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The beloved Canadian rock band Rush came to an end following the passing of drummer Neil Peart in 2020. However, Geddy Lee, the band’s talented bassist, singer, and keyboardist, remains deeply involved in their world. On November 14th, he will release a memoir called “My Effin’ Life,” which details his career and personal journey. He will also embark on a book tour across the UK, where he will discuss the memoir with audiences.
Lee, who was born in Toronto, Canada, to Jewish parents, was the son of Holocaust survivors from Poland. He developed a passion for music during his school years and was particularly drawn to playing guitars, basses, and using fretboard techniques. In September 1968, at the request of his friend and fellow guitarist Alex Lifeson, Lee joined Rush. The band originally started as a blues-inspired power trio but later evolved into a highly successful progressive rock group. By the early 1980s, they had achieved widespread commercial success with albums such as Moving Pictures and Permanent Waves. Lee impressed fans with his technically skilled bass playing and continued to experiment with new techniques as the band’s sound evolved. This included playing bass with his hands while using foot pedals to control synthesizers and singing into multiple microphones.
In 1997, Rush stopped performing for four years, but returned in 2001 and put out three new albums. While on break, Lee came out with his solo album My Favourite Headache. He also participated in charitable group Northern Lights and the comedic song Take Off with Bob and Doug McKenzie. His upcoming autobiography is not his initial literary work, as he previously published Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass in 2018. This book highlights his personal collection of over 250 instruments, includes interviews with bassists, and offers song suggestions.
Lee’s influence has touched countless bass players and musicians across various genres, making him a great source of knowledge. Before his book tour kicks off in Wolverhampton on December 10th, submit your questions by 4pm on October 31st. We will feature his responses in the November 17th edition of the Film & Music section, as well as online.
Source: theguardian.com
