Rush in 5.1 surround

Not sure I understand the point of translating music (at least the sort performed by a band or orchestra) into surround sound. If the sound stage is in front of the listener, where ones hearing is by far the best and most direction-sensitive, then what would be put into rear channels and why?

Music that's conceived of from the very beginning as a surround experience would be another thing altogether, and I could imagine this being done successfully by the likes of Laurie Anderson, Kraftwerk, Underworld, etc.. But when the music is conceived of as being performed live on a stage, I don't want to hear detached parts of it creeping up over my shoulder.

Chadnliz, not sure what you're saying. And no offense, but I'm not sure that you've thought through your own statement either. The directionality (if that's a word) of sound is not a question of it "stopping at your ear", but rather a question of FROM where the sound seems to originate. Music performed on a stage (or conceived of as being performed upon a stage) comes from in front of the listener. While there is a smal amount of reflection within the concert hall (and usually even much more within your home listening room), there generally are not instruments being PLAYED from behind you. So unless you are talking about music specifically composed for surround sound (conceived of as instruments being played behind as well as in front of the listener), it simply makes no sense to redirect the soundstage to rear channels.