This interview was conducted on the occasion of the 300th issue of Classic Rock magazine, which was launched in 1998. The anniversary issue is available to purchase online.and also features interviews with Ozzy Osbourne, Gene Simmons, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper, Rick Nielsen, Slash and many more.
Remarkable for looking forward, not back, Geddy Lee has gone through something of an exercise in introspection in recent years. Since Rush retired in 2015, his former singer and bassist has kept busy, first with his acclaimed Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Bass Bookand then write his memoir which is expected in the spring of 2023.
There’s also the matter of his old band’s new beer and the ongoing reissue campaign of his back catalogue. In 1998, however, as Classic rock was brought screaming into the world, Rush was in a very different place and about to become a completely different band.
In 1998, after the death of the daughter of Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart the previous year, many people thought that Rush was over as a band..
It was a shocking and terrible moment. Neil was destroyed, so all we cared about was being there for him and [his wife] Jackie. I thought the band was over? My gut said that it’s unlikely he wants to go back to his old life. But of course you don’t know for sure. then Alex [Lifeson, guitarist] and I just decided that we won’t talk about it until Neil is ready and in the meantime let’s take stock and figure out what we should do with ourselves individually.
Is that what led to your first and only solo album so far, 2000’s My Favorite Headache?
A lot of that was Ben Mink [violinist on Rush’s Losing It]. We used to play at my house and we started writing together, just to see what would happen. Then tragedy struck Neil and he went to London because he really couldn’t stand being in Toronto surrounded by all the memories of his daughter.
During that time I started thinking about doing a solo album. I decided that the best thing was to throw myself into work. It was a very strange moment, because on the one hand I was breaking new ground doing my thing, but there are moments on that record that are very fast.
They finally got back together as a band in 2001 to work on what would become contrails. It must have been a relief to be together again?
Ooh, it was amazing. Within minutes we’re laughing and chattering. Every time we saw each other, it was like yesterday. In five minutes we’re laughing and laughing and catching up. Everyone had been through a lot. Nobody but Neil. But it was like getting back on the bike.
And had it changed you as a band?
Absolutely. That first comeback tour as a band, another world. We took a different attitude on that tour; we were much more open and grateful for the opportunity. Five years before that they took a lot of cynicism out of our behavior. When we gave our first concert after all those years, and we were received so strongly, I think everyone was surprised: “Wow, these people were waiting for us.”
And the tone had changed: it’s hard to imagine old Rush with a cartoon dragon drinking a cocktail on an album cover, like you had for rush in river.
No, Rush 2.0 was a different animal.
The Commentary The EP you recorded for the R30 tour had the same fun vibe..
We wanted something new for that tour, but after fourteen months of doing contrails – and it was incredibly difficult to do – the thought of going back into the studio, we just couldn’t stand it. And the idea of doing covers of the bands that inspired us was perfect. We don’t think too much about it, and if any band can think too much about anything, it’s Rush.
Compared to making contrailsthe sessions of 2007’s Snudes and arrows album were a breeze.
That was our introduction to producer Nick Raskulinecz, and it was a tonic. What good energy, what fun. We were in a huge, labyrinthine place near Woodstock and we were only there to do the drum parts, but we had so much fun that we stayed for the entire album. snakes and arrows Y mechanical angels They were probably the two most satisfying recording experiences we’ve ever had. It was the happiest period for the band since Permanent Waves [1980].
Although it was never the intention of the band, mechanical angels It was a great record to say goodbye.
Al and I were talking about this the other night, how, from a personal chemistry writing environment, it was the happiest collaboration we’ve had since we were kids. From a composer’s point of view, it’s probably the most accomplished work we’ve done in our entire history.
You have partnered with Hendersons Brewing to make a beer.
I mean, Rush fans like beer. Hendersons reached out to us during the pandemic and said if he’s interested we’ll send fifteen beers to you and Alex, he can taste them and give us his notes. They came back with this golden ale and we were like, “Fuck, we like it!” Did you know that the phrase ‘drinking beer is better than being hit over the head with a hammer’ cannot be put on a beer can? Me neither. But that’s a no-no. We asked.
I guess it was Alex’s suggestion. You two are still so close, aren’t you?
We recently went out to dinner, just the two of us, and we sat down, looked at each other, and gave each other a high five. And it was like I was sixteen again, driving my mom’s car with Al by my side. We were laughing in seconds. I have no other friend like that in my life. That will never change.
The deluxe edition of Rush’s Moving Pictures is now available.
Reference-www.loudersound.com