--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't possibly overstate how much…" description: "\"I can't possibly overstate how much influence Rush had on me as a young teenager. I would say from about 1981 to 1987, they were my gods.\" — Mike Portnoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/mike-portnoy-5256_about_i-can-t-possibly-overstate-how-much-infl_623029.jpg" --- # I can't possibly overstate how much influence Rush had on… ![“I can't possibly overstate how much influence Rush had on me as a young teenager. I would say from about 1981 to 1987, they were my gods.” quote by Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/mike-portnoy-5256_about_i-can-t-possibly-overstate-how-much-infl_623029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/mike-portnoy-5256_about_i-can-t-possibly-overstate-how-much-infl_623029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86d/mike-portnoy-5256_about_i-can-t-possibly-overstate-how-much-infl_623029.jpg) > “I can't possibly overstate how much influence Rush had on me as a young teenager. I would say from about 1981 to 1987, they were my gods.” [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes how profoundly the band Rush shaped his teenage years, viewing them as idols during a formative period. **In simple terms:** Rush heavily influenced his youth. Key Takeaway Recognize the lasting impact of early musical heroes. Themes music identity adolescence inspiration hero worship Mood reflective nostalgic admiring Type personal cultural inspirational When to use this quote - forming a music taste - connecting with peers - creative motivation - reflecting on past influences Key Concepts cultural influence personal development nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - How did Rush’s music affect your later creative choices? - Do you still draw inspiration from that era? A Different Perspective The intensity of teenage idolization can overlook negative aspects of fandom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1987 Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1987-gods-5037034/) [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Influence Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-rush-5037035/) [Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rush/) [Rush Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rush-young-5037036/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [I kind of always made it a tradition, whenever Dream Theater played Toronto, to play a Rush cover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-kind-of-always-made-it-a-tradition-whenever-dream-theater-played/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [“You can't rush excellence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-christensen/you-can-t-rush-excellence/) [Mary-Kate Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-christensen/) > [I want to be physical. I want to rush the passer and I want to get to the football. That's exactly what I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-watt/i-want-to-be-physical-i-want-to-rush-the-passer-and-i-want-to-get-to/) [T. J. Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-watt/) > [From, someone who loves you beyond boundaries …A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/from-someone-who-loves-you-beyond-boundaries-a-journey-with-my-girl/) [Luckybannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luckybannu/) > [I write in a rush of memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-runyon/i-write-in-a-rush-of-memory/) [Brent Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-runyon/) > [Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/scotland-forms-a-crucial-part-of-our-armed-forces-which-should-not-be/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [When you get the rush of live performing, it's hard to give that up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/when-you-get-the-rush-of-live-performing-it-s-hard-to-give-that-up/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [The best rush in the world is getting something at 80 percent off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcmillan/the-best-rush-in-the-world-is-getting-something-at-80-percent-off/) [Terry McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcmillan/) > [Limbaugh hosts a radio show. 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Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/one-of-the-biggest-misconceptions-was-after-i-left-dream-theater-i/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I don't even like doing drum solos live; to me, it's like, 'Ehhh.' 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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