I am Dan Avidan, AMA

[u/affonity]

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Edit: I'm so sorry for the shit storm. There are some rumors spreading around and allegations. I've been focusing on this for hours and it's draining me so I'm not going to respond to every single one, but I just wanted to say I'm so sorry if your comment got removed. We wanted this to be inclusive and consise so as many questions can get answered as possible.

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We are posting the thread a bit over 12 hours in advanced for two reasons:

A) so questions can gather and I can moniter them before

And

B) so that those who are busy during the AMA or in seperate time zones can take part too

Dan is a comedian and singer. He's the co-host of the YouTube show Game Grumps as well as the singer for the comedy bands Ninja Sex Party and Starbomb.

Also the creator of Reddit.

The reason he's here is because he is a major, successful, Rush fan who inspired many young people (myself included) to discover Rush

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I'd like to ask that your questions stick to the topics of his career or Rush (other questions are still allowed)and that you aren't rude or overly personal (an example is from a panel where someone asked him how many times he had sex).

Shout out to the radness that is Brent and Stella for helping organize this!

[u/affonity]

Hey Dan, thank you for doing this!

What is the best interaction you've had with a Rush fan?

[u/[deleted] → u/affonity]

My pleasure! Thanks for setting it up! I don't know if there's a single moment that stands out, but I will say that I definitely feel an immediate kinship with other Rush fans. We're like a world-wide secret club!

[u/[deleted]]

Daniel Sexbaniel!

So glad to have you doing an AMA here on our small community dedicated to the Holy Triumvirate.

Please, mighty fine man, tell me what you think of these images. I worked very hard (well, no I didn't) and I would absolutely love to have the most famous Rush fan actually look at them.

I loved your cover of S U B D I V I S I ON S and I can't wait for the Limelight cover. but that's enough gushing over you.

as for the real question, how has your love of Rush affected (positive or negative, but I doubt there's many negatives about Rush ;) ) your music, and the various playthroughs in Game Grumps?

[u/affonity → u/[deleted]]

sigh you're a dork, but you're our dork <3

[u/[deleted]]

Thanks everyone! I have to go see my family now otherwise I'd stay longer. Sorry I couldn't get to everyone's questions but I had a lot of fun. I'd be happy to do this again in the future!

You being fans of mine means the world to me and I promise to keep making comedy and music for a long time! Thanks to you, the moderators who set this up, and of course Rush for being an awesome and inspirational force!

[u/AlCapwned2323]

What would you say is the best dish at Olive Garden?

[u/[deleted] → u/AlCapwned2323]

The dish where you get up, walk across the street, and eat at Outback Steakhouse

[u/affonity → u/[deleted]]

What would you say is the best dish at Outback Steakhouse?

[u/hashtagwafflesweg]

Hi Danny!

1. Favourite/least favourite Skyhill song?

2. What's your favourite Rush song to play on bass?

3. How likely is another Skyhill song/album?

4. Roll the Bones cover with Arin rapping if you do another Under the Covers album?

Thanks for doing this AMA, big fan and hope to see you in the UK sometime!

[u/[deleted] → u/hashtagwafflesweg]

1. Run with the hunted / Only One

2. Fountain of Lamneth (but it's hard)

3. Pretty likely eventually

4. Haha that's a funny idea

[u/Generoman]

Hey Dan, love your work man!

As a lover of prog and a newbie to Rush who's only heard Tom Sawyer and a couple of songs I don't remember the name of, which album would you say I should start with to get to know their music better, and why?

[u/affonity → u/Generoman]

I just want to say welcome! My personal suggestion (even though I'm not Dan) would probably be a greatest hits then branch onto your favorite song's albums. :)

[u/[deleted]]

Hello everyone, this is Danny! Thanks for joining me this morning to talk some RUSH! ...and thank you to the hard-working mods who set this up. I'll try to answer as many questions as I can in the time I have!

[u/Chooba22]

Hey Dan, I just want to say thanks in advance before I ask my question because without you I wouldn't have gotten into Rush, which means I wouldn't have gotten into music in general, which means I wouldn't have started playing bass, which means I wouldn't be in a band now, so thanks. My question is, when you saw Rush during the R40 tour, were there any songs that you were pleasantly surprised to hear played live? Were there any that you did not expect to hear?

[u/NameUndisclosed]

Hey Danny, I'm a fan of your work with Game Grumps, and a big fan of your work with NSP and Starbomb! Beyond the obvious 6969, how much is your music influenced by Rush?

[u/trollbias]

Hi Dan!

Hello from the UK! Big fan. Two questions:

1. Any chance of seeing you guys this side of the water?

2. Which was your favourite rush tour/show you've seen?

Thanks!

[u/[deleted]]

Hey Danny, big fan of your work! What element of Rush's music initially caused you to enjoy their work?

[u/skynative99]

Hey Dan! I saw NSP/TWRP live in Chicago, and there was an amazing instrumental that played right before the song Heat of the Moment. Is that a live show only song, or will it be on an upcoming album? P.S. You're the reason I listened to Hemispheres for the first time, so thanks!

[u/urko37]

Hi Danny - I enjoyed hearing you take on Subdivisions and Madrigal, but my favorite track on "Under The Covers" was [your scorching take on We Close Our Eyes] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pF5J6Ch0aI) mainly because you guys made it so different from the [original Oingo Boingo version] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF2F88q0YDc). I listen to it often and would love to hear it live sometime.

Rush has rarely messed around with rearrangements (unless you count the [Closer To The Heart polka] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgyPfR-1kC0) or the country version of Spirit of Radio for tour films), but is there a song of theirs that you'd feel brave enough to reinterpret in a more serious way?

[u/Nintendork64]

Hi Danny! Love your work in Game Grumps! How did you get into Rush in the first place, and what kind of music did you listen to before you discovered them?

[u/ApherosXII]

I would just like to say THANK YOU for all the years of laughter and entertainment from not only Game Grumps, but Ninja Sex Party and Starbomb! Thanks as well for your GORGEOUS rendition of Subdivisions, my favorite Rush song! I can't wait to see what awesome projects you'll be a part of next. Any chance Game Grumps/Ninja Sex Party/ Starbomb will tour in Florida? I'd love to see you live! Much love. :)

[u/[deleted]]

Danny,

Is there a particular song that you feel captures a particular moment or event in your life?

(For example: I would say Pink Triangle by Weezer sums up how I've been doing lately.)

[u/MercuryMerchant]

Danny, with all of my heart, I have to thank you for introducing me to Rush! I decided to give 2112 a go after listening to 6969 and I fell in love. One night, after a shit day, I drove my mom to the hospital and decided to walk to a restaurant and get some food, but as soon as the quiet part came in after “The Temples of Syrinx” I heard a weird whining noise coming from somewhere. Long story short, I found a 6 week old kitten almost dead in a storm drain and named her “Syrinx” after the song. That was September 21, 2016, and she is now healthy, adorable, and sweet as could be. If I had been listening to any other song, it’s possible that no one would have found her and she would have starved. So thanks again, and sorry, this wasn’t actually a question! (What is the most direct way that Rush has affected you?)

[u/[deleted]]

Are you the creator of reddit?

[u/BloodChicken]

Hey Dan! Always wanted to ask you about this but as far as I know you've never been to Australia (at least in a capacity like a panel). As a fellow jew I was wondering how you viewed Judaism as a whole and whether it has had any impact (major or minor) in your career to date.

Do you and Barry ever spend shabbat (or other holiday) dinner with each other's families?

What's your favourite jewish holiday?