Rush Photographer Andrew MacNaughtan Passes Away

Close Rush associate and long-time band photographer Andrew MacNaughton passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in Los Angeles while on a photography shoot with the band. He was 47 and had been a principal chronicler of the band since the 1980s. The Toronto Star says he died of a heart attack.

“We’re deeply shocked and heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of our close friend and long-time photographer, Andrew MacNaughtan,” Geddy, Alex, and Neil said in a statement on the band’s Facebook page. “He was a sweet person and a very talented artist. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed.”

Update: Neil shares his memories of MacNaughtan on his blog at NeilPeart.net.

Excerpt from Neil’s site:
Andrew’s photographs first caught my eye in 1985, when I was assembling material for the tourbook to accompany Rush’s Power Windows tour. . . . Andrew’s live shots really stood out from the rest; they were more vivid, somehow—highlighting both the drama of the rock stage and the personalities of the players. That was an unusual quality, and I chose several of his images for the book. . . . It was Andrew who bestowed on me the enduring nickname “Bubba.” (I like to think because he considered me the “anti-Bubba,” but I will never be sure.) He is thus commemorated by my website departments, Bubba’s Book Club and Bubba’s Bar ’n’ Grill.

Among MacNaughtan’s recent work is a collection of his photos called Grace: Africa in Photographs. The striking black and white images were accompanied by commentary from artists, including Alex and Geddy. Proceeds from the sale of the book are donated to charity.

View a portfolio of MacNaughtan’s photographs.

Neil in his book Ghost Rider (page 453) credits MacNaughtan for introducing him to his wife, Carrie Nuttall, in 1999, when she was an associate of MacNaughtan’s in his photography studio.

Our condolences to family and friends.

Watch a CBC news item on MacNaughtan. (About 10 seconds of commercials precede the news piece.)

2 Responses to “Rush Photographer Andrew MacNaughtan Passes Away”

My sincere condolences to friends and family.

SD Wrigley, Detroit Michigan said this on January 27, 2012 at 5:25 pm
I am deeply saddened to hear of Mr. MacNaughtan’s passing.
God speed.

Happy said this on February 7, 2012 at 2:24 am