” – “no, you can sleep on the floor instead”</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:18:11 Howard had to show Geddy that New York pizza was better than Toronto pizza</li> <li aria-level="1">00:19:01 Howard learns about Canadian cold <ul> <li aria-level="1">Howard’s driving, Geddy’s riding shotgun, Neil’s reading, Alex is smoking a joint</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:20:42 Geddy says, “get out and take a breath of fresh air&#8221;</li> <li aria-level="1">00:22:05 John Rutsey had opted out of touring, Howard moves to Toronto while they’re auditioning drummers <ul> <li aria-level="1">“Eventually Neil [Peart] walked in…and that was it.”</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:23:32 Howard and Neil used to jam at Neil’s house <ul> <li aria-level="1">Genesis and Supertramp</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:24:19 Road life’s not so bad <ul> <li aria-level="1">200 gigs a year on the road</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:26:09 Rush took a break, Howard did Queensryche and Tesla <ul> <li aria-level="1">Howard designed Roll The Bones, but it’s the only tour he couldn’t operate</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:27:51 Howard tour-managed and lighting designed and operated every tour up through Presto, after which he dropped tour-managing</li> <li aria-level="1">00:28:41 Dave realizes he met Howard on the Presto tour</li> <li aria-level="1">00:31:43 Don’t put up with crap</li> <li aria-level="1">00:32:03 Howard’s been doing Rush’s lights since 1974</li> <li aria-level="1">00:33:05 Moving from clubs and theaters to arenas <ul> <li aria-level="1">Howard embedded himself into <a href="https://www.seefactor.com/">See Factor, the lighting company</a>.</li> <li aria-level="1">Lots of custom gear</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:34:54 SPONSOR: <a href="https://warbyparker.com/GIGGAB">Warby Parker</a> &#8211; Right now, buy one prescription pair and get 20% off any additional prescription pairs at <a href="https://warbyparker.com/GIGGAB">https://WarbyParker.com/GIGGAB</a></li> <li aria-level="1">00:36:40 SPONSOR: <a href="https://claude.ai/giggab">Claude.ai</a> – Ready to tackle bigger problems? Sign up for Claude today, which includes access to Claude Cowork, too, when you visit <a href="https://claude.ai/giggab">https://Claude.ai/giggab</a></li> <li aria-level="1">00:38:10 Howard first saw lasers with Blue Oyster Cult <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/27/archives/laser-expert-uses-light-as-his-palette-and-the-sky-as-his-canvas.html">Dr. David Infante, Blue Oyster Cult’s laser operator</a></li> <li aria-level="1">Howard’s lasers on on the road with Foo Fighters, Tool, Janet Jackson and more</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:40:37 RUSH Fifty Something <ul> <li aria-level="1">Something completely different than Howard has ever done</li> <li aria-level="1">Other dimensions</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:42:04 Mixing the Juno awards <ul> <li aria-level="1">Howard says Neil would approve of Anika.</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:44:51 Hey Howard, surprise! RUSH is going to tour again</li> <li aria-level="1">00:47:03 Howard did lights for RUSH at Taylor Hawkins tribute</li> <li aria-level="1">00:48:46 Howard prefers mixing live <ul> <li aria-level="1">He “plays” the lighting console live</li> <li aria-level="1">Remote spot locations</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:52:07 RUSH Fifty Something… it’s band of FOUR. <ul> <li aria-level="1">Geddy is happy… playing less keyboards, more bass and vocal focus</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:54:42 Howard: “I create lighting choreography” <ul> <li aria-level="1">This tour is (currently) 2.5 hours (things can change, folks!)</li> <li aria-level="1">&#8220;I try to enhance the show with lighting that can trigger your emotions. I approach it as an audience member.&#8221;</li> <li aria-level="1">Loren Gold’s harmonies sound great</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">00:58:28 Phish and Rush alternating at Madison Square Garden <ul> <li aria-level="1">Chris Kuroda also mixes lights live</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">01:00:45 Howard’s going to 85 dates <ul> <li aria-level="1">We’re here to create positivity, have a good time…and Neil Peart is smiling down</li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">01:05:25 Brian Worthen on FOH</li> <li aria-level="1">01:08:30 Gig Gab 530 Outtro &lt;<a href="https://giggabpodcast.com/">https://giggabpodcast.com/</a>&gt; <ul> <li aria-level="1">Follow Howard Ungerleider <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/howard.ungerleider.1/">Facebook</a></li> </ul> </li> <li aria-level="1">Contact Gig Gab! <ul> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/giggabpodcast/">@GigGabPodcast on Instagram</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/subscribe-to-podcast/">Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p>The post <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com/2026/04/20/rush-howard-ungerleider-lights-lasers-gg530/">50 Years of Rush: Howard Ungerleider on Lighting the Lighted Stage – Gig Gab 530</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.giggabpodcast.com">Gig Gab</a>.</p>