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Geddy Lee: Very humbling interview

#41
I saw them on the Test For Echo tour and I *think* that was one of the shows where they did a set of 2112. It was amazing and I’m glad I got to see them. I ditched the guitar (mostly) and picked up bass as my main instrument when I got the Chronicles double disc at about 18 (previously I had only been a casual fan of the couple Rush cuts on the radio). I basically learned to play bass by having that album in my CD player at all times.

Last month I had the hilarious distinction of being the last person to play a great ‘64 Precision Bass that was on its way out the door to be shipped to Geddy himself from a local shop for many, many thousands of dollars. I think it was faded, greened-over LPB. (Shop guy said the shop’s owner is pals with Ged or something, as well, and showed me a copy of the big bass book apparently personally given to said owner by said Geddy - autographed and already well loved, if I remember right)
 
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#42
Since their 1st tour in 1974, the trio of Lee, Lifeson, and Peart have been absolutely loyal to each other. When Peart experienced a terrible personal tragedy in 1997, losing his only child to a car accident and his wife a few months later to cancer, he announced his retirement from the band so he could take time to grieve. Geddy and Alex could have replaced him with a new drummer but decided that RUSH wouldn't be RUSH with any one of them missing. They resigned themselves to moving on to new projects with other musicians and new musical identities.

However, Peart found some peace after extensively touring North and Central America on a solo motorcycle journey of more than 50,000 miles and several years. He contacted his two former bandmates in 2001 and asked them if they would consider getting RUSH back together. Of course, they agreed, and they obviously made several more albums and continued to record and tour until 2015.

Now that Peart has realized that his health won't allow him to play up to his own high expectations and decided to officially retire, it's automatic that RUSH is over as a band. They are too loyal to each other to consider getting a new drummer. Plus, I can't imagine any drummer being put in the position of having to sit on Neil Peart's drum throne. And I doubt that RUSH fans would accept it.
 
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#44
I love the old Rush. After Moving Pictures, I moved on. There are some moments of the old Rush in some of their newer stuff, but I just never got into it.

I've seen Rush in 1980 for the Permanent Waves tour but I was so drunk and high I barely remember it. I do remember throwing up after drinking to much Bacardi 151 though :D

Ah, the good old days, Concerts were a party back then!

I saw them again in 1981 for the Moving Pictures tour but I think I was just stoned for that one so I remember it more.

I have their video for that tour and enjoy watching it now and then.

Great band back in the day and bittersweet to see it end but I respect their reasons for doing so.

Their music has transcended generations and will continue to do so.

May their music live on!
 
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#45
BurtMacklinFBI said:
Yeah, I dunno, Mick Mars seems to have done as well as anybody as far as getting around with groupies, and have you seen that guy? He looks like Frankenstein's Monster made his own monster, said "Oh holy crap this thing is too horrible for me!" And then beat it with a burning log.
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Yeah, but Motley Crue wasn't nerdy music like Rush. I say this as a fan and a nerd.
 
#46
hbarcat said:
This topic was covered in the RUSH documentary "Beyond the Lighted Stage". There were interviews with bands that toured with RUSH, including KISS. They all said the same thing - The 3 members of RUSH purposely avoided groupies and locked themselves in their hotel rooms because they were all committed family men and believed in being faithful to their wives. All accounts described the trio as having every opportunity to imbibe of drugs and women but refrained.
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I already said that if they had wanted to, they could have slept around with groupies. Groupies are more into saying they did “so and so” than anything else. That said, Rush was not a band that projected a sexy image
 
#47
Snibborwocky said:
One thing he shouldn't be at peace with is his book publisher because I (and most likely hundreds of others) have been waiting since December for his Big Beautiful Book of Bass but my order keeps getting pushed back. Going on nearly 4 months now, is beyond ridiculous to say the least.
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Four months is nothing for a book delay. In my day job, I have had publications of mine delayed for years!
 
#48
I remebrem Christmas way back when at the record store with my older brother who got me into becoming a musician. He picked up Rush "Fly by Night" album and Al DiMeola "Casino". It was woodshed time for big brother. I still remember "By-Tor and the Snowdog" dukeing it out via bass and guitar. If that album wasn't enough the Anthony Jackson parts on the DiMeola album was a real chops builder - "Egyptian Danza" comes to mind. I picked up his bass and that was that with that.

