Geddy Lee

[Matt Till]

I have the same problem with Neil Peart that I do with Tim Alexander (Neil... obviously an influence... obviously). They play too busy, and it takes away from the groove a bit.

 

[sparky_delong]

I got to see them (Rush) at Red Rocks last year. Still amazing. My major influence on both guitar and bass.

 

[Peter Squire]

major influence on me as a bassist, and im a major fan of Rush and Geddy's work. I'm joining JT's army!

 

[Jeb]

...The fact of if you like Geddy's tone or not is irrelevant, the fact is, he is a techincally amazing vocalist.

He is indeed. Few think as you and I, however.

He is a very unique talent to be sure. No one does what he does.

 

[B8ssMan89]

Ok then, I blame Geddy for being so willing to recite such horrible lyrics

..... how the crap can you say Neil Peart has horrible lyrics?!
that just blows my mind! I am a HUGE Rush fan, the one reasons why I love them IS for thier lyrics! In my opinion you wont find any better lyrics any where else. 2nd best lyricist would have to be Steve Harris

 

[B8ssMan89]

"Jazz... is... weird" - Alex Lifeson: November 23rd, 2002 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Alex Lifeson is so funny

I love singing... it's so easy

 

[B8ssMan89]

Write this down:

"Rush In Rio" DVD is now required for all persons considering playing bass or starting a band....

Quite possibly the best display of musical genius I have ever seen.

The dryers are pure genious. I wish I could come up with something like that! I mean... dryers... on the bloody stage! Its genious!

 

[golden_boy]

i like his bass lines - when i first heard rush though, i thought it was a woman singing

 

[Red Wonder]

Geddy...the epitome of artistic shine, as solid as any professional musician in any genre in any time on any instrument. His talents are truly immense and staggering to comprehend sometimes.

 

[Red Wonder]

I'm fairly certain 'Alien Shore' qualifies as funky. The reason so many Geddy threads have been popping up is that Geddy Lee is flat-out friggin' awesome. Check out the ska-reggaeish Police'esque Vital Signs. It does depend on the two-to-tango syndrome! Can you picture Geddy drippin' down the funk with Garibaldi! Holy %@!*&ng COW! Ged can only hold up his end of the bargain.

Can you imagine what Geddy sounds like practicing (does a God practice?!) alone in his basement when his wife is out like shopping or something? Gimme a break...this is why, regardless of genre, Geddy has maintained both his credibility and his pertinence (Peartinence?) in the music and bass world.

 

[4Mal]

He's a great player no doubt. and yes he can play with a little anticipation, a little syncopation so not everything lands on an even 1/8 note. He's not on the A list of funk or funky bassists though. No doubt about that either.

George Porter, Rocco, Larry Graham, Bootsy those guys are funky and wouldn't we love to hear them covering Freewill or Spirit of Radio ? As long as there's filing to be done, I'm thinking that I can file Geddy under hard rocking, power trio monster (he's at least all of that and while he's singing !). I'll file George and those other boys under funkster.

Fact is I don't think you can be a bassist w/o at least some funk in you ...

(I love the line from above about getting Neil Peart to swing ... that's a classic!)

 

[Red Wonder]

More proof that Geddy is an honorary Funkmaster:

Show Don't Tell...oh yes, the subtle funk blended with with those patented triplets

Red Lenses...you can tell Geddy is holding back especially the last 12 bars of the tune

Those are off the top of my head anyway...I'm sure there is more definitive proof that Ged is as Motown influenced as he is Jack Bruce and Chris Squire.

 

[basseuphoria]

It seems quite a few Geddy threads have been popping up lately....While I can't comment on Geddy's funk-a-trocity, therefore making me useless to this thread, I must mention my favorite line. Everytime I listen to Freewill, I get chills listening to Geddy's bass part during the drawn-out guitar solo. They are usually followed by a "Dude! that's sooooo bad!" YYZ on Exit Stage Left is a keeper as well......

THE FREEWILL SOLO AND ACCOMPANIMENT THREAFTER WERE WHAT DID IT FOR ME. 2 MONTHS LATER I SAW THEM @ THE SUMMIT IN HOUSTON, TX AND I LOOKED @ MY GUITAR BUDDY AND SAID, "***!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[basseuphoria]

Yeah, some nice discussion going on about funk, etc.

If I were searching for a straight up funk bassist, I don't think I'd look to Geddy none too soon either.

My interest in starting this thread was more along the lines of refuting the many Rush detractors I've had discussions with over the years about their feel. Over the years, I've heard so many times that the band has "no soul" form those who are not fans. And for them I guess it's true, but I just couldn't ignore the similar feeling I got (only during certain parts of Rush tunes to be honest) that I've had listening to Meters tunes or Motown stuff.

I would agree that Neil Peart is quite lacking in the swing dept. I love the guy's playing for just what it is but lord, he's very "mathmatical" most of the time. And good grief, especially in the early years of Rush, the man just would not leave any breathing room at *all* in his parts.

I like that Dave Garibaldi idea! Now, if we could also hear Ged with Zigaboo? Hmmm....

ARE YOU AWARE OF MR. PEART'S TRAINING? FROM WHAT I'VE READ, HE HAS EXTENSIVE JAZZ AND CLASSICAL TRAINING. JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THE REST OF RUSH DID NOT. AND THEY STILL BECAME A SUCCESS. CHEMISTRY'S A HELL OF A THING TO DEFEAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU HAVE TO FACE MR. PEART IN A SURPRISE AUDITION WHEN YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE (DRUMMER OR DO YOU WANT PERCUSSIONIST) WOULD BE. GOT GUTS ENOUGH @ THAT POINT TO SAY "KNOW ANY SWING?)

 

[Jontom]

STOP YELLING!!!

Cygnus X1

 

[PlayTheBass]

Fast forward to 38 years old, and I occasionally reflect on the irony about the fact that I am hired to play upright and electric bass for roots music bands that are so far removed from the Rush sound that it’s not even conceivable to most people that Geddy was ever an influence on me. When I tell my musical friends that Geddy was my first inspiration, they often say things like “What?” Or, “Oh man, I never would’ve thought that!”

Dude! You must be my twin!! (Are you evil, by any chance? 'Cause that would be pretty cool.) The above quote is exactly me, except I don't play upright. (Hmmm, maybe *I'm* the evil one...)

I used to think Geddy was a little funky, but then I discovered whole other universes of funk and realized that Geddy is an all-time great rock bassist, but he really isn't very funky, at least not with Neil. Like someone said above, you've got to have a little funk in you to play bass, and Geddy has laid some touches down here and there, but it's pretty easy to tell he's not really feeling it like a funk player does. There's no grease on his lines at all.

But I love him dearly! I still warm up with Distant Early Warning or Vital Signs a lot, even on jazz gigs.

 

[basseuphoria]

I am a huge Rush fan but would have to disagree with this statement. At least personally . Have you listened to Caress of Steel? That is the only album I can criticize but it is an example of songs that were probably necessary for the growth of the band and yet are not great songs with a couple of exceptions.

As alway, just my opinion.

Dan

SOMETHING TELLS ME YOU DON'T LIKE PINK FLOYD EITHER BUT THATS OK!!!!!!!

 

[basseuphoria]

I bought "Counterparts" the year or so that it came out, and besides hearing "Tom Sawyer" and "YYZ" on the radio, its all I knew of Rush. Back then I played drums more and was really into Neil and was alittle disappointed that his drumming lacked all the mega fills of the earlier stuff I had heard. I lost the tape and then didn't discover Rush again I started taking bass lessons. My teacher was a Rush JUNKY. He WAS Geddy Lee. The guy could do the bass parts and the synthesizer parts just like Geddy. I've never seen anyone get so pumped up just watching "Exit... Stage Left"

That was about 2 years ago, and since then Geddy has been a complete influence. His playing, his tone, everything. He's incredible. Granted, I don't care for the new album and some of the albums during the mid to late 80's (except for Signals. I LOVE that album) But I'm trying to listen to them with a different mindset. I just got "Live In Rio" too and it inspires me every time I watch it.

Now, hopefully I don't get TOO inspired by Neil or I'll keep adding on to my drums

THE SONG "EVERYDAY GLORY" IS TO ME HAUNTING. THIS IS WHAT NEALS LYRICS ARE LIKE. KINDA SOCIAL BUT KINDA LIKE "YOU CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT BUT THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE EITHER WAY." THE BASS LINE LINE TO THAT SONG, THO SIMPLE IS VERY POWERFUL AND VERY FUN TO PLAY!!!!!!!!

 

[basseuphoria]

A recent survey of Canadian males revealed that Geddy Lee would have been the greatest bass player ever if it had not been for his hair in the Grace Under Pressure album sleeve. As a result of that photo, he dropped down to #15 in the official list.

Sorry bud!

YOU HAVE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHAME @ ALL!!!!!!!!

 

[Red Wonder]

THE SONG "EVERYDAY GLORY" IS TO ME HAUNTING. THIS IS WHAT NEALS LYRICS ARE LIKE. KINDA SOCIAL BUT KINDA LIKE "YOU CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT BUT THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE EITHER WAY." THE BASS LINE LINE TO THAT SONG, THO SIMPLE IS VERY POWERFUL AND VERY FUN TO PLAY!!!!!!!!

"Everyday Glory" is an amazing tune. I had that song stuck in my head for 3 months straight when I was down and out and really low. That song helped out tremendously and is a classic way to bookend the album and leave you inspired...

When the future is looking dark
We're the ones who have to shine
When there's noone in control
We're the ones who draw the line
Though we live in trying times
We're the ones who have to try
Though we know that time has wings
We're the ones who have to fly