Rush's RRHOF Acceptance Speech

[Bert Slide]

Great speech. Simultaneously mocked the HOF and every other vapid award ceremony. Way to go Alex!

How can any of you say his speech was any more disrespectful than the HOF on the same night inducting a "band" whose biggest hit contains these lyrics:

"Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant ---- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother---- him and John Wayne"

What a clownshow. If only The King and The Duke were still around to hear that one. I bet they would find some interesting places to insert some giant clocks.

 

[Lee Moses]

I finally just now watched this acceptance speech on Youtube. Based on the comments here, I already had my mind up that Alex Lifeson's speech was rude and disrespectful. But having watched it myself, I thought it was hilarious. Idiotic? Absolutely. A waste of time? Yep. But I really didn't see it as any kind of attack on the R&RHOF whatsoever.

 

[electracoyote]

I thought it was hilarious.

Whatever. Senses of humor obviously vary a lot.

Idiotic? Absolutely. A waste of time? Yep.

We're in full agreement.

 

[David Jayne]

I get that he's got a sharp wit and a sense of humor. And I get that he told us a story without words. I do, I get it, and I generally like him. What bugs me about it is that it's like he's saying "I'm smarter than you!!! I'm so DAMMED smart, you're all idiots, look at me!!!"
20 seconds, fine. It felt like 20 minutes. Watch Geddy and Neil and tell me they were into it. I don't care what they said later.

 

[runmikeyrun]

that was pretty darn funny. And here I thought he said something horribly offensive based on the comments above... HA! How freaking funny.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Though I agree Rush's ride to eventual acceptance with critics and an ever-growing, multi-generational fanbase is just as unusual and unique as their music, and I understand the sentiment behind Lifeson's rhetorical device, in the final analysis, it was over the top, way too long, unappreciative, and plain old rude. Having been a fan since the first self-titled release, I like to think the guy is smart enough to deliver something more substantive and meaningful when he has the podium and such a large audience. Their music was never that shallow, strange that he would behave in such a shallow manner. It was so cliché rock and roll, which, unfortunately, isn't a good descriptor for Rush.

Or, if you're of the irreverent sort, it was hilarious and perfect.

Take your pick.

I doubt the guy gives two s***s about whether or not they got inducted into the HOF or not. I didn't realize you had to be inducted into some stupid category into order to inspire millions of people to pick up a guitar, bass, a pair of drumsticks, a rhyming dictionary, and become musicians themselves. Rush has inspired so many people that nothing they do can really tarnish their reputation...well unless they start mass murdering people for whatever reason but let's be real here: nobody gives a crap about the RRHoF...

 

[MovingPitchers]

Apparently Geddy and Neil had a few..."words" with Alex after the ceremony and after they played their two songs...