I'm sad about Rush going into the big Hybernation. I just listened to "La Villa de Stangiata" again; one thousand times later and it's still fresh to my ears. Those guys will always be a part of me.
 
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#49
sacahill42 said:
I wore out my copy of 2112 in High School and saw the Farewell to Kings tour in Seattle. I remember showing my HS English teacher the lyrics to "Xanadu" and how he was amazed that a "rock band" would know anything about Coleridge's Kubla Khan. Those are fond memories. I agree with others here that Rush are a class act.
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Good point about the lyrics. Too rare in rock.
 
#53
sacahill42 said:
I wore out my copy of 2112 in High School and saw the Farewell to Kings tour in Seattle. I remember showing my HS English teacher the lyrics to "Xanadu" and how he was amazed that a "rock band" would know anything about Coleridge's Kubla Khan. Those are fond memories. I agree with others here that Rush are a class act.
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That reminds of a similar experience. When I was in high school in the 80’s, we had an amazing English teacher who was passionate about poetry. One project he assigned to all of us was to select any poem, song, passage from the bible, etc. and he and the entire class would analyze it for the entire class. On ‘our day’, if it was a song, we’d play the song first in class while everyone read along with copies of the lyrics, then discuss the meaning in depth.

In a small class of about 20, three of us (all guys of course) brought in Rush songs, Freewill, Trees/Xanadu, and my pick, Witchhunt.

Everyone was really into the projects, especially the teacher (who looked exactly like John Madden). One of friends, who was a huge metal guy and great guitarist, brought in a Black Sabboth tune and we seriously analyzed it as if it was written by Shakespeare.
 
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#54
neckdive said:
That reminds of a similar experience. When I was in high school in the 80’s, we had an amazing English teacher who was passionate about poetry. One project he assigned to all of us was to select any poem, song, passage from the bible, etc. and he and the entire class would analyze it for the entire class. On ‘our day’, if it was a song, we’d play the song first in class while everyone read along with copies of the lyrics, then discuss the meaning in depth.

In a small class of about 20, three of us (all guys of course) brought in Rush songs, Freewill, Trees/Xanadu, and my pick, Witchhunt.

Everyone was really into the projects, especially the teacher (who looked exactly like John Madden). One of friends, who was a huge metal guy and great guitarist, brought in a Black Sabboth tune and we seriously analyzed it as if it was written by Shakespeare.
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Great teaching example. Thanks for sharing.
 
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#56
I've been a fan since 2112. Saw the album in the record store and bought it. I saw Rush later that year at the Charlotte Coliseum (old). Triple bill, Rush, REO and Blue Oyster Cult. The guys finished their set REO started up and stepped out stage right. I actually got to speak to all three, they were very gracious and polite. Point being that's how they lived and performed, graciously. What a bunch of great guys.
 
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#57
Snibborwocky said:
One thing he shouldn't be at peace with is his book publisher because I (and most likely hundreds of others) have been waiting since December for his Big Beautiful Book of Bass but my order keeps getting pushed back. Going on nearly 4 months now, is beyond ridiculous to say the least.
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There's a delay for it? I got mine right away. They call it a coffee table book, but you could use it as the actual coffee table in a pinch. Without doubt the most comprehensive, well put together book about bass guitar I've ever seen. One of the best non fiction books of any genre. Another reason I respect the guy so much. He could have written a tell all about how other bands acted, or how their manager was a jerk like most other retired rockers. Instead he puts out basically a history of bass guitar along with anecdotes about why he loves certain basses. And throws in interviews with a bunch of other influential bass players as well.
 
#59
I remember in one of the films they put out, a bit with Neil where this is becoming a thing, and with some exasperation, 'I can play Charlie Watts' gig, but I can't keep playing the Rush gig'.

I have the utmost respect for them, and it's not really my cup of tea. What gents. Now, where did I put that GeFilter? And why Neil doesn't have a radio talk show, I'll never know, he's funny as hell.
 
